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Custer State Park

4.7 (280 reviews)

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Andrea U.

This is the second largest park in the country, only the Adirondacks are larger. The park is 71,000 acres. We were here 18 yrs ago staying in the rustic Sylvan Lake Lodge. Today we did the 18 mile wildlife loop road rather than needles highway. Big horn sheep, elk, mountain lions, prairie dogs, burrows, wild horses & bison inhabit the park. The rock formations look like needles. He ponderosa pines are dark & give the Black Hills their dark appearance. Pres. Calvin Coolidge made the state game lodge his summer White House.

Jonathan H.

We went around dinner time which was around 2 hours before sunset. At first we didn't see many animals and thought we timed it wrong, but then we started to see so many! The last 3rd of our drive was filled with deer, pronghorn, donkey, buffalo, birds, and prairie dogs. The donkeys were particularly fun because they came up to the car and wanted to be fed! We saw HUNDREDS of buffalo and go to see them cross the road with baby buffalo too! This is really cool. We'd definitely recommend. EDIT: we went to check out the visitor center which was very cool too. They had a nice ~20 minute movie which was well done.

K G.

We absolutely loved visiting Custer State Park. We saw bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorns, burros, birds, elk, prairie dogs, white-tailed deer, and mule deer. I learned that this state park is the 4th largest state park in the lower 48 states. We were surprised by how many animals we saw. If you drive around wildlife loop at sunrise or sunset, you will have plenty of opportunities to view all kinds of animals. Bison are my far the most common in the park. There is so much to explore in this park. It's extremely well maintained, clean, and well taken care of with plenty of wide open green spaces and prairies for the wildlife to graze in. Highly recommend visiting Custer State Park!

Spires
Jessica P.

Great visit! We did the wildlife loop and the needles road and both were fabulous. When we entered we saw a huge herd of bison crossing the road. The roads are well maintained, signage is great and the rest areas are nice. Park rangers are knowledgeable as well.

Map
Wen C.

This state park is amazing. There are gorgeous views and hikes to do alongside the Needles Highway, and if you like animals do not miss the wildlife loop. I focused on the wildlife loop this time around. The Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup had just occurred a few days ago, and so the bison cows were all in the corrals next to the Bison Center. The Bison Center was very informative about the lifecycle of the bison and how the park helps keep them at sustainable levels. There is also a small gift shop attached to the center. Even though most of the bison were in the corrals, there were still bulls wandering outside, and I saw plenty of them on the drive. I also saw a bunch of wild turkeys, pronghorn, prairie dogs, and of course the burros! Burros are feral donkeys, but they are still friendly to people. A lot of people feed them, so they are master beggars. Be sure to have some fresh vegetables on hand, or pick up hay to feed them. It helps to pull over the side of the road and get out of the car to prevent them from slobbering over your car and make sure there's room on the road to let cars pass. You can still pet them and take photos even if you don't have food.

Tom G.

What an amazing place. This was the best part of our SD visit. From seeing all kinds of wildlife to a cool jeep tour to the Needles Highway, it was all awesome. Do not miss this on your Black Hills visit.

Helen H.

We drove back up to Custer after visiting Wind Cave National Park. We took the 4 Mile Draw road to connect to Wildlife Loop Rd (18 miles). On the first road, we were able to see baby bison. On the loop we saw more bison and some donkeys. The donkeys will come up to the car window seeking food. We then took Iron Mountain Road (17 miles) and saw mountain goats. The road also passes through tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore in the distance. Be aware the Needles Highway isn't open until May, so we had to forgo some trails I had planned on doing.

Why'd the buffalo cross the road?
Marie S.

Well worth the $20 admission fee, as the pass can be used for 7 days. You can stop in the visitor center for a quick movie and to talk to the rangers about where wildlife has been spotted for the day (of course the buffalos and donkeys may move around some) before taking the wildlife loop. On the first day, we saw several antelope and one big herd of bison. We were able to find another antelope on the second day and the donkeys with their babies. Make sure you bring some carrots for the donkeys, as both you and they will enjoy the fun from that. We saw three smaller clusters of buffalo in the park and one larger herd just as we exited the park. 2024 #49

Paul V.

