The Black Hills is one of my very favorite vacations! There’s wildlife, caves, cool drives, mountain lakes, prairies, quirky roadside shops, historic sites, and of course Mount Rushmore! You’ll never run out of things to do.
Four days is the perfect amount of time to visit the Black Hills. This allows you to see all the national park sites, including Mount Rushmore National Monument, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Badlands National Park, the Minute Men Missile National Historic Site, Crazy Horse Monument, Custer State Park, Spearfish Canyon, and the cool Old West town of Deadwood. With an extra day, you can also make the trek to Devils Tower National Monument or spend more time in the Black Hills doing touristy activities, including the 1880 train, panning for gold, hiking, and paddling on a lake.
I’m Cheryl, and my husband and I have been writing travel guides since 2020; we have guides to 16 locations in the West, including the Black Hills. We have spent weeks here and have done almost everything there is to do. Read on to know the exact plan we give our family and friends when they want to visit the Black Hills.
14 Great Things To Do When Visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Where to Stay When Visiting Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills
The Best Places to Eat in Each City of the Black Hills
15 Unforgettable Things to Do in Rapid City, South Dakota
The Complete Guide to Visiting Deadwood, South Dakota
VISITING THE BLACK HILLS AND NEED A GAME PLAN? CHECK OUT OUR ITINERARY.
The Black Hills area is huge and covers about 5,000 square miles, roughly the size of Los Angeles. When I talk to most travelers about the Black Hills, it’s common that all they know is that it’s where you can see Mount Rushmore. You’ve got the forested areas of Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, the Wind and Jewel Caves, but also the flat and sometimes desolate Badland plains.
Devils Tower, Deadwood, and the Badlands are quite a drive from the main sites. Many visit these sites as they enter or leave the area, often switching lodging locations.
This itinerary is written for the first-time visitor who wants to see the the Black Hills properly and enjoys a bit of variety. I’ll share my favorite drives, hikes, sites, and recreational activities. Plus, where we like to eat, stay, and a few insider tips that only Black Hills regulars know.
Although the national park sites are open year-round, many fun touristy things are not. I’m assuming you are visiting between mid-May through September, when there isn’t snow on the ground.
Lastly, because there are so many cool things to do in the Black Hills, and near it, I’ll recommend a few outside-the-park things to do (Yellowstone and Theodore Roosevelt National Parks). You can spend more than 6 days in the Black Hills, but if you are visiting the West on a longer trip, it’s best to spend other days in different parks instead of spending all your time here.
Best Drive: Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road
Best Hike: Sunday Gulch at Sylvan Lake
Best Place to See Wildlife: Custer State Park, Wildlife Loop
Best Place to Eat: Alpine Inn
Most Popular Place to Stay: Rapid City (it’s most central, but it’s not our favorite)
Best Cave: They are both awesome and I won’t pick one
Best Recreational Activity: George S Mickelson Bike Trail
Coolest Historic Site: Delta 01-Launch Control Facility
Hidden Gem: Dahl’s Chainsaw Art
This plan will get you to all the headliner attractions you need to visit to say that you have done the Black Hills properly. It has an amazing mix of national park sites, recreation, drives, and fun activities.
Downloadable Quick Start Trip Planner included!
Morning
Start your day by visiting the Crown Jewel of the Black Hills, Sylvan Lake. Here you can rent a kayak and paddle, hang out at the beach, fish, or take a leisurely walk around the lake. There is also access to several nearby hiking trails, including Sunday Gulch Trail (my fav) and Black Elk Peak (the tallest peak in South Dakota!) For more info on planning your morning here, read our blog post 12 Great Things to Do at Sylvan Lake.
Try to get here by 8 or 9 am because it’s popular and the parking lot fills up. We love to pack a picnic and eat it at the beach or the picnic tables in the area.
PRO TIP: If parking is crazy at Sylvan Lake, go to Legion Lake instead. You can also rent kayaks there and it’s less crowded.
Afternoon
Next up is doing some drives that make the Black Hills famous, the Iron Mountain Road and the Needles Highway. Here you will drive through fantastic granite spires, make pigtail turns, and even through some narrow tunnels (RVers beware!) It will be one of the highlights of your trip.
The grand finale is that as you reach the end, you will start seeing views of Mount Rushmore in the distance. Completely amazing! You can learn more about doing these incredible drives on our post What to See While Driving the Needles Highway.
