Mormon Pioneer Trail Tour - Westbound

Tour Dates: June 9-15, 2024

September 20-26, 2024

Pricing starts at $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 2024. 

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

Itinerary:

  • Arrive at the Kansas City Airport by 1:00PM. Meet your guide, Glenn Rawson, then board the motorcoach and begin your journey along the Mormon Trail. (Stop for lunch on own if needed based on arrival time) Depart and 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 welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

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

  • This morning, depart Liberty with a stop at the Three Witnesses Monument. Then travel to Far West for touring and a stop at the Far West Country Store. Next visit Adam-Ondi-Ahman with various stops. Travel to Hamilton for lunch on your own and touring. In the afternoon, travel to Hannibal for 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

  • Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before traveling to Quincy. Lunch will be on your own today. Proceed on to Carthage Jail where you will spend your afternoon exploring. Afterward, travel to Nauvoo and check in for a two-night stay. Enjoy a possible tour of Nauvoo and dinner on your own. 

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

  • Today is a full day to visit and enjoy Nauvoo. Many locations are staffed by the on-site missionaries and they will also provide guided tours. One possibility is the opportunity to walk the Trail of Hope and take a group picture at the water’s edge. (Be sure to bring mosquito repellant). 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. Lunch is on your own today. This evening, join the group for dinner at a local restaurant.  

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

  • Begin your westward journey as you depart Nauvoo and travel to Iowa City for a stop at the Mormon Handcart Park. Then pass through Des Moines with a stop for lunch on your own along the way.  Arrive in Omaha and visit the Mormon Trail Center at Winter Quarters for touring. Later in the afternoon, continue west to Kearney for overnight.  Dinner will be on your own this evening.

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

  • Depart Kearney this morning and travel across Nebraska with a rest stop along the way. Arrive at Chimney Rock National Monument for touring. A box lunch is included today. Next stop at Scottsbluff National Monument, then enter Wyoming and explore Fort Laramie National Historic Site. See the wagon ruts near Guernsey and stop at Last Crossing on the way to Casper for overnight. Dinner is on your own this evening.

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

    Please note: The hotel for the June trip will be the Holiday Inn Express in Douglas, WY. 

  • Enjoy one more day along the trail as you depart Casper and begin with a stop at Independence Rock followed by Martin’s Cove. There is a visitors center where you'll enjoy a tour with the on-site missionaries. Next visit the Mormon Handcart Visitors Center at Sixth Crossing. A box lunch is included today. In the afternoon stop at South Pass, Parting of the Ways and in Farson. Pass through Green River and enjoy a rest stop at Little America before the last leg of your journey brings you to Salt Lake City and the end of your tour. Tonight, join the group for a special farewell dinner at This is the Place.

    Meals: B, L, D

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: Kansas City Airport
    Arrival Time: by 1:00 PM
    Departure Location:This is the Place Monument
    Departure Time: 8:00 PM

$2,360 per person, double occupancy