23 Best Things to Do in Custer, SD in 2024

LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO IN CUSTER, SD?

We can help! We have been traveling together as a family since 2010 and had a great time exploring this area during a trip through South Dakota.

Custer, South Dakota is a beautiful area just outside Mount Rushmore in the heart of the Black Hills. There are so many fun things to do in Custer, SD including exploring the national parks in the area, scenic drives, and Custer State Park.

Things to Do in Custer State Park

Custer State Park is South Dakota’s largest and first state park. It is home to rolling plains, granite mountains, and refreshing mountain water. Custer State Park South Dakota is made up of 71,000 acres in the Black Hills.

There are so many fun things to do in Custer State Park ranging from camping, hiking, biking, swimming, and fishing.

1. Needles Highway Scenic Drive

The Needles Highway Scenic Drive is 14 miles long with beautiful hikes and viewpoints along the way. This beautiful drive is famous for its scenic views and corkscrew roads.

Do not plan on driving through in any sort of RV. There are very low rock tunnels and lots of sharp turns.

If you’re driving straight through it will take 45 to 60 minutes to drive the Needles Highway. It is a scenic drive where you will constantly be pulling over to take pictures and admire the views. These tall granite peaks and landscapes are what make the Black Hills so beautiful.

The highway is typically closed during the winter months and is open from April through October.

2. Needles Highway Scenic Overlook

This scenic overlook has stunning views of the Black Hills and some interesting rock formations. Just because this is designated as a scenic overlook, doesn’t mean it is the only place you should stop to take in the view.

There are lots of places to pull over and enjoy the views of Custer State Park SD.

3. Needles Eye Tunnel

The Needles Eye Tunnel is one of the most famous parts of the Needles Highway and one of the Custer State Park activities. The one-way tunnel is 8’ 4” wide by 12’ 0” high.

Be sure to check for oncoming traffic before driving through. Again, no RVs or large vehicles will fit through this tunnel. We drove through in a small car and I am glad we didn’t have our suburban.

Just outside the tunnel, there is a cool rock formation that looks like the eye of a needle. This is where the highway got its name. There are also some fun places to let the kids climb on the rocks and explore.

4. Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park South Dakota

The open grasslands and rolling hills are home to the park’s wildlife. There are buffalo, bighorn sheep, antelope, deer, elk, coyotes, and more. In fact, Custer State Park South Dakota is home to one of the world’s largest buffalo herds.

The road is semicircular and paved. At the visitor center, you can get a map of the bisons’ routes.

Please remember these are wild animals and you need to keep your distance. Just this past summer there was a viral video of someone being attacked by a buffalo in the park.

It will take you about 1-2 hours to drive the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park. If you are visiting with kids, this is one of the best things to do in Custer State Park. The best time to see wildlife is early in the morning or at dusk.

5. Begging Burros

At the southernmost end of the Wildlife Loop Road, you will find the wild “begging” burros. These burros are small donkeys and are especially friendly, particularly if you brought a snack for them.

Originally these animals were used as pack animals to get visitors from Sylvan Lake Lodge up to the summit of Black Elk Peak. These animals were eventually released into the wild and are now the feral herd you can see today.

6. Sylvan Lake

There are five lakes in Custer State Park, but Sylvan Lake is the most recognized. It is a popular spot for swimming and enjoying time as a family.

Sylvan Lake was one of my kids’ favorite things to see in Custer State Park. It is a beautiful lake that is well worth a stop in the park.

There are a lot of amenities at the like as well. There’s a general store, restaurant, and small campsites. You can even rent paddle boats and canoes if you want to get out on the water.

7. Custer State Park Visitor Centers

If you are visiting with kids or are interested in learning more about Custer State Park, there are three great visitors centers in the park. There are also rangers on hand to help with current conditions and things to do in the park.

Custer State Park Visitor Center: There is a 20-minute movie at this location. It is open year-round except for Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Wildlife Station Visitor Center: This location is open from Memorial Day through September 30.

Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center: The educational programs occur at this location. It is open from Memorial Day through the end of September.

8. Junior Naturalist Program

If your kids enjoy participating in the junior ranger program, they can participate in a similar program in Custer State Park. Kids can complete different activities throughout the park to earn the Junior Naturalist badge.

9. Center Lake

If you want to visit a beautiful lake but don’t want the crowds like at Sylvan Lake, Center Lake is a great option. It is a really pretty part of the lake and will have significantly fewer crowds.

There are not any amenities here like at Sylvan Lake. There are also not really any hiking trails around the lake. This lake is a lot quieter and a more peaceful visit to a lake.

10. Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup

One of the biggest events of the year in Custer, SD is the Buffalo Roundup. A group of riders collects all of the bison in the park to vaccinate and check on the animals. The park can also only sustain so many bison so extra bison are auctioned off. This helps keep the grasslands healthy and not overrun.

In 2022, the Buffalo Roundup is on September 30.

things to do in Custer, SD – hiking in the State Park

11. Sylvan Lake Shore Trail

• Length: 1.1 miles
• Elevation Gain: 59 feet
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy

This trail will take you to the highest point in South Dakota at 7,242 feet in elevation. Overall, the hike will take 3-4 hours to complete. There are lots of trails that will take you to the top but the most popular trail starts at Sylvan Lake.

The Sylvan Lake Shore Trail surrounds Sylvan Lake and is one of the things to do in Custer State Park that everyone will enjoy. It is a simple trail with spectacular views of the lake. Along the trail, there are spots for bouldering.

12. Black Elk Peak Trail & Harney Peak Fire Tower

• Length: 7.4 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,515 feet
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate

There is a slow incline but a long distance. It is not a steep hike and there are plenty of beautiful viewpoints along the way to the top.

The best part of the hike is the Harney Peak/Black Elk Peak Fire Tower. Most of the stones used to build this lookout were carried by people up the three-mile trail to the top.

From the tower, there are beautiful 360-degree views of the surrounding Black Hills. You can also explore inside the tower.

13. Cathedral Spires Trail

• Length: 1.6 miles
• Elevation Gain: 488 feet
• Route Type: Out & Back
• Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking in Custer State Park South Dakota is amazing. Around every corner is another gorgeous view with lots of opportunities to see wildlife. We saw multiple mountain goats near the trailhead parking lot and throughout this section of the park.

The first quarter of a mile gently climbs uphill until you get close to the spires. The trail through the spires is full of steep switchbacks.

Exploring the area at the base of the switchbacks is a lot of fun and my kids loved it! There are lots of wildflowers on the side of the trail.

1-Day Itinerary: Things to do in Custer, SD

• Start your day at Custer State Park at the East Entrance of the park. If you’re interested in the Custer State Park Visitor Center you can stop here for about 30 minutes.
• Up next is the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Road. This takes about an hour to drive.
• Next, hike the Black Elk Peak or Cathedral Spires Trail.
• Explore the Needles Highway from here. Highlights of this area are the Needles Eye Tunnel, Sylvan Lake, and Sylvan Lake Trail.
• While at Sylvan Lake, stroll along the Sylvan Lake Trail.

Can you do Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park in one day?

Yes, you can do both Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park in one day. These two great things to do in the town of Custer, SD are about 45 minutes away. We would recommend starting your day at Mount Rushmore and spending a couple of hours there.

Then, you can head over to Custer State Park for the rest of your day. This will leave you with enough time to go on a short hike like Cathedral Spires, drive the Needles Highway, and perhaps the Wildlife Loop. You can also stop quickly at Sylvan Lake.

Things to Do In Custer, SD

There are so many fun things to do in Custer, SD outside of Custer State Park. If you have multiple days to spend in the area, we recommend spending a day in Custer State Park and then exploring the Black Hills with your remaining time in the area.

14. Iron Mountain Road

Iron Mountain Road is a scenic drive through the Black Hills. Although it is only 17 miles it has 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, and 3 tunnels. The road will take you to the summit at 5445 feet. There are also three places with 360-degree turns.

Along the way, you will drive through the Black Hills National Forest, Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore. The drive takes about an hour to complete starting at the State Game Lodge and ending at Mount Rushmore.

The road is not maintained in the winter and the road is not recommended for large RVs and trailers.

Tip: Drive this route from south to north, so the tunnels face Mount Rushmore.

15. Mount Rushmore National Monument

Mount Rushmore is another very popular nearby Custer, SD attraction. It is one of the most popular memorials in the United States and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in South Dakota.

When visiting Mount Rushmore, be sure to walk through the educational visitor center and the other activities going on at the memorial. The Grand View Terrace has the best view of the memorial and the Presidential Trail is a nice 0.6-mile walk through the area.

Mount Rushmore is a 30-minute drive from Custer State Park.

16. Crazy Horse Memorial

Similar to Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial is a large mountain carving between Custer and Hill City. It is a depiction of Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota warrior. This is the largest mountain carving in the world.

We stopped by Crazy Horse Memorial and overall it wasn’t our favorite thing to do in Custer, SD. We would recommend stopping here if you are interested in learning more about the North American Indians living in this area.

