Custer is about 23 miles from Keystone and it takes roughly 35 minutes to drive from Keystone to Custer.
custer state park
Make your first stop in Custer State Park the Visitors Center. US Highway 16A, Custer,
The Custer State Park Visitor Center on US HWY 16A in Custer, SD offers essential information, including hours of operation and accessible facilities. Find maps, brochures, restrooms, and more. Rangers can advise you on where the best attractions are and the best times to see them.
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The largest publicly owned buffalo herd in South Dakota is located at Custer State Park, which has over 1,400 bison roaming its 71,000-acre area. This herd is significant for its role in conservation efforts and is one of the world's largest publicly owned bison herds.
Photo credit: Getty Images
drive the wildlife loop
Drive the Custer Park Wildlife Loop. This 71,000-acre park boasts diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife, making it a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts. Explore prairies, grasslands, mountains, and granite cliffs while encountering over 12 species of animals along the scenic Wildlife Loop road map. (Below)
The Custer State Park Wildlife Loop starts and ends at the intersection of US Highway 16A and SD Highway 87 (Needles Highway), see this road map for reference. You can access the loop from multiple points along these highways. The loop is a scenic drive that takes you through the heart of Custer State Park, showcasing its diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife. Visitors can start the loop from various entry points, including the Wildlife Station Visitor Center on Wildlife Loop Road or from the east entrance near the Blue Bell Lodge. Keep in mind that the loop is a one-way road that guides you through the park’s wildlife-rich areas before returning you to your starting point.
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The Custer State Park Wildlife Loop is approximately 18 miles long, forming a scenic route through the heart of the park’s diverse landscapes. The drive typically takes around 1-2 hours to complete, depending on traffic and how often you stop to admire the wildlife and scenery along the way.
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For the best wildlife viewing opportunities, early mornings and late afternoons are ideal. Animals are more active during these times, especially during the cooler hours of the day.
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There is a $20 entrance fee per vehicle, allowing access to the entire park, including the Wildlife Loop. This fee is the only cost associated with exploring this remarkable area.
Custer State Park Bison Center
Located along the Wildlife Loop Road at the Buffalo Corrals, the new Custer State Park Bison Center brings an all-bison experience to the park's scenic drive through the southern prairie of the 71,000 acre park.
The Bison Center tells the story of Custer State Park’s bison herd and hopes to educate future generations on the importance of bison through engaging and dynamic interpretive displays.
take a safari jeep tour
Named Top 10 US Safaris! Top-selling Custer State Park attraction.
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This buffalo safari tour will take you where only they can go: off-road to the private, interior dirt roads of the Park. Trek through the park in an open-air Jeep in search of pronghorns, elk, and buffalo. Along the way, your guides will share historical and educational facts about the park and wildlife - and help you spot the critters.
​Tours depart daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Duration 1 ½ to 2 hours. Exclusive access to private interior roads of the Wildlife Loop...best possible way to get up close! Tours run between $64 and $75 per person for the regular jeep tour. The company hosts a variety of jeep tours, however,
I took the Sunrise Safari which was amazing. This experience is especially popular in the summer months when wildlife is most active.
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Tip: Dress in layers, as weather can change quickly in the park.
kayak sylvan lake
Renting a kayak at Sylvan Lake is a delightful way to experience tranquil waters. This picturesque lake, surrounded by towering granite and lush forests, provides the perfect backdrop. Kayaking allows you to explore the beauty of the area at your own pace.
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Several rental shops are available, providing kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. For beginners, there are guides who can offer tips on maneuvering and safety. It’s an enjoyable activity for families, couples, and solo adventurers.
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Rentals typically operate during warmer months, so plan your visit accordingly. After kayaking, take time to enjoy the surrounding picnic areas for a lovely day in the park.
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Rental Options: Kayak rentals are available at Sylvan Lake Lodge and Legion Lake Lodge, with a variety of watercraft for different skill levels. Life jackets are provided for safety.
The rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis and the park's Coolidge General Store also offers similar watercraft options.
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Kayaking allows you to explore the lake's clear waters, sandy beaches, and rock formations. It's a great way to
enjoy the natural beauty of the Black Hills. Keep an eye out for wildlife on the shore as you paddle along!
jewel cave national monument
Immerse yourself in one of the longest caves in the world. With over 220 miles of mapped and surveyed passages, the Jewel Cave underground wilderness appeals to human curiosity. Its splendor is revealed through fragile formations and glimpses of brilliant color. Its maze of passages lures explorers, and its scientific wealth remains a mystery. This resource is truly a jewel in the National Park Service.
