South Dakota Package Deals

In the heartland of America, you'll find a place where the plains meet the mountains, where bustling cities meet the wild frontier, And where winding rivers and wind swept prairies blend with towering granite peaks and jagged spires. Here, you'll find South Dakota, the land of Great Faces and Great Places.

The best time of the year to plan South Dakota travel is spring or autumn, but don’t let the weather deter you. South Dakota is interesting any time of the year and you can often find cheap South Dakota vacations during the winter.

Black Hills National Forest is 1.2 million acres of lush forest, granite peaks and outdoor adventure. The sky-piercing granite spires, known as the Needles, provide excellent and challenging rock climbing opportunities. The 114-mile George S. Mickelson Trail has gently rolling slopes and converted railroad bridges that take bikers and hikers from the northern to the southern tip of the Black Hills. Harney Peak, in the Black Elk Wilderness, has an elevation of 7,242 feet and is the highest point in the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is our Nation’s Shrine of Democracy and a breathtaking work of art. In 1927, sculptor Gutzon Borglum came to the Black Hills to carve his masterpiece into the side of a granite mountain. Today, visitors from all over the world come to South Dakota to see the four faces of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and to explore the beautiful Black Hills.

Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument take Black Hills visitors deep beneath the surface. Wind Cave is considered one of the world's longest and most complex caves. Its thin calcite fins and honeycomb rock structures complement the 28,295 acres of mixed-grass prairie, ponderosa pine forest, and roaming buffalo. Jewel Cave National Monument is the second longest cave in the world at 141 miles. Its colorful calcite crystals create spectacular jewel-like formations giving the cave its name. The official length of Jewel Cave is continually growing as explorers find new passageways. In January 2008, 476-feet of new passageways were discovered.

Custer State Park in the southern Black Hills offers families a unique vacation back to the old west. With 1,500 roaming buffalo, swift antelope, curious burros and shy elk, visitors can experience wildlife in the raw, natural beauty of the park. It also offers mountain lakes perfect for swimming, unique lodges and campsites, and dozens of trails for hiking and mountain biking. For those visitors who want to enjoy a scenic drive, Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road offer breathtaking views, unique rock tunnels and pigtail bridges.

Badlands National Park is an experience that is “out-of-this-world.” Its 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes and jagged spires create a moon-like surface that is full of ancient history. Thousands of fossils of prehistoric beasts have been uncovered in the park. Many archeological and paleontological digs continue today.

Crazy Horse Memorial is the world’s largest mountain carving in progress. Blasting on the memorial started as a way to honor the culture and traditions of North American Indians. Visitors to Crazy Horse can see the progress of the mountain carving as well as tour a Native American Museum and art center on the campus of the Memorial.

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is located near Badlands National Park. The Delta One Launch Control Facility and the Delta Nine Launch Facility were ideal locations for long-term preservation because they were among the nation’s oldest—with technology dating back to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Only minor modifications have been made to the deactivated sites, and much of the original mechanical equipment and historic furnishings remain intact.

Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, located in Hot Springs as part of your western South Dakota vacations, features wild horses running free over 11,000 acres.

Deadwood is a town in western South Dakota where even the streetlights are old fashioned lamps and the entire city is a historic landmark.

Stop in Keystone for truly unique artwork on your South Dakota vacations where you will see Dahl’s Chainsaw Art.

Enjoy an educational experience at the largest mammoth research facility in the world in Hot Springs.

Take the 1880 train through the Black Hills on a two-hour trip on a traditional steam engine.

Enjoy an evening of fine dining at Deadwood Grille as you visit the historic town and stop in the restaurant that fits the period.

Get a taste of homemade treats and sweets at the Purple Pie Place in Custer as you relax and take a break during your South Dakota travel.

South Dakota is home to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. In 1927, sculptor Gutzon Borglum came to the Black Hills to carve his masterpiece into the side of a granite mountain. Today, visitors from all over the world come to South Dakota to see the 60-foot faces of four American Presidents. It's a true national treasure and something you have to see to believe.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial symbolizes the ideals of freedom, democracy and the American dream in the four 60-foot granite faces. This mountain carving of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln draws over three million visitors a year. It is both a spectacular site and a man-made wonder.

History:The first blast on the mountain occurred in 1927. Under the direction of sculptor Gutzon Borglum, 400 men and women worked through hot summers and cold winters to create the 60-foot faces, nearly 500 feet up the side of the mountain. Over 90% of the mountain was carved using dynamite. The fine details of the faces were achieved, using a jackhammer. Operators hung from the top of the mountain in bosun chairs held by steel cables.

Despite the dangerous work, in the 14 years it took to carve the mountain, not a single person died. The memorial was officially declared complete on October 31, 1941.

However, Gutzon Borglum's vision was not totally completed. In July of 1941 Borglum died unexpectedly. His son, Lincoln, tried to continue his father's work, but funding ran out as America entered World War II. Visitors, who would like to see a model of Borglum's original dream, can view it at the Sculptor's Studio located at the Memorial.

