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South Dakota, United States

Black Hills

Plan two days in the southern Black Hills: Custer State Park drives one day, Rushmore and Crazy Horse the next. Below: 3 sights, 4 activities and 2 places to eat, plus how Black Hills fits into a longer trip.

Plan Black Hills with friendsBrowse 10 places
Black Hills, South Dakota, United States
Places
10

3 See · 4 Do · 2 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills

Best season
May – Sep

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

29°C / 83°F avg high

Coolest month
December

-1°C / 30°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 91 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Black Hills

10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Black Hills across Custer State Park, Keystone and Crazy Horse.

  • Sylvan Lake in Black HillsPhoto: Jennifer L. Sovanski from United States of America. Cropped and color-corrected · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Sylvan Lake

    Granite-ringed lake with an easy 1-mile shoreline loop and boulder scrambles.

    Tip Park entry pass for Custer State Park required.

    • Custer State Park
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Early morning
  • Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Black HillsPhoto: Jeremy Lamantia · Google
    See

    Mount Rushmore National Memorial

    Four presidents carved in granite, with the Presidential Trail at the base.

    Tip Parking fee, no entrance fee; walk the 0.6-mile Presidential Trail.

    • Keystone
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning light
  • Crazy Horse Memorial in Black HillsPhoto: Adam Blaisse · Google
    See

    Crazy Horse Memorial

    Ongoing mountain carving honoring the Lakota leader, with the Indian Museum of North America.

    Tip Bus to the base adds a closer view of the face.

    • Crazy Horse
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Afternoon

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Black Hills across Black Elk Wilderness and Custer State Park.

  • Black Elk Peak Trail in Black HillsPhoto: Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    Black Elk Peak Trail

    7-mile round trip from Sylvan Lake to a stone fire tower on South Dakota's highest point.

    Tip Start early in summer to avoid afternoon storms.

    • Black Elk Wilderness
    • Free
    • 4 hr
    • Morning
  • Needles Highway in Black HillsPhoto: Bradie Paschall · Google
    Do

    Needles Highway

    14-mile road through granite spires and one-lane tunnels, including the Needles Eye.

    Tip Tunnels are narrow (8 ft 4 in at Needles Eye); RVs check clearances.

    • Custer State Park
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning
  • Iron Mountain Road in Black HillsPhoto: Jim Barbale · Google
    Do

    Iron Mountain Road

    Winding road with pigtail bridges and tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore.

    Tip Drive north toward Rushmore for the tunnel views.

    • Custer State Park
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Late afternoon
  • Wildlife Loop Road in Black HillsPhoto: Ashley Chmielewski · Google
    Do

    Wildlife Loop Road

    18-mile road through Custer State Park prairie with bison herds and begging burros.

    Tip Drive it at dawn or dusk; stay in the car near bison.

    • Custer State Park
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dawn

Eat

2 places to eat across Custer State Park and Custer, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • State Game Lodge in Black HillsPhoto: Jennifer Wong · Google
    Eat

    State Game Lodge

    1920s lodge, the former Summer White House, serving buffalo and pheasant dishes.

    Tip Reserve dinner in summer.

    • Custer State Park
    • $$$
    • 75 min
    • Dinner
  • Purple Pie Place in Black HillsPhoto: Purple Pie Place · Google
    Eat

    Purple Pie Place

    Purple-painted pie shop in Custer known for rhubarb and berry pies.

    Tip Seasonal, roughly April to October; call ahead late in the season.

    • Custer
    • $
    • 30 min
    • Afternoon

Drink

1 bar or café in Hill City for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Naughti Wines in Black HillsPhoto: Naughti Wines · Google
    Drink

    Naughti Wines

    Hill City tasting room on Hwy 385 pouring its own wines plus Sick-N-Twisted beers, with a patio and firepit.

    Tip $6 flight of six; no reservations needed.

    • Hill City
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Afternoon

How to fit Black Hills into a trip

Black Hills is stop 2 of 3 on our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route. Follow it as-is or lift Black Hills into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Black Hills month by month

Average daily highs run from -1°C / 30°F in December to 29°C / 83°F in July. May is the wettest month, with about 91 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Black Hills weather and the best time to visit →

Near Black Hills

2 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.

Black Hills questions, answered

How many days do you need in Black Hills?

Our route notes suggest 2 days in Black Hills. On our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route it is stop 2 of 3 in a 7-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 15 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Black Hills best known for?

Plan two days in the southern Black Hills: Custer State Park drives one day, Rushmore and Crazy Horse the next. Standouts on our list: Sylvan Lake (Granite-ringed lake with an easy 1-mile shoreline loop and boulder scrambles); Mount Rushmore National Memorial (Four presidents carved in granite, with the Presidential Trail at the base); Crazy Horse Memorial (Ongoing mountain carving honoring the Lakota leader, with the Indian Museum of North America).

When is the best time to visit Black Hills?

Our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route is best May – Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (29°C / 83°F), the coolest in December (-1°C / 30°F) and the most rain in May (about 91 mm).

What are the best things to do in Black Hills?

Start with Sylvan Lake, Black Elk Peak Trail, Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 3 sights, 4 activities, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.

Where should a group eat in Black Hills?

Our picks: State Game Lodge (Custer State Park); Purple Pie Place (Custer). Reserve dinner in summer (State Game Lodge).

What is near Black Hills?

The closest destinations in our guides are Badlands National Park (about 103 km / 64 mi) and Medora (about 350 km / 217 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Black Hills with your crew

Open the Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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