GOOD TO KNOW: Bring your Dramamine if you get motion sickness.
![Watch Before Visiting Mt Rushmore & the Black Hills in 2025! [What’s New, Lodging, Food, Tips]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k45TltjCR4Q/0.jpg)
ADD SOME FUN: If you have it in your budget, rent a slingshot to do these drives! For our kids, it was the most memorable thing we did that year on our trip.
Late Afternoon/ Evening
Now it’s time to hit the place most people visit the Black Hills for: Mount Rushmore! The Mount Rushmore Monument is much more than just the giant sculpture of four of our most influential presidents. You can read all about it in our blog post, 14 Great Things To Do When Visiting Mount Rushmore, but here is the Cliff’s Notes version.
Start by picking up a self-guided audio tour (2-3 hours and AWESOME) as you walk through the Avenue of Flags. See if you can find your state flag.
Next, head to the Grand View Terrace where you can get the best view of Mount Rushmore and take your picture.
Walk along the Presidential Trail (partly accessible) and read the signage about each president. You will also pass the Lakota Village, which is an incredible opportunity to see real native american artifacts and even meet tribal members who will teach you about their culture. It’s wonderful.
At the end of the Presidential Trail, you will make it to the Sculptors Studio where you learn how they carved this masterpiece. A ranger is often giving a presentation. Listen to it- you’ll learn a lot.
Next, you can grab something to eat from Carver’s Cafe (it’s not awesome but at least it’s something to eat). You can even grab an ice cream from Memorial Team Ice Cream. Try the vanilla, it’s a recipe from Thomas Jefferson.
The highlight of Mount Rushmore is the evening lighting ceremony. It’s very patriotic and not to be missed. You can read all about it on our post, Mount Rushmore Lighting Ceremony: My Honest Review. While you wait for the program to start, check out the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center to learn even more about the carving of Mount Rushmore.
FUN FACT: Gutzon Borglum, the artist in charge of Mount Rushmore, was notoriously difficult to work with. He would often fire a carver, and his son, Lincoln, would hire them back the next day!
Today is going to be another unforgettable day. Anytime you see wildlife, it’s a day of surprise and wonder! You’ll get to explore a cave of your choice and then end the day at the biggest mountain carving in the world, Crazy Horse.
Morning
The great thing about Custer State Park is the very nice Wildlife Loop, filled with bison, prairie dogs, wild turkeys, and the begging burrows. You will pay a $20 entrance fee to visit Custer State Park
Driving the Wildlife Loop will take you a couple of hours. It’s a two-way road, and we recommend driving it counterclockwise. As you descend through the switchbacks, you’ll have better views of the prairie.
Wildlife is always unpredictable, but we usually see bison and prairie dogs. Seeing the begging burros is a real treat.
TRY AGAIN: If you strike out finding wildlife on your first drive through the Wildlife Loop, try again, especially at dawn or dusk. Once we went on an evening drive and saw hundreds of moma bison and calves. It was magical! You can also book a Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour through Custer State Park.
Afternoon
GOOD TO KNOW: There are signs around saying not to feed the wildlife, but Custer State Park’s website shows pictures of people feeding the burros, and the rule is not enforced at all. We once saw a kid get bit. But we always bring carrots and apples if we run across a burro who wants a snack.
Now it’s time to check out a really cool cave! The Black Hills is home to two of the largest caves in the world!
Wind Cave contains boxwork, a unique, honeycomb-shaped geological structure. Jewel Cave is the 3rd largest cave in the world, and you’ll feel like you are under the ocean as you explore the caverns. Both offer equally amazing tours.
We’ve toured both and can’t recommend one over another. We have done the Fairground Tour at Wind Caves and the Scenic Tour at Jewel Cave.
We think you only need to visit one but, make sure to book your tickets in advance at rec.gov.
Late Afternoon/Evening
Now it’s time to visit Crazy Horse Memorial. This mountain carving is mostly unfinished but is grand in scope. The finished monument will be over 500 feet tall (the faces on Mount Rushmore are 60 feet tall). It’s around $35 a carload to enter. You will discover a nice museum, a cafe, and a bus tour you can take.
PRO TIP: You aren’t able to view the monument very well from the museum. We highly recommend the bus tour (it’s only a few bucks) and will enhance your experience because you’ll be able to see Crazy Horse so much closer. If you aren’t willing to spend the money for the bus tour, we recommend not entering because the view from the road is about the same as from the museum.
