South Dakota, Wyoming & Idaho

South Dakota to Boise

Start: South Dakota

Finish: Boise

Duration: 1385 miles - 16 Days

Day 1: South Dakota

Sioux Falls

When you’re in the biggest city in the state, you’re going to have plenty of options to explore. The first stop in Sioux Falls should be at the city’s namesake, Falls Park, where an average of 7,400 gallons of water drop 100 feet over the course of the falls each second. From there, head to the beautiful Downtown area to check out the Washington Pavilion, the regions home for arts, entertainment and science before checking out all of the wonderful shops and restaurants nearby. Downtown Sioux Falls is also home to Sculpture Walk, an annually rotating collection of art that makes for great photo opportunities or time for simple reflection. Finally check out South Dakota’s newest state park, Good Earth at Blood Run, this National Historic Landmark is home to abundant wildlife, hiking trails and its new 11,000 square foot visitor center, overnight in Sioux Falls.

Day 2: South Dakota

Sioux Falls to Badlands National Park

Head west on Interstate 90 to Mitchell, home of the World’s only Corn Palace. This unique structures exterior is entirely decorated in corn and hosts festivals, concerts and sporting events throughout the year! From there continue onto Interstate 90 to Chamberlain, where you can dive into the native American Culture of South Dakota at the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center. This is more than a traditional museum; it is an experience that provides visitors with a living lesson on the Native American way of life, both past and present. From Chamberlain continue west to Badlands National Park. Here you will see the striking landscapes where erosion has revealed red, orange, purple and yellow sedimentary rock layers. Stop at one of the 16 designated scenic lookouts that offer breathtaking photo opportunities or take one of the many picturesque hiking trails. Stay overnight in the park or in nearby Wall to experience one of the most spectacular night skies.

Day 3

Wall to Rapid City

Rapid City is the largest city in western South Dakota, a place that is contemporary while still being home to rich cultural heritage. Visit the various life-size bronze statues of U.S. presidents along the streets to understand why Rapid City is called the “City of Presidents". Children and adults can learn about wildlife both existing and extinct at Reptile Gardens, Journey Museum and Learning Center, and The Museum of Geology. The Dahl Arts Centre, Art Alley, and Prairie Edge Trading Company and Galleries are perfect for lovers of art and Native American culture. From fine dining to bison burgers and chips, there are dining options for all appetites.

Day 4

Rapid City to Central Black Hills

Rapid City serves as the gateway to the Black Hills, the home of incredible sites and popular attractions. It doesn’t take long to get from Rapid City to one-of-a-kind sights like the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a huge yet intricate mountainside sculpture of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln that is surrounded by the stunning Black Hills landscape. After viewing this spectacular monument to democracy, visit this site’s interactive Lincoln Borglum Museum to find out more about the history and development of the carving. Nearby is Crazy Horse Memorial, the world’s largest in-progress mountain carving. Once finished, it will depict the mounted figure of Crazy Horse, the powerful Native American leader of the Oglala Lakota and courageous defender of Native American culture and territory. Make sure to check out the on-site Native American artists and performers and take in one of Crazy Horse Memorial’s family-friendly tours before spending the night in one of the Central Black Hills communities of Keystone, Hill City or Custer.

Day 5

Central Black Hills to Deadwood

Make sure to check out Custer State Park, a place famous for its unique wildlife, historic sites, fishing, campgrounds and spectacular natural beauty. Enjoy the park’s diverse wildlife including bison, pronghorn antelope, deer, elk, prairie dogs and mountain goats. Custer State Park is the perfect place to stay active by boating or canoeing on clear mountain waters against a backdrop of awe-inspiring granite peaks. Experience adventure on land with options like biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, or hiking the incredible rolling plains. Travel to historic Deadwood, a once-lawless Gold Rush-era town that was home to infamous gamblers, gunslingers, and legendary characters. Visit Mount Moriah Cemetery to see the graves of Wild Bill, Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock. Take a paranormal investigation tour of one of the town’s most haunted places—The Adams House. View a plesiosaur fossil and a huge gold nugget at the Adams Museum or try your luck at one of the numerous casinos on Historic Main Street.

Day 6: South Dakota - Wyoming

Spearfish to TA Ranch

Head to Wyoming and visit Devils Tower National Monument, a spectacular rock formation that formed from volcanic lava millions of years ago and is now 867 feet high. It was in the iconic ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ film and is one of the most sacred sites of the Northern Plains Indian tribes. Stop at the Devils Tower Visitor Center to go on an interesting ranger-led tour around its base. Then venture to the town of Buffalo which is situated at the bottom of the Big Horn Mountains, where you can walk in the footsteps of pioneers, outlaws, gold miners, soldiers and cowboys. For an exciting day, head into some of Buffalo’s quaint shops and delicious restaurants and the historic Orient Hotel, before visiting attractions such as Hole-In-The-Wall Fort and Phil Kearney Historic Site. Stay at TA Ranch for the night, home to the climactic end of the Johnson County Cattle Wars, for an unforgettable western experience.

Day 7

Buffalo to Cody

On your way to Cody, stop at Sheridan where you can visit King’s Saddlery - a complete Western tack store, and also offering gifts like jewellery, dishes and frames. King’s Saddlery encompasses The King Don Museum which houses over three decades of the King family’s collection of Western and memorabilia including saddles, wagons, coaches, Indian artefacts, and original artwork. Head to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and go on a scenic boat tour of Bighorn Canyon with Hidden Treasure Charters & Wyoming Eco-tours. Continue onto the city of Cody, which is named after Colonel William Frederick ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody. For a fun night, go to the Cody Nite Rodeo which is the longest running and only nightly rodeo in the world held each evening from June to August, before staying overnight in Cody.

