Black Hills Road Trip
The Black Hills of western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming offer a playground of incredible scenery, adventure, and rich history — and are the perfect destination for your next road trip.
We're sharing our favorites from the area including local businesses, charming small towns, breathtaking landscapes, adventures, and experiences you won't want to miss!
Check it out below and then get to planning your next road trip to the Black Hills. Have fun!
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Tag us in your photos to let us know where YOUR favorite places are on this road trip!
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- DAY 1 -
Whether driving or flying, Rapid City is a great starting point and entrance to the Black Hills. If you drive, you may want to check out the Badlands on your way — they’re incredible all in themselves! And if you fly, you will arrive to a great, small airport with an impressive view of the hills.
HEAD TO THE HILLS
From Rapid City, you’ll head south toward Custer State Park. It’s a quick 36 minute drive as you go through the foothills and into the forest. Enjoy the incredible views of the hills before you even get there!
MOUNT RUSHMORE
Right before you get to the park entrance, take Iron Mountain Road and head north to Mount Rushmore. This winding road is an adventure in itself — full of stunning views, one-lane tunnels, and pigtail bridges. Be sure to take the road from this direction as there are many photo ops of Mount Rushmore coming out of the tunnels. Norbeck Overlook is also a must, providing a great landscape to explore and incredible views of the hills and Mount Rushmore.
Once you arrive at Mount Rushmore, you have a choice to park and pay to go see everything up close and learn more about the history of the monument, or you can drive through and enjoy the view from a little distance. We chose to drive through as we were trying to fit in as many things as possible!
CUSTER, SOUTH DAKOTA
Next head towards Custer via the Hill City route, where you will get a glimpse of Crazy Horse Memorial. Once in town, you’ll find great shopping and dining on Custer’s historic main street. Take some time to shop (don’t miss some of the local trading posts) and grab a bite to eat and one of the local restaurants like The Custer Wolf and Black Hills Burger & Bun Co. And be sure to save room for some homemade pie and ice cream at the Purple Pie Place — you will not be disappointed!
CUSTER STATE PARK
Spend your afternoon exploring the park. Hit up the Wildlife Loop (where it’s common to see bison along the road, as well as mountain goats off in the distance), explore the local lakes, and go see the Mount Coolidge Fire Tower and the surrounding views it provides. There are also many hiking trails to explore, and you can find details about them all in the Custer State Park guide you receive when you pay entrance to the park.
NEEDLES HIGHWAY
After exploring the park, make your way to the south end of Needles Highway about an hour and a half before sunset. This will give you plenty of time to travel Needles Highway and stop to capture stunning views of the hills at dusk. Starting on the south end, head north and enjoy the ride!
OVERNIGHT CAMPING/GLAMPING/
CABIN STAY
At this point we made our way towards a cabin near Spearfish, but there are many great camping, clamping, and cabin options all throughout the hills.
- DAY 2 -
SPEARFISH CANYON SCENIC BYWAY
Start your day in Spearfish with a coffee and açaí bowl from Blackbird Espresso. Then head south on the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway and make your way to your first stop, Bridal Veil Falls. If you’re looking for adventure, take the Devil’s Bathtub Trail, shortly after Bridal Veil Falls. This short trail features a waterfall and multiple creek crossings, taking you to pools of crystal clear water and even a nature made water slide, perfect for cooling off. Next you’ll come up on the Homestake Mining Co. Hydro Electric Plant No. 2, followed by Roughlock Falls. If you continue on the Roughlock Falls Road past the falls, you will come upon the Dances with Wolves film site. All of these are great places to get out and explore! Continue on the Scenic Byway to Lead, where you’ll find the historic Homestake Gold Mine.
STURGIS
From Lead, make your way through the Boulder Canyon to Sturgis. Drive down Sturgis’ famed Main Street and see what the motorcycle magic is all about. And be sure to make a pit stop at Sturgis Harley Davidson for some souvenirs!
DEADWOOD
After Sturgis, find your way back to Deadwood, where you can shop or gamble on the historic main street, take in a concert or event at Outlaw Square, check out the town’s historic buildings and homes, and visit Mount Moriah Cemetery (where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, among others, are buried). The cemetery also offers great sunset views overlooking the town of Deadwood if you happen to be there at dusk.
And speaking of great sunset views, just outside of town you can take a gravel road to the Mount Roosevelt Friendship Tower, built in 1919 as a memorial to President Theordore Roosevelt by his friend and famous Deadwood Sheriff, Seth Bullock.
SPEARFISH
Once you’ve taken in all Deadwood has to offer, return to Spearfish and enjoy dinner at Steerfish Steak and Smoke. We cannot recommend this place enough. From drinks and appetizers to steaks and trout, everything is made from scratch and it’s the perfect way to finish off your day!
- DAY 3 -
BLACK ELK PEAK
Get up early and head south towards Hill City for a sunrise hike at Black Elk Peak. Click here to find several different trail options, with different degrees of difficulty. Don’t miss the Black Elk Peak Fire Tower.
GOLD MOUNTAIN MINE
After your hike, explore Sylvan Lake and then head northwest to Gold Mountain Mine — the only mining site left in the Black Hills with the mill frame still standing. The original mine was constructed in the 1920s and operated until 1940.
SILVER CITY
From Gold Mountain Mine, continue on to Silver City. Often considered a "ghost" town, many original buildings from the turn of the century remain standing today, including the 1920s church and school house/community hall. Stop and visit nearby Pactola Lake and Seth Bullock Lookout while you’re in the area.
HIKES, LANDMARKS, AND ATTRACTIONS
Depending on what you’re wanting to experience while you’re in the Black Hills, here are some great options to add on to your trip.
WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK
Found in the southern part of the Black Hills, Wind Cave National Park is one of the longest and most complex caves in the world and showcases beauty both above and below the surface.
Within the park you’ll find the Rankin Fire Tower, which was built in 1956 and sits on the highest point in the park at 5,013 feet. The public isn’t allowed up in the tower due to safety concerns, but the hike and views from where it stands are worth your time.
You’ll also find the beautiful Beaver Creek Bridge, which was built in 1929 to give travelers easy access to Custer State Park.
DEVIL’S TOWER
Across the state line in northeast Wyoming, Devil’s Tower is an incredible geological feature that rises above the prairie surrounding the western Black Hills and is the premier rock climbing challenge in the hills.
FLUME TRAIL
Located north of Mount Rushmore, the Rockerville Flume was used in the 1880s during the mining boom of the Black Hills to carry water from Spring Creek over 20 miles to just outside of Rockerville. The flume operated until 1885 and allowed the miners to make over $20 million in gold. Today the trail follows along the majority of the actual flume bed, where you’ll find historic artifacts, pass through tunnels, and discover parts of the original flume.
KEYSTONE WYE BRIDGE
If you’re driving to and from Rapid City to the Keystone on Highway 16, don’t miss the iconic wooden Keystone Wye Bridge, built in 1967.
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There is even more to explore in the Black Hills than what’s included here,
and we can’t wait to go back and explore more!