FUN FACT: The carving of Crazy Horse began in 1948. The project is slow-moving because it is 100% privately funded.
If you only have three days to visit the Black Hills, we recommend doing today’s itinerary, but if you have more interest in Deadwood or other fun activities around Mount Rushmore, you have our full permission to switch it up and do what is the most interesting to you!
Morning
You will most likely drive a couple of hours to get to this remote and desolate national park, but don’t let that deter you! The Badlands is super cool, you’ll see some unique formations you won’t see anywhere else.
Start by doing the Loop Road through the park, stop at any viewpoint that interests you (there are 16!). Make sure to get out and do some open hiking as well. The Doors and Windows are very easy boardwalk hikes that are fun for the whole family. For more of an adventure, do the Notch Trail, where you go up and down a giant ladder!
GOOD TO KNOW: Most of the Bandlands has an “open hike” policy which means you aren’t required to stay on the trails. You can wander around. The Badlands is one of the few places in the Black Hills where you can have some trails and viewpoints to yourself.
Make sure to hit the Ben Reifel Visitor Center to learn all about fossils! You can watch park rangers chip away at the rocks, discovering what skeleton is underneath. It’s a fun and unique experience
PRO TIP: The Badlands is a completely different experience if you visit in the late spring or early summer. Instead of being desolate, the prairie is green and beautiful!
For a complete guide on how to see the Badlands, check out our post, 9 Absolute Best Things To Do at Badlands National Park.
Afternoon
Next up is the quirky town of Wall Drug. It’s an eccentric tourist trap that we happen to love! It’s filled with all sorts of gift shops selling creative (and hilarious) t-shirts, shot glasses, and any typical souvenir you can imagine.
It’s a great spot for photo ops, especially the “backyard” area where there are a lot of sculptures, including a jack-a-lope. They even have a giant, animatronic T-Rex that the kids really enjoy.
You most likely will have seen signs throughout your Black Hills trip telling you how far away you are from Wall Drug and that they offer free water and 5-cent coffee. This was a stunt they used in the past to lure customers to their drugstore, they still have the same offer today (keep in mind the water and coffee are nothing to write home about!)
The food court is cool, and chaotic. We like grabbing a donut or slice of pie (pretty good), but choose to eat lunch elsewhere, avoiding the crowds. Read more about how to visit Wall Drug in our blog post, 11 Quirky Things To Do at Wall Drug, South Dakota.
PRO TIP: Don’t miss the Minute Men Missile Historic Site Visitor Center. It’s new and incredibly well done and… it’s near the entrance of Badlands so it won’t be out of your way.
Hidden Gem
Dahl’s Chainsaw Art is an incredible business that creates carvings out of wood with chainsaws. Every time we visit the Black Hills, the Dahl brothers have opened up another store. Their most recent (and best!) is their store in Wall Drug.
They have built a giant Jack-a-lope that you can actually go inside. It’s super cool and makes a great photo opp. There is no admission fee, but a tip is suggested (and worth it!) Last time we visited, we purchased our chainsaw art so we can always have a piece of the Black Hills with us at home.
Today is an amazing combination of natural beauty and Old West fun. This day is often done as you head into or out of the Black Hills. Do your days in the order that makes sense for your trip.
Morning
Getting to Spearfish Canyon is straightforward. It’s nestled in the small town of Spearfish, South Dakota, along Interstate 90. The northern entrance is off Exit 10 or 14. Signs will take you directly into the Canyon on 14A, you can’t miss it!
Want to experience New Zealand without leaving the country? Check out Roughlock Falls! It’s so green and beautiful. Want to slide down a natural waterslide? Head to Devil’s Bathtub. Read all about how to view Spearfish Canyon on our website.
Afternoon/Early Evening
Hang out in Deadwood, South Dakota! Their claim to fame is that this is where the famous cowboy outlaw-turned-law-man, Seth Bullock, was shot. The town is full of great touristy activities including panning for gold, carriage rides, the Mount Moriah Cemetery, gambling, and five museums (including a brothel!)
INTERESTING FACT: Prostitution was legal in Deadwood until the 1980s. When prostitution was shut down, the economy suffered so they brought in gambling to replace it. Surprisingly, this is a family-friendly town and a portion of the gambling money goes towards preserving this historic town, including all the museums!
Deadwood Alive is a theater company that performs several Western shows in town throughout the day. They are fun to watch and most of them are free! Grab a schedule at the visitor center or many of the stores in town.
