South Dakota/North Dakota
Best of the Dakotas
Program No. 22815RJ
Watch for bison along winding roads in the Black Hills and take in moonscape views in the Badlands as you explore the history and heritage of the Dakotas from the Ice Age to today.
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Participant Reviews
Based on 41 Reviews
SHOWING
This was a fantastic trip. It was one of the best I've attended. This trip covers a lot of ground, from the expected - Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Badlands - to the surprising lesser knowns -Medora, ND, the Capitol Buildings, Enchanted Highway. Even the travel time was filled with relevant educational videos and leader commentary. While many folks think South Dakota has all the big name attractions, I enjoyed the North Dakota portion every bit as much!
— Review left September 13, 2024
Everything about this trip was wonderful! Our guide, Paul, was helpful, informative, interesting, and friendly. This trip had a great balance of indoor activities such as museums and capitols with outdoor activities, such as climbing through the Badlands. Long bus rides became educational with excellent DVDs about Sacagawea, Lewis & Clark, TR, geological formations, and businessman/benefactor, Harold Schafer. I hope to bring my family to see Medora, ND, when the TR Presidential Library opens in 2026! We saw bison, prairie dogs, rolls of hay, the Enchanted Highway, and the most beautiful sunflower fields!
I found the food just fine, even with my requested vegetarian option, and the hotels and bus were very comfortable.
I'm only sorry I waited so long to take this trip. Don't miss it!
— Review left September 2, 2024
The Best of the Dakotas tour is one of the best kept secrets among the tours offered by Road Scholar!
— Review left August 28, 2024
Wasn't sure I even wanted to go but my wife talked me into it. I was incredibly happy with that decision. I found it very interesting, learned of places and people that I had never heard of, and met some very interesting fellow travelers that I hope to see again.
— Review left August 25, 2024
Of the many Road Scholar trips I’ve taken and enjoyed this was my favorite. I went to see Mt. Rushmore and ended up fascinated with the other aspects of the trip. Learning about Teddy Roosevelt and enjoying the spectacular scenery were highlights.
— Review left July 22, 2024
Day Five, Monday was a day of several really boring stops; there has to be more in Bismarck to see.
Other than that, the trip and especially Theresa and Paul were great!
— Review left June 24, 2024
Who knew that I would be revisiting the Dakotas after 50 years; seeing Mt Rushmore and Chief Crazy Horse were only 2 highlights of this expertly run Road Scholar program. Each day came with places we've all heard about such as the Badlands, Wall Drug, Custer State Park and Theodore Roosevelt National Park but the surprises were the Enchanted Highway with its magnificent metal sculptures, the Oahe Dam, touring the two state capitol buildings and so much more. Perhaps it has to do with the age we've reached because it makes us appreciate the history and beauty of our country more. I highly recommend this program for its leadership, content and personal enjoyment.
— Review left June 20, 2024
We visited N and S Dakota with a day in Wyoming, June 2024. . We had relaxed, smiling and entertaining leaders, Tressa and Paul Reed. They know their “stuff” and had every detail planned. We had a wonderful trip. Pam and Doug C
— Review left June 17, 2024
If you want a wide variety of exceptional places to visit, and love to learn, this is the trip for you. You'll be having the time of your life with others who enjoy learning new things.
— Review left September 5, 2023
As I expected it to be, this Road Scholar program – my 25th – was well-run, informative, educational, AND FUN! The rugged landscape of the Badlands is stunningly beautiful, plus the history of the area made our journey interesting and enjoyable. Marilyn was a superb, organized tour leader and an excellent ambassador for the Dakotas.
— Review left August 31, 2023
This was such a fascinating trip and covered all the highlights of North and South Dakota. I would never have learned as much as I did with Road Scholar if I had of traveled there on my own.
— Review left July 24, 2023
Road Scholars "The Dakotas" tour is superior in every way. Accommodations and meals were great. We saw and experienced things that we never would have been exposed to without Road Scholars. Highly recommended.
— Review left July 22, 2023
Best of the Dakotas ND/SD was outstanding. It was filled with nature's wonders and surprises in two beautiful states!
— Review left July 22, 2023
This program is a great overview to an area of the U.S. that I was totally unfamiliar with, and it will change my way of thinking about how what we do in another area of the country impacts them. It is great to look at something from a different perspective.
— Review left June 12, 2023
Fantastic program! Marilyn was excellent program leader.
— Review left June 11, 2023
"What's in the Dakotas?" you say. Who knew there was so much to see and do. We greatly enjoyed our experience and highly recommend it to others. Marilyn, our tour director, must surely be the best in the business
— Review left September 25, 2022
I cannot imagine a better learning experience than visiting the Dakotas with our expert guide! BRAVO!!
— Review left August 31, 2022
Great program! Diverse activities, fun leader (Marilyn) and a great group of people to travel with. The land and the wildlife are totally awesome and something not to miss in a lifetime.
— Review left August 29, 2022
This is an outstanding trip, packed with spectacular scenery and sights including Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, Teddy Roosevelt National Park, and Devils Tower in Wyoming. The lesser known Enchanted Highway, Wooly Mammoth and Minuteman sights were also excellent, as well as the two state capitals and Medora. Marilyn was topnotch leader, always going the extra mile. Highly recommend this trip filled with unique and memorable experiences. Go!
