- Explore the frontier territory of the Oregon Trail at Fort Laramie
- Take in the fantastic landscape of Rocky Mountain National Park
- Marvel at the stone carvings of Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial
- Visit charming mountain towns and discover the spirit of the Wild West
- Learn about Buffalo Bill and the history of the Prairie Indian tribes
- Witness glorious geysers and mountain ranges in Yellowstone National Park
- Enjoy spectacular views on a scenic drive through majestic Grand Teton National Park
Rocky Mountains & Black Hills National Parks Tour
Highlights
Be captivated by America’s most beautiful western landscapes as you discover historic sites, visit charming towns, and take in endless vistas on a Rocky Mountains tour. Don’t miss this journey through the (formerly) Wild, Wild West and three breathtaking national parks.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming is both quaint and upscale. This ultimate cowboy town is surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains and dense wilderness; but it also happens to house fine art galleries and excellent dining and shopping. Next door to Jackson Hole, yet a world away, is Grand Teton National Park, whose tallest peak, Grand Teton, rises more than 7,000 feet into the clean air.
At Yellowstone National Park, our nation’s first national park, experience pristine nature and marvel at the legendary Old Faithful. The geyser’s 20 daily eruptions earned it the nickname “Eternity’s Timepiece.”
The Black Hills of South Dakota are home to the frontier town of Deadwood, where countless infamous characters made and lost their fortunes. The massive stone carvings of the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore National Monument must be seen to be believed.
Stop in Cheyenne, Wyoming, America’s “Rodeo and Railroad Capital.” Experience the Rocky Mountain scenic drive, look at the impossibly clear lakes, and an abundance of wildlife at Rocky Mountains National Park. Natural beauty and frontier history make this tour unforgettable!
What Guests are Saying
Active
Best suited for those who are comfortable with a steady-paced itinerary.
Walking distances typically start at 1–2 miles per day or more.
Longer travel days (4+ hours), multiple hotel changes, and early morning
departures should be expected.
Includes visits to sites with stairs, uphill walks, and uneven pathways.
Travelers should be prepared for extended sightseeing and potential changes in altitude or climate.
Not recommended for wheelchair users or those who require walking aids.
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Tour Includes
Locations Visited
- Denver
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Fort Laramie
- Mount Rushmore
- Crazy Horse Memorial
- Sheridan
- Cody
- Yellowstone National Park
- Grand Teton National Park
- Jackson Hole
- Salt Lake City
Hotel Accommodations
- 9 nights
- Moderate hotels based on twin/double occupancy
Meals
- 8 breakfasts
Service
- A professionally trained tour director who is knowledgeable about the area will provide you with a wealth of information. Their friendly service will make your trip a memorable experience.
Baggage Handling
- To and from your hotel room throughout your tour for one piece of checked baggage per person.
Tour Starts:
Denver, Colorado
Tour Ends:
Salt Lake City, Utah
Day 1
Arrive in Denver
Arrive in the Mile High City. Guests who booked flights with YMT will be met by a representative and transferred to their hotel. The evening is at your leisure.
Courtyard by Marriott Denver Airport at Gateway Park or similar
Day 2
Rocky Mountain National Park to Cheyenne
On our first morning together, we’ll enjoy a city tour of Denver, before traveling on to the spectacular Rocky Mountain National Park. Here you’ll discover scenic mountains, alpine lakes, and an abundance of wildlife. Next, it’s on to Cheyenne, Wyoming, the rodeo capital of the Old West, which also became the epicenter of westward rail expansion. Enjoy a leisurely evening tonight and perhaps stop at the Cheyenne Depot Plaza and Museum.
Meals: Breakfast
Fairfield Inn Cheyenne Stillwater Ave or similar
Day 3
Fort Laramie and Rapid City
Your first stop en route to South Dakota will be the Fort Laramie Historic Site, along the Oregon Trail. Originally a private fur trading fort, the “grand old post” became the largest and best known military post on the Northern Plains. We’ll also visit The Mammoth Site, a museum and paleontological site, before we end the evening in Rapid City.
