As South Dakota’s first and largest state park, Custer State Park is a must-visit when in the state’s Rapid City region. This vast wildlife preserve is home to bison, elk, mule deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, river otters, cougars, feral burros, prairie dogs, and more – offering a refreshing escape from mundane city life. Known for one of the most iconic scenic drives in the country – Needles Highway – Custer State Park is a hidden gem among state parks. Its close proximity to attractions like Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood, and Wind Cave National Park makes it a perfect addition to any South Dakota itinerary.
Named after Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, Custer State Park was established in 1912 and grew rapidly in the 1920s, acquiring new land and attracting visitors from across the country. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built miles of roads, constructed three dams for water recreation, and developed various areas and campgrounds. In 1964, an additional 22,900 acres were added to the park. Located just 6 minutes from the town of Custer and 30 minutes from Rapid City, the park is renowned for its rolling hills, picturesque prairies, striking granite peaks, and pristine lakes.
Located in the Black Hills at 13329 US Highway 16A, Custer, SD 57730, Custer State Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day, covering 71,000 acres at an elevation of 4,721 feet (1,349 m). Visitors can easily spend several hours or days exploring the park and enjoying activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, boating, camping, birdwatching, horseback riding, and swimming. The park offers 9 campgrounds with 338 campsites, 50 camping cabins, and a horse camp. Entrance fees include a 7-day license for $20 per vehicle or an annual pass for $36, with an additional $18 for a second vehicle. Vehicles passing through on US Hwy 16A without stopping do not require a license, and passes can be purchased at park entrances through self-serve kiosks or gate agents.
In addition to its outdoor activities, Custer State Park features two museums. The first is the Peter Norbeck Center, named after South Dakota Governor and Senator Peter Norbeck, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This museum focuses on the park’s natural history and cultural heritage, offering wildlife dioramas, a Civilian Conservation Corps bunkhouse, a gold prospecting display, and serving as the starting point for many of the park’s naturalist programs. The second museum is the Badger Clark Historical Site, also known as Badger Hole, which was home to Charles Badger Clark, South Dakota’s first Poet Laureate in 1937, famed for his cowboy poetry. The house is preserved as it was when Clark lived there, and visitors can tour the home or hike the nearby Badger Clark Historic Trail. Additionally, the park’s visitor center offers information on local wildlife and a 20-minute film about the park’s history and layout.
We began our journey through Custer State Park at the Western Entrance near the town of Custer and were almost immediately immersed in the beauty of the park. Known for its wild bison, in just 5 minutes of entering, we spotted our first duo of free-roaming bison near the entrance of Wildlife Loop, which was an incredible sight! While I safely captured photos from a distance, it’s essential to remind visitors to never approach these majestic animals. 🙅🏻♀️
After our epic bison encounter, we quickly reached the western entrance to the renowned Wildlife Loop – a must-do when visiting the park. This 18-mile loop winds through the plains and rolling wooded hills, offering an unforgettable experience. Along the way, we saw bison, mule deer, pronghorn, wild turkeys, and countless prairie dogs, and passed the well-known bison corral. We sadly did not see any wild burros, something I’m disappointed about. The loop typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on how often you stop. We completed it in about 1.2 hours, as we didn’t stop at every turnout.
In addition to wildlife, the loop features the Wildlife Station Visitor Center, Buffalo Corrals, Blue Bell Restaurant and Lodge, Blue Bell Stables, Legion Lake Restaurant and Cabins, Coolidge General Store, and more. Keep in mind, there are no gas stations along the loop, so it’s best to fuel up before starting this epic journey.
We also stopped at both Legion Lake and Sylvan Lake, with the latter considered to be the “Crown Jewel” of the park. Here we stopped by both the Legion Lake Lodge and Sylvan Lake Lodge, each offering bathrooms, gifts, and food for the weary traveler. Sylvan Lake is considered to be the starting point of what many considered the coup de grâce of Custer State Park – Needles Highway.
If you ever visit western South Dakota, be sure to drive the epic and famous Needles Highway. During our travels through Deadwood and Rapid City, several locals highly recommended it. Part of South Dakota Highway 87, which is a 38-mile state highway that runs through Custer State Park and the Black Hills, the final 14 miles are known as Needles Highway. Along the route, you’ll encounter breathtaking lookout points, caves, streams, tunnels, and stunning granite formations, including the spires and towers known as the “Needles.” Interestingly, this area was originally considered as the site for Mount Rushmore but was rejected by the sculptor due to the thin and poor-quality granite.
Needles Highway attracts around 300,000 visitors annually, drawing twice as many people as nearby Badlands National Park. Carefully planned by Governor Peter Norbeck, who marked the entire route on foot and horseback in the early 1900s, construction was completed by 1922. This scenic drive takes you past monumental granite needles, formed over millions of years by erosion from wind, rain, and freezing and thawing, as well as through spruce forests, meadows, and rugged mountains.
It’s important to note that Needles Highway is very curvy and hilly, so cautious driving is strongly recommended. At one point, I had to pull over because a car, followed closely by a motorcycle, was tailgating me at an unsafe speed, making me uncomfortable given the elevation changes and blind curves. Additionally, the Needles Eye tunnel is so narrow that only one car can pass through at a time. There’s no official system to regulate this, so it operates on mutual respect. When I was about 7 feet into the tunnel, a car coming from the opposite direction decided they were going to go through first. Even though I was already in the tunnel, they ignored my honking and flashing lights and continued forward, forcing me to carefully reverse out. It was incredibly rude and unsafe. Please be mindful and avoid being either of these types of drivers.
Another scenic drive that Custer State Park is known for – Iron Mountain Road. A 17-mile highway that connects the park to Mount Rushmore, it’s known for its “Pigtail Bridges”. The drive takes about 60 minutes to complete, with the road closing periodically during winter, depending on weather conditions.
Lastly, while Custer State Park is open year-round, due to its high elevation, Needles Highway is only open seasonally. It closes to vehicles with the first snowfall of the season (whenever that may be) and reopens on April 1st or later, depending on the weather. However, during the closure to cars, the area remains open to hikers, walkers, bikers, and skiers.
Overall, this blog only dips its toes in the metaphorical Custer State Park pool. While we experienced the park’s main highlights – Wildlife Loop, Sylvan Lake, and Needles Highway – there is so much more to explore. You can visit the Gordon Stockade, where Lt. Colonel Custer discovered gold, or head to Mount Coolidge Fire Tower, one of the final projects completed by the CCC in the late 1930s. There’s also the Black Hills Playhouse, a historic summer stock theater showcasing talented actors from across the U.S. For something truly unique, check out the annual buffalo auction each November, where 200 to 500 live buffalo are auctioned to maintain a sustainable herd size. Custer State Park is a treasure trove of wildlife and outdoor adventure, making it a must-do for anyone visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota.