Overall, we didn’t feel like it was very family-friendly. Because it is an active carving site, you can’t hike or price your personal vehicle to the Mountain. Your admission includes visiting the museums, an Orientation Film, and viewing the memorial from the Outdoor Viewing Veranda.

17. Badlands National Park

If you want to visit another national park and are interested in a fun day trip, Badlands National Park is a great place to visit. Custer State Park to the Badlands National Park is a 1 hour and 15-minute drive.

The Badlands is a small national park and can easily be explored in a day. There are lots of great scenic viewpoints and some short hiking trails.

If are planning an RV road trip through South Dakota, be sure to check out Badlands National Park. It is well worth spending a day exploring the park.
Read More: The Badlands National Park South Dakota – A Complete Vacation Guide

18. Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway

Another beautiful scenic drive in the area is the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway. The byway is about 70 miles and is full of granite tunnels, amazing views, bridges, and hairpin turns. The byway starts in the town of Keystone and continues southwest on Highway 16A.

It takes about two to three hours to drive the entire route. If you drive from State Game Lodge to Mount Rushmore, it takes about 75 minutes.

19. Jewel Cave National Monument

One of the most unique things to do in Custer, SD is to tour Jewel Cave. You can take a tour through this beautiful cave lined with amazing crystals. There are about 195 miles of mapped passageways through the cave, making it one of the longest cave systems in the world.

Throughout the cave tour, you will see beautiful calcite crystals, gypsum, and other formations. Cave tours are given by a park ranger and vary from 20-minute tours to all-day tours.

Jewel Cave is 13 miles west of Custer.

20. Wind Cave National Park

Another amazing cave to explore in this area is Wind Cave National Park. Above ground, it looks like rolling hills with bison however, underground it is one of the most complex caves in the world. The cave is filled with large calcite formations. There are about 150 miles of passageways in the cave.

The Wind Cave has a dense concentration of boxwork formations that can only be seen in a few other places in the world.

This cave is only accessible through a guided tour. Most of the tours last about 60 minutes.

Wind Cave National Park is 20 minutes south of Custer.

21. 1880 Train in Hill City

If you’re looking for a relaxing morning or afternoon activity, the 1880 Train should be on your list of things to do in Custer, SD. The two-hour trip will take you through the beautiful area between Hill City and Keystone.

This is the oldest railroad touring company that is still operating. There are beautiful views of the Black Hills throughout the ride.

22. Spearfish Canyon

Spearfish Canyon is another beautiful drive through the Black Hills. It is a great place for those wanting to spend time in the outdoors and wildlife enthusiasts. It is a really pretty drive with lots of fun stops along the way. There are some fun short hikes you can go on as well.

You should plan on spending two to four hours exploring Spearfish Canyon.

Nearby Spearfish is also home to the DC Booth Historic Fish Hatchery. This is one of the fun things to do in Custer, SD with kids.

23. George S Mickelson Trail

The Mickelson Trail is a beautiful trail going through the Black Hills that is perfect for biking, hiking, horseback riding, and birdwatching. It is an old rail trail that is about 108 miles long. There are three miles of paved trail linking Custer to Custer State Park.

It is a very scenic trail with 100 converted railroad bridges and four rock tunnels. There are 15 different trailheads throughout the area. The most scenic part of the Mickelson Trail runs from Hill City north to Deadwood. This is where the four tunnels are.

The entrance cost is $4/day for those 12 and older.

Map of Things to Do in Custer, SD

How to Use This Map: Click on the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.

If you click the star next to the title of the map, this will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps. Then click on the menu button, go to “Your Place” and click on Maps. You will see this map added to your list.

Things to Do in Custer, SD in the Winter

While winter is not the most common time to visit this area, it is a very magical time. There are lots of fun things to do in Custer, SD in the winter ranging from winter sports and sightseeing. It is a very popular place for winter sports like snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing.

Spearfish is a great place to visit in the winter. There are about 350 miles of marked trails and 1.2 million acres in the Black Hills of South Dakota that is open to snowmobiling. Lead, South Dakota is a great place to go skiing and snowboarding. There is also a fun snow tubing hill here as well.

Where to Stay in Custer, SD

Custer, South Dakota is a great place to stay when exploring the Black Hills. If you want to camp, there are great places to camp in Custer State Park. Reservations should be made ahead of time because the camping sites do fill up.

If you aren’t camping, there are lots of great cabins and hotels to stay at in the area. We really enjoy staying in private rentals when we travel. We love having a full kitchen and multiple bedrooms. It also gives our kids a little more room to spread out and play.

Look for Private VRBO Rentals Here!