Meals: Breakfast
Hampton Inn & Suites Rapid City Rushmore or similar
Day 4
Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park
Today begins with a wonderful scenic drive through the Black Hills. You’ll get to experience Mount Rushmore National Monument and Crazy Horse Memorial, and see incredible stone carvings in the rock formations of South Dakota. This afternoon, you’ll join your fellow travelers for an included Bison Safari though Custer state Park if you’re traveling in 2025. It’s famous for bison herds, historic sites, and fishing lakes, as well as scenic drives, and more!
Meals: Breakfast
Hampton Inn & Suites Rapid City Rushmore or similar
Day 5
Deadwood and Sheridan
Immerse yourself in Wild West history; we’ll begin with a morning stop in the frontier town of Deadwood, South Dakota. This city at the heart of the Black Hills Gold Rush is where “Calamity Jane” once lived, and where “Wild Bill” Hickok played his last game of cards. Next, travel to Sheridan, Wyoming. History and dramatic mountain vistas meet modern comforts in a serene setting at this town. With an awe-inspiring backdrop of the Bighorn Mountains, you’ll see why Sheridan is known as the “heart of Ruby Valley.” Visit Devil’s Tower National Monument on the way to Sheridan.
Meals: Breakfast
Best Western Sheridan Center or similar
Day 6
Cody
This morning, you’ll drive through Big Horn National Forest. The winding roads carve through towering pines, rugged mountain peaks, and wide-open meadows, offering glimpses of wildlife and sparkling streams. As you emerge from the forest, the charm of Cody awaits—its Wild West spirit alive in every wooden storefront and historic saloon. Stroll the streets of this charming town, a perfect blend of nature’s grandeur and Western heritage.
Meals: Breakfast
Add-On: Chuckwagon Dinner & Show/ Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Comfort Inn or similar
Day 7
Yellowstone National Park
Early this morning, you’ll continue on to nearby Yellowstone, our country’s first national park. See spectacular geysers, lakes, and mountains during your visit, and have your camera ready for likely sightings of buffalo, elk, and moose, or perhaps gray wolves, and bears. Take in the tranquility of Hayden Valley and the vibrant colors of the geysers. Yellowstone is a feast for the eyes!
Meals: Breakfast
Yellowstone Park Hotel or similar
Day 8
Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole
Today we pay a morning visit to Old Faithful, Yellowstone’s most famous geyser whose 20 daily eruptions attract many of the park’s 4 million annual visitors. Afterwards, we’ll continue south to Grand Teton National Park to enjoy a spectacular landscape rich with majestic mountains, pristine lakes, and wildlife. Make an overnight in Jackson Hole, one of the most quaint, yet upscale, mountain resort towns in the west.
Meals: Breakfast
Antler Inn or similar
Day 9
Salt Lake City
This morning, we’ll travel to Utah’s grand capital. This beautiful city played host to the 2002 Winter Olympics, and you can still enjoy many of the improvements designed to make the city welcoming. Salt Lake City has the hospitable feel of a friendly mountain town, and is full of stunning parks, wonderful restaurants, and opportunities to shop, enjoy art and music.
Add-On: Temple Square Tour & Dinner
Hampton Inn Salt Lake City Downtown or similar
Day 10
Depart for Home
Meals: Breakfast
Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.
YMT Vacations itineraries may contain suggestions for activities for your leisure time; these suggestions do not constitute a recommendation nor an endorsement of any specific service provider and the decision to participate in any such activities should be made independently.
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Reviews
This was my first bus tour & it exceeded my expectations
This was my first bus tour & it exceeded my expectations. Daniel Hernandez was an excellent & enthusiast tour guide. Bus Driver JB was also excellent & so thoughtful & helpful in addition to being a proficient driver.
Your guides are very knowledgeable and courteous, and the bus driver was spot on
Everything is structured, you don't have to think about flights, how to get to hotels, what to do or where to go. We always meet great people, and we become family for the duration of the trip. Your guides are very knowledgeable and courteous, and the bus driver was spot on.
