Custer State Park Active and Adventure Travel Guide

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View of the Needles in Custer State Park, South Dakota

The Needles, Custer State Park, South Dakota (Glen Allison/Photodisc/Getty)

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Custer State Park Active and Adventure Travel Tips

By Brian Kevin

Get to the Needles region of the park via the Needles Highway Scenic Drive. The highway passes among—and tunnels through—the granite formations that make the area legendary for both rock climbers and general sightseers.
If you prefer solitude, explore the Middle Earth area just northwest of the (more popular) Outlets area on the west side of Sylvan Lake.
Climbers tend to congregate at the Sylvan Lake Campground southeast of the lake. Get there early during the summertime, as the campground doesn’t take reservations.

Custer State Park Travel Guide

Custer State Park is one of the largest state parks in the lower 48 and because of its unique historical, cultural, and natural resources it attracts many visitors. If you want to avoid the crowds, the best times to visit are from May to mid-June and September through October. Spring offers a reawakening of the grasslands and the birth of cinnamon-colored bison calves, as well as elk, deer, antelope, and other wildlife. Fall beckons the change of colors in every canyon and ravine, as well as the bugling of bull elk as they search for mates. Read More

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Hotels

Custer State Park Resort—Legion Lake Lodge

12967 US Hwy. 16A
Custer, SD 57730 Map

Distance: 6.7 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated

Expert Rated & Recommended

ROOSEVELT INN OF KEYSTONE

206 OLD CEMETERY ROAD
KEYSTONE, SD Map

Distance: 13.5 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class:

Expert Rated & Recommended

Rock Crest Lodge & Cabins

15 W. Mt. Rushmore Rd.
Custer, SD 57730 Map

Distance: 9.6 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated

Expert Rated & Recommended

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Attractions

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

southwestern South Dakota, 100 miles from Badlands National Park
Keystone, South Dakota 57751

Distance: 12.2 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Four presidential faces carved from a mountain, considered one of the wonders of the world -- go for the nightly lighting ceremony.... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended

Angostura Recreation Area

10 miles SE of Hot Springs off US Hwy. 385/18
13157 N. Angostura Rd.
Hot Springs, South Dakota 57747

Distance: 18.6 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Angostura Reservoir is a recreation area offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming.... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended

Crazy Horse Memorial

Black Hills of South Dakota on U.S. Highway 16/385 just 17 miles southwest of Mount Rushmore.
12151 Avenue of the Chiefs
Crazy Horse, South Dakota 57730

Distance: 13.3 mi. (from destination center)

Description: In 1948, Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski began carving Crazy Horse Memorial, when Lakota Chief Henry... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended

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Airports

Major Airports near Custer State Park

	Distance (mi.)
Denver International Airport	274.6 map

Other Smaller Airports near Custer State Park

	Distance (mi.)
Rapid City Regional Airport	30.1 map
Gillette Campbell County Airport	113.5 map
Scottsbluff Scotts Bluff County Airport	127.1 map

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Feature Articles

South Dakota's Black Hills: Tearing across the Bottom and Scaling to the Top

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GORPtravel Adventure Trips & Guided Tours

Black Hills Multi-sport
The World Outdoors
from $2398, 6 days
Criss-cross the path of General George Armstrong Custer's 1874 Black Hills Expedition on foot, bicycle and horseback on this Black Hills multi-sport...
Black Hills of South Dakota - Mickelson Trail
Timberline Adventures
from $1795, 6 days
The Black Hills of South Dakota stand as sentinels announcing to westbound travelers that they at last have reached the threshold of the Great...

See All Adventure Trips & Guided Tours from GORPtravel »