Ranger-guided tours are required to enter Jewel Cave, and the various tours are offered at scheduled times, which vary by season. Cave tours often book in advance. In the summer season (May through September), cave tour reservations will become available approximately 30-60 days in advance. For this reason, visitors are encouraged to make advanced tour reservations through Recreation.gov. The booking window closes at noon the day before, and will close earlier if the tour sells out.
If daily staffing allows, some tickets for Discovery Tours and Scenic
Tours are sold on-site, in person, on a first-come, first-serve basis. During the summer months Historic Lantern Tours can also be sold on a same day basis if staffing allows. Wild Cave Tours must be reserved in advance on Recreation.gov. Please be advised that all cave tour tickets are limited by tour type and time, and if same day tickets are available they often sell out by late morning. Availability of same day tickets is not guaranteed.
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Must read: Prepare For Cave Tour
An entrance pass is not required to access Jewel Cave National Monument. There is no fee to explore the Visitor Center or hike the trails. The only fees are associated with the cave tours.
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Discovery Tour - Ticket Prices
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$6.00 - Adult age 16 & over
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$3.00 - Youth ages 6-15, and Seniors 62 years and older
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Free - Child ages 5 & under
Discovery Tour Details: This 20-minute program is a brief introduction to the natural and cultural history of Jewel Cave National Monument. This activity takes place inside the Target Room, the first cave chamber along the Scenic Tour route. This easy and accessible activity enters and exits the cave by elevator in the visitor center. It is recommended that families with young children and visitors with limited time or health concerns take part in this activity, versus a extended cave tour. NOTE: 20-person maximum. Tour lasts 1 hour 20 minutes.
Scenic Tour - Ticket Prices
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$16.00 - Adult age 16 & over
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$8.00 - Youth ages 6-15
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Free - Child ages 5 & under
Scenic Tour Details: This tour is moderately strenuous and lasts 1 hour and 20 minutes. The tour enters and exits the cave by elevator in the visitor center. The 1/2-mile tour route involves walking up and down 734 stairs along a paved trail with electrical lighting. This tour provides a winding exploration through chambers decorated with calcite crystals and other colorful speleothems. It is recommended that children five and under be taken on the Discovery Tour. Parents and guardians may not carry a child of any age on the Scenic Tour except in a front carrier; all tour participants must be able to navigate the 734 stairs along the tour route unassisted. NOTE: 30-person maximum. Tour lasts 1 hour 20 minutes.
Historic Lantern Tour - Ticket Prices (Summer Only)
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$16.00 - Adult age 16 & over
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$8.00 - Youth ages 8-15 (must be at least age 8)
Lantern Tour Details: The Lantern Tour (summer season only) is a 1940s style adventure within the Historic Cave Entrance. Visitors carry lanterns along a 1/2-mile undeveloped cave trail, entering and exiting the cave through the historic entrance. This strenuous tour lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes and includes about 600 steep, narrow stairs. The tour requires bending, stooping, duck walking, and navigation of steep, wooden, ladder-like steps. Children ages seven and under are not allowed on Lantern Tours. Parents and guardians may not carry a child of any age on the Lantern Tour; all tour participants must be able to navigate the tour route unassisted. NOTE: 15-person maximum. Tour lasts 1.75 hours.
Wild Caving Tour - Ticket Prices (Summer Only)
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$45.00 - Adult (Must be at least 16)
Wild Caving Tour Details: At 2/3 of a mile long, this tour is a real caving adventure. You scramble over cave "breakdown," chimney between cave walls, use a rope assist to climb a nearly vertical wall, and belly-crawl through tight passages. Along the way you learn about low-impact caving, caving techniques and safety. The Wild Caving Tour lasts 3-4 hours, and is extremely strenuous. Anyone having a fear of closed spaces or heights should not attempt this tour. NOTE: 5-person maximum (2-person minimum). ​
Hjem A.M. 308 Mt. Rushmore Rd, Custer.
Or how about some walleye or deviled eggs topped with smoked salmon?
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Reservations are recommended and for parties of 6 or more are required. 605~981~9047
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HOURS
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Thu 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Fri 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Sat 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sun 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Hjem means "home" in Danish and the owners of Hjem do make you feel at home in their restaurant.
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This isn't your average breakfast restaurant. Erik and Camillia have put a Scandinavian spin on American breakfast fare that's not only different but delicious.
Sunrise Salmon or Custer's Last Meal anyone?
