If you’re searching for the best private tours in South Dakota, you probably want the Black Hills and the Badlands to feel personal, not rushed. My XO Adventures offers private tours in South Dakota that start from Rapid City and run at a calm pace, with real time route planning and the flexibility to linger when a viewpoint or wildlife moment is actually landing.
This guide covers the most popular Black Hills and Badlands private tours, including a Mount Rushmore private tour, a private Badlands tour, and options built around sunset light. If you want help choosing the right Rapid City private tour, you’ll find quick recommendations below.
These recommendations are built around real trip goals. Some travelers want icons and scenic drives. Some want wildlife and wide open space. Some want a sunset that changes the whole feel of the Badlands. The best private tours in South Dakota are the ones that match your pace and priorities, then run smoothly without constant tradeoffs.
Best for: first time visitors, couples, families, anyone who wants the icons plus the scenic roads in one smooth day.
What you get: Mount Rushmore, an unhurried pace, and route planning that keeps the day feeling easy.
Best for: travelers who want one iconic Wyoming landmark plus one of the Black Hills’ most beautiful canyon drives in a single day.
What you get: Devils Tower time on site, Spearfish Canyon scenic stops, and a flexible pace that avoids the biggest crowds when possible.
Best for: visitors who want the Badlands at its most dramatic, with cooler temps, fewer crowds, and a slower evening pace.
What you get: golden light viewpoints, sunset timing based on conditions, and a relaxed night sky experience when skies cooperate.
Best for: photographers and couples who want the Badlands in warm light without a late night finish.
What you get: golden hour route planning, the best color and shadow on the formations, and a smooth return timing that still feels easy.
If you’re planning your trip day by day, start with Private Mount Rushmore Tour From Rapid City, then use this guide for the classic loop itinerary: Best Day Trips From Rapid City That Include Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park.
Best for: wildlife lovers, geology fans, photographers, and anyone who wants the most immersive Badlands day.
What you get: a flexible route that adapts to light and wildlife activity, with story rich stops that make the landscape click.
If you want the best private tour for you, start with this. A private tour is not just about having a guide, it’s about building a day that feels calm and natural. The right choice depends on your energy, your interests, and how much you want to pack into one day.
This is your first time in the Black Hills and you want the icons done right
You want the famous scenic drives to feel like part of the experience, not a rushed transfer
You want a smooth loop from Rapid City with minimal backtracking
Best match on this page: Private Mount Rushmore Tour From Rapid City
Wildlife, geology, and big sky are your top priorities
You want the most “different” landscape in the region
You want a day that feels spacious, quiet, and unrushed
Best match on this page: Badlands Wildlife Expedition
You want the most dramatic light and fewer daytime crowds
You prefer a shorter experience that still feels like a highlight of your trip
You want your photos to look like the Badlands felt in real life
Best match on this page: Badlands Sunset and Golden Hour or Badlands Sunset and Night Sky
You want a day that feels like a true regional adventure
You want variety, one iconic site plus one of the prettiest drives
You like the idea of crossing into Wyoming and seeing more than one state
Best match on this page: Devils Tower and Spearfish Canyon Adventure
Group tours can be a great fit for travelers who want a packaged itinerary, built in logistics, and a social pace. Private tours are usually a better fit for travelers who want flexibility, deeper context, and a day that adjusts to real conditions instead of forcing every stop to fit a schedule.
A private tour also reduces decision fatigue. You do not have to figure out route order, drive time tradeoffs, parking stress, or what to skip when the day shifts. A good guide does that quietly in the background while you enjoy the day.
Your pace, your priorities
Flexible routing for crowds, weather, and wildlife activity
More time at the places you care about most
Easier days for couples, families, and small groups
Less waiting, less herding, more breathing room
You want a set itinerary and minimal choices
You enjoy traveling with a larger group
You want a bundled multi state travel style with hotels and logistics included
If you want the day to feel calm and personal, private tours are the better fit. If you want a fixed schedule with a social pace, group tours can work well.
Clear inclusions, especially admission fees and what is covered
Real route planning, not a checklist
A calm pace that still gets you the highlights
Respectful wildlife viewing standards and guest comfort
Permits and operational standards when a tour operates on public lands
If you’re comparing options, look for clarity. Vague itineraries and vague inclusions are often the reason travelers feel rushed or surprised on the day.
These are the questions people ask right before they book. The answers help you choose a private tour style that fits your time, energy, and priorities.
If you’d like to understand the Black Hills and Badlands on a deeper level, the Visitor Learning Center offers companion guides that build on what you’ve learned here. Each topic adds a new layer of insight, helping you see the region with more awareness and appreciation.
You can explore Geology, Ecology, Indigenous History and Cultural Perspectives, Sacred Sites, Unique Landforms, Weather, Travel Tips, and Safety and Preparation to round out your understanding of the landscapes where wildlife lives. These guides work together to create a clear, connected picture of the region and support a more meaningful visit.
These official resources help you confirm current hours, fees, closures, and conditions as your trip approaches. If anything changes due to weather, construction, or seasonal operations, these pages will show it first.
If you want the classic Black Hills icons with a smooth loop and a calm pace, start with Private Mount Rushmore Tour From Rapid City. If wildlife and wide open landscapes are calling you, Badlands Wildlife Expedition is the most immersive full day option. If you want your biggest wow moment to happen in warm evening light, choose Badlands Sunset and Golden Hour or Badlands Sunset and Night Sky.
Daniel Milks is the owner and lead guide at My XO Adventures in the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota. He leads private, small group experiences built around calm pacing, real world route planning, and the kind of storytelling that helps you understand what you’re seeing, not just photograph it. Daniel’s tours focus on the places that define the region, including Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Custer State Park, and the scenic drives that connect them, with an emphasis on wildlife, geology, and a relaxed, well timed flow that feels easy from start to finish.
Want to learn more about Daniel and how My XO Adventures plans tours? Visit the author page here: About Daniel Milks
