Custer State Park Jeep Bison Safari: Comprehensive Black Hills Adventure
4.6
18 Ratings
Rapid City
Embark on a thrilling 6-hour Jeep Bison Safari Tour with Black Hills Open-Top-Tours in Custer State Park. Explore stunning attractions like Mt. Coolidge Lookout, Iron Mountain Road, Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake, Stockade Lakes, and the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop. Enjoy comfortable and safe safari vehicles, complimentary snacks and water, and the refreshing South Dakota sunshine and fresh air.
Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Iron Mountain Road - On our way to Custer Park we drive along Iron Mtn Road. This is an iconic road that many visitors miss. We drive through unique one way granite tunnels, over the famous pigtail bridges and are afforded excellent views of Mt Rushmore and the Black Hills.
  • Custer State Park - Stops at State Game Lodge (Summer White House of President Coolidge). Then drive open-top along Wildlife Loop and view 15,000 head of buffalo (we stop next to them, you stand and look down at these huge beasts) + deer, antelope and other wildlife.
  • Custer State Park Visitor Center - We make stop at the new Bison Center (information about the bison/buffalo and history of the Park).
  • Mount Coolidge - Fantastic views from Forest Service Lookout Tower.
  • Stockade Lake - We stop here for a tranquil picnic lunch at midday. This is the largest lake in the region and provides a quiet peaceful setting.
  • Sylvan Lake - Short break at this amazing alpine lake.
  • Needles Highway - Slow drive through this famous mountain trail. Amazing granite formations and breathtaking open-top mountain views.
What's Included
  • Bottled water included
  • Complimentary snacks
  • Professional driver/guide
  • All fees covered
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Black Hills Open-Top-Tours stands out as the only company providing Jeep Bison Safari Tours extending to ‘every’ aspect of Custer State Park. Our adventure is not as restricted as most, it’s not merely a short buffalo sighting tour. Instead, our tours last a comprehensive 6 hours, covering all key park attractions.

Our excursion includes stops at Mt. Coolidge Lookout (at the height of 6,020 ft), Iron Mountain Road (notable for pigtail bridges/one-way tunnels), Needles Highway (home of Eye of Needle Tunnel), Sylvan Lake (where a short walk is required), Stockade Lakes (where we settle for a picnic), and finally the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop (home to bison, burros, and a plethora of other wildlife).

Inclusive in the tour are fees, refreshments consisting of bottled water and snacks, and a choice of turkey or ham sandwiches or salad for a picnic lunch.

Our tours operate in specially modified Jeeps, ensuring a comfortable and secure Safari experience. The vehicles have the capacity for no less than two guests and up to 14 passengers for Group Tours. Their elevated structure provides a panoramic view and perfect photo opportunities, with no need to get out of the vehicle. They also feature rear heating for chilly mornings and cold water misters for the summer heat.

Like all our services, our tours guarantee South Dakota’s renowned Sunshine & Fresh Air, also known as ‘Nature’s Original Sanitizer’.

  • Other rates apply only when sharing with 2 paying adults
  • A minimum of 2 Adults per booking is required
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Layered clothing, comfortable shoes, and a hat are recommended
Location
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
North 5th Street
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.6
(18 Ratings)
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Maxgilman
May 21, 2024
Jeep Bison Safari - Terrific tour of Custer State Park. Beautiful landscape, so many Bison and views of Mount Rushmore, through tunnels and through pine forests.
Review provided by Viator
Marsha_b
Apr 16, 2024
Safari - You should not ever require a minimum on this section. You are discouraging people from sending a review. We had a great experience. That should be enough.
Review provided by Viator
514arianez
Sep 26, 2023
Not to be missed. - Terrific tour. We had a blast and Doug was just great. We also went to Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse. What a wonderful day!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Linda_k
Aug 18, 2023
We had a great experience... - We had a great experience with our driver Doug. (a.k.a Big D) Hbe knew the geology, history of park, good recommendations, safe driver and let grandma sit inside the cab.
Review provided by Viator
Amy_g
Aug 11, 2023
Worth the money! Do it! - Take the Jeep tour!!! We were a family of 7, and wouldn’t have seen half of what we did without doing this tour. Doug was an awesome tour guide and so helpful! Lunch was great and there were tons of stops to take pictures. Highly recommend! Especially if you don’t want to try to navigate the sites on your own.
Review provided by Viator
Brittanyrojas
Jul 15, 2023
Great Tour! - Doug our tour guide was amazing! He was very informative and stopped all the great spots. Pick up and drop off was easy. Would def do this tour again. Thank you for the great experience!
Review provided by Viator
George_g
Jul 12, 2023
Are driver Doug was very... - Are driver Doug was very knowledgeable and explained many things. Favorite for us was pretty much everything. Seeing bison up close
Review provided by Viator
Joyce_q
Apr 25, 2024
A great experience - Loved seeing the baby bison, cinnamons, were so cute and the tunnels that all framed Mount Rushmore. Thank you for the tour!
Review provided by Viator
Cheryl_m
Aug 7, 2023
The Nature of it all!! - We had a good time on this safari ride. Wished Doug, our driver could’ve planned lunch by one of the beautiful lakes instead of the Bison Center. Doug needed to use his microphone on the trip as it was very hard to hear him. Felt Doug’s speed was excessive on some parts of our tour.
Review provided by Viator
Meredith
May 11, 2024
Great tour with a dash of racism - The Jeep safari tour through Custer State Park was a great tour - we were able to see lots of animals, including baby bison. We saw beautiful views and had plenty of photo opportunities. The Jeep was comfortable and the guide was knowledgeable. The guide expressed sympathy for the way the government treated the Native Americans, but he also expressed sympathy for the KKK. Near the end of the tour, he shared that he was friends with people in the local KKK, that “they’re not as bad as they’re made out to be”, that “they’re just people”, that “they’ve actually done some good for the community”, and “the Mexican cartel is much worse”. I was stunned and incredibly uncomfortable. This was irrelevant to the tour so it didn’t need to even be discussed. I’m from the Deep South and have never even heard someone talk like that. An otherwise enjoyable tour was stained with this sympathetic talk of a hate group. I’m uncomfortable even writing about it but feel that it is necessary that the company is aware and that other customers are aware.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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minimum 2 guests
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up to 14 guests
2 Adult
June 2024
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