Badlands Premium Executive Van Tour

Overview

Our professional guides provide you a memorable tour to the one of a kind Badlands National Park. You learn the history of the Badlands, the local Native Americans and western homesteaders.

We tour in comfort and style, in a 14 passenger Ford TurtleTop Executive Van. Leather reclining seats, huge side windows and a touring window above the windshield. No bad views as we travel and lots of stops for photos and restroom breaks.

And we also offer this tour in our wheelchair accessible Mercedes Sprinter Van . . . single wheelchair and 5 executive leather seats. Large side and front windows for great viewing. The handicap lift allows everyone to share in the roadsides stops and boardwalk trails.

Additionally we stop to visit Wall Drug and the Minuteman Missile Site.
*Please note: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday Minuteman Missile is closed.

City: Rapid City

Sat 21 Feb

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $349.00

Make a reservation

Sat 21 Feb

Starting at $349.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Local guide

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Bottled water

National Park fees

All taxes, fees and handling charges

Snacks

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

What To Expect

Delta-09 Missile Silo

From 1963 until the early 1990s, the missile silo at Delta-09 contained a fully operational Minuteman Missile, bearing a 1.2 megaton nuclear warhead. The Delta-09 missile silo was one of 150 spread across western South Dakota. In total there were 1,000 Minuteman missiles deployed from the 1960's into the early 1990's. Visitors can now tour the site daily. The launch facility consists of a silo 12 feet in diameter and 80 feet deep made of reinforced concrete with a steel-plate liner. The door to the silo has been welded and fitted with a glass roof, and an unarmed missile placed inside. For safety reasons, tours are not conducted underground. In addition to the missile and silo, visitors will see support structures such as antennas and motion sensors.

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

Short stop at location of 1950'-60's Nuclear Missile Site. Small museum provides exhibits of the 'Duck and Cover' days. During the Cold War, a vast arsenal of nuclear missiles were placed in the Great Plains. Hidden in plain sight, for thirty years 1,000 missiles were kept on constant alert; hundreds remain today. The Minuteman Missile remains an iconic weapon in the American nuclear arsenal. It holds the power to destroy civilization, but is meant as a nuclear deterrent to maintain peace and prevent war. *No Tours on Sundays, Mondays & Tuesdays (Closed)

Badlands National Park

Badlands Loop Road (SD 240) is a spectacular way to see the North Unit of Badlands National Park. This two-lane paved road is wide and safe and does include viewing wildlife along the Loop Road. We drive carefully, stopping to use overlooks and pull-outs. There are over a dozen spectacular overlooks and trailheads, we stop at the best ones to explore and take photos.

Door Trail

A wheelchair-accessible ¼ mile boardwalk leads through a break in the Badlands Wall known as “the Door” to a panoramic view of the Badlands. You have the option to explore the trail. The maintained trail ends and continues onto Badlands bedrock, with yellow posts marking the primitive portion of the trail.

Ben Reifel Visitor Center

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center is the main facility in the North Unit of the park. You can stop by to talk with rangers, explore museum exhibits, check out the Fossil Preparation Lab, or visit the Badlands Natural History Association bookstore.

Fossil Exhibit Trail

The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a fully accessible boardwalk featuring fossil replicas and exhibits of extinct creatures that once lived in the area. The exhibits are tactile, so please feel free to touch.

Pinnacles Overlook

This view displays the expanse of the Sage Creek Wilderness area. On clear days, the Black Hills are visible on the horizon. Bison might be visible in the distance, in the valley below or the upper prairie to the northwest. This overlook is also a popular spot for Bighorn sheep to gather. This is also a lambing area for Bighorn sheep in late April to early May, so it’s not unusual to see lambs traversing the rocky slopes of the Badlands.

Wall Drug

One of the world’s most well-known tourist attractions, it’s hard to believe Wall Drug Store got its start with something many wouldn’t even turn their heads at today … the promise of free ice water. But in fact, the Husteads turned free ice water into a million-dollar idea with a little determination, quick thinking and a lot of signs. Signs with catchy jingles like “Get a soda . . . Get a root beer . . . turn next corner . . . Just as near . . . To Highway 16 & 14. . . Free Ice Water. . . Wall Drug” drew weary travelers into the small-town drug store to enjoy a refreshing break. Today, more than 2 million visitors a year stop at the popular roadside attraction for a meal or activity, 5 cent coffee, and ice water – which is still free.

The Black Hills

As we drive to the Badlands and back you will have distant views of the famous Black Hills to the west and the Prairie Grasslands to the east. And as we approach the Park you will be able to discern the barren dessert tables of the Park. Many stops for rest and bathrooms breaks.

Show 6 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (42)

Janet A

Jun 2022

This tour is not to be missed. Jeff was fantastic as he provided running stories and information the entire trip. We had time to ourselves at the various stops and they slowed down so we could take pictures of bison and prairie dogs. The Minuteman missile stop was so interesting and the Badlands were beautiful. Wall Drug was really something from how it started. We thoroughly enjoyed this tour!!

Response from Host

Jun 2022

Hi Janet - I'm very happy you enjoyed our Badlands tour with Jeff. The Park is so unique and how it was formed is amazing. And Wall Drug is a unique tourist trap that is a 'must' to stop and explore. Thanks again for your kind review. Be Well - Rich

Ginny M

Oct 2021

I liked this tour company even before we had our tour! The owner returned a phone call to me and talked with me for about 20 minutes to guide me on where to stay and what to do in the area. His tips led us to stay in the town of Spearfish and see both Devil’s Tower and beautiful Spearfish Canyon. In addition, our tour of The Badlands was marvelous. Our tour guide was a delight and so knowledgeable and accommodating! The Badlands are a unique and fascinating place to visit. I would highly recommend this company and this tour.

Response from Host

Oct 2021

Hello again Ginny - I'm happy you enjoyed your Badlands tour. I know you were looking forward to the adventure. It's so very different from the geography in the 'Hills'. Time and nature has carved out unique and colorful landscapes on the prairie. I enjoyed our phone call and was glad to make some suggestions with your itinerary. Thank you for taking time for your kind review. Be Well - Rich

Juanita_W

Oct 2021

This is private tour of for up to six people - we had four in our group. There is no other way to see the badlands, and Jeff, our guide, certainly made our tour an amazing tour. My husband, who has bad knees, was not able to do all terrain, but Jeff made sure he stayed informed from afar, for which I am very grateful. We saw so much beautiful country and rock formations, and Jeff was full of interesting and informative information. Highly recommend this tour - be sure to ask for Jeff.

Response from Host

Oct 2021

Hi Juanita - Thank you for taking time for your review. The Badlands are one of a kind and offer amazing views of the unique multi colored landscape. Many people are unaware that the Badlands soil is made up from the erroding top half of the Black Hills, along with layers of ash from several Yellowstone valcano erruptions. Jeff is a retired elementary teacher, who guided tours for the students to the Badlands Park. He's our specialist for that tour. I'm glad you enjoyed your tour with Jeff. And I hope you will be able to visit the Hills again. Be Well - Rich