South Dakota/North Dakota
Best of the Dakotas
Program No. 22815RJ
Watch for bison along winding roads in the Black Hills and take in moonscape views in the Badlands as you explore the history and heritage of the Dakotas from the Ice Age to today.
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10 days
9 nights
22 meals
8B 7L 7D
1
Check-in, Orientation and Welcome Dinner.
Rapid City, South Dakota
2
Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Rapid City
Rapid City, South Dakota
3
Stave Kirke Chapel, Custer State Park, Mammoth Site
Rapid City, South Dakota
5
South Dakota Capitol, Oahe Dam, Welk Homestead
Bismarck, ND
8
Theodore Roosevelt Park and Medora Musical
Medora, ND
9
Center of the Nation, Devils Tower National Monument
Rapid City, South Dakota
10
Program Concludes
Rapid City, South Dakota
At a Glance
The 60-foot faces of four U.S. presidents gaze out over the Black Hills. Recognized worldwide, Mount Rushmore stands as a symbol of American democracy. Experience this national icon and more as you explore the best of North and South Dakota, from the winding roads of the Black Hills to the other-worldly moonscapes of the Badlands. Visit national and state parks, memorials, monuments and museums as you discover the history and heritage of the Dakotas, from the Ice Age to the American Indian Wars. Learn about the influence of people like Lewis and Clark, Theodore Roosevelt, Sacagawea and Crazy Horse, and take in the splendor of the wide-open spaces of the western frontier.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to two plus miles a day on mostly flat terrain, some climbing stairs and in and out of the motor coach numerous times a day.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Visit world-renowned parks, memorials and monuments like Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Devil’s Tower.
- Learn about the history, culture and people of the Dakotas as you visit both states’ capitals, and find out more about the native and presidential history of the Badlands.
- Appreciate the massive metal art sculptures along the Enchanted Highway, and attend the Greatest Show in the West, The Medora Musical, featuring real horses, cowboys, song and dance.
General Notes
Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.
Suggested Reading List
(6 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Best of the Dakotas
Program Number: 22815
Lost Bird Of Wounded Knee
In this significant work of history, Renee Flood movingly narrates the story of Lost Bird, who has become a symbol for thousands of children adopted away from their tribes and, indeed, for all people who have lost their heritage through social injustice, ignorance, and war. It tells the life story of an Indian baby girl found under her mother's frozen body after the Wounded Knee Massacre (1890) in what is now present day Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota.
Black Elk Speaks, The Premier Edition
"Black Elk Speaks" is widely hailed as a religious classic, one of the best spiritual books of the modern era and the bestselling book of all time by an American Indian. This inspirational and unfailingly powerful story reveals the life and visions of the Lakota healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863-1950) and the tragic history of his Sioux people during the epic closing decades of the Old West. In 1930, the aging Black Elk met a kindred spirit, the famed poet, writer, and critic John G. Neihardt (1881-1973) on the Pine ridge reservation in south Dakota. The Lakota elder chose Neihardt to share his visions and life with the world. Neihardt understood and today Black Elk is known to all.
Hunting Trips of a Ranchman and The Wilderness Hunter
"Roosevelt's sojourns in the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming had a powerful influence on his outlook and politics. Most of all, his time in the West brought him great joy. A joy that is apparent in every page of Hunting Trips of a Ranchman and The wilderness Hunter." --Stephen E. Ambrose <br><br>Written during his days as a ranchman in the Dakota Bad Lands, these two wilderness tales by Theodore Roosevelt endure today as part of the classic folklore of the West. The narratives provide vivid portraits of the land as well as the people and animals that inhabited it, ever underscoring the author's abiding concerns as a naturalist.
The Journals of Lewis and Clark
The one-volume edition of "The Lewis and Clark Journey" is outstanding in every way. Edited by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Bernard DeVoto the book gives the reader a fuller understanding of the Lewis and Clark expedition, 1804 to 1806, through the words of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark themselves. Follow the expedition from Saint Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back again which resulted in the initial exploration and mapping of the Great Plains and Pacific Northwest, the description and classification of over 100 never-before seen species of flora and fauna. In addition, the book dispels the myth of a northwest passage to the orient, and opens up the vast central and western regions of the continent to commerce with the United States.
Six Wars At A Time
The book depicts the life and times of Gutzon Borglum (1867-1941), the sculptor of Mount Rushmore. Painter, sculptor, political crusader, city planner, aviation enthusiast, critic and sportsman. Gutzon Borglum threw himself into life as it was lived in the halcyon days of the turn-of-the-century. His life was filled with romance, adventure, accomplishment and intrigue. It touched every president from Teddy Roosevelt to FDR, the artists, statesmen, politicians and celebrities of his time in a story that led to its inevitable conclusion at Mount Rushmore.
