Black Hills private tour: Rushmore & Custer State Park

Iron Mountain Road threads through tunnels carved into the mountainside on the way to Rushmore.

A private tour from Rapid City covering Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park and Crazy Horse Monument, customized to your interests and pace over eight to nine hours. The route adjusts to what you want to see and how long you want to spend. Lunch and bottled water are included. Winter bookings depend on road conditions in the Black Hills.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Downtown Rapid City30m
2. Mount Rushmore National Memorial1h 30m · entry included
3. Iron Mountain Road1h · entry included

Explore Black Hills landmarks and wildlife

• Visit Downtown Rapid City
• Explore Keystone museums and historic sites
• Tour Mount Rushmore National Memorial
• Drive Iron Mountain Road
• Restroom break and park introduction
• Spot bison on Wildlife Loop Road
• View granite spires near Needles Highway
• Climb tower for panoramic Black Hills views
• Drive Needles Highway and tunnels
• See Needles Eye Tunnel and formation
• Stop at Sylvan Lake
• Visit Crazy Horse Monument and museum

The Experience

This is a private group tour, not a shared one: your group travels alone with a guide who knows the Black Hills well enough to skip the standard stops and find the routes other tours can't reach. The itinerary moves through the region's main landmarks but bends around your timing and interests. You'll see Mount Rushmore, the four presidents carved into granite, and learn the story of the workers and the men behind the concept. Iron Mountain Road gets its own stretch: a drive through pigtail curves, bridges and tunnels that cut into the mountainside, with views opening up as you climb. The road is closed or difficult in winter depending on snow and weather, so bookings in those months come with that caveat.

Custer State Park is where the day opens up. You'll stop at the Wildlife Loop Road, where over 1,500 bison roam alongside pronghorn, antelope, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs. The park also holds Sylvan Lake, ringed by rock formations, and the Needles Eye: a rare granite formation you pass through a tunnel to reach. The Needles Highway itself winds through the landscape with its own set of curves and views. Crazy Horse Monument, dedicated to the Lakota warrior, sits at the end of the day. The museum tells the story of the carver and the indigenous history of the land. On certain winter days the museum closes, but the guide will still tell the story and show you the mountain.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and carries your group only. Pickup is included from your Rapid City location. Soda, bottled water and snacks travel with you. Lunch is part of the day. The guide speaks English and can adjust the route and pacing as the day unfolds. Children from age seven are welcome.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• pickup from your Rapid City location.
• lunch.
• bottled water, soda and snacks throughout the day.
• a live English-speaking guide who adjusts the route to your interests.

Days and timesDaily · 08:30 · season until 31 Oct

AgesAges 21+ · 12 to 20 years · 7 to 11 years · Under 7 — No ticket type: can't be added to a booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by My XO Adventures

Is this one for you?Eight to nine hours means you see the major landmarks and have time to linger at the ones that matter to you, but the day fills most of your schedule. Plan other activities before or after, not alongside. The private format and customized route suit groups who want to move at their own pace and explore beyond the standard stops, without the timing constraints of a shared tour.

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Top questions

Can children come?

12 to 20 years; 7 to 11 years. Under 7: no ticket type, they can't be added to a booking.

What is Iron Mountain Road like to drive?

Iron Mountain Road cuts through the Black Hills with pigtail curves, bridges and tunnels carved into the mountainside. The drive itself is part of the experience, not just a way to get between stops. Winter conditions can close or restrict access, so bookings in those months depend on weather and road status.

Will we actually see bison on the Wildlife Loop Road?

Custer State Park holds over 1,500 bison, and the Wildlife Loop Road is the best chance to spot them along with pronghorn, antelope, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs. The guide will stop at the visitors center before heading into the loop to learn about the animals and the park.

What happens at Crazy Horse Monument?

Crazy Horse Monument is a 60-foot tower built in the 1930s with steps to the top, where you can see panoramic views of the Black Hills and prairie. The site includes a museum with Native American artifacts and the story of Crazy Horse, the Lakota warrior. On certain winter days the museum is closed, but the guide will still show you the mountain and tell the story.

How does the guide customize the route?

The guide knows the Black Hills extensively and adjusts where you go and how long you spend at each stop based on your interests and comfort level. This is an unscripted tour that bends to what matters to your group, not a fixed itinerary everyone follows the same way.

What's included in the price?

Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, lunch, bottled water, soda and snacks are all included. Pickup from your Rapid City location is part of the booking.