Wildlife safari
Season: Spring to autumnBuffalo safari jeep tour in Custer State Park
- Bison herds, pronghorn and burros
- A guide who knows where the animals are
Your independent guide to Custer, South Dakota
Custer, South Dakota: the heart of the Black Hills
Bison on the prairie, granite spires, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, all within an hour of one small gold-rush town. Hand-picked tours, honest advice and everything you need to plan your Black Hills trip.
- Free cancellation on most tours
- Instant confirmation
- Mobile tickets
Why Custer?
The best base in the Black Hills
Custer sits right in the middle of the southern Black Hills, with the region’s greatest sights a short drive in every direction.
Start the day watching bison on the Wildlife Loop, squeeze through the tunnels of