Standing Witness: Devils Tower National Monument, A History
The book is a history based on superintendents’ notes, monument archives, historical publications, and personal interviews. From a humble beginning as an eroded igneous intrusion, to the prestigious status as America's first national monument (1906), to the monument centennial anniversary celebration, the Tower has beckoned and captivated visitors. Rising 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, the 867- foot rock Tower is one of the most conspicuous physiographic features of the Black Hills. Devils Tower National Monument lies at the western edge of the Hills, in the central- west portion of Crook County, Wyoming. To many American Indian tribes the Tower is not scenic, 12 Standing witness but sacred. Almost everyone, of any nationality, who visits the Tower experiences some sense of "other-worldliness," of a connectedness beyond the physicality of the rock— a sense of wonder, to be sure, but deeper and broader. The Tower evokes an emotional response from visitors, whether or not they have come in search of such an encounter.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
10 days
Program Begins
Rapid City, South Dakota
Program Concludes
Rapid City, South Dakota
Meals
22
| 8B |
7L |
7D |
Activity Level
The 60-foot faces of four U.S. presidents gaze out over the Black Hills. Recognized worldwide, Mount Rushmore stands as a symbol of American democracy. Experience this national icon and more as you explore the best of North and South Dakota, from the winding roads of the Black Hills to the other-worldly moonscapes of the Badlands. Visit national and state parks, memorials, monuments and museums as you discover the history and heritage of the Dakotas, from the Ice Age to the American Indian Wars. Learn about the influence of people like Lewis and Clark, Theodore Roosevelt, Sacagawea and Crazy Horse, and take in the splendor of the wide-open spaces of the western frontier.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Visit world-renowned parks, memorials and monuments like Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Devil’s Tower.
- Learn about the history, culture and people of the Dakotas as you visit both states’ capitals, and find out more about the native and presidential history of the Badlands.
- Appreciate the massive metal art sculptures along the Enchanted Highway, and attend the Greatest Show in the West, The Medora Musical, featuring real horses, cowboys, song and dance.
General Notes
Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to two plus miles a day on mostly flat terrain, some climbing stairs and in and out of the motor coach numerous times a day.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(6 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
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Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
10 days
9 nights
What's Included
22 meals | 8B | 7L | 7D |
14 expert-led lectures
22 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
9 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Orientation and Welcome Dinner.
Location:
Rapid City, South Dakota
Meals:
D
Stay:
Holiday Inn Rapid City-Rushmore Plaza
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your name tag and name tag lanyard (sent by Road Scholar to your mailing address on file).
Afternoon:
5p.m. Program Orientation followed by dinner. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us in the designated hotel meeting room for registration and orientation. If you arrive late, please ask for your Road Scholar schedule at hotel the front desk.
Dinner:
At our designated hotel meeting/dining room, following orientation.
Evening:
Orientation. In our private meeting/dining room, the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar On The Road (OTR) program. OTR journeys take participants to multiple study sites within a region number of overnight stays. Lectures, talks, discussions, field trips, and on-board commentary enhance the program theme. Some journeys involve great distances and may take hours, others are much shorter. Long or short, On the Road journeys are learning experiences that make the most of our time together. There will be numerous opportunities for self-directed exploration to see and do what interests each of us most. Participants are responsible for carrying their luggage to/from the motorcoach. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Rapid City
Location:
Rapid City, South Dakota
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Holiday Inn Rapid City-Rushmore Plaza
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 65 miles throughout the day, approximately 2.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 2 miles; level sidewalks, mostly even ground, slight inclines, boardwalks. Elective 1/2 mile Presidential Trail at Mount Rushmore, 140 steps each way.
Breakfast:
Enjoy a self serve breakfast at the hotel.
Morning:
We will be joined at the hotel by a local expert who will give us a “rock talk” lecture on areas we’ll explore. Next, we’ll board a motorcoach for our field trip to iconic sites. At the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the majestic 60-foot faces of four U.S. presidents gaze out over South Dakota’s Black Hills. Recognized worldwide, they stand as a symbol of American democracy. This national treasure tells the story of the United States’ rich history, rugged determination, and lasting achievement. From the Grandview Terrace, the views of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, are spectacular. We’ll learn why these four presidents were selected, see how the mountain was carved, and learn about sculptor Gutzon Borglum and the workers who brought Mount Rushmore to life. There will also be an opportunity for an elective walk along the half-mile Presidential Trail that loops around the base of the mountain and back to the viewing terrace. At the Information Center learn more about history and watch a short movie narrated by Tom Brokaw.