Custer's Last Meal
This unique dining event offers a delicious cowboy-style dinner under the stars. The atmosphere is lively, full of laughter and storytelling as guests enjoy their meal.
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Be part of a Blue Bell tradition. This old-fashioned hayride takes you on a 45-minute scenic wildlife tour on the park's beautiful backroad to a mountain meadow canyon for a chuck wagon feast. Live entertainment! On the way, you can sing along with your live folk music entertainer, and the full folk band joins up at the canyon for the dinner show. Each paying guest gets a souvenir cowboy hat and bandanna to help you play the part.
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Pre-dinner wildlife tour
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8 oz. Choice Sirloin Steak, 1/3 lb. Burger, or Black Bean Burger
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Cowboy beans
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Cornbread and honey
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Potato salad
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Coleslaw
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Watermelon
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Cookies
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Chuck wagon coffee
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Lemonade
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Live entertainment all night!
The cookout is held in a lovely outdoor setting, providing fantastic views of the park at sunset. The camaraderie during the event makes it memorable, bringing together families and friends in an enjoyable setting.
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Reservations are usually required, especially during the busy season.
Cedar Pass Lodge is the only place to eat inside Badlands National Park. It can be a nice little stop in the middle of your Badlands day. Their popular dish is Sioux Indian Tacos – fry bread topped with beans and bison meat.
Rapid City is located on the eastern slope of the Black Hills in western South Dakota. Known as the "Gateway to the Black Hills" and the "City of Presidents" because of the life-size bronze president statues downtown, Rapid City is split by a low mountain ridge that divides the city's western and eastern parts, called ‘The Gap.’
Ellsworth Air Force Base is on the city's outskirts. Camp Rapid, part of the South Dakota Army National Guard, is in the city's western part.
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It is the second most populous city in South Dakota.
City of Presidents Walking Tour
& Scavenger Hunt
Rapid City isn't called The City of Presidents for nothing. The presidential statues remain one of Rapid City’s top attractions. It’s free, educational and fun for all ages. The added fun of the scavenger hunt,
found on the back of the City of Presidents brochure, can be completed and turned in for a presidential prize at the Rapid City Visitor Center or the Visit Rapid City office.
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The newest feature: a free self-guided audio tour. Dial in or scan the QR code in the brochure to listen or read along. It’s an easy way to learn more about the people behind the presidencies and catch artistic details you might otherwise miss.
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Grab the City of Presidents Guide — your all-in-one companion to the trail. It enhances every experience, whether you're tuning into the free audio tour, following along with the dial-in version, or taking on the scavenger hunt. Use it to navigate downtown, track your progress, and uncover the unique stories behind each statue. Pick up a printed guide at the Rapid City Visitor Center in downtown Rapid City or view the digital version.​
Rapid City is a sizeable city so we found the best way to see it was a City View Trolley Tour.
Listen to the history as you tour through Downtown Rapid City, West Boulevard Historic District, and past city landmarks like the quirky green dinosaurs of Dinosaur Park while riding the City View Trolley. The tour also includes a 30-minute stop to explore the beauty of Chapel in the Hills. The City View Trolley is perfect for visitors who want to explore Rapid's top sites in a fun and convenient way.
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The tour is 2 hours long.
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Ticket Cost
Adult: $25
Child (ages 3-12): $10
Infants (ages 0-2): FREE on lap
*Advanced ticket purchase recommended. (Books up FAST during peak season!) Tours begin promptly at departure time. Please arrive early.
Money $aving Tip:
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Printable coupon for $5 off your trolley fare during the 2026 season.
A discount code for purchasing online tickets is included.
This is just the cutest park ever and kids will love it! Admission is FREE!
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The favorite characters of your childhood books can be found among the fountains and green grass of Storybook Island. Kids have a blast exploring the tree house of Winnie the Pooh, sliding down the hill by Jack and Jill, and sitting in the carriage of Cinderella. Imagination has no limits within this fairytale park.
There's also a carousel and a train to ride as well.
Dinosaur Park - 940 Skyline Dr, Rapid City
Quirky history can be found standing on a ridge overlooking Rapid City. Boasting 60-mile views, Dinosaur Park is also home to seven green dinosaurs. While reflecting the general size of the real dinosaurs, these 1936 creations have aged to be more of a cartoon-like replica of the prehistoric beasts they represent. However, climbing and posing in photos with them is still timeless fun. FREE to visit.
Spread across over 200 acres of lush pine forests and rolling meadows, just eight miles south of Rapid City, Bear Country U.S.A. offers an unparalleled opportunity to get close to wildlife. Guests can enjoy a relaxed three-mile drive through enclosures, spotting animals such as black bears, elk, reindeer, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and bison. From the comfort of their cars, visitors can watch as bears climb trees, splash in pools, and stroll across the road just feet away.
