About

 

Explore the Black Hills with Local Guides Who Love Sharing It

At Black Hills Tour Company, we believe the best way to experience South Dakota is through relaxed, personalized travel. Our private tours combine iconic landmarks, scenic backroads, wildlife viewing, local history, and hidden gems –  all led by passionate local guides.

See us on CNN!

We joined CNN anchor Laura Coates to explore one of the most fascinating aspects of the Badlands – it’s incredible prehistoric fossil beds. During filming, we discover a rare fossil skull estimated to be around 33 million years old!

Our Story

A Local Company Built from a Love of the Black Hills

Black Hills Tour Company was founded in 2014 by husband-and-wife team Kevin and Melina, brought together by a shared love of travel, adventure, and the incredible landscapes of western South Dakota.

As a local to the Black Hills, Kevin grew up exploring the backroads, scenic canyons, historic towns, and hidden spots that many visitors never get to experience. After moving from Australia, Melina quickly fell in love with the region and saw just how special the Black Hills are beyond the famous landmarks.

From the beginning, our goal was to create tours that went beyond simply checking off Mount Rushmore. We wanted guests to experience the quieter moments too,  winding scenic drives, wildlife encounters, local stories, hidden gems, and the places that truly make this area unforgettable.

What started as a small local business has grown into one of the region’s leading private tour companies, but our approach remains the same today: relaxed, personal experiences that help visitors connect with the REAL Black Hills.

We feel incredibly fortunate to share this special part of the country with travelers from around the world and love helping guests create lasting memories along the way.

Why Travel With Us

Private Tours Designed Around You

Unlike large group bus tours, our experiences are fully private and tailored to your group’s interests, pace, and travel style.

What Makes Us Different

  • Private experiences only — no crowded buses
  • Flexible itineraries and photo stops
  • Friendly local, expert guides
  • Comfortable, spacious vehicles
  • Scenic drives and hidden gems
  • Wildlife viewing opportunities
  • Local recommendations for dining and activities
  • Custom tours designed for YOU! 
Big horn sheep ram in foreground, badlands national park in background

Experience the Best of the Black Hills

More Than Just the Famous Stops

The Black Hills region is filled with incredible landscapes, wildlife, history, and adventure. From granite peaks and winding scenic byways to prairie sunsets and roaming buffalo, every corner of western South Dakota offers something unique.

Our tours visit iconic destinations like:

  • Mount Rushmore National Memorial
  • Badlands National Park
  • Custer State Park
  • Spearfish Canyon

But we also love introducing guests to the quieter places they may never discover on their own.

What You Can Expect

Relaxed, Comfortable & Memorable Travel

Every tour is designed to feel easy and enjoyable from start to finish.

Included in Most Tours

  • Hotel or vacation rental pickup
  • Comfortable transportation
  • Flexible sightseeing stops
  • Plenty of photo opportunities
  • Time for breaks, coffee, and lunch
  • Local storytelling and recommendations
  • Personalized experiences based on your interests
 
Black Hills Tour Company tour guide petting donkwy

Meet the Locals

Passionate Guides with Local Knowledge

Our guides are passionate about the Black Hills and love helping visitors experience the region beyond the typical tourist checklist. AND DID WE MENTION LOCAL?

From local history and geology to wildlife and scenic photography spots, we enjoy sharing the stories, landscapes, and small details that make this area unforgettable.

Most importantly, we want guests to feel welcomed, relaxed, and cared for throughout their trip.

Planning Your Black Hills Vacation?

We’re Happy to Help

Planning a trip to western South Dakota can feel overwhelming with so much to see and do. We’re always happy to help guests with recommendations for:

  • Where to stay
  • Scenic drives
  • Restaurant suggestions
  • Family-friendly activities
  • Timing and itineraries
  • Hidden gems and local favorites

See our “Plan Your Trip” guides for more travel tips.

Little Devils Tower Hike

Explore Our Tours

Discover the Black Hills Your Way

Whether you’re looking for a classic sightseeing experience, a scenic Badlands adventure, wildlife viewing, biking, hiking, or a completely customized itinerary, we’d love to help you create an unforgettable experience in South Dakota.

