Black Hills & Badlands National Park Multi-Adventure Tour - For Families with Teens & Kids
South Dakota’s Prairies, Pinnacles & Mount Rushmore
Best for ages 9+ (Ages 4+ ok) | Min. age to ride own bike: 7+
Family — Teens & Kids
5 days 4 nights
Activity Level: 1-3
Casual Hotels
From: $3,399 pp dbl occ
($850 for sgl occ) plus 6.2%% tax
Amid the rolling expanse of the Great Plains is a gem of wild landscapes and national treasures. South Dakota’s vast prairie. The Badlands' colorful rock formations. The Black Hills’ jagged pinnacles and plunging canyons. Here, in this sparsely populated state, you’ll find plenty of breathing room—plus an abundance of bucket list-worthy adventures to experience with your family.
South Dakota
Start/End Rapid City
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Experience the otherworldly landscapes and wild natural beauty of South Dakota’s Black Hills on foot and by bike
- Pedal a scenic section of the Mickelson Trail—a premier rail trail of tunnels, trestle bridges and old mining camps
- Discover a region steeped in history and be awed by the engineering feats of Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial
- Enjoy family fun while glamping—nothing beats campfire stories and s’mores under a starry night sky
Itinerary
5 Days Casual Hotels
Venture into a spectacular area of Badlands National Park | Pedal past rugged rock formations and maybe a herd of American bison | Scenic overlooks throughout the route provide opportunity to take in picturesque cliffs and colorful spires | Toast at our welcome reception to the adventure-filled days ahead!
A historic Hilton Curio Collection property which combines 1927 Germanic Tudor architecture with Plains Indian art and décor.
Venture into a spectacular area of the Black Hills by bike, riding along the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway | Marvel at the 1,000-foot limestone cliffs of this ancient gorge that predates the Grand Canyon and features towering walls less than a mile apart | Relax at our rustic retreat located at the base of mountainous canyon walls.
Relax at this rustic retreat, located at the base of 1,000-foot-high canyon walls, while enjoying its creature comforts and stunning views.
Traverse the heart of the Black Hills on two wheels while cruising the car-free, packed-gravel Mickelson Trail along a 19th-century railroad grade | Explore Custer State Park’s 71,000 acres of wilderness, home to abundant wildlife including bison, elk, mountain goats and even a band of burros | Hit the trail—if you choose to hike to the summit of 7,242-foot Black Elk Peak, you’ll reach the highest point in the state! | Visit the yet-unfinished Crazy Horse Memorial, a modern-day engineering feat of epic proportions and currently the world’s largest mountain carving | Settle into your upscale safari-style tent and enjoy an evening of campfire camaraderie or serene stargazing | Relish a leisurely morning at camp, whether that’s lingering over coffee and a book or stretching your legs along the resort’s pine-lined walking trails | Take in the grandeur of the 60-foot sculptures carved into rock at Mount Rushmore, one of the country’s most iconic sites | After lunch we head back to lively Rapid City.
Nestled among ponderosa pines and juniper on the site of a gold mining settlement, this unique glamping resort is located within a few miles of Mount Rushmore.
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.
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From our Guests
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Activity Level:
1-3
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Route notes
The hiking terrain we encounter on this trip is on well-established but rugged and rocky mountain trails. Our biking routes are on both paved and gravel roads and bike paths; your bike will be equipped with knobby tires designed to handle both types of terrain. Please note that unpredictable mountain weather can make hiking and biking conditions more challenging. Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service and National Forest.
Daily Route Options
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Route notes
The hiking terrain we encounter on this trip is on well-established but rugged and rocky mountain trails. Our biking routes are on both paved and gravel roads and bike paths; your bike will be equipped with knobby tires designed to handle both types of terrain. Please note that unpredictable mountain weather can make hiking and biking conditions more challenging. Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service and National Forest.
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Click the arrow to see all bike options.
Included in your trip price
A proven classic, our most popular custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Included in your trip price
A proven classic, this custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Included in your trip price
Backroads is the only travel company to manufacture its own line of kid's bikes. While the wheels might be small, the performance is big—it's the perfect choice for kids. On our Family Trips, you'll find 20" and 24" bikes.
Included in your trip price
The Burley Kazoo trailer bike, for children up to 85 pounds, attaches to an adult bike with your child providing some of the pedal power for a real team effort! It's ideal for kids who aren't yet ready for bike touring.
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Accommodations–Glamping
At Under Canvas properties, we stay in large canvas-walled safari-style platform tents. Each is outfitted with a king-size bed including linens, a small fan, a small battery-operated lamp, a wood burning stove, plus an en suite bathroom with a hot shower, flushing toilet and sink. On family trips, kids sleeping arrangements may be in an adjacent tent or on a pullout sofa or cot in parents’ tent. While our tents are comfortable, they do not have electricity or air-conditioning. Daytime can be hot but the tents' screened windows allow cool air to flow at night. Also, the property has limited cell reception and does not have Wi-Fi. Personal devices like cell phones can be charged via USB battery packs provided in each tent. With canvas walls and doors, sounds may carry from nearby tents and chirping crickets, so we suggest packing earplugs.
Meals in National Forests and Surrounding Areas
The national forest properties we use on this trip are chosen for their character and ideal location—they are not known for their food. Meals can be simple and menu options tend to lack variety, with few other restaurant options nearby. Please be aware that options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and low-carb meals will be especially limited and substitutions are rarely available.
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
At Under Canvas properties, we stay in large canvas-walled safari-style platform tents. Each is outfitted with a king-size bed including linens, a small fan, a small battery-operated lamp, a wood burning stove, plus an en suite bathroom with a hot shower, flushing toilet and sink. On family trips, kids sleeping arrangements may be in an adjacent tent or on a pullout sofa or cot in parents’ tent. While our tents are comfortable, they do not have electricity or air-conditioning. Daytime can be hot but the tents' screened windows allow cool air to flow at night. Also, the property has limited cell reception and does not have Wi-Fi. Personal devices like cell phones can be charged via USB battery packs provided in each tent. With canvas walls and doors, sounds may carry from nearby tents and chirping crickets, so we suggest packing earplugs.
The national forest properties we use on this trip are chosen for their character and ideal location—they are not known for their food. Meals can be simple and menu options tend to lack variety, with few other restaurant options nearby. Please be aware that options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and low-carb meals will be especially limited and substitutions are rarely available.
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