If you prefer to stay at a hotel, here are some great choices that will have you minutes from all of the fun things to do in Custer, SD:

Comfort Inn and Suites Custer: Located in the center of town and has a pool, gym, and free breakfast

Holiday Inn Express and Suites: Updated hotel with large suite rooms available as well as a pool, gym, and free breakfast

Econo Lodge: A great budget hotel with high customer reviews

Check Prices for Hotel Rooms in Custer Here!

Custer State Park Camping

There are lots of opportunities to go camping in Custer State Park as well as different cabins. The cost to camp at Custer State Park depends on the amenities you are looking for.

At the Bluebell Campground which accommodates large RVs and tents, a campsite with no electricity is $15/per tent. It is $30/night per unit for a site with electric hookups. Camping cabins are $55/night in the Bluebell Campground.

These rates seem to be close to the cost of the other campsites in the park.

Reservations are available 1 year in advance. Most camping reservations can be made online. If an online option is not available, you can also call 1-800-710-2267.

It is a good idea to make reservations for camping at Custer State Park as it is a very popular place in the summer months. Some campgrounds can fill up six months ahead of time.

Here are some of the campgrounds in the park –

Bluebell Campground

This is a popular campground by French Creek. There are tent sites as well as spots for RVs.

Campground Price: $15/night
31 sites
RV Sites: Yes
Reservations: Yes

Camping Cabin Price: $55/night
23 cabins

Open from April 27 – October 31

Sylvan Lake Campground

This campground is just steps away from Sylvan Lake, one of the prettiest places in Custer State Park. The spaces aren’t the biggest ones available in the park because of the close proximity to the lake. RVs over 27 feet will not fit.

Campground Price: $15/night and $30/night with electricity
39 sites
RV Sites: Yes (under 27 feet)
Reservations: Yes

Open from May 17 to September 30

Game Lodge Campground

This campground is centrally located in the park. You can swim in the Grace Coolidge Creek which runs through the campground.

Campground Price: $26/night and $30/night with electricity, cabins are $55/night
59 sites and 11 cabins
RV Sites: Yes (under 27 feet)
Reservations: Yes

Open from April 1 – November 15 (full facilities)
November 16 – March 31 (comfort station closed)

Center Lake Campground

Center Lake Campground is at the north end of the park by the Needles Highway. It has close access to Mount Rushmore, the Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway.

Campground Price: $19/night
71 sites with no electricity
RV Sites: Yes, smaller RVs
Reservations: Same Day

If these campgrounds are full, you can look into some of the Black Hills National Forest Campgrounds like Bismarck Lake Campground and Dutchman Campground.

FAQs about Things to Do in Custer, SD

What is Custer, South Dakota known for?

Custer is a beautiful city in the heart of the Black Hills in South Dakota. It is a great central location for visiting the major attractions in the area like Jewel Cave, Wind Cave, Mount Rushmore, and Custer State Park.

Best Time to Custer State Park in South Dakota

The best time to visit Custer State Park is May through September due to warmer weather during this season.

How much time do you need at Custer State Park South Dakota?

If you want to drive through Custer State Park South Dakota it will take 1-2 hours. If you are going through at a leisurely pace, stopping at viewpoints, the Custer State Park attractions, and hiking you will want to spend at least one day in Custer State Park South Dakota.

Custer State Park camping is a lot of fun and will give you the chance to explore more of this beautiful park.

How many days do you need in Custer, SD?

We recommend spending at least three days in Custer, SD. This will give you enough time to visit the highlights of this area like Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, and the Black Hills.

How much does it cost to go to Custer State Park?

The cost to go to Custer State Park is $20 per vehicle for a 1- to a 7-day pass. An annual pass is $36. The park is open year-round, 24 hours per day.

Custer State Park passes can be purchased at any of the five entrance stations. You will want to bring exact cash to pay your entrance fee.

Custer State Park Wildlife

There is a variety of wildlife in the park. Custer State Park is a world-class wildlife refuge. Watchable wildlife in the park is bison, deer, antelope, mountain goats, elk, coyotes, burrows, bighorn sheep, birds, and prairie dogs.

Custer State Park is home to a herd of free-roaming bison consisting of about 1,300 animals.

Are there grizzly bears in Custer State Park?

Bears are rarely found in Custer State Park. Black bears, while occasionally seen, are rarely there.

Conclusion: Things to Do in Custer, SD

I hope you have found this guide helpful in planning all of the fun things to do in Custer, SD. It is such a beautiful part of the country and is really fun. Going through South Dakota on a road trip makes for a very memorable family vacation.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below or you can always reach us on Instagram.

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