Wow! There's a LOT you can do at Custer State Park. I was only able to spend about a day there, but it would be easy to spend many more. To start, buying the pass for the car was straightforward and easy (although I wish their website had give more details). Getting the most out of the park if you're not staying there does involve a bit of planning, though, since it does take a bit of time and travel to get between different areas and different entrances of the park. I chose to start at Sylvan Lake because I was planning on doing some hiking in that area. Sylvan Lake was gorgeous as a starting point, even if one of the main trails right off it was closed when I was there. I started with the Little Devils Tower trail, a strenuous trail that gets you going uphill and ends with a stretch involving scrambling and finding your way up and around some rocky areas. The view from the top it worth it! After that I kept it going and continued on the trail all the way to Black Elk Peak, the highest peak between the Rockies and Europe! It is a long trail, but with scenic views here and there from the forest. Again, when you get to the tower at the top and the view, it makes the travel worth it. Really beautiful sights from the top. My day continued with a drive along Needles Highway, curving around and through, traveling through the tunnels, and stopping at pullout spots to cherish the views. It's a unique drive that's worth the time. Finally, wildlife loop road is a must-see. This (again, winding) road takes you through a number of different ecosystems in the park with the possibility of catching some of the park's wildlife in full display. I was lucky enough come upon the bison herd and even get stopped with one crossing directly in front of my car. It was an incredibly cool environment. The Bison Center is worth a stop as well to learn a bit, and if you haven't found the herd, to get an idea where they may be. That's just the tip, with many other trails to hike, places to fish, picnic, or sight-see, it's really an amazing park. If I come back, I may need to stay at one of the resorts on property to give myself more time to explore!

Buffalo grazing the grasslands of Custer State Park
Stacie M.

Absolutely beautiful State Park. Must travel 16A, Needles Highway and Fisherman's Road.

Joe H.

This is an amazing place. I was on a boys trip through the old West traveling through South Dakota, Dakota and Wyoming. I must say that this definitely is a must do and seeing the bison walking across the roads was just breathtaking . If you haven't done, so take the time and go to the state park . There's an incredible amount of wildlife and it's just like going back in time .

Side of Mount Rushmore
Vanessa D.

Absolutely beautiful. Lots of wildlife to see around the park. Bison, antelope, coyote, donkeys etc.

Jennie M.

Custer State Park is what you make of it. At 70,000 sq feet you have choices about where you go and what you see. The entrance fee is $20 per vehicle. Very reasonable considering the Badlands NATIONAL PARK is $50 per vehicle. We chose to take Needles Highway, stop at the Hole In The Wall Picnic Area. Needles Highway has awe inspiring views. Not to be driven by those who are scared of heights. Also, not to be taken if your vehicle exceeds 8 ft in width or 9 ft in height. There are 3 single lane tunnels carved through rocks. Anything larger will simply not fit. The Highway is full of switchbacks, full of u curves as it winds its way up through the needles. Hole in the Wall Picnic Area still had snow even though it was 70 degrees outside. It was melting but it was still there!

View of Mt. Rushmore in the tunnel

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Beautiful area and amazing wildlife. I'm glad we got the chance to spend the day here.

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Big, nice views, clean park grounds, fun & enjoyable park. Big boulders! Lots of things to do!!

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Ask the Community - Custer State Park

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Review Highlights - Custer State Park

Take a leisurely drive on the Wildlife Loop to see buffalo, pronghorns, deer, prairie dogs and so much more.

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Jewel Cave National Monument - Jewel cave sign

Jewel Cave National Monument

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I love caves, and I loved the Scenic Tour I went on! This cave is one of the world's longest caves,…read morewith passages still being explored and mapped out to this day. I thought the tour was very well done, and I saw a lot of calcite crystals (and other formations) which gave the cave its name. Be warned though, you have to bundle up for the tour as the inside is 49°F / 9°C year-round, and you must wear closed-toe shoes. The Scenic Tour itself is a guided tour that has over 700 steps and covers 1/2 miles underground. Some of the pathway's ceilings are low, so if you're tall be sure to duck when the ranger tells you. There is lighting all the way so you can see when the low sections are coming. I learned a lot about the cave, its history, and how it's currently being maintained. The steel walkways have catch trays for lint and other stuff that falls off of guests, and when they clean it annually it has around 17 lb of "stuff". They really try to balance cave preservation with accessibility to the public. I highly recommend this tour.

Touring Jewel Cave was definitely one of the cooler parts of my vacation in the Black Hills. I was…read moreworried about getting to see the cave because the tickets were sold out online, but upon seeing that they offer some additional tours on a first-come basis, I decided to get to the park early and take my chances. I wasn't the only one with that idea, but was fortunate to get a spot on a tour only about 45 minutes after I arrived, which was just enough time to grab by long sleeve and pants (because of the cave's cool constant temp) and take a look through the visitor center. The Scenic Tour itself was engaging and informative. Our tour guide did a good job of giving us some facts about the cave, its history, and pointing out different formations within and was very personable, chatting with members of the group as we walked between areas. I really enjoyed being able to see some of the details of the formations up close (or at least highlighted by our guide's flashlight) to see the amazing details that have formed over time. There are a number of stairs on the tour, but with the pace of the tour, it didn't feel strenuous. It's wild to me that they've discovered over 200 miles within this cave and there is so much they still don't know, thinking that there may be over 5000 miles total to explore! It makes me want to take other cave tours in the future to see the differences in the rocks. There are also some trails around the area to explore, if you want more than just the cave to look at