Lunch:
Mount Rushmore cafeteria.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll ride to Crazy Horse Memorial, where a fifth granite face has emerged in the Black Hills. In 1939, Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear invited sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to carve an Indian memorial in the Black Hills. Though Korczak died in 1982, the sculptor’s family continues the nonprofit project where the colossal mountain carving is now in progress. Crazy Horse is the largest sculptural undertaking ever, on a scale with the Egyptian pyramids. When completed, it will tower 563 feet high and 641 feet long. Self explore the Native American Museum, sculpture's studio, and original log home. Returning to Rapid City, we will make a short stop at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Geology Museum.
Dinner:
Enjoy dinner in our private dining room at the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to use the fitness center, take a dip in the indoor swimming pool, soak in the hot tub, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, or just relax.
Day
3
Stave Kirke Chapel, Custer State Park, Mammoth Site
Location:
Rapid City, South Dakota
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Holiday Inn Rapid City-Rushmore Plaza
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 139 miles throughout the day, approximately 3 hours riding time plus stops. Walking up to 2 miles; sidewalks, generally flat terrain.
Breakfast:
Enjoy a self serve breakfast at the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll set out via motorcoach to the Chapel in the Hills in Rapid City. Built in 1969, the chapel is an exact replica of the famous 843-year old Burgundy Stavkirke of Laerdal, Norway. The structure combines Norse dragon heads, Christian symbols, fancy roof shingles, and a pegged-timber construction. There also is a grass-roofed Stabbur welcome center and Log Cabin Museum. Deer and wild turkeys roam the chapel grounds. A member of the staff will give a presentation in the chapel about its history, construction, and significance. Next, we’ll ride to the Custer State Park Visitor Center. En route, the Group Leader will provide commentary on the area while traveling through the park. Upon arrival, we’ll watch a film about the park followed by time for some independent exploration of the exhibits. Custer State Park covers 71,000 acres, making it one of the largest state parks in the nation. From its northern sector in the shadow of 7,242-foot-high Harney Peak to the forests, meadows, and prairies of its southeast corner, feature pigtail bridges, granite tunnels that frame the faces of Mount Rushmore, and curves winding along a road experts said couldn’t be built. We’ll watch for bison that may be present, part of one of the largest publicly owned bison herds in the country. Other wildlife we may see include pronghorn or antelope, mule and whitetail deer, burros, coyotes, wild turkeys, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and golden eagles.
Lunch:
Lunch at the historic State Game Lodge in Custer State Park.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll ride to the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota. The site is an in situ (bones left as found in their original place) Ice Age museum containing the largest concentration of Columbian and Woolly Mammoths found in their primary context in the world. Imagine walking around the edges of a 26,000-year-old sinkhole where mammoths, short face bear, mountain lions, and wolves once trod. The Muller Exhibit Hall features fascinating exhibits including a full-sized Columbian mammoth replica and skeletons of now-extinct carnivores, the giant short-faced bear, and the American lion. We’ll also get a glimpse of the scientific work conducted downstairs in the state of the art lab. The Mammoth Site has been featured on Discovery Channel, CBS and NBC Evening News, Today Show, BBC Television programs, and in many magazines, including National Geographic. The site has co-hosted international symposiums and conferences, as well as published scientific Quaternary research books.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to take a stroll through historic downtown Rapid City, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, or just relax. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
4
Wall Drug, Badlands Nat'l Park, Minuteman Visitor Center
Location:
Pierre, SD
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
ClubHouse Inn & Suites
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 210 miles throughout the day, approximately 6.5 hours riding time plus stops. Walking up to 2 miles; sidewalks, boardwalks, generally flat terrain.
Breakfast:
Enjoy a self serve breakfast at the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll check out of the hotel and begin our journey from Rapid City to Pierre, South Dakota via the town of Wall and the vast open spaces of Badlands National Park. We’ll stop first at Wall Drug Store and learn from our Group Leader about the ingenious marketing campaign that started the multi-million dollar business. As a testament to their success, Wall Drug signs can now be found all over the world. We’ll have some time to view the extensive Western Art collection in the restaurant section with many originals and actual brands of local ranchers embedded in the wood walls. Moving on, we’ll enjoy the beautiful scenery as we drive through Badlands National Park with commentary by our Group Leader and stop at points of interest. The Lakota Indians knew the place as “mako sica” while early French trappers called the area “les mauvaises terres a traverser”; both mean “bad lands.” A conservation writer, Freeman Tilden, described the region as “peaks and valleys of delicately banded colors-colors that shift in the sunshine...and a thousand tints that color charts do not show.” Palaeontologist Thaddeus Culbertson had another reaction: “Fancy yourself on the hottest day in summer in the hottest spot of such a place without water — without an animal and scarce an insect astir — without a single flower to speak pleasant things to you and you will have some idea of the utter loneliness of the Bad Lands.” This area is one of the richest in fossils in the world ranging from the massive rhinoceros, Metamynodon, to a small squirrel-like rodent called Ischromys. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright said this: “I’ve been about the world a lot, and pretty much over our own country, but I was totally unprepared for that revelation called the Dakota Bad Lands...What I saw gave me an indescribable sense of mysterious elsewhere-a distant architecture, ethereal..., an endless supernatural world more spiritual than earth but created out of it.”