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The layout of Bear Country USA allows for two main experiences: a drive-through area and a walk-through area. The drive-through section lets visitors observe wildlife from the safety of their cars. This means families with young children or individuals who may not want to walk long distances can enjoy the experience without any hassle. The walk-through section, on the other hand, allows for a more personal encounter with the animals, including a petting zoo with various domesticated animals.
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When planning your visit, it’s also wise to purchase tickets in advance. This can often save you time when you arrive at the park and prevent delays. Some visitors might also want to take advantage of special family packages or discounts on tickets for larger groups.
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Prices below are per person in the private vehicle.
reptile gardens - 8955 S. Hwy. 16, rapid city
The restaurant at Reptile Gardens is called the Red Parrot Cafe. The food is surprisingly good and inexpensive.
Try the funnel cake!
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The Green Parrot Cafe is open from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm during regular Summer Hours from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend.
old macdonald's farm
Hwy 16, Rapid City
To see everything at Reptile Gardens typically takes 4-6 hours for a leisurely visit. (We spent half a day there.)
​Something fun for the kids is Spring Creek Gulch. This is a cute kid-size town full of family-friendly activities and places to take fun pictures! Set up like an old west town, it even has a mini Mount Rushmore display to snap a few pics of. Kids can go gemstone and arrowhead sluicing or experience the black light 3D safari.
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The only time to tour Reptile Gardens is the summer when everything is open and the gardens are in full bloom. If you go in the spring most everything will be closed.
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Summer
May 25 through September 4
8 am to 6 pm
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If you do happen to go, grab a photo in front of the turtle sign with your party and that will count as a season pass for future visits. If you are in the area for a while, you can come again or if you plan to visit before the calendar year is up then you are covered.
Photo credit: We're In the Rockies
Money $aving Tip:
Free printable coupon here for free pony ride with child's paid admission
Visitors of all ages interact with over 100 farm animals at Old MacDonald's Farm. Bottle-feed baby goats, pet the pigs, and feed the ducks and geese in the pond as you get up close to farm life. Great for kids!
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Open May through October: Monday-Saturday: 9am-5pm Admission prices here
Colonial House - 2315 Mt Rushmore Rd, Rapid City
This spot stands out for its house-made caramel rolls and fluffy omelets. Their Original CH-Caramel Roll is a must-order if you want to taste a true local icon. The
homestyle breakfast platters are generous, and the friendly staff keep coffee cups filled without you having to ask.
Comfort and consistency draw folks in, but it’s the smell of fresh-baked bread and cinnamon in the air that keeps people coming back.
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Breakfast served from 7 am to 11:30
Badlands National Park is a stunning showcase of nature’s artwork. Just a short drive from Rapid City, you can explore dramatic landscapes filled with canyons, buttes, and pinnacles. The rugged beauty of the park is both breathtaking and otherworldly. It’s a fantastic place for hiking, photography, and wildlife watching.
The park offers several short walking trails, including the popular Notch Trail. This trail leads you to a scenic overlook with panoramic views. Keep an eye out for bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs along the trails!
For a unique experience, consider joining a ranger-led program or a night sky tour. The dark skies over Badlands National Park offer incredible stargazing opportunities.
Drive the Badlands Loop Road
Badlands Loop Road is a 30-mile, paved road that runs through the most scenic part of the park. Located along this road are overlooks, boardwalk trails, and the jumping off points for backcountry hikes into the interior of the Badlands. Stop at Pinnacles Overlook and Big Badlands for amazing views.
Badlands Loop Road runs from the Northeast Entrance Station to Sage Creek Road. If you drove this road without stopping, it would take about an hour and fifteen minutes, one-way. Once you add on overlooks and a few, short walks/hikes, this drive can take half to a full day, depending on what you choose to do.
Pinnacles overlook
Pinnacles Overlook has sweeping views and faces South, making it a great sunset destination.
On clear days, the Black Hills are visible on the horizon. Bison might be visible in the distance, in the valley below or the upper prairie to the northwest. This overlook is also a popular spot for Bighorn sheep to gather. This is also a lambing area for Bighorn sheep in late April to early May, so it’s not unusual to see lambs traversing the rocky slopes of the Badlands.
big badlands overlook
Badlands formations erode at a rate of one inch a year, meaning they only have 500,000 years left!
