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From: £3495
The scenery on this two-week fly-drive through the incredible Rocky Mountain region of America will blow your mind. Journey through North & South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming and discover jaw-dropping scenery and sights. From iconic Mount Rushmore to mighty Yellowstone National Park; the otherworldly Badlands National Park to the Crown of the Continent, Glacier National Park. If you are looking for a fly-drive adventure with the WOW - factor, you've found it!
Price per person includes:
*One-way drop-off fee to be paid locally
Rapid City is the largest city in western South Dakota and serves as the gateway to the Black Hills. It's home to many incredible museums including the Journey Museum and the Museum of the American Bison and as well as a newly-revamped lively downtown scene.
Rapid City will be your base for two nights from which you can explore Mount Rushmore National Memorial - the 60-foot-high mountain carving of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
Equally impressive is the Crazy Horse Memorial just 17 miles from Mount Rushmore. This massive granite carving (the world's largest sculpture-in-progress) honoring the Native American warrior will stand 563 feet high and 641 feet long when complete; until then, view the progress while taking in the exhibits of the Indian Museum of North America, which houses some 20,000 authentic Native American artifacts.
Don't forget to drive the 18 mile Wildlife Loop Road around nearby Custer State Park, the second largest state park in the nation and is home to approximately 1,500 bison and impressive granite outcroppings.
In the evening in Rapid City why not enjoy an authentic Chuckwagon Supper and Cowboy Music Show.
Distance: 45 miles
An hour east of Rapid City is eerie Badlands National Park. The hauntingly beautiful landscape rises mysteriously from the surrounding prairie and is a geological wonder featuring a maze of buttes, canyons and gullies formed by millions of years of erosion. The strikingly hued spires and pinnacles provide a colourful backdrop for the diverse wildlife that call the park home.Distance: 218 miles
Today you'll journey through spectacular Spearfish Canyon, which features windy roads, towering limestone cliffs and a number of roaring waterfalls. Head east and briefly into Wyoming to take in Devils Tower National Monument (as featured in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind), America’s first national monument which reaches 364 meters into the western sky. Then make your way north and onto Medora, North Dakota.
Medora is a small community that lies just south of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Medora features the nightly outdoor Medora Musical in the summer with the dynamic landscape of the North Dakotan Badlands in the background, as well as a unique Pitchfork Fondue dinner. A must-do for any visitor to the area.
Distance: 281 miles
Spend the morning exploring pristine Theodore Roosevelt National Park and North Dakota’s Badlands, named after Theodore Roosevelt, the US President notorious for his enduring contributions to the conservation of the national resources. Here the Badlands have been shaped by millions of years of wind, rain, erosion, fire and the meandering Little Missouri River. The area was described in 1864 by Gen. Alfred Sully as “hell with the fires out.”
When you’ve absorbed the stunning scenery, head east through Montana, affectionately known as Big Sky Country to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.
Distance: 237 miles
Before you depart, explore the bustling downtown of Billings with a number of delicious eateries and microbreweries all within walking distance. Explore nearby Pompey’s Pillar, which contains the only physical evidence of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, or check out Pictograph State Park which features pre-historic cave drawings.Distance: 245 miles
Just 16 miles north of Helena, take a boat tour through the Gates of the Mountains. Named by Meriwether Lewis during the Lewis and Clarke expedition, this is a dramatic stretch of the Missouri River, with 1,200ft cliffs on either side.Distance: 253 miles
Begin your journey south, first stopping to admire the crystal clear waters of Flathead Lake where you can hit the water or relax on the shores. A must-do stop on Flathead Lake is pretty Big Fork named by National Geographic as one of the Best Small Towns in America.Distance: 162 miles
Located on the Continental Divide, Butte was once one of the most thriving cities in the west due to the highly prosperous deposits of copper that reside in the surrounding mountains. Before you continue your journey south, explore the historical downtown area which includes the Copper King Mansion, the former residence of copper tycoon William Andrews Clark.Continue south to the Old West mining towns of Virginia City and Nevada City which have been restored to reflect the boom days when settlers and miners migrated to Montana in the late 1800s.
Spend the afternoon exploring the quirky boutiques, theatres and historic homes here before arriving in West Yellowstone.
Distance: 54 miles
Get an early start for the nation’s first national park, Yellowstone. Blessed with an abundance of natural beauty – lakes, waterfalls and scenic mountain vistas to name just a few – Yellowstone is best known for the geysers, hot springs and mud pots that make the park one of the most active geothermal areas on the planet. This awe-inspiring landscape covers an expansive 2,000,000 acres with over 10,000 thermal features and hundreds of animal species running wild.Distance: 79 miles
Get your last fill of Yellowstone as you head south to Grand Teton National Park, just over an hours drive from the park.Depart from Jackson Hole Airport on your early morning flight back to the UK.
Your adventure doesn't have to end here however. Perhaps you may want to extend your time here and include a ranch stay or maybe spend a few extra days in Yellowstone.
Call the USA travel specialists at Bon Voyage to discuss your perfect Beautiful Badlands and Picture Perfect National Parks tour.