Lunch:
Enjoy lunch en route.
Afternoon:
For our next field trip, we will explore the Visitor Center of Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. We will learn more about the Intercontinental Ballistics Missile System “hiding in plain site” and the role it played in the Cold War. We’ll then continue traveling across the wide open spaces of South Dakota and learn from our Group Leader along our journey. We expect to arrive in Pierre, the capital city, in the late afternoon and check in to our hotel.
Dinner:
Group Dinner at local restaurant
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to take a walk along the Missouri River just a couple of blocks from the hotel or just relax at the hotel and enjoy its amenities.
Day
5
South Dakota Capitol, Oahe Dam, Welk Homestead
Location:
Bismarck, ND
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hampton Inn Bismarck
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 200 miles throughout the day. Walking up to 1 miles; sidewalks, building interiors, stairs at dam.
Breakfast:
In the hotel hospitality room.
Morning:
We’ll check out of the hotel and board the motorcoach for a field trip to South Dakota’s state capitol building where a local expert will lead us through the impressive Greek Ionic structure built in 1910 at a cost of just under $1,000,000. The elaborate interior includes marble wainscoting and columns, a terrazzo tile floor, Victorian leaded glass, and glass door fixtures that create a grand and distinguished look. Adjacent to the grounds sits Capitol Lake, an artesian lake that serves as a resting place for thousands of migratory geese each fall. Nearby stand the World War II, Korean, and Vietnam Memorials, and a flaming fountain that glows perpetually as a memorial to all veterans. We’ll walk past the Fighting Stallions Memorial, built as a lasting tribute to eight South Dakotans who lost their lives in a 1993 plane crash. For our next field trip, we will ride to see and hear the power of water at Oahe Dam, one of the largest earth-rolled dams in the world that creates the fourth-largest artificial reservoir in the United States. Its primary purpose is supplying hydro-electric power to many Midwestern states as well as providing irrigation, recreation, conservation, and flood control. Oahe Dam was dedicated on August 17, 1962 by President John F. Kennedy. The word “oahe,” although it was once the name of a Christian mission, is actually a Sioux Native American word meaning “a foundation” or “ a place to stand on.” We’ll watch a short introductory film along with an expert led talk about the dam at the Visitor's Center. .
Lunch:
Enjoy a sack lunch
Afternoon:
We’ll travel from Pierre, South Dakota to Bismarck, North Dakota. En route, we’ll learn from our Group Leader about the land, agriculture, cattle, and people who live and work here. Afternoon stop: The Welk Homestead State Historic Site offers a glimpse into early 20th century life on the North Dakota Prairies. Walk through the house Ludwig and Christina Welk built in1899 along with a summer kitchen, outhouse, granary, barn, and blacksmith shop. Their livelihood depended on selling eggs and cream for groceries and clothes while the cash crop consisted of spring wheat. Crops of oats and barley were used to feed their cows, horses, hogs, and chickens. Music provided much needed entertainment and socialization for the family and community. The sixth Welk child eventually left the farm in 1924 to pursue a career in the music world. Lawrence learned to play the accordion from his father and played throughout the mid-west before making his debut on national television in 1955. The rest is history, he became a household name and The Lawrence Welk Show of “Champagne music” was produced and aired on television for twenty-six years. The show was the longest-running prime-time musical program in television history. Today, one can still watch reruns of the show that continue to be viewed throughout the country as well as internationally. Lawrence Welk is a true success story starting from a humble beginning in North Dakota to having two STARS on Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Dinner:
Enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant
Evening:
At leisure
Day
6
ND Heritage Museum, ND Capitol, Fort Mandan, Fort Lincoln
Location:
Bismarck, ND
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hampton Inn Bismarck
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 125 miles throughout the day. Walking about 2 miles; generally flat terrain, stairs at Custer House.
Breakfast:
In the hotel breakfast/lobby area
Morning:
We will board the motorcoach and ride to the North Dakota Heritage Center Museum where the Corridor of Time gallery depicts life during the Late Cretaceous and Early Paleocene periods along with paleontological exhibits. Museum staff will greet us and provide an overview of the museum, followed by time for independent exploration of the exhibits. A First People’s section describes and answers who the first people in the area were and how they arrived here. Other galleries focus on the introduction of Euro-Americans to the area, agricultural methods, sociopolitical influences, Native American history, and natural history. Next, we will walk across the parking lot for a guided tour of the capitol and learn why it is considered the “Skyscraper of the Prairies.” The 19-story structure was built in the early 1930s for just $2 million and, as such, it ranks as one of the nation’s most practical and economically built state capitols. This art-deco structure is enhanced by a unique blend of raw materials, including Indian limestone, Montana Yellowstone, Belgian and Tennessee marble, Honduras mahogany, East Indian rosewood, laurel wood, English brown oak and Burma teak. The State Capitol grounds also offer a unique opportunity to view the statue of Sakakawea (local spelling) and her baby, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau.
