Custer State Park is a South Dakota State Park and wildlife reserve in the Black Hills, United States. The park is South Dakota’s largest and first state park, named after Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer.
How to get there
The closest airport is Rapid City which is 25 miles North of Custer State Park. It can also be reached from the nearest towns of Keystone, SD, and Custer, SD.
Entrance Fee
Custer State Park entrance fee is $20 per vehicle and is valid for seven days. It is not included in America the Beautiful Pass because it is a state park.
Things to do in Custer State Park
The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway complements the park’s three scenic drives and includes some of the Black Hills’ most dramatic natural and historical features.
Iron Mountain Road
This winding road runs between Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the junction of US 16A and SD 36 in Custer State Park. Along the highway, visitors will find wildfire exhibits, pigtail bridges, magnificent Black Hills scenery, and tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore. With stops, it might take around 60 minutes to drive from Mount Rushmore to the Custer Visitor center.
Scovel Johnson Tunnel You can see a Mount Rushmore tunnel view while driving through Scovel Johnson Tunnel on Iron Mountain Road.
Norbeck Overlook You can see the view of Mount Rushmore from here.
Needles Highway
The Needles Highway is more than a 14-mile road—it’s a spectacular drive through pine and spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen, and rugged granite mountains. The road’s name comes from the needlelike granite formations that seem to pierce the horizon along the highway. Expect a travel time of about 45 to 60 minutes to enjoy Needles Highway. Needles Highway is not RV-friendly because of the tunnels.
Needles Eye Tunnel
A unique rock formation called the Needle’s Eye.
Wildlife loop road
Wildlife Loop Road travels through 18 miles of open grasslands and pine-speckled hills that much of the park’s wildlife call home. Expect a travel time of around one hour to complete the loop.
We saw the most wildlife in Custer State Park on this road trip.
The best time to drive Wildlife Loop road is early morning or late evening when animals are more active. We drove in mid-day, and the animals were resting.
For your safety and the safety of the animals, drive slowly and do not feed the animals.
Sylvan Lake
You can rent watercraft, go fishing, or swim at picturesque Sylvan Lake. It also serves as a stunning backdrop for pictures. You can also hike around the lake to enjoy the views.
Hiking in Custer State Park
The park offers a variety of hiking paths for hikers of all ages and skill levels. You can choose any depending on how much time you want to spend at the park. Click here for the list of the hikes and their details.
The most popular ones are Sylvan Lake Shore Trail, Cathedral Spires Trail, Little Devils Tower Trail, and Black Elk Peak Loop.
Where to stay
Custer State Park has a couple of lodging, cabins, and campgrounds. State Game Lodge and Creekside Lodge are only a couple of miles from the entrance at Iron Mountain Road. Blue Bell Lodge is within one 1-mile of the Wildlife Loop Road entrances. Sylvan Lake Lodge is right at the entrance of the Needles highway, and Legion Lake Lodge can be found just 1 mile from the south entrance. In addition, the nearest town Custer, SD, 15 miles east of the visitor center, and Keystone, SD, 15 miles north of the visitor center, provide more lodging options.
When to visit
The best time to visit Custer State Park is from May through September. Needles Highway is closed in winter due to its narrow, windy roads.
How much time in Custer State Park
The highlights of Custer State Park can be seen in half a day, including driving on Iron Mountain road, Needles Highway, and the wildlife loop. If you want to add hiking, add more time in the park.
Nearby Attractions
If you visit Custer State Park as part of a road trip, you can also include Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, The Mammoth Site, and Devil’s Tower in your trip.