Enjoy the Best of South Dakota with the Dakota Highlights Audio Tour
When you think of South Dakota, images of Mount Rushmore, vast Badlands, and the Black Hills immediately come to mind. This self-guided Dakota Highlights audio tour offers a flexible way to experience these iconic sights at your own pace. For $39.99 per group (up to four people), you get access to a well-structured itinerary spanning two days, covering major attractions from the Black Hills to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
What we love about this experience is how it blends engaging storytelling with the freedom to explore. The narrator’s voice is clear and captivating, making history and natural beauty come alive without the need for a guide standing in the sun. Plus, the offline maps and the ability to start, pause, and revisit stops make it a practical choice for independent travelers. One potential consideration is that this isn’t a ticket for entry — you’ll need to check attraction hours separately.
This tour is best suited for travelers who enjoy self-directed adventures, want the comfort of audioguided narration, and prefer to explore at their own speed. It’s ideal for families, small groups, or couples planning an extended trip over the next year, since you can reuse it multiple times. If you’re comfortable with using a smartphone app and have dependable Wi-Fi for setup, this tour offers a smart, cost-effective way to see South Dakota.
Key Points
- Self-guided flexibility allows you to explore at your own pace.
- Engaging narration keeps you informed and entertained.
- Offline maps ensure you’re never lost, even without signal.
- Cost-effective at $39.99 per car for a year’s worth of use.
- Two-day itinerary covers top sights like Mount Rushmore, Badlands, and Theodore Roosevelt NP.
- No attraction tickets included — check opening hours beforehand.
A Practical Guide to the Dakota Highlights Audio Tour
Embarking on this two-day self-guided journey through South Dakota is like having a knowledgeable friend with a great voice and a detailed map. For travelers who relish the idea of customizing their sightseeing while still benefiting from insightful narration, this tour offers a compelling mix of structure and freedom.
What’s Included and How It Works
You purchase one tour per vehicle, which means everyone in your group listens together. Once booked, you’ll receive an email and text with instructions and a unique password. You download the Actions Tour Guide App on your phone, enter the password, and you’re set. The app works with offline maps, so you won’t have to worry about losing signal once on the road — a huge advantage when traveling through remote areas like the Badlands or the Black Hills.
This setup process does require strong Wi-Fi or cellular data for download, so plan to do it before you hit the road. Once your tour is loaded, you can unplug from the internet and let the narration guide you seamlessly from stop to stop, with automatic audio cues based on your location.
Day 1: Black Hills and Mount Rushmore
Your journey begins in the Black Hills, an area that offers a blend of lush forests, rugged terrain, and fascinating history. The Black Hills are a perfect introduction to the region’s natural beauty, and the tour makes sure you don’t miss key viewpoints and stories.
Mount Rushmore is the highlight of this day. The tour’s narration provides background about Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor behind the monument, revealing the complex life behind this iconic sculpture. You’ll also discover interesting tidbits about the monument’s history, making your visit more meaningful. If you have a separate walking tour for Mount Rushmore, the app allows you to switch from the general Black Hills to that specific guide with a few taps, ensuring you get a detailed experience of the monument.
While the admission to Mount Rushmore isn’t included, the free parking and viewing area are accessible for all visitors. We appreciate that the tour offers contextual stories that bring the monument to life, transforming it from a photo opportunity into a story-rich experience.
Day 2: Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Badlands
The second day takes you north into North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a stunning landscape of wilderness and rugged beauty. The North Unit Visitor Center is your starting point, where park rangers are available for tips and the center offers a glimpse into the park’s natural history. The narrated tour helps you understand why Theodore Roosevelt found this area so inspiring — it’s like stepping into a Western wilderness that shaped a president’s character.
You’ll spend about five hours here, giving you plenty of time for short hikes, wildlife spotting, and enjoying the scenery. The tour guides you through key viewpoints and offers stories about the park’s natural wonders and wildlife, including sightings of bison and pronghorn.