Lunch:
Enjoy lunch at the ND State Capitol
Afternoon:
We will travel from Bismarck, ND to Washburn, ND to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn where we will get an overview of the Expedition from staff with special emphasis on displays that include Native American artifacts including a buffalo robe that visitors can try on, a cradleboard, and an original "hasp." The Center's Bergquist Gallery, one of only four galleries in the world to house a complete collection, rotates the prints of Karl Bodmer on a seasonal basis. Bodmer's watercolors and Maximilian's written descriptions are considered the most complete and reliable eyewitness account of the Upper Midwest Indian Cultures At Fort Mandan, we’ll learn even more about the journey of Lewis & Clark from a historical reenactor. This site is particularly important because Lewis & Clark spent more days in North Dakota than any other place on their journey and Sacagawea, their interpreter and wife of French-Canadian trapper and guide Toussaint Charbonneau, joined the expedition at this site. As we walk around, we’ll notice that this site offers a reconstruction of the 1804-1805 winter quarters built by the Corp of Discovery out of cottonwood lumber cut from the riverbanks. It was triangular in shape with high walls on all sides and a gate facing the riverbank. The men started building the fort on November 2, 1804, and remained in the area until April 7, 1805. When the Corp passed back through the area in August 1806 on their return journey home, the fort had burnt to the ground; the reason is unknown. Back aboard the motor coach, we'll ride to and explore the 75-acre Ft. Lincoln State Park that contains reconstructions of General Custer's home, infantry blockhouses, a commissary, and On-A-Slant Village. A local expert will tell us about the history of the Mandan Indians and we'll go through the on-site Indian earth lodges. We'll hear the real story of General and Mrs. Custer on the plains while visiting a replica of Custer's house.
Dinner:
Group dinner at a local restaurant
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
7
Enchanted Highway, Chateau de Mores, T. Roosevelt Center
Location:
Medora, ND
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Rough Riders Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 190 miles throughout the day. Walking about 2 miles and standing indoors and out.
Breakfast:
In the hotel breakfast/lobby area
Morning:
We’ll check out of the hotel and enjoy the beauty and vastness of the croplands and prairie as we travel along the way to see North Dakota’s Enchanted Highway, 32 miles of soaring, metal sculptures that qualify as some of the largest in the world. As unusual as they are enjoyable, these monstrosities are unquestionably must-see Americana Road Art. We will stop at points of interest where our Group Leader will provide commentary as we continue on to Dickinson State University, North Dakota.
Lunch:
Lunch in Dickinson
Afternoon:
Enhance your knowledge of the 26th President at the Theodore Roosevelt Center located on the campus of Dickinson State University in Dickinson, North Dakota. Listen and learn as the staff explains how and why the Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library was formed in 2007. Discover why it serves as a storehouse for all TR related documents, photographs, and other short-term paper collectibles. And strive to understand how through partnerships with the Library of Congress, Harvard College Library, Theodore Roosevelt Association, and the National Park Service the Center has created the most comprehensive and accessible collection of President Roosevelt’s documents available anywhere. To date, more than 165,000 items have already been digitized and are available online. We will continue on to the town of Medora and the Château de Mores which memorializes the life of the Marquis de Mores and his wife Medora, who the town is named for. We will see many of the original furnishings and personal effects of the family in the two-story, 26-room home built in 1883 and used only as a summer residence. We’ll learn about the many enterprises of the Marquis and the history of the area at the visitor’s center before returning to the hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore the authentic, small, historic, western town of Medora.
Dinner:
Dinner on your own tonight. There are several choices within a few blocks of the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Take a walk around this quaint western town of Medora, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, or just relax.
Day
8
Theodore Roosevelt Park and Medora Musical
Location:
Medora, ND
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Rough Riders Hotel
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time plus stops. Walking about 1 mile; generally level terrain, some gravel paths.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll capture the spirit of the West during an expert-led field trip to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Visitor’s Center, and TR’s Badlands ranch cabin. In 1884, after the death of both his wife and mother, future 26th President Theodore Roosevelt went out to his North Dakota ranch to rebuild his life. The wild lands were a catharsis to him; for about two years, he ranched in the area and noted his experiences in pieces published in eastern newspapers and magazines. Returning east and into politics, Roosevelt would forever associate himself through his extensive writings and memoirs with the vanishing frontier and the life of the cowboy and rancher. The Little Missouri Badlands were explored early in 1924 to determine possible park sites but it wasn’t until 1947 that this area became the Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park and finally a national park in 1978. The Maltese Cross Ranch cabin was originally located south of Medora. At Roosevelt’s request, the one-and-a-half story cabin, complete with a shingle roof and cellar, was built. Constructed of pine logs, the cabin was considered something of a “mansion” in its day with wooden floors and three separate rooms (kitchen, living room and Roosevelt’s bedroom). The steeply pitched roof, an oddity on the northern plains, created an upstairs sleeping loft for the ranch hands.
