Mormon Pioneer Trail Tour - Eastbound

Tour Dates: June 3-9, 2024

September 14-20, 2024

$2,360 per person, double occupancy

History of the Saints

From the beginning, the History of the Saints team, Glenn Rawson and Dennis Lyman have worked at great sacrifice to bring Latter-day Saint Church history to life. Over the years, they helped produce hundreds of Church history documentaries for television. Now comes a new endeavor. Together, they will take you to the actual sites where that history was written and heroism was forged. 

The Pioneer Trail is one of the most revered chapters in our history and Glenn and Dennis are going to take you there—stand in the ruts of the trail (literally and figuratively) and tell you the history of what happened—the people, the places, the events that make our history sacred!

The first tour will journey from Salt Lake City to Nauvoo, by bus, stopping at all the major sites and landmarks along the trail until we reach Nauvoo. We will tour Nauvoo and Carthage, send that group flying home, and then welcome another group and retrace our steps back to Salt Lake City. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with two old hands of the trail. (Some just call them “Rut nuts”)

The entire adventure from beginning to end promises to be instructive, edifying and inspiring. Their goal is for you to come home more determined to be as true and faithful as they were. 

Join them—June and September 2023 

Tour Highlights:

  • Journey along the Mormon Trail
  • Fort Laramie National Historic Site
  • Scottsbluff National Monument
  • Chimney Rock National Monument
  • Tour the Mormon Trail Center at Winter Quarters
  • Mark Twain Riverboat Cruise
  • Historic Liberty Jail

Inclusions:

  • Comfortable transportation on a full-size motorcoach
  • 6 nights hotel accommodations
  • 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners
  • Mark Twain Riverboat Dinner Cruise
  • Gratuities for included meals
  • Gratuities for the bus driver

Daily Breakdown:

  • Day 1: Salt Lake City, UT - Casper, WY
  • Day 2: Fort Laramie - Chimney Rock (Overnight in Kearney NE)
  • Day 3: Winter Quarters - Iowa City - Nauvoo (Overnight in Nauvoo IL)
  • Day 4: Nauvoo (Overnight in Nauvoo IL)
  • Day 5: Carthage - Quincy - Hannibal (Overnight in Hannibal MO)
  • Day 6: Hannibal - Independence (Overnight in Liberty MO)
  • Day 7: Depart Kansas City 

Itinerary:

  • This morning, meet your guide, Glenn Rawson, then board the motorcoach and begin your journey along the Mormon Trail. Depart Salt Lake City and travel east into Wyoming. Enjoy a rest stop at Little America, then pass through Green River on the way to Farson, Parting of the Ways and South Pass. A box lunch will be included today. Next visit the Mormon Handcart Visitors Center at Sixth Crossing. Your next stop will be Martin’s Cove followed by Independence Rock. After a wonderful day on the trail, arrive in Casper and check in for overnight. This evening, join the group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

    Hampton Inn & Suites or similar, Casper, WY | Meals: L, D

  • Depart Casper and continue eastward with stops at Last Crossing and see the wagon ruts near Guernsey. Next, explore Fort Laramie National Historic Site. Lunch is included today. In the afternoon, enter Nebraska with a stop at Scottsbluff National Monument and Chimney Rock National Monument for touring. Travel across Nebraska with a rest stop along the way. This evening, arrive in Kearney overnight, dinner will be on your own.

    Holiday Inn Express or similar, Kearney, NE | Meals: B, L

  • Enjoy another day on the trail and travel to Omaha and visit the Mormon Trail Center at Winter Quarters for touring. After time for lunch on your own, continue east passing through Des Moines on your way to Iowa City for a stop at the Mormon Handcart Park. Dinner will be on your own along the way before arriving in Nauvoo for a two-night stay.

    The Inn at Old Nauvoo or similar, Nauvoo, IL | Meals: B

  • Today is a full day to visit and enjoy Nauvoo. Glenn will speak in several locations. Many locations are staffed by the on-site missionaries and they will also provide guided tours. The tour bus will drive a large circle around the town of Nauvoo so that you can jump on and off as desired. The last bus round will be your ride back to the hotel. This evening, join the group for dinner at a local restaurant.

    The Inn at Old Nauvoo or similar, Nauvoo, IL | Meals: B, D

  • Enjoy some additional time in Nauvoo, then depart and explore Carthage Jail.  Next travel to Quincy for lunch on your own and touring. Later in the afternoon, travel to Hannibal for an overnight. After checking into your hotel, join the group for an evening of dinner and dancing on the Mississippi as you board the Mark Twain Riverboat Dinner Cruise

    Holiday Inn Express or similar, Hannibal, MO | Meals: B, D

  • This morning, travel to Hamilton, the quilt capital of the world. Then visit Adam-Ondi-Ahman for touring with various stops. Lunch will be on your own today. Continue to Far West for touring and a stop at the Far West Country Store. Stop at the Three Witnesses Monument, then travel to the Independence Visitors Center for touring. Next, take a short drive to Liberty and the Historic Liberty Jail for touring. After checking into your hotel, join the group for a farewell dinner to celebrate your incredible experience along the Mormon Trail!

    Hampton Inn or similar, Liberty, MO | Meals: B,D

  • This morning, transfer to the Kansas City Airport for your departure flight home. 

    Meals: B

Scenes from the tour:

Tour Details:

Not Included:

  • Services of a professional Southwest Adventure Tours tour director
  • Meals (other than listed in the itinerary)
  • Items of a personal nature (alcohol, room service, etc.)
  • Baggage handling
  • Gratuities for the tour director
  • Airfare

Arrival / Departure Info:

  • Arrival Location: This is the Place Monument 
  • Arrival Time: 7:30 AM-8:00AM, Depart SLC 
  • Departure Location: Kansas City Airport
    Departure Time: Anytime after 8:30 AM

$2,360 per person, double occupancy