Day 8

Cody

To learn more about Wyoming’s rich history while in Cody, visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, an outpost of the Smithsonian which contains five fascinating museums under one roof. One of these museums is considered the top-rated Plains Indian Museum in the USA. This Center has exhibitions such as ‘Monarch of the Skies’ which tells the story of Golden Eagles in American West. Visit Old Trail Town in Cody to step back in time as you view a collection of unique historic western artefacts and original cabins used by Old West outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Stay overnight at Cody’s Irma Hotel, in one of the historic rooms that famous characters like Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane were in, or even in Buffalo Bill’s private suite.

Day 9

Cody to Yellowstone National Park

Go on a two hour drive from Cody to Yellowstone National Park and explore the Upper loop of the park where you will find Mammoth Hot Springs which look like an inside-out cave, and the stunning Mystic Falls. Go to the Tower-Roosevelt to see stunning canyons, lush forests, flowing rivers, and Tower Fall; a 132-foot waterfall. Stop at the Visitor Center to learn about Fort Yellowstone and the Native American tribes that inhabited this region. For an incredible natural feature, go to Old Faithful, the cone geyser that regularly erupts hot water to heights of 27 metres for about 20 minutes, before steaming. Stay nearby overnight at the Old Faithful Inn, an historic hotel with rustic architecture and a huge stone fireplace.

Day 10

Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton National Park

As you drive to Grand Teton National Park, explore the lower loop of Yellowstone National Park to see more wildlife like bison, elk and wolf, or the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone where you will find the stunning water falls, Upper and Lower Falls. Follow U.S. 191 to reach Grand Teton National Park which has unique wildlife including 300 species of birds, as well as blooming botanicals, verdant forests and spectacular panoramic views with dramatic mountains reaching high into the sky. For an exciting adventure experience go llama trekking, horse riding, hiking, camping, kayaking, rafting or snowmobile tours in winter. Stay overnight in Jackson and have a delicious meal at Bar J Chuckwagon Suppers, which has a vibrant authentic atmosphere with songs, stories and comedy that will transport you back to the old west. Shop for western apparel, Native American and western arts and crafts at the many galleries and boutiques and, if there’s time, witness a shootout at Jackson Town Square beginning at 6pm, where characters in costumes act out the gunfight, or saddle up at the bar for a drink at the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.

Day 11: Wyoming - Idaho

Jackson to Pocatello

Start your drive to Pocatello where you’ll go through the city of Driggs with stunning scenery, golf, fly fishing, glider flying and biking. About 15 minutes later you’ll reach Teton Valley which is a charming area offering interesting wildlife, fishing, hiking and horseback riding. Later in your drive you’ll find Yellowstone Bear World just outside Rexburg, which is an incredible drive-through wildlife park. Drive your own vehicle through the park where you will see Rocky Mountain Goats, Bison, White-tail Deer and Grizzly Bears! As you continue driving to Pocatello, stop at the history and science Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls or the Shoshone Bannock Tribal Museum in Fort Hall that has old photographs and artefacts from tribal history. Drive to the charming city of Pocatello for an overnight stay, or stay in the city of Lava Hot Springs.

Day 12

Pocatello to Sun Valley Resort

Visit the Idaho Potato Museum in downtown Blackfoot; a quirky museum built in 1912 that is devoted to showcasing the history of Idaho’s potatoes. It has interesting graphics and fun exhibits including the world’s largest potato crisp, donated by Pringles of Procter & Gamble. Continue and stop at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve that was established in 1924 and contains three major lava fields which are some of the best examples of rift cracks in the world. Keep driving until you reach Sun Valley resort, home to old Hollywood glamour, where you can golf, bike, hike, play tennis, or in winter, skiing or ice skating is the sport of choice, before staying overnight at the resort or in Ketchum.

Day 13

Sun Valley Resort to McCall

On the way to McCall stop at Sawtooth National Recreation Area to view mountains and ice blue lakes and rivers, where you can go hiking, rock climbing or fishing. Make sure you stop over at Redfish Lake, where you can go kayaking or lay on the beach while taking in the picturesque scenery. You can even go white-water rafting on either the Salmon River or Payette River for a thrilling experience. Keep driving until you reach the pretty resort town McCall where you will stay overnight.

Day 14

McCall to Boise

Head from McCall to Boise and on the way stop at Hells Canyon National Recreation Area with a backdrop of spectacular mountain peaks and stunning scenery that is perfect to view while hiking or horseback riding. For an unforgettable time, go jet boating through rapids and see the canyon which divides Oregon and Idaho. Continue onto Boise, the capital of Idaho, where you can go for dinner at one of Boise’s delicious restaurants before staying here for the night.

Day 15

Boise

While in Boise, visit the Snake River Valley American Viticultural Area to see beautiful vineyards and taste some of the best wine at local wineries. Then head to the Basque Museum & Cultural Center in downtown Boise which has many interesting exhibits such as ‘An Enduring Culture’ which provides interesting information about the heritage of the Basque communities and the importance of their language; Euskara. 20 minutes away is the Warhawk Air Museum which represents the American experience of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War through a huge collection of airplanes and equipment. Make sure you visit the World Center for Birds of Prey where you go to an indoor/outdoor centre where you get to meet eagles, owls, vultures, hawks and falcons from all different countries!

Day 16

Depart Boise for home

Today marks the end of this wild west adventure as you head home.

“Content and images in this road trip were provided by the Great American West States of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota"

If you would like to book car hire or motorhome rental in the USA, simply use our online booking engine above or contact our friendly reservations staff.