Next, the tour covers Badlands National Park, known for its dramatic, layered rock formations and prairie meadows. The Badlands Loop Road is a highlight, with an overlook that offers spectacular vistas. The narration enhances the experience by sharing the geological history and pointing out wildlife, including possible bison sightings. The 41+ mile loop can be comfortably covered in 2-3 hours, but you’re free to linger longer or take side roads.
The Value of a Self-Guided Audio Tour
Compared to guided bus tours or hiring a private guide, this audio guide offers enormous value. For just under $40, you get unlimited use for a year, making it perfect for multiple visits or revisits — especially if you decide to explore the Black Hills or Badlands again.
The narration quality receives praise, with many reviewers noting the engaging storytelling and clear voice that keeps the experience lively. Its ease of use means you can start, pause, and restart stops at any time, which is ideal if you want to take longer breaks for photos or snacks.
What Travelers Should Keep in Mind
While this tour is well-designed, it’s important to remember it’s not an entrance ticket to attractions. You will still need to buy separate tickets or check opening hours for sites like Mount Rushmore or Teddy Roosevelt NP. Also, since the tour requires an internet connection for setup, travelers without reliable Wi-Fi may need to plan ahead to ensure the app is fully downloaded before leaving.
Why This Tour Makes Sense for Many Travelers
This self-guided tour is particularly suited for those who enjoy flexible scheduling and want to avoid the constraints of fixed tour times. It’s an excellent option for families, couples, or small groups who prefer to explore without a guide but still want engaging commentary. Its cost-effectiveness is notable, especially for visitors planning to spend several days in the area, as the full content remains accessible for a whole year.
The offline maps and auto-playing narration create a smooth experience, reducing stress and making it easier to focus on the scenery. Plus, the ability to pause and customize your stops can turn a standard sightseeing day into a more personalized adventure.
Final Thoughts
The Dakota Highlights audio tour offers a balanced, informative, and flexible way to experience some of South Dakota’s most iconic sights. Its engaging narration, combined with practical features like offline maps and easy app use, makes it stand out among self-guided options. The two-day itinerary covers top highlights while allowing plenty of flexibility to explore deeper or linger longer.
If you’re someone who appreciates authentic stories, values good VFM (value for money), and prefers self-paced exploration, this tour is well worth considering. It’s especially suitable for visitors planning an extended stay or those who want to revisit the area without feeling rushed or confined by schedules.
For those seeking a rich, personalized experience of South Dakota’s natural and cultural landmarks, the Dakota Highlights audio tour provides a compelling mixture of storytelling and independence that few guided tours can match.
FAQs
- Is this tour suitable for families? Yes, it works well for families, especially since everyone listens together on one device, and you can explore at your own pace.
- Do I need to buy separate tickets to visit Mount Rushmore or Badlands? Yes, this tour does not include attraction entry tickets, so check their opening hours and buy tickets as needed.
- How do I access the tour? After booking, you’ll receive an email and text with a password. Download the Actions Tour Guide App, enter your password, and the tour will be ready to go.
- Can I start the tour at any time? Absolutely, you can start whenever you want and pause or resume as fits your schedule.
- Is the app easy to use? Yes, many users find it straightforward, and the narration plays automatically as you reach each stop.
- What kind of devices can I use? It works on smartphones with internet for setup and then offline maps and audio for the rest of your trip.
- How long is the tour? The full itinerary spans about two days, but you can customize your timing for each stop.
- Can I revisit the tour later? Yes, the license is valid for one year, so you can retake parts of the tour or explore again.
- Does the tour include wildlife sightings? While it doesn’t guarantee sightings, it provides stories about the animals you might encounter, like bison or pronghorn.
- What about the quality of the narration? The feedback is very positive, with many reviewers praising the narrator’s engaging and clear voice.
This self-guided audio tour presents a practical, budget-friendly way to see South Dakota’s top sights, blending storytelling with the freedom to explore at your own pace. Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, or just want a reliable way to navigate the region, this experience offers solid value and authentic insights into some of America’s most striking landscapes.