Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore
Traveler rating
4.3/5
Based on 187 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore worth booking?
Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore is a 4-hour experience in Rapid City, United States, from $30 per person. It scores 70 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.3/5 rating across 187 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 70 / 100
- Rating
- 4.3/5 (187)
- Duration
- 4 hours
- From
- $30 per person
Download GuideAlong's Black Hills, Badlands, Mount Rushmore, & Custer State Park audio tour to explore a surprising mix of big-name icons and wild landscapes, crowned by one of America's largest and most famous monuments. See Rushmore up close, swap the Badlands’ grasslands and wrinkled buttes for the forested peaks of the Black Hills, spot wildlife in Custer State Park, and soak up Old West stories in Deadwood. If you have extra time, Devils Tower makes a perfect bonus stop just across the Wyoming line. Now with brand new stories on the walking trail around Mount Rushmore! And enjoy the freedom to explore offline at your own pace; spending more time at places that interest you, and bypass any that don’t. ✅ Stories, tips and directions play automatically based on your location ✅ Travel at your own pace ✅ Tours work offline using GPS, no cell service or WiFi needed ✅ Suggested itineraries for half, full or multi day use ✅ Buy once, use forever! No expiry, includes free updates
What you get
About this experience
Download GuideAlong's Black Hills, Badlands, Mount Rushmore, & Custer State Park audio tour to explore a surprising mix of big-name icons and wild landscapes, crowned by one of America's largest and most famous monuments. See Rushmore up close, swap the Badlands’ grasslands and wrinkled buttes for the forested peaks of the Black Hills, spot wildlife in Custer State Park, and soak up Old West stories in Deadwood. If you have extra time, Devils Tower makes a perfect bonus stop just across the Wyoming line. Now with brand new stories on the walking trail around Mount Rushmore! And enjoy the freedom to explore offline at your own pace; spending more time at places that interest you, and bypass any that don’t. ✅ Stories, tips and directions play automatically based on your location ✅ Travel at your own pace ✅ Tours work offline using GPS, no cell service or WiFi needed ✅ Suggested itineraries for half, full or multi day use ✅ Buy once, use forever! No expiry, includes free updates
What's included
Included
- Support: Toll free phone, chat and email
- Easy To Use: Pre-download and tour offline
- Trip Planners: In-app, web and PDF
- Location Based: Stories, tips & directions that autoplay
- Buy once, use forever! No expiry, includes free updates
- GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide) Audio Tour: 535+ Points
- Includes an app based self-guided experience, so you do not need any in-person guide.
- Flexible Routes: Suggested itineraries or create your own
Not included
- Entry Fees, National Park Passes, Reservations
What you'll see and do
The Black Hills
As the audio guides play commentary based on your gps location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route(s) to match your interests and schedule. Or you can use our trip planners for our suggestions on half, full or multi day itineraries. Some of the many highlights are listed below;
24 minutes here
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The most famous and recognizable memorial celebrating the nationhood of the USA must be the 4 presidential faces that look out from Mount Rushmore. Though you will have seen it many times depicted on TV, movies and photos, there is no equivalent to seeing it with your own eyes and feeling the scale and depth of the sculpture.
15 minutes here · Admission not included
Custer State Park
Take a leisurely drive through an enormous area of natural habitat of rolling prairie hills with open grasslands and some pine forest. Though the drive is officially only 18-miles long, expect to spend at least 1 hour, but if you enjoy spotting wildlife, its easy to spend 3 or more hours watching. Also explore some of the side roads that branch off the main route.
20 minutes here · Admission not included
Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower was always a place of intrigue and fascination since it became the nation's first National Monument. For a multitude of generations before that, and continuing to this day, Native Americans celebrate the site for its spiritual importance. The Tower was thrust into pop culture in the 1970's sci-fi classic as the geographical star of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
25 minutes here · Admission not included
Badlands National Park
Western South Dakota delivers a wide variety of spectacular landscapes ranging from the prairies grassland and rock formations of the Badlands National Park, through to the mountains, canyons and forests of the Black Hills for you to explore.
30 minutes here
Crazy Horse Memorial
In 1948, Sioux Chief Henry Standing Bear approached a Polish sculptor about creating another larger than life sculpture on Thunderhead Mountain - this time celebrating Sioux and other Northern Plains native groups through a depiction of Crazy Horse.
20 minutes here · Admission not included
Keystone
Once a mining boom town, Keystone today is the nearest community to Mount Rushmore. It is filled with hotels, restaurants, cafes and stores to find your perfect Mount Rushmore souvenir.
10 minutes here
Rapid City
The hub of the three best scenic drives in this part of South Dakota is Rapid City and it is the ideal place to base your accommodations, and to do some exploring in this lively town.