— Review left August 28, 2022
There really is a lot to see and do in North and South Dakota! Would recommend to anyone.
— Review left July 27, 2022
If you have the time to do The Dakotas with Greg and Dianne Scott, by all means do it. This section of the country kept me in awe. Dianne and Greg treat you as family.
— Review left July 25, 2022
I was a most worthwhile trip. Continue my belief that we live in the best country in the world.
— Review left July 12, 2022
A well planned tour with good leadership. Marilyn had first hand knowledge of the area. Twice during our trip she was able to substitute a stop...once to a Russian Catholic Church and another to the National Guard Museum. At other times, she adjusted the schedule so maximized our time at the stops. Rob, our bus driver was careful and personable to our group participants. The Badland landscapes, National Parks, Devils Tower, museums, arts and Medora musical performance, and pitchfork steaks, Wall Drugs, Lawrence Welk Homestead, Enchanted Highway gave us insight to the area and people.
— Review left July 11, 2022
Highly recommend this tour. Lovely scenery and interesting stops. Good leadership.
— Review left July 6, 2022
The beauty, sites visited, and our program leader all resulted in a wonderful trip. Very informative. Great hotel accommodations and food as well. I would highly recommend this trip.
— Review left July 5, 2022
I enthusiastically encourage this trip! The Dakotas are so beautiful and interesting! It should be required that all Americans should visit the Dakotas at least once in their lifetime.
— Review left July 2, 2022
An absolutely fantastic tour. Marilyn was exceptional and I would follow her anywhere! Rob, our coach driver was also great— he was very friendly, conscientious, and safe. The other tour participants were fun and welcoming— it was very nice to meet and learn with them. Overall, a five star tour— highly recommend.
— Review left July 2, 2022
Excellent driver Steve drove us almost 1400 miles and was a great team with our
leader Marilyn. We covered a lot of ground on an interesting trip. Saw everybody from prairie dogs to bison, Mt.Rushmore to Devil's Tower.
— Review left October 4, 2021
This was a very educational trip about a part of the country I didn’t know well. The activities were varied and so interesting! So glad I experienced BOTH Dakotas! Our guide was absolutely outstanding. I would highly recommend this trip.
— Review left September 11, 2021
This was a wonderful trip! I learned a great deal and the Tour Leader was excellent. She constantly shared information about the area. While on the bus, she frequently provided videos that added to our understanding of the States' history.
— Review left September 10, 2021
This trip was a dream come true.It went beyond all my expectations.Well planned and executed.Wonderful people.
— Review left September 8, 2021
Amazing trip, enjoyed learning new things and seeing new states in the US. Loved walking around Mt. Rushmore and Devils Rock.
— Review left September 6, 2021
This was an terrific trip. Our tour leader, Marilyn, was the best ever. So organized, so knowledeable, and a lot of fun. I think she knows everyone in South Dakota, and many in North Dakota. She took us to so many interesting places. And she made the trip fun with her sense of humor and her enthusisam. This is a not to be missed trip.
— Review left September 5, 2021
Wonderful program. I’d never been in the Dakotas and it was a pleasure to see so many parts. Only disadvantage is that the long distances require a fair amount of riding in a bus. However, the bus was comfortable and clean. I have new respect for farmers. The parks and museums were, for the most part, excellent.
— Review left September 4, 2021
This is a wonderful program, giving us a little more insight into the history and geography of this part of our country. Underlying our history here, is the Native American influences among the many tribes that have and continue to inhabit this land. One can hear the echoes of generations past when travelling through the Prairie spaces, imagining the Bison, the hunters, the European influxes, the politics at play.
— Review left August 27, 2021
I have been on 16 or so RS trips and this was one of the best thanks to Marilyn our wonderful leader. I saw so much of this country that I didn't even know existed. I would take this trip again- it was that good.
— Review left August 26, 2021
If you ever thought about going to South or North Dakota just to be able to check them off your list of "states visited", you will be blown away experiencing this program! I fell in love with both states and just can't say enough good things about all we saw and learned and experienced--highly recommended! Thank you, Road Scholar and especially Marilyn!
— Review left August 26, 2021
This 5-star program provides wonderful insight into the history of the Dakotas, the cultures of its peoples and the geology of the two states. Our group leader was exceptional in nearly every way, not the least of which was rotating assigned seats on the motor coach and having a well-proven method of getting the 36 of us off the bus in an orderly fashion. At this writing, Covid-19 infection rates are increasing in the Dakotas, but masks were not required to be worn by all participants while on the bus, although 1/3 of the group did so.
— Review left August 25, 2021
If you have any curiosity about this area of the country, this is the program for you... it's got beautiful scenery, history, one-of-a-kind sights, and an insight into heartland thinking.
— Review left June 16, 2019
one of the best trips i took. beautiful sites, education gained on history, economy and beauty of the sites. Also grat archological sites, mamooth, dinosurs, petified wood.And most friendly and informative leader Marilyn
— Review left June 14, 2019
This program went beyond my expectations! We covered the geology, the mammoth site, the Native Americans of the area, the Lewis & Clark Expedition, the importance of the Missouri River, a power dam, state Capitols, national parks, art and more. The tour director was amazing and knowledgeable - truly a trip I won't forget.
— Review left June 13, 2019