The Secret Behind the Faces: Another part of Borglum’s grand vision was for a Hall of Records to be carved in the canyon behind the faces. Borglum envisioned a majestic room that held important documents like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Borglum started blasting his hall, but never finished it.

On August 9, 1998, Gutzon Borglum’s dream was somewhat completed when a repository of records was placed in the floor of the hall entry. Inside a titanium vault, sixteen porcelain tablets tell the story of Mount Rushmore, the reasons for selecting the four presidents and a short history of the United States. The Hall of Records is not accessible to visitors.

Why These Four Presidents?: Borglum chose these four men to carve into the mountainside because they represented the first 150 years of American history. George Washington was our first president and a founding father of our great nation. Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence—the basis for our democracy. Jefferson was also responsible for the expansion of the union with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Abraham Lincoln was responsible for the preservation of the union by holding the country together during the Civil War, the most trying time in our nation’s history. Theodore Roosevelt was chosen because he led the country during the explosive economic growth of the early 20th century. He was also responsible for setting aside land for national parks so all generations of Americans could enjoy the beauty of the country.

South Dakota has a rich history that reaches from the days of the dinosaurs to the Cold War. One of the most complete T-Rex skeletons was found in South Dakota, and the largest collection of Columbian Wooly Mammoth bones are still being unearthed in the Black Hills. Hikers in Badlands National Park can watch ongoing digs in what is considered one of the richest fossil beds in the country.

South Dakota is home to the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota peoples—collectively known as the Sioux Nation. Several museums and cultural centers across the state depict the history and traditions of these nations as well as display ancient artifacts and modern artwork.

The Black Hills, called "Paha Sapa" by the Native Americans, are considered sacred ground to many tribes across the country. The Lakota Nation believes all life comes from "Paha Sapa", and they fought fiercely to protect them during the Indian Wars of the 1800s. One of the most sacred places is Bear Butte State Park in the northern Black Hills. This formation of magma never erupted and looks like a giant sleeping bear. It is still used as a place of worship for over 60 Native American tribes.

Across the eastern plains, visitors can explore our heritage along the Native American Scenic Byway or by attending a traditional powwow. More than 62,000 Native Americans currently live in South Dakota.

Gold Rush and Wild West

In 1874, an expedition led by General Custer discovered gold for the first time in the Black Hills. Two years later, the last great gold rush was on as prospectors from all over the country came looking for their fortunes. The largest find was near the town of present day Lead. Two brothers and their partner staked claim on a mine that would yield gold for over 120 years. In 2002, the Homestake Gold Mine shut down mining operations, but visitors can still tour the surface of the mine.

The Gold Rush of 1876 brought prospectors, gamblers and outlaws to the state, and the Wild West was born. The wildest town was considered to be the gold camp of Deadwood. Here is where Wild Bill Hickok was shot from behind while playing poker, where Calamity Jane created havoc and where Seth Bullock tamed the town without killing a single person.

The early pioneers conquered the prairies and left a lasting legacy across South Dakota. "Little House on the Prairie" author Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote of her life growing up in the town of De Smet. Four of her six books were written about her family's adventures on the prairies of South Dakota. You can tour her childhood homestead and see the places that inspired her classic books and a television series.

Many people don't know that South Dakota played a key role in the Cold War. In the 1960s, America began stockpiling Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. The 44th Missile Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota operated 150 missile silos and 15 launch control facilities in the western part of the state. Two of these sites, the Delta One Launch Control Facility and the Delta Nine Launch Facility, have been preserved as a National Historic Site to provide visitors with a unique Cold War history lesson.

In 1874, an expedition led by General Custer discovered gold for the first time in the Black Hills. Two years later, the last great gold rush was on as prospectors from all over the country came looking for their fortunes. The largest find was near the town of present day Lead. Two brothers and their partner staked claim on a mine that would yield gold for over 120 years. In 2002, the Homestake Gold Mine shut down mining operations, but visitors can still tour the surface of the mine.

The Gold Rush of 1876 brought prospectors, gamblers and outlaws to the state, and the Wild West was born. The wildest town was considered to be the gold camp of Deadwood. Here is where Wild Bill Hickok was shot from behind while playing poker, where Calamity Jane created havoc and where Seth Bullock tamed the town without killing a single person.

The early pioneers conquered the prairies and left a lasting legacy across South Dakota. "Little House on the Prairie" author Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote of her life growing up in the town of De Smet. Four of her six books were written about her family's adventures on the prairies of South Dakota. You can tour her childhood homestead and see the places that inspired her classic books and a television series.

Many people don't know that South Dakota played a key role in the Cold War. In the 1960s, America began stockpiling Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. The 44th Missile Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota operated 150 missile silos and 15 launch control facilities in the western part of the state. Two of these sites, the Delta One Launch Control Facility and the Delta Nine Launch Facility, have been preserved as a National Historic Site to provide visitors with a unique Cold War history lesson.

*Savings based on all package bookings with Flight + Hotel made on Orbitz.com from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 as compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings will vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and selected travel supplier(s). Savings not available on all packages.