20 minutes here
Sylvan Lake
Located along route 87, Sylvan Lake is described as the Jewel of Custer State Park. If time allows, it's very worthwhile to allocate 45 minutes or so to enjoy the relatively easy 1.1 mile trail around the lake. The combination of grassy shores, still lake water and granite formations rising from the water are truly scenic. For more dedicated and prepared hikers, this is also the starting point for the Black Elk Peak trail, a 7 mile loop that rises 1100 feet to South Dakota's highest point.
10 minutes here
Iron Mountain Road
The final 45 minute approach of the recommended direction to Mount Rushmore follows the amazing Iron Mountain Road. We'll encounter tunnels, pigtail bridges, superb lookouts and 314 curves. It is a scenic delight! The most magical moment of the drive is the view through the Scovel Tunnel where 4 presidential faces greet you at the other end, like a postcard.
10 minutes here
Bridal Veil Falls
This 60 foot, narrow, wispy spray of water sits right beside the road in Spearfish Canyon. It's easy to capture that perfect photo right from the viewing platform.
10 minutes here
Deadwood
One of the most famous wild-west towns in the entire country - Deadwood became legendary for it's gold rush boom and the multitude of characters who we recognize to this day.
120 minutes here
Roughlock Falls State Nature Area
From the tiny ex-sawmill town of Savoy on the Spearfish Canyon Road, Roughlock Falls is an easy and popular spot to visit with an attractive waterfall easily accessed by boardwalk. Extend your visit with a 1 mile stream-side walking trail to the falls from the Spearfish Lodge.
60 minutes here
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
Spearfish Canyon is a superb 19 mile stretch of road with stunning waterfalls and 1000 foot high limestone walls. This scenic drive connects the town of Spearfish with Savoy and Cheyenne Crossing, following the Spearfish Creek all the way.
60 minutes here
Badlands Wall
At different times during the drive through the Badlands, we will pass through the Upper and Lower Prairie. The barrier that separates these 2 levels is known as the Wall.
30 minutes here
Door Trail
The 3/4 mile Door Trail is the most popular as you follow a boardwalk until reaching a notch in the rock - the Door. Through the Door, hikers can venture into the amazing rock formations, characteristic of the Badlands. The shorter option is known as the Window Trail, just 1/4 mile long.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Fossil Exhibit Trail
This easy 0.25 mile boardwalk is dedicated to the stories of fossils that have been found throughout the park. During its history, what is now the park has experienced perfect conditions leading to animal, plant and insect life forms to be quickly buried in silt of mud. When these events are timed just right, bones, teeth and shells especially are preserved to provide us a window to past times. Fossil finds are active to this day.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
For a complete change of theme in the Badlands, there is an opportunity to experience an important location from the Cold War arms race era. The Minuteman Missile Visitor Center serves as a museum and an opportunity to visit now decommissioned nuclear missile silos and control centers.
60 minutes here · Admission not included
Yellow Mounds Overlook
One of the best vistas in Badlands National Park, the view from this overlook reveals classic buttes and erosion. The unique coloring in bands across these mounds, ranges from yellow and beige through to pink. The formation originated as black, ocean mud which has weathered through exposure to air into this highly photographic yellow display.
20 minutes here · Admission not included
Wind Cave National Park
These 2 cave systems are incredible and if you have time in your itinerary, should not be missed. Both locations require driving on side trips off the Black Hills Loop tour route. If you follow the loop, the commentary will include descriptions of where to turn off for these these places, and details of how to visit. Simply return to the tour route when you are done.
5 minutes here · Admission not included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Rapid City
From the east on I-90, watch the exit numbers as there are no major towns before the start. Commentary begins soon after Exit 143 at Route 73 and directs you toward the Badlands. From downtown Rapid City, you can start any of the 3 scenic loops or join anywhere along the route, with audio included.
Meeting point
Rapid City
Includes an app-based self-guided experience, so no in-person guide is needed. From west on I-90, commentary starts after Exit 141 and guides you through Moorcroft toward Devils Tower, returning to I-90 at Sundance. Join anywhere along the route and pick up audio at the next point.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
From the east on I-90, watch the exit numbers as there are no major towns before the start. Commentary begins soon after Exit 143 at Route 73 and directs you toward the Badlands. From downtown Rapid City, you can start any of the 3 scenic loops or join anywhere along the route, with audio included.
Ends at
Includes an app-based self-guided experience, so no in-person guide is needed. From west on I-90, commentary starts after Exit 141 and guides you through Moorcroft toward Devils Tower, returning to I-90 at Sundance. Join anywhere along the route and pick up audio at the next point.
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 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide)
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How to Access: After booking you’ll receive an email and text with instructions (search “Download Audio Tour”). Click the link in the email/text to sign in with your preferred Apple or Google account and redeem your voucher code ahead of time.
- Download The GuideAlong App: Download the free app over WiFi or cellular data and sign in with the same Apple or Google account.