Crazy Horse Memorial - what the finished memorial will look like

Crazy Horse Memorial

(545 reviews)

Crazy Horse Memorial was honestly one of the most impressive stops of our entire South Dakota road…read moretrip. Pictures really do not prepare you for how massive this mountain carving actually is in person. The scale is unbelievable, and learning that it has been actively worked on since 1948 makes it even more fascinating. What surprised me most was how much there is to do besides just looking at the mountain. The museums, cultural exhibits, artwork, and history throughout the memorial made the experience feel much deeper and more meaningful. You can tell there is a huge focus on honoring Native American culture and preserving history, which made the visit feel educational as well as visually incredible. We also highly recommend doing the bus tour to get closer to the carving because it really helps you understand the size and detail of the project. The views from the property are beautiful, and there are so many great photo opportunities everywhere you look. If you are visiting the Black Hills or heading to Mount Rushmore, this is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. It ended up being one of the most memorable places we visited in South Dakota, and I would definitely go back again. Check out our videos on our socials @reessroots

Crazy Horse Memorial is a must if you're traveling around South Dakota. There is so much history…read morein this area and what better place to learn than here. Native American History is vast and when my boyfriend and I were planning a short trip to South Dakota I knew we needed to stop here. I've heard stories about it but not much from where I grew up in Honolulu. As we hiked our way through Black Elk Peak and decided to sight see the next day it was the perfect time to visit. As you drive in what they've carved out of stone so far is magnificent. When I learned that funding is entirely by donation I can see why it has taken some time to carve. Luckily, technology has advanced and I'm sure they have more tools and equipment which help with the planning and executing of this monument. Parking was easy to find and we both thought the entrance fee was reasonable. They have a nice area to tour and learn a bit of History of the Native American people from this area. We happened to get there when there was a one of the descendants singing and playing a traditional instrument. We spent a few minutes there before exploring the different areas. Before we left we stopped at the giftshop which was quite large. I picked up a couple of things and we made sure to take a photo together before we left. Thinking back on it now, I'm so glad we made sure to stop here. I'm still in awe of the work that has gone into making this monument, the history, and the many people that make this what it is. I'm thankful we had the chance to see it!

Mount Rushmore National Memorial - 07.04.24 July 4th at Keystone SD

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

(787 reviews)

I definitely recommend putting this on something you go and visit in your lifetime. It is a very…read moreamazing monument from the time you walk up through the main gate you can start to see the monument and it's just amazing at the work that was put into it they have lined the pathway with the flags from all 50 states and it just kinda gives you this amazing walk up experience and that if you haven't seen you early enjoy. My family and I spent about an hour and a half there which is a great amount of time you can walk up get some great photos plenty of park Rangers around to talk to get directions and tell you a little bit more about the park They do offer videos certain times of the day that are very informative. They have a full-blown theater at the foot of the mountain, which is really amazing when people can perform and things like that which I had no idea that was there until later. And then they have this amazing easy to travel trail. You can do about 50% of it with the stroller and get close up to the monument and take a great photo but then there comes an area where it says I have almost 450 steps so we stopped right there and turned back, but it does do a loop around the whole area with spectacular views. I definitely think that this is a great place to go and visit really peaceful place well-maintained. They do have restaurants and gift shops there so if you're ever in South Dakota, go and give this place a visit

We had an amazing experience visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Even though it's one of the…read moremost recognizable landmarks in the country, seeing it in person is still incredibly impressive. Pictures really don't capture how massive the sculpture actually is. The entire memorial area is very well maintained and easy to explore. We enjoyed walking through the Avenue of Flags, taking in the different viewpoints, and learning more about the history behind the monument. The exhibits and informational displays helped give a much better appreciation for the amount of work that went into carving the mountain. What stood out most to me was the setting. The Black Hills surrounding Mount Rushmore are beautiful, and the scenery adds so much to the overall experience. It feels peaceful, scenic, and patriotic all at the same time. I also appreciated that there's more to do than just take a quick picture. You can really spend time exploring the area, reading about the construction process, and enjoying the atmosphere. Overall, this is absolutely worth visiting if you're in South Dakota. It's iconic for a reason and definitely one of those places that feels even more impressive once you're standing there in person. Check out our video on our socials @reessroots

Custer State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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