We have a great blog post, The Complete Guide to Deadwood, South Dakota, that talks about all these activities in detail, including our tour of the Deadwood Brothel and what we thought about the ghost tour at the Bullock Hotel.
GOOD TO KNOW: Spend more than a day in Deadwood if you want to do all the activities.
If you are not naturally driving by Devils Tower coming or going to the Black Hills, we don’t think it’s worth it. But, if you are already driving by, stop and see this 900 ft natural rock tower, jutting out of the ground! You’ll love the easy stroll around it, look for prayer flags and lightning strike marks.
For some reason, we stop here every time we visit. I think it is because it really makes you wonder how this giant rock tower was formed. It’s so interesting to look at.
Pretty much all there is to do is the 1.3-mile, accessible walk around Devils Tower. This stop will only take you a couple of hours and then you’ll be on to the next part of your trip.
PRO TIP: Devils Tower doesn’t have a lot of parking and fills up by around 9 am. Try to visit after 4 pm if you are a late riser.
There are literally dozens of great activities to do at the Black Hills that aren’t national park or state park sites. We created a blog post, 40 Absolute Best Things To Do in the Black Hills, so you know all the things you can do on your trip.
Everyone has their personal favorites, but here are mine.
GOOD TO KNOW: We pay for all our activities so we can give our honest opinions. If something isn’t good, we tell you. Our Black Hills Guide has star ratings for all activities so you know how to prioritize your time and money!
–When to Start Your Day. You don’t have to wake up early when visiting
the Black Hills. But try to make it to Sylvan Lake by 9 am to find parking.
You can set your own pace the rest of the time.
–What to Bring. Good walking shoes and a rain jacket. Afternoon thunderstorms
can happen, and you want to be prepared.
–Road Conditions. Everywhere in the Black Hills is drivable in a regular car.
–Cell Phone Service. You will have cell service throughout most of the Black
Hills. But some people don’t have great service in Custer State Park,
and many have spotty service at the Badlands and Wind Caves.
–Don’t Bring Your Doggo. Except for service animals, dogs are not allowed
in buildings or on trails. They are allowed at campsites and parking
lots. Custer State Park allows dogs most places.
–Services. You are never far from gas stations, food, and restrooms in the Black Hills.
–RV restrictions. The tunnels on the Iron Mountain Road and Needles
Highways are very narrow and won’t accommodate most RVs.
This is a million-dollar question, and we have a whole blog post dedicated to this exact question: Where to Stay When Visiting Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. It covers various areas to stay, including exact hotels.
We prefer to stay in Custer (the city) for a couple of days and then spend a night in Deadwood on our way out of the area. Hill City is also nice.
Many people choose to stay in Rapid City because it’s close to the airport and is the only place to stay and not switch locations. We don’t like to stay here because it’s more of a city instead of a cute mountain town like the rest of the places.
Custer State Park has several lodges and is beautiful, this is a great option if you don’t mind doing a little extra driving and want to be surrounded by nature.
The great news about the Black Hills is that there are plenty of great places to eat! We have a great blog post, The Best Places To Eat in the Black Hills By City, that should be really helpful.
Most people probably visit the Black Hills on a road trip, often in conjunction with Yellowstone. The Black Hills are isolated on the plains, accessible via I-90, which runs east-west. If you’re driving north-south, you’ll wind through several highways on the plains to get there. You need a vehicle to visit the Black Hills. It’s a huge area. You’ll do quite a bit of driving, usually on scenic, winding roads. If you’re flying, there is one main airport for the Black Hills: Rapid City, SD.
People will also sometimes visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park on this trip. It’s four hours away, but the Black Hills are the closest to this very remote (and cool) national park. You can spend a few days here exploring the park and cute gateway town of Medora. Check out our video below.
The Black Hills are truly incredible. We hope this blog post has been a good resource to help you start planning your trip.
If you want to make planning your trip a breeze, check out our easy-to-follow, step-by-step itinerary.
Itinerary includes:
How To Plan The Perfect Trip To Yellowstone: Everything You Need To Know
Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance (Cooke City-Silvergate): Everything You Need to Know
21 Tips for Visiting Yellowstone
Should I Stay Inside or Outside of Yellowstone?
When is the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone?
How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Grand Teton: Everything You Need to Know
How to Have the Perfect Day in Grand Teton: Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, & Inspiration Point
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