- Download The Tour: Download the tour in the GuideAlong app under 'My Tours' over WiFi or cellular data.
- Start The Tour: Open the tour in the GuideAlong app to preview the start locations, tour route and trip planner, or start the tour.
- Location-Based Stories: Audio commentary plays automatically as you drive using your phone’s GPS chip. Wherever you are and whichever direction you’re going, you’ll hear the best stories and tips.
- Flexible Travel Date: Tours are a one-time purchase with no expiry or date/time limit. If your plans change to a different day, there’s no need to change your travel date.
- Tour at Your Leisure: With GuideAlong, you control the pace. Start, stop, and resume the tour any day, anytime, adapting it to your schedule.
- Driving Tours: Group Savings: One purchase covers everyone in the vehicle, making it a cost-effective way to explore.
- Works Offline: No internet or cell service is required once the audio tour is downloaded to your phone, so you can relax and tour offline.
- Bring A Charger: Pack a USB/C car charger for charging and easy sound connectivity, and make sure your device is fully charged.
- Technical Support: The GuideAlong support team is available daily by toll-free phone, online chat, and email.
- Vehicle Restrictions on the Black Hills Loop Drive: Height restrictions apply along the Black Hills Loop Drive, as large RVs cannot fit through the tunnels on Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road. If possible, drive a regular vehicle, or if towing, detach and leave your trailer behind.
- The app’s audio will play through your car’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display, while the app’s map will display on your phone. You can connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 184 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
3 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Traveler reviews
184 verified traveler reviews for Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Tough start, but worth it
A little hard to get started, figuring out which tour to take, and then get syncd up with the program
Response from the operator: Thanks for sharing your experience with us! Our driving tour through Black Hills and Mount Rushmore is one seamless experience, starting from either direction. We’re always updating our tours and will look into making the starting points even clearer. We hope to join you on the road again soon!
via Viator
Fantastic Tour at our own Discretions
SENSATIONAL !! Really nice job, thanks very much! The app worked flawlessly no matter how we used it! Its smart, and has nice commentary along the way. It is especially detailed when driving choices lie ahead. Thank you! For the price, this is a steal!
Response from the operator: It’s great to know the Black Hills & Mount Rushmore tour gave you the freedom to explore your way, Edward. Our US Rockies & Plains Bundle is a great fit for more western road trips. We hope to join you on the road again soon!
via Tripadvisor
Like having a private guide
This was beyond amazing I can’t recommend it highly enough. We saw so many more things that we would have missed all while getting history and information along the way
Response from the operator: This is what we love to hear! So glad that our tours helped you make the most of Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. If you’re already planning your next big road trip, our US Rockies & Plains Bundle is a good one to check out next. We hope to join you on the road again soon!
via Tripadvisor
An absolute must have on a drive
Such an amazing and informative way to travel through this part of the country We named the narrator Lamont and he is clear and clever
Response from the operator: Hi Peggy, we love hearing that our Black Hills & Mount Rushmore tour helped you get all the history and stories on your drive! If you’re planning your next trip, our US Rockies & Plains Bundle is a great one to check out next. We hope to join you on the road again soon!
via Viator
Exceeded Expectations
Great app - it exceeded my expectations. The information provided was timely and very informative. I also appreciated the accuracy of the GPS, it’s always knew where I was and adapted accordingly.
Response from the operator: Hi there, that’s exactly what we love to hear! Glad the directions and stories helped you have a great time around the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. If you’re traveling west, check out our US Rockies & Plains Bundle. We hope to join you on the road again soon!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 65
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide), who run 59 experiences we rank across 46 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 67.7.
See everything GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide) runsWhy this scores 70
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Rapid City.
How much does Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore cost?
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Prices start at $30 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Rapid City usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore take?
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Plan for about 4 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Rapid City is not rushed.
Is Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 70 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.3/5 across 187 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Rapid City, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 4-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore?
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Around 65 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Rapid City can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Rapid City and add a light layer if any part of the 4-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Rapid City within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Rapid City?
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Rapid City is the base for Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse tours, Badlands National Park loops, Custer State Park wildlife drives and Black Hills cave visits. On Outty we rank every Rapid City experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show, Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills, Private Tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Rapid City?
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May to September, with Sturgis crowding early August. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Rapid City?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore?
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Included: Support: Toll free phone, chat and email; Easy To Use: Pre-download and tour offline; Trip Planners: In-app, web and PDF; Location Based: Stories, tips & directions that autoplay; and Buy once, use forever! No expiry, includes free updates. Not included: Entry Fees, National Park Passes, Reservations. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore?
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From the east on I-90, watch the exit numbers as there are no major towns before the start. Commentary begins soon after Exit 143 at Route 73 and directs you toward the Badlands. From downtown Rapid City. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Rapid City. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore?
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Across 187 reviews averaging 4.3 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, the guide. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
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