Big Badlands Overlook provides the opportunity to view the eastern portion of the Badlands wall, and erosional feature that expands from near the town Kadoka (east) to the town of Wall (west). On clearer days, you can see Eagle Nest Butte rising in the southeast horizon, which is situated next to the town of Wanblee, South Dakota. This view shows the lower units of the Badlands Formations. The reddish stripes of the Brule Formation (Scenic Member; Oligocene Epoch, 33.7-32.0 million years ago) dominates the view. The darker gray beds near the base of the outcrops are the older Chadron Formation (Peanut Peak Member; Eocene Epoch, 35.0-33.7 million years ago).
the notch trail
The Notch Trail is pure fun. This hike is great for adventurous kids and adults.
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It’s just 1.5 miles round trip and features a walk through a scenic canyon, a climb up a wooden ladder, a brief walk along a cliff trail, and ends with a view of the amazing scenery of the Badlands.
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There is a short section where the trail is only 5 feet wide. If you have a fear of heights or are planning to do this with young kids, you can skip this section. At the base of the ladder you have a choice to make. You can either climb up the ladder and walk the cliff trail, or follow the trail through the canyon floor until it rejoins with the higher trail.
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To get to the trailhead park in the large parking lot for the Window, Door, and Notch Trails. It is best to park at the southern end of the parking lot, since this is where the Notch trailhead is located.
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You'll start out with a flat leisurely walk but the farther you go down the trail the more rugged and confining the trail gets.
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After a few bends in the trail, you arrive at the wooden ladder.
This ladder climb is the trickiest part of the hike but it’s also the most fun. When you get to the top of the ladder follow the trail to the left. You'll walk along a cliff ledge that's about 6 feet wide.
Once the cliff section ends, you will walk up through the canyon until you get to “The Notch,” a cut-out in the walls. From here, you can look out over the Badlands and you will be able to see the Visitor Center, campgrounds, and part of the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail.
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There are many trails in the park you can hike, but this is my favorite.
robert's prarie dog town
Even prarie dogs have bad days...
Prairie dogs are ground squirrels. They form “towns,” which are collections of burrows and family units that can span many acres. The prairie dogs sit at the openings of their burrows and bark a warning cry to their buddies as invaders approach. If you get too close, the prairie dog will escape down into their burrow, emitting one final squeak.
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To see the prairie dogs at Roberts Prairie Dog Town, simply park your car in the car park and walk one of the trails out into the town.
DO NOT FEED THE PRARIE DOGS!
You could make them sick or worse.
scenic - ghost town
One of the most interesting places to visit lies just outside of Badlands Natl. Park.​
Scenic, South Dakota, is a ghost town located near the western edge of Badlands National Park. Once a thriving farming and ranching town, it has since become an abandoned ghost town with a few remaining buildings. The town was sold in 2011 for $799,000 and is now home to the Iglesia ni Cristo church.
Visitors can explore the Longhorn Saloon, the old post office, dance hall, train depot, and a couple of stores. The town's eerie and haunting atmosphere, along with its dilapidated homes and buildings, makes it a unique and interesting destination for those interested in ghost towns and the history of the American frontier.
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The admission fee to see Scenic SD ghost town is $7.50 per person.
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
Bet you never knew we had missile silos in the Badlands, did you?
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During the Cold War, hundreds of Minuteman Missiles were hidden in silos near the Badlands. Now, the national park service preserves two of these sites, the the Launch Control Facility for Delta-01 and the Delta-09 Missile Silo.
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Start your visit at the Minuteman Missile Visitor Center, which is located near the east entrance into the Badlands. There is a small museum here and it is filled with lots of interesting facts about the Cold War and the accumulation of missiles by the United States and the Soviet Union.
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You can also look down into the Delta-09 Missile Silo (no tour necessary), which is located 15 miles northwest of the Visitor Center, just off of Highway 90 (7 miles from Wall).
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If you want to tour the Launch Control Facility, you can only do this on a guided tour.
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Get the full details on hours of operation and tours of the Launch Control Facility here.
​ Fossil Preparation Lab at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center
The Fossil Preparation Lab is typically open from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., seven days a week, from the second week in June through the third week in September. Located in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, this working paleontological laboratory gives visitors the chance to watch paleontologists at work and learn more about ongoing science at Badlands National Park.
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In the Fossil Preparation Lab, visitors can watch park paleontologists and interns perform the amazing work of fossil preparation. This includes identifying species based on fossil characteristics, removing rock from fossils, and preparing and cataloguing finished specimens for display. Visitors also have the opportunity to ask rangers and paleontologists questions about this exciting work.