Day 1 – Rapid City, South Dakota
See some of America’s grandest sights! Your western adventure begins in Rapid City, South Dakota. Transfer from the Rapid City Airport by hotel courtesy shuttle to your centrally located hotel for a two night stay. Rooms are available for check-in after 3:00 p.m. Join Caravan for a 7:00 p.m. welcome briefing.
Day 2 – Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse
Enjoy a morning visit to Mt. Rushmore National Monument and the sculpted faces of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Lincoln. Next, drive to Crazy Horse Memorial. Started over 50 years ago, and still under construction, the memorial is the world’s largest sculpture in progress. Chief Standing Bear told the sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, “My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, too.” The monument is a tribute to the Sioux Lakota Indian leader known as Crazy Horse. Here, Indian artisans showcase their arts and crafts and visit with guests. Visit the Indian Museum of North America. Return through the Black Hills to Rapid City. Free time to explore the historic district and stroll the Presidential Walk with life-size statues of American Presidents. B
Day 3 – Little Big Horn, Montana
Enter the range lands and oil fields of Wyoming and head west across the high plains. Visit the old western cowboy town of Sheridan. Enjoy lunch. Next, enter Montana, “Big Sky Country.” Brief visit to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in the Crow Nation. Here, in 1876, in the Valley of Little Big Horn, combined Sioux and Northern Cheyenne forces led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse overwhelmed General Custer and his cavalry. Continue to Billings, nestled between the Yellowstone River and the Rimrocks. Explorers Lewis & Clark camped near here in 1806. BL
Day 4 – Yellowstone National Park
Journey alongside the Yellowstone River in Montana this morning as you follow the Lewis and Clark Trail to Livingston, film location of “A River Runs Through It” and “The Horse Whisperer.” Continue following the Yellowstone River south through Paradise Valley into Yellowstone National Park. Established in 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park in the world. Now over 90 countries have national parks. This two million acre park contains almost 300 geysers and over 10,000 hot springs, fumaroles, and mud pots. Look for moose, elk, bison, bears, and wolves. You will visit the major attractions of both Yellowstone’s upper and lower loops on your leisurely visit to the park. Visit Mammoth Hot Springs, one of the best areas in the park for close-up viewing of elk. See the unique terraced pools at Mammoth. Enjoy a relaxing two night stay at your lodge, Old Faithful Inn. Old Faithful Geyser is within easy viewing and walking distance of Old Faithful Inn. Every 90 minutes, Old Faithful Geyser shoots thousands of gallons of steaming water into the air. Elevation at Old Faithful is approximately 7,300 feet. B
Day 5 – Yellowstone National Park
Continue your exploration of Yellowstone Park today on the lower loop. Visit Norris Geyser Basin. Stop at Fishing Bridge Visitor Center alongside Yellowstone Lake. Visit Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon, where you can marvel at the rushing waters of Yellowstone Falls, twice the height of Niagara Falls. Return to Old Faithful Inn by mid-afternoon. Leisure time to enjoy your lodge and the nearby geysers. B
Day 6 – Grand Tetons, Jackson
This morning enter Grand Teton National Park. See the jagged, soaring Teton Range with peaks over 12,000 feet. Scenes from the movie “Shane” were filmed here. Stop at pristine Jenny Lake. Weather and river conditions permitting, an unforgettable float trip awaits you on the majestic Snake River. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound as you float through the park. Look for waterfowl, beaver, osprey and eagles. Then, to Jackson. Free time to explore the charming downtown. Stroll the art galleries and western shops. See the Antler Arch at the entrance to historic Jackson town square. You may wish to visit the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, with bar stools made from horse saddles. Elevation in Jackson is approximately 6,300 feet. B
Day 7 – Tetons, Oregon Trail, Idaho
Head south this morning through the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Enter Idaho and travel along the route of the original “Oregon Trail.” Visit the National Oregon Trail Center. Continue to Salt Lake City, Utah, the state capital. Afternoon visit to Temple Square with its spacious gardens and fountains. See the Mormon Tabernacle, home to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (unless closed to the public due to a religious ceremony). Enjoy a farewell dinner. BD
Day 8 – Salt Lake City, Utah
Your tour ends after breakfast. Transfers are provided to the Salt Lake City Airport. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan. B
Hotels
Accommodations in the hotels and lodges are rooms with two beds and private bath or shower. A limited number of single rooms are available. Triple rooms are usually two beds, sometimes with a cot or rollaway.
Days 1, 2 – Rapid City, South Dakota
Rushmore Hotel
The Rushmore Hotel is an elegant and artistic hotel located in the heart of Rapid City. The lobby has a marble floor design intricately pieced together with 75 different exotic stones from all over the world. All guest rooms at the Rushmore Hotel have coffeemakers and high speed internet. In Rapid City, “The City of Presidents,” there are now 43 life size bronze statues of former U.S. presidents on city street corners. A statue of President John F. Kennedy and his son, John F. Kennedy, Jr. stands outside the hotel.
Day 3 – Billings, Montana
Hilton Garden Inn
Billings, Montana’s largest city, is located in the south-central portion of the state. The Hilton Garden Inn is a modern mid-rise hotel located in the newer retail area of Billings, approximately 1/4 mile from Rimrock Mall. Each of the rooms has complimentary wired and wireless internet access, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, iron & ironing board, and hairdryer. The Hilton Garden Inn’s fitness center includes a heated indoor pool and whirlpool. The hotel has a restaurant and lobby bar and is within easy walking distance of several restaurants.
Days 4, 5 – Yellowstone Park, Wyoming
Old Faithful Inn
Old Faithful Inn is a National Park Lodge located inside Yelowstone National Park and within easy viewing and walking distance of Old Faithful Geyser. Staying within Yellowstone enhances your wildlife viewing and sightseeing opportunities. Yellowstone National Park is a visual playground with bubbling hot springs, thunderous waterfalls, fascinating wildlife and steaming geysers. Internet service is available on an hourly or daily basis for a fee. Elevation at Old Faithful is approximately 7,300 feet.
Day 6 – Jackson, Wyoming
The Virginian Lodge
The Virginian is located in Jackson, Wyoming. Enjoy views of the surrounding mountains from the swimming pool and hot tub. The hotel also is home to a Jackson Hole favorite, The Virginian Saloon, featuring butting ram mounts and packed with artifacts reflecting the regional culture. Elevation at Jackson is approximately 6,300 feet.
Day 7 – Salt Lake City, Utah
The Hilton
The Hilton Salt Lake City is located in the heart of Salt Lake City, two blocks from Temple Square and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The rooms have all the modern amenities, including television, hair dryer, iron & ironing board, phone, voice mail, data port.
This Package Includes:
★ 7 Nights Lodging
★ 7 Breakfasts
★ 2 Lunches
★ 1 Dinner
★ Mt. Rushmore & Crazy Horse
★ Little Big Horn, Montana
★ Yellowstone National Park
★ Grand Tetons, Jackson
★ Tetons, Orgeon Trail, Idaho
★ Salt Lake City, Utah
★ Professional Tour Guide
★ Luggage Handling
2022 Departure Dates CALL FOR PRICING
(AIRFARE AND TRANSFERS ARE ADDITIONAL COST)