Lunch:
Lunch on your own in the quaint town of Medora
Afternoon:
At your leisure. Free time options may include: Zip-line, hiking, ND Cowboy Hall of Fame, A "Salute to Teddy Roosevelt" Show. All leisure activities at your own cost.
Dinner:
Dinner tonight is the famous western style Pitchfork Steak Fondue. Enjoy the food and music as you look out over the magnificent view of the Badlands.
Evening:
We’ll attend the “Greatest Show in the West!” in the outdoor 2,852 seat Burning Hills Amphitheatre surrounded by the splendor of the North Dakota Badlands. This professionally produced, high energy, Western style musical is proudly dedicated to the legacy of America’s 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt, and the time he spent in the North Dakota. The show pays tribute to American patriotism and the Old West way of life. The extravaganza features horses, cowboys, and an array of song and dance routines performed by the Burning Hills Singers and accompanied by the on-stage band, the Coal Diggers.
Day
9
Center of the Nation, Devils Tower National Monument
Location:
Rapid City, South Dakota
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Holiday Inn Rapid City-Rushmore Plaza
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 330 miles throughout the day, approximately 7 hours riding time plus stops. Walking about 2 miles throughout the day; mostly paved paths. Steepest stretch of elective 1.3 mile hike up Devils Tower is the first 1/4 mile; the remainder is gentle ups and downs.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel, board our motorcoach, and ride across western North and South Dakota. En route, we’ll learn from our Group Leader about the discovery of the Bakken Oil Field that has added another facet to the energy equation of our nation, as well as the Bakken Shale Formation that occupies about 200,000 square miles of the subsurface of the Williston Basin, mainly in parts of Montana, North Dakota, and Saskatchewan. We will get an overview of how this enormous region influences the local economy, employment rates, and the environment with a focus on the differences between technical extraction methods and production.
Lunch:
Sack lunch In Belle Fourche, South Dakota, the small town noted for being the “Center of the Nation."
Afternoon:
Our next field trip will be to Devils Tower National Monument. From the National Park Service: “In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower the first national monument under the new Antiquities Act. About 60 million years ago molten magma was forced into sedimentary rocks above it and cooled underground. As it cooled, it contracted and fractured into columns... Over millions of years, erosion of the sedimentary rock exposed Devils Tower… The Tower rises 867 feet from the base and stands 1,267 feet above the river and 5,112 feet above sea level. The area of its tear-drop shaped top is 1.5 acres and the diameter of its base is 1,000 feet.” This unique formation, revered by many Lakota tribes, was also featured in Steven Spielberg’s 1977 science fiction film “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Those who would like to set out independently on an elective, 1.3 mile Tower Walk (paved path) will be able to look for species of birds such as blue-birds, chickadees, jays, woodpeckers, robins, meadowlarks, vultures, hawks, Bald Eagles, and wild turkeys. Other critters that may be present include white-tailed and mule deer, porcupines, chipmunks and rabbits. After our field trip, we’ll ride on to Rapid City with expected arrival in the late afternoon to check in to our hotel.
Dinner:
Dinner in our private meeting room. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We’ll wrap up with a farewell “fun” night. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
10
Program Concludes
Location:
Rapid City, South Dakota
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.. For those who need it, contact the hotel front desk to make your shuttle reservation back to the airport. The cost of the hotel shuttle to the airport is NOT included.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
22 Meals
8 Breakfasts
7 Lunches
7 Dinners
LODGING
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- Jun 19, 2025 - Jun 28, 2025
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Participant Reviews
Based on 41 Reviews
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This was a fantastic trip. It was one of the best I've attended. This trip covers a lot of ground, from the expected - Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Badlands - to the surprising lesser knowns -Medora, ND, the Capitol Buildings, Enchanted Highway. Even the travel time was filled with relevant educational videos and leader commentary. While many folks think South Dakota has all the big name attractions, I enjoyed the North Dakota portion every bit as much!
— Review left September 13, 2024
Everything about this trip was wonderful! Our guide, Paul, was helpful, informative, interesting, and friendly. This trip had a great balance of indoor activities such as museums and capitols with outdoor activities, such as climbing through the Badlands. Long bus rides became educational with excellent DVDs about Sacagawea, Lewis & Clark, TR, geological formations, and businessman/benefactor, Harold Schafer. I hope to bring my family to see Medora, ND, when the TR Presidential Library opens in 2026! We saw bison, prairie dogs, rolls of hay, the Enchanted Highway, and the most beautiful sunflower fields!