The tour was very well planned and organized
The tour was very well planned and organized so that every day we were able to visit numerous historical sites.
Everything was perfect!
Everything was perfect! Our tour guide Joe made sure we had the best views, great places to eat, and our safety.
Great service provided by our tour guide
Great service provided by our tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and detail oriented. All hotels were nice. We had a great trip.
Joe was great loved by everyone!
Tour guide was excellent with pertinent information and stopped at additional sites when time allowed. Joe was great loved by everyone!
Add-Ons
Make your vacation extra special by adding optional excursions to your tour. It’s a great opportunity to enhance your trip, these experiences slot seamlessly into your package, and we’ll take care of all the logistics for you. Remember that adding an optional experience might increase the overall activity level of the tour, so always keep that in mind when planning your trip.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Experience the spirit of the American West with a self-guided tour of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming. This immersive museum complex brings frontier history to life across five world-class galleries—from the dramatic legends of Buffalo Bill Cody himself to breathtaking Plains Indian artifacts, Western art, firearms history, and natural science exhibits. Wander at your own pace through rooms filled with colorful cowboy tales, historic treasures, and vivid stories of the land and people who shaped the West. Whether you’re drawn to Remington’s bronze sculptures or Annie Oakley’s legacy, every turn invites discovery. With stunning displays and interactive exhibits, this museum takes you on a journey through the heart of America’s frontier spirit.
Inclusions
- Round trip transportation
- Entrance to the Buffalo Bill Center
Duration: Approx. 2 Hours (Afternoon)
Activity level: Easy
Price: $30 USD
Chuckwagon Dinner & Show
Experience the real Western lifestyle this evening with a hearty dinner, boot-stomping entertainment, and bull riding! Your evening will begin with an all-you-can-eat Chuckwagon feast hosted by the Cody Cattle Company, followed with the down-home, country sounds of Ryan Martin and his Triple C Cowboys Band.
Inclusions
- All you can eat Chuckwagon dinner – chicken, beef brisket, potatoes, baked beans, applesauce, Caesar salad, cole slaw, corn bread, brownies, lemonade, and coffee. Menu subject to change.
- Live Country-Western, hand-clappin’, boot-stompin’ fun with Ryan Martin and his Triple C Cowboys Band!
Note: This activity is only available on these departures of Rocky Mountains & Black Hills National Parks Tour: 6/23 & 8/16. Note that the activity is not available on these departures of Ultimate Canyons & Rocky Mountains National Parks Tour: 5/13 & 9/13
Duration: Approx. 4 Hours
Activity Level: Easy
Price: $69 USD
Temple Square Tour & Dinner
Experience the tranquility of the beautiful Salt Lake City Temple Square with a guided tour of Utah’s most visited attraction. As the world’s largest Mormon temple, the 210-foot-tall Salt Lake Temple, made of granite in the neo Gothic style, took 40 years to build in the 1800s. Its walls are nine feet thick at the base and six feet thick at the top, and this impressive six-spire structure serves as a universal icon of the Mormon Church. Learn about the temple and Temple Square’s history, architecture, and future plans.
Beginning in 2019 the Temple Square has been under going construction to add structural reinforcement and enhance accessibility for guests with limited mobility. Your evening tour will focus on the 35-acre Temple Square and beautiful Conference Center, a modern three-story building with a huge auditorium, art gallery, films, terrific views, and a roof garden full of indigenous plants. End this evening with your fellow travelers as you relax and unwind during a delicious meal.
Inclusions
- Guided tour of Temple Square
-
Dinner at Galaeno’s Ristoranti Italiano: Ravioli Di Zucca (V) Butternut squash ravioli with brown butter sage sauce, Fettuccine Alfredo (V) Fettuccine in a creamy Parmesan sauce, Pollo Arrostito (GF) Half a roasted chicken served with mashed potatoes, baby carrots and brussel sprouts. all meals include a salad, dessert and soft drinks. (Entree to be selected at the time of booking.)
Note: Some parts of the Temple Square will not be accessible due to construction.
Duration: Approx. 3 Hours
Activity Level: Easy
Price: $89 USD
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