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Needles Eye Tunnel Photos

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The needle
Alyssa Y.

A must do in Custer! The road is windy and narrow in some areas, the tunnels are tight and parking can be at a minimum but the views are amazing! Lots of spots along the entire drive to take quick breaks and take in the views. Needles tunnel and the actual needle are highlights but here is so much to see including the iron tunnel and the cathedrals. Be patient, pack some snacks and marvel at the beauty!

How wide is this tunnel
Janet S.

Set off early - 7.30 am and there was hardly any traffic. Windy roads indeed and hairpins but nothing half as scary as Glacier. Exceeded expectations with panoramic views, dramatic at every turn with lots of parking spots and photo ops. The stillness and coolness of the early morning was bracing. Our little Mitsubishi compact (Mitzi) sailed through the tunnels effortlessly. There were so few people we had time to get out and take our pictures out of the car in the tunnel - our arms spanning the tunnel walls. The fall colors made the drive spectacular.

Maxine P.

While driving the wildlife loop in Custer State Park we added this onto our road trip and what a gorgeous addition it turned out to be. The rock formation wonderland made a visual feast that just kept giving as you drove higher up toward the pass. Note to travelers this road is very narrow in places.....do not try this route with an RV. (One lane tunnels) There are a few tunnels through the rock formations with the most amazing one at the summit. We have friends while driving through it encountered mountain goats licking the walls and did not want to move causing a traffic jam at an already crowded area. As you make it through the tunnel it opened up to expansive views of the formations and the valleys below. Worth the drive and a must see.

Danielle P.

This was one of many of our hidden discoveries while we was visiting the local attractions recently. We didn't research this attraction itself, but while we were sightseeing the State park we came across it and thought it was definitely worth sharing. The Needles Eye Tunnel is located inside the Custer State Park on the Needles highway. It's a very narrow tunnel that is only passable by one vehicle at a time. It's an very unique experience and it felt as if we were driving through the rock mountain!!!

Inside the tunnel, looking at Mt Rushmore
Don W.

A spectacular view. The drive up Iron Mtn Road is incredible. Saw several bison up close and personal

Amazing worth the view but when inside look up it's worth it's for sport cars or motorcycles

Needles Eye Tunnel in Custer State Park
Jeana G.

What fun! Being from Colorado, I'm use to these tunnels as a fun adventure, but really enjoyed Needles Eye. It is just barely big enough for your car to squeak thru, which was thrilling. Don't pass it by or the stunning drive thru Custer State Park to arrive to your destination.

"You want me to put the truck through where?! " -my husband

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3 years ago

AMAZING, take the time to see, you won't be disappointed. Gods absolute splendor at its finest!

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

Really cool experience! It was well worth the side trip to get to see the Needles Eye Tunnel!

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4 years ago

A fun experience while taking the scenic drive. This is a must while in the area. Make sure you take video!

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8 years ago

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7 years ago

Very cool. Technical driving. Scenic by-way. Well worth the time.

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Review Highlights - Needles Eye Tunnel

The Needles Eye Tunnel is located inside the Custer State Park on the Needles highway.

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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!

South Dakota State of - 07.04.24 Keystone SD

South Dakota State of

(2 reviews)

Just Go (#17) My…read morefirst time in the State of South Dakota was a little over 10 years ago. We spent one day that day on 4/10/14 and explored the following sites: Mt Rushmore - what a sight to see as we arrived at the park super early to be the first ones to wander amongst giant presidents -- the majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Minuteman Missile National Historic Site - about 1.5 hours from Mount Rushmore we visited the hidden sites of the Cold War nuclear arsenal. We took the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility Tour that included the missile silo at Delta-09. We were able to see Delta-09 in all its glory staring at us. Just amazing... Badlands National Park - less than 10 miles from the Minuteman Missile is the colorful buttes, spires, and the rugged beauty pinnacles of this underrated park. Unfortunately, because of our tight schedule we didn't get a chance to explore as much as we would've wanted to. This July 4th, 2024 we revisited the Great State of South Dakota. We enjoyed the celebrations, cultural demonstrations and presidential performances at Mount Rushmore then that evening we watched the traditional monument lighting ceremony. Thank you, Great State of South Dakota! Review #3473

Loved my 2021 road trip, thank you South Dakota for keeping this state a true American state, love…read morehow well you honor and respect our American flag, and what our founding fathers have fought for! Love that everywhere we go only the American flag stands alone!!! Most of all how your conservative and moral values are still practiced and respected here! PROUD to be an American and stand by God and my constitution!

The Custer Beacon - Orange Chicken Bowl

The Custer Beacon

(50 reviews)

$$

We were here almost every night during our stay in Custer. The first evening we ordered our drinks…read moreand food at the bar and headed outside to enjoy the slight drizzle. The service is all order at the bar and then they'll bring the food to you from the disconnected kitchen. I ordered the Orange Chicken Bowl and my husband got their Chipped Beef Special. It was out to our table in about 10 minutes, and everything was fresh and piping hot! The orange chicken could've been mistaken for the packages they sell at Trader Joe's or Costco (and I mean that in the BEST sense - I LOVE those brands of orange chicken!), but the broccoli was obviously fresh and still had a nice crisp to it while being just the right amount of tender. The serving sizes are huge and we weren't able to finish both meals. There are pool tables inside that are extraordinarily expensive, so we only played about two games. There was extremely loud live music we weren't expecting the second night, so we sat outside on the patio to try and get a way from the volume, but we still returned for the ambience and the quick service.

What a great place to spend a Friday night in Custer. Good food and good tunes. We were lucky…read moreenough to see the Lonely Rangers from Rapid. Let me tell you the Beacon was lit! The food was also great! Bibimbap bowl was awesome and the chips and queso were flowing. Don't skip on the matcha beignets. Had a great welcoming experience!

Needles Eye Tunnel - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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