I found the food just fine, even with my requested vegetarian option, and the hotels and bus were very comfortable.
I'm only sorry I waited so long to take this trip. Don't miss it!
— Review left September 2, 2024
The Best of the Dakotas tour is one of the best kept secrets among the tours offered by Road Scholar!
— Review left August 28, 2024
Wasn't sure I even wanted to go but my wife talked me into it. I was incredibly happy with that decision. I found it very interesting, learned of places and people that I had never heard of, and met some very interesting fellow travelers that I hope to see again.
— Review left August 25, 2024
Of the many Road Scholar trips I’ve taken and enjoyed this was my favorite. I went to see Mt. Rushmore and ended up fascinated with the other aspects of the trip. Learning about Teddy Roosevelt and enjoying the spectacular scenery were highlights.
— Review left July 22, 2024
Day Five, Monday was a day of several really boring stops; there has to be more in Bismarck to see.
Other than that, the trip and especially Theresa and Paul were great!
— Review left June 24, 2024
Who knew that I would be revisiting the Dakotas after 50 years; seeing Mt Rushmore and Chief Crazy Horse were only 2 highlights of this expertly run Road Scholar program. Each day came with places we've all heard about such as the Badlands, Wall Drug, Custer State Park and Theodore Roosevelt National Park but the surprises were the Enchanted Highway with its magnificent metal sculptures, the Oahe Dam, touring the two state capitol buildings and so much more. Perhaps it has to do with the age we've reached because it makes us appreciate the history and beauty of our country more. I highly recommend this program for its leadership, content and personal enjoyment.
— Review left June 20, 2024
We visited N and S Dakota with a day in Wyoming, June 2024. . We had relaxed, smiling and entertaining leaders, Tressa and Paul Reed. They know their “stuff” and had every detail planned. We had a wonderful trip. Pam and Doug C
— Review left June 17, 2024
If you want a wide variety of exceptional places to visit, and love to learn, this is the trip for you. You'll be having the time of your life with others who enjoy learning new things.
— Review left September 5, 2023
As I expected it to be, this Road Scholar program – my 25th – was well-run, informative, educational, AND FUN! The rugged landscape of the Badlands is stunningly beautiful, plus the history of the area made our journey interesting and enjoyable. Marilyn was a superb, organized tour leader and an excellent ambassador for the Dakotas.
— Review left August 31, 2023
This was such a fascinating trip and covered all the highlights of North and South Dakota. I would never have learned as much as I did with Road Scholar if I had of traveled there on my own.
— Review left July 24, 2023
Road Scholars "The Dakotas" tour is superior in every way. Accommodations and meals were great. We saw and experienced things that we never would have been exposed to without Road Scholars. Highly recommended.
— Review left July 22, 2023
Best of the Dakotas ND/SD was outstanding. It was filled with nature's wonders and surprises in two beautiful states!
— Review left July 22, 2023
This program is a great overview to an area of the U.S. that I was totally unfamiliar with, and it will change my way of thinking about how what we do in another area of the country impacts them. It is great to look at something from a different perspective.
— Review left June 12, 2023
Fantastic program! Marilyn was excellent program leader.
— Review left June 11, 2023
"What's in the Dakotas?" you say. Who knew there was so much to see and do. We greatly enjoyed our experience and highly recommend it to others. Marilyn, our tour director, must surely be the best in the business
— Review left September 25, 2022
I cannot imagine a better learning experience than visiting the Dakotas with our expert guide! BRAVO!!
— Review left August 31, 2022
Great program! Diverse activities, fun leader (Marilyn) and a great group of people to travel with. The land and the wildlife are totally awesome and something not to miss in a lifetime.
— Review left August 29, 2022
This is an outstanding trip, packed with spectacular scenery and sights including Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, Teddy Roosevelt National Park, and Devils Tower in Wyoming. The lesser known Enchanted Highway, Wooly Mammoth and Minuteman sights were also excellent, as well as the two state capitals and Medora. Marilyn was topnotch leader, always going the extra mile. Highly recommend this trip filled with unique and memorable experiences. Go!
— Review left August 28, 2022
There really is a lot to see and do in North and South Dakota! Would recommend to anyone.
— Review left July 27, 2022
If you have the time to do The Dakotas with Greg and Dianne Scott, by all means do it. This section of the country kept me in awe. Dianne and Greg treat you as family.
— Review left July 25, 2022
I was a most worthwhile trip. Continue my belief that we live in the best country in the world.
