Badlands Premium Hard Top Van Tour - Public

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Delta-09 Missile Silo

   From 1963 until the early 1990s, the missile silo at Delta-09 contained a fully operational Minuteman Missile, bearing a 1.2 megaton nuclear warhead. The Delta-09 missile silo was one of 150 spread across western South Dakota. In total there were 1,000 Minuteman missiles deployed from the 1960's into the early 1990's. Visitors can now tour the site daily. The launch facility consists of a silo 12 feet in diameter and 80 feet deep made of reinforced concrete with a steel-plate liner. The door to the silo has been welded and fitted with a glass roof, and an unarmed missile placed inside. For safety reasons, tours are not conducted underground. In addition to the missile and silo, visitors will see support structures such as antennas and motion sensors.

   30 minutes here

2. Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

   Short stop at location of 1950'-60's Nuclear Missile Site. Small museum provides exhibits of the 'Duck and Cover' days. During the Cold War, a vast arsenal of nuclear missiles were placed in the Great Plains. Hidden in plain sight, for thirty years 1,000 missiles were kept on constant alert; hundreds remain today. The Minuteman Missile remains an iconic weapon in the American nuclear arsenal. It holds the power to destroy civilization, but is meant as a nuclear deterrent to maintain peace and prevent war. *No Tours on Sundays, Mondays & Tuesdays (Closed)

   30 minutes here

3. Badlands National Park

   Badlands Loop Road (SD 240) is a spectacular way to see the North Unit of Badlands National Park. This two-lane paved road is wide and safe and does include viewing wildlife along the Loop Road. We drive carefully, stopping to use overlooks and pull-outs. There are over a dozen spectacular overlooks and trailheads, we stop at the best ones to explore and take photos.

   90 minutes here · Admission included

4. Door Trail

   A wheelchair-accessible ¼ mile boardwalk leads through a break in the Badlands Wall known as “the Door” to a panoramic view of the Badlands. You have the option to explore the trail. The maintained trail ends and continues onto Badlands bedrock, with yellow posts marking the primitive portion of the trail.

   30 minutes here · Admission included

5. Ben Reifel Visitor Center

   The Ben Reifel Visitor Center is the main facility in the North Unit of the park. You can stop by to talk with rangers, explore museum exhibits, check out the Fossil Preparation Lab, or visit the Badlands Natural History Association bookstore.

   30 minutes here · Admission included

6. Fossil Exhibit Trail

   The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a fully accessible boardwalk featuring fossil replicas and exhibits of extinct creatures that once lived in the area. The exhibits are tactile, so please feel free to touch.

   30 minutes here · Admission included

7. Pinnacles Overlook

   This view displays the expanse of the Sage Creek Wilderness area. On clear days, the Black Hills are visible on the horizon. Bison might be visible in the distance, in the valley below or the upper prairie to the northwest. This overlook is also a popular spot for Bighorn sheep to gather. This is also a lambing area for Bighorn sheep in late April to early May, so it’s not unusual to see lambs traversing the rocky slopes of the Badlands.

   30 minutes here · Admission included

8. Wall Drug

   One of the world’s most well-known tourist attractions, it’s hard to believe Wall Drug Store got its start with something many wouldn’t even turn their heads at today … the promise of free ice water. But in fact, the Husteads turned free ice water into a million-dollar idea with a little determination, quick thinking and a lot of signs. Signs with catchy jingles like “Get a soda . . . Get a root beer . . . turn next corner . . . Just as near . . . To Highway 16 & 14. . . Free Ice Water. . . Wall Drug” drew weary travelers into the small-town drug store to enjoy a refreshing break. Today, more than 2 million visitors a year stop at the popular roadside attraction for a meal or activity, 5 cent coffee, and ice water – which is still free.

   30 minutes here

9. The Black Hills

   As we drive to the Badlands and back you will have distant views of the famous Black Hills to the west and the Prairie Grasslands to the east. And as we approach the Park you will be able to discern the barren dessert tables of the Park. Many stops for rest and bathrooms breaks.

   120 minutes here

Where it starts and ends

Options you can book

• Badlands - Private Tour

  Pickup included

• Premium Badlands Tour - Public

  Pickup included

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 15 travelers per booking

Operated by

Black Hills Open-Top-Tours

Know before you go

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

Photos

Traveler reviews

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