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Sue0419
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Great tour of Badlands Wonderful tour with great tour guide Kevin who was personable, interesting and knowledgeable.
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David K
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Great additional experience during our Mickelson trail bike ride Gina did a great job. She’s an amazing tour guide. We saw a ton of wildlife in Custer State Park. Mt Rushmore was amazing as was the scenic drive on needles highway. We where riding the Mickelson trail in the morning and Gina was able to accommodate our schedule for a one o’clock pickup at our hotel in Custer. Everything went very smoothly.
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Nick W
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Five Star Tour Plus Kevin with Black Hills Tour Company was great! Always on time, attentive, concerned about what we wanted to see and do, knowledgeable and informative. Knew the territory well and explained things well. Would highly recommend this tour!
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Jacque W
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Mt Rushmore. Exceptional Jeff was so knowledgeable. It was great having someone show you around. We would have missed so much without the tour. Exceptional!
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Jacque W
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Exceptional tour Exceptional experience cr. So knowledgeable and fun Jeff went beyond to make it an memorable experience
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Karen H
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Special Anniversary Tour We enjoyed and appreciated all the unique special details that our tour guide pointed out, e.g., the tunnels that framed Mt Rushmore, explaining the design and naming of the pigtail bridges, and sharing her life experiences growing up in the area. Totally a fun day for us. We saw our first ever pronghorn antelope and prairie dogs. Nature is so beautiful!
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Escape01390378493
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Great Experience There were 2 couples we all had a great time on our 3 tours. Our guide Steve was very knowledgeable about the area and sites we visited. Had a small hiccup with the snow it was a GREAT experience, we would do it again.
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Happiness13422205233
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Mt Rushmore touring at its finest We did two tours with Black Hills. Our tour guide, Joel was without a doubt one of the best guides we have ever experienced. He was not only knowledgeable but easy to understand. We saw places that the average tour would never see. He was good with everyone in our small group from 7 years old to 70. The booking process and the tour van were top notch. If you want a 10 star tour experience call Black Hills Tour Company.
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Alexis C
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Perfect Family Experience at Mt. Rushmore Our Mt. Rushmore project experience was absolutely amazing! Denise, our tour guide, went above and beyond to make sure our family had a wonderful time. We are so grateful for her kindness and highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Mt. Rushmore!
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Mohammed
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wonderful day It was such a pleasure spending the day with Jeff. He made my visit to this lovely city truly memorable. He is such a kind person that time passed before I even noticed. Many thanks to you all
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Lisa T
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We took the Black Hills Half Day Tour on June 5th with Gena as our tour guide, and it was fantastic! I’d never done a private tour before, but as our first time here, we wanted to definitely get the most out of our visit through the Black Hills region and didn’t want neither my husband or I to have to worry about having to focus on the road while going around tight bends and then missing things. I will definitely say, it was well worth calling Black Hills Tour Company! Gena picked us up in a spacious van, got to know our interests and took us through all the sights, including going through the tunnels and pigtail bridges, driving through and learning the history of Needles Highway and Custer State Park, and stopping for an introduction visit to Mt. Rushmore and Sylvan Lake. Along our way, she pointed out lots of local fun facts. She stopped several times as we went through the Black Hills so we could get the best photo shots. Gena was very personable and went the extra mile to ensure we got the most out of our tour and visit. Gena asked about our itinerary for the rest of our trip and gave us great tips for places to visit during our time here. (And Gena- we did visit Spearfish Canyon and that was a great addition to our travels- thank you for the recommendation! 😊) My husband, daughter and I had a wonderful time! We all highly recommend Gena and The Black Hills Tour Company!
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Paula Joyce
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A fantastic tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Needles Highway, Custer State Park and Wildlife Loop Road. Our tour guide Joel was very knowledgeable, had personal stories and references, and made our tour super fun. It was nice that we were consulted on each item of the itinerary as to the amount of time we spent at each attraction and where we wanted the focus. Joel's knowledge of the local customs and culture helped us to understand the history surrounding Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial. We were able to see Bison and their offspring and a few other wild animals in the wildlife loop. The veichle was very clean and well maintained. Overall a fantastic tour!
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Jennifer Thompson
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This was a fantastic tour. Highly recommend. Our tour guide Denise was the best! Very knowledgeable of the area and went out of her way to make sure we had a great experience.
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Jay Collins
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We had an outstanding two-day tour of the Black Hills and Badlands with Kevin from Black Hills Tour Company. Kevin’s knowledge of the area’s history, geology, and local culture made every stop more meaningful and enjoyable. From the breathtaking landscapes of Badlands National Park to the iconic sights throughout the Black Hills, he ensured we experienced the best the region has to offer. Kevin was friendly, professional, and accommodating throughout the trip, taking the time to answer questions and share stories along the way. His passion for the area was evident and helped make our family vacation truly memorable. We highly recommend Kevin and the Black Hills Tour Company to anyone looking for a personalized, informative, and enjoyable way to explore the Black Hills and Badlands. Thank you for an unforgettable experience!
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Jeff Corwin
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We just finished the Tour of the Mickelson trail in South Dakota. The Black Hills Tour Company put it all together for us, It was amazing every step of the way! The guides, David and Gage were amazing, when they say they have local experience they mean it, these guys knew these hills like the back of their hand. David dropped us on the Mickelson trail in just the right spot everyday to make our trip very enjoyable. Gage was amazing on our Ride the Badlands by bike tour! He knew right where to stop to show us the burrowing owls and many other really cool areas…make sure when they ask , do the optional tours!….:Great Job Black Hills Tour Company!!! Would recommend…..
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Craig Landry
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We had a great time on our tour of Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park with our tour guide. We rode in a super nice SUV loaded with drinks and snacks. We hit the main attractions on a half day tour. It was great for us that have never been here. Our tour guide Denise was fantastic and knew all about the history of the area. I’d highly recommend this tour.
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Jacque Willardson
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Absolutely fantastic. Jeff was so knowledgeable. I would give it a 10!
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Paula Leonard
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Wonderful tour company! They took great care of us on our two tours! We were able to see all of the highlights in the Black Hills area and the Badlands! Loved every minute! Highly recommend this company!
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Mohammed Abdullateef
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I had a wonderful day with Jeff; he truly made my trip to this beautiful city an unforgettable memory. He was so kind and engaging that the time just flew by. Thank you all
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Knock out
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A outstanding tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park and Wildlife Loop Road. Joel our tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable, respectful, motivated and went well beyond what we expected. Thank so very much Joel. We will return for a longer stay next time.
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