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Best Black Hills Tours: Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park & Beyond

Independent comparison guides for every type of Black Hills tour — private, combo, self-guided, wildlife, and lighting ceremony. Live Viator prices, real traveler ratings, and the local context most booking sites won't give you.

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Most-Booked Black Hills Tours

The top-rated guided experiences travelers book most often — sorted by review count and rating.

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Twilight Tour: Custer State Park & Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony – Black Hills
Free Cancellation

Twilight Tour: Custer State Park & Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony

5.0(38)6h

Experience the stunning beauty of the Black Hills on this unforgettable private afternoon & evening tour, designed to highlight the region’s most scenic drives & end with the Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony. First, we visit the tranquil Sylvan Lake, nestled among pine-covered hills & dramatic rock formations. We continue with a picturesque journey along the legendary Needles Hwy, where towering granite spires, narrow tunnels, & sweeping views create an unforgettable drive. You’ll have plenty of time for photo stops, short walks, and commentary from your knowledgeable local guide. Then, travel the engineering marvel of Iron Mt Rd, known for its pigtail bridges, scenic switchbacks, & tunnels that perfectly frame Mt Rushmore in the distance. We arrive at Mt Rushmore with time to explore, then as night falls, gather at the amphitheater for the Lighting Ceremony—a patriotic & heartfelt experience that includes a short film, tribute to veterans, & the illumination of the iconic carvings.

From$760
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Western Horizons Hot Air Balloon rides – Black Hills
Free Cancellation

Western Horizons Hot Air Balloon rides

5.0(38)3h

Western Horizons Hot Air Balloons offers breathtaking panoramic views of the beautiful Southern Black Hills of South Dakota. Our hot air balloon rides last approximately one hour. The entire experience from pre-flight set up to post-flight refreshments can last from 2 to 3 hours. We fly out of Hot Springs, SD, just after sunrise, weather permitting.

From$395
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Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Tour – Black Hills
Free Cancellation

Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Tour

5.0(34)9h

What makes this tour unique is the combination of three of Western South Dakota's most iconic destinations – Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park Wildlife Loop – into a single, comprehensive, and fully narrated experience. Over 8-9 hours, you'll not just see these landmarks, but gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for their history, cultural significance, and natural beauty. We always give the guest time to buy their lunch during the tour.

From$312
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Bike Adventure on the Mickelson Trail - Private – Black Hills

Bike Adventure on the Mickelson Trail - Private

5.0(31)24h

See the Black Hills in a unique way. Enjoy the quiet, scenic trail and let our guides tell you on some of the history, culture and flora and fauna of the area! Great fun for any fitness level - we can accommodate all in your group, even if some want to ride and others don't. This tour is customizable. Questions? Contact us for more information.

From$375
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Badlands National Park - Sunset and Stargazing (Private) – Black Hills
Free Cancellation

Badlands National Park - Sunset and Stargazing (Private)

5.0(26)7h

A once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the incredible Badlands; first in the afternoon and into a golden sunset - followed by the official National Park stargazing program. The best of both worlds, this tour allows us the view wildlife and the parks formations before the sun sets, and then taking on the park after dark! Because Badlands National Park is not surrounded by big cities or other major sources of light pollution, night skies in the park are very clear. After dark, visitors can see many of the night sky’s greatest hits: constellations, the moon, satellites, and airplanes. But the special darkness of Badlands National Park helps visitors to see even more like planets, the Milky Way, star clusters, nebulae, the International Space Station, shooting stars, and – very occasionally – the aurora borealis.

From$850
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Private Tour of the Badlands with Local Experts – Black Hills
Free Cancellation

Private Tour of the Badlands with Local Experts

5.0(25)9h

The Badlands have many secrets and requires a seasoned guide to explain and reveal them. GeoFunTrek Tours' guides are local experts with decades of experience. We have no seasonal-guides, part-time guides or trainee-guides. This is a family-owned business and all tours are conducted by family members: Cindy, Christopher and John Esposti. We have the knowledge and skills to make your day one to remember. You will always get the A-Team when you tour with GeoFunTrek Tours! All tours are PRIVATE TOURS, exclusive to the group booking the tour, and no additional guests will be included. Children must be accompanied by one adult. Children 3 years and younger are free and will have their own seat. Children's car seats must be supplied by family members when required. Our vehicles are SUV's and a van may be rented for larger groups. Please enquire about vehicles if you have any questions. This tour is great for 3-generation families with Children, multiple couples and groups of friends.

From$425
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Prices and availability provided by Viator. We earn a commission on bookings — at no extra cost to you.

The Black Hills cover roughly 5,000 square miles across western South Dakota — far more ground than most visitors have time to cover on their own. A guided tour is the difference between "we saw Mount Rushmore and drove home tired" and "we saw the lighting ceremony, met a bison up close, and watched the sunset from Iron Mountain Road."

This hub indexes every Black Hills tour guide we've published. Each linked page covers a specific tour type or destination, with real Viator inventory, decision guides for who each tour fits, comparison tables, and local tips most booking sites skip. Pick a starting point below.

Browse by Location

Badlands National Park

Deadwood

Custer State Park

Mount Rushmore

Rapid City

Browse by Tour Type

Private Tours →Combo Tours →Self-Guided →Wildlife Tours →Jeep Safaris →Sunset / Lighting Ceremony →Helicopter Tours →Ghost Tours →Mt Rushmore Guide →Mt Rushmore Tour Prices →

Plan Your Trip

Best Time to Visit the Black Hills →

Month-by-month weather, crowds, and event timing.

Things to Do in the Black Hills →

Top attractions, scenic drives, and itineraries.

Best Hotels in Rapid City →

Most tours pick up from Rapid City — here's where to stay.

Hotels Near Mount Rushmore →

Stay in Keystone — 3 miles from the memorial.

Tour Booking FAQ

Which Black Hills tour is most popular?

The Mount Rushmore + Crazy Horse + Custer State Park combo. It covers the three signature stops in a single 8–10 hour day and is the most-booked Viator itinerary in the region by review count.

Do I need to book tours in advance?

For summer (June–August), book 1–2 weeks ahead. The Fourth of July weekend and Sturgis Rally (first week of August) sell out 4+ weeks in advance. Spring and fall usually have availability 3–5 days out. Most Viator listings include free cancellation 24 hours before the tour start.

Where do most Black Hills tours pick up?

Rapid City — it's the largest city in the region and where most travelers stay. Many private tours offer pickup from Keystone, Hill City, and Custer hotels; confirm with the operator after booking. Self-guided audio tours start from wherever you are.

Are park entrance fees included in tour prices?

Usually yes for Mount Rushmore parking ($10) and Custer State Park ($25 vehicle). Almost never for Crazy Horse Memorial ($32/adult) or Badlands National Park ($30/vehicle) — those are typically additional. Each linked guide breaks down what's included for that specific tour type.