— Review left July 12, 2022
A well planned tour with good leadership. Marilyn had first hand knowledge of the area. Twice during our trip she was able to substitute a stop...once to a Russian Catholic Church and another to the National Guard Museum. At other times, she adjusted the schedule so maximized our time at the stops. Rob, our bus driver was careful and personable to our group participants. The Badland landscapes, National Parks, Devils Tower, museums, arts and Medora musical performance, and pitchfork steaks, Wall Drugs, Lawrence Welk Homestead, Enchanted Highway gave us insight to the area and people.
— Review left July 11, 2022
Highly recommend this tour. Lovely scenery and interesting stops. Good leadership.
— Review left July 6, 2022
The beauty, sites visited, and our program leader all resulted in a wonderful trip. Very informative. Great hotel accommodations and food as well. I would highly recommend this trip.
— Review left July 5, 2022
An absolutely fantastic tour. Marilyn was exceptional and I would follow her anywhere! Rob, our coach driver was also great— he was very friendly, conscientious, and safe. The other tour participants were fun and welcoming— it was very nice to meet and learn with them. Overall, a five star tour— highly recommend.
— Review left July 2, 2022
I enthusiastically encourage this trip! The Dakotas are so beautiful and interesting! It should be required that all Americans should visit the Dakotas at least once in their lifetime.
— Review left July 2, 2022
Excellent driver Steve drove us almost 1400 miles and was a great team with our
leader Marilyn. We covered a lot of ground on an interesting trip. Saw everybody from prairie dogs to bison, Mt.Rushmore to Devil's Tower.
— Review left October 4, 2021
This was a very educational trip about a part of the country I didn’t know well. The activities were varied and so interesting! So glad I experienced BOTH Dakotas! Our guide was absolutely outstanding. I would highly recommend this trip.
— Review left September 11, 2021
This was a wonderful trip! I learned a great deal and the Tour Leader was excellent. She constantly shared information about the area. While on the bus, she frequently provided videos that added to our understanding of the States' history.
— Review left September 10, 2021
This trip was a dream come true.It went beyond all my expectations.Well planned and executed.Wonderful people.
— Review left September 8, 2021
Amazing trip, enjoyed learning new things and seeing new states in the US. Loved walking around Mt. Rushmore and Devils Rock.
— Review left September 6, 2021
This was an terrific trip. Our tour leader, Marilyn, was the best ever. So organized, so knowledeable, and a lot of fun. I think she knows everyone in South Dakota, and many in North Dakota. She took us to so many interesting places. And she made the trip fun with her sense of humor and her enthusisam. This is a not to be missed trip.
— Review left September 5, 2021
Wonderful program. I’d never been in the Dakotas and it was a pleasure to see so many parts. Only disadvantage is that the long distances require a fair amount of riding in a bus. However, the bus was comfortable and clean. I have new respect for farmers. The parks and museums were, for the most part, excellent.
— Review left September 4, 2021
This is a wonderful program, giving us a little more insight into the history and geography of this part of our country. Underlying our history here, is the Native American influences among the many tribes that have and continue to inhabit this land. One can hear the echoes of generations past when travelling through the Prairie spaces, imagining the Bison, the hunters, the European influxes, the politics at play.
— Review left August 27, 2021
I have been on 16 or so RS trips and this was one of the best thanks to Marilyn our wonderful leader. I saw so much of this country that I didn't even know existed. I would take this trip again- it was that good.
— Review left August 26, 2021
If you ever thought about going to South or North Dakota just to be able to check them off your list of "states visited", you will be blown away experiencing this program! I fell in love with both states and just can't say enough good things about all we saw and learned and experienced--highly recommended! Thank you, Road Scholar and especially Marilyn!
— Review left August 26, 2021
This 5-star program provides wonderful insight into the history of the Dakotas, the cultures of its peoples and the geology of the two states. Our group leader was exceptional in nearly every way, not the least of which was rotating assigned seats on the motor coach and having a well-proven method of getting the 36 of us off the bus in an orderly fashion. At this writing, Covid-19 infection rates are increasing in the Dakotas, but masks were not required to be worn by all participants while on the bus, although 1/3 of the group did so.
— Review left August 25, 2021
If you have any curiosity about this area of the country, this is the program for you... it's got beautiful scenery, history, one-of-a-kind sights, and an insight into heartland thinking.
— Review left June 16, 2019
one of the best trips i took. beautiful sites, education gained on history, economy and beauty of the sites. Also grat archological sites, mamooth, dinosurs, petified wood.And most friendly and informative leader Marilyn
— Review left June 14, 2019
This program went beyond my expectations! We covered the geology, the mammoth site, the Native Americans of the area, the Lewis & Clark Expedition, the importance of the Missouri River, a power dam, state Capitols, national parks, art and more. The tour director was amazing and knowledgeable - truly a trip I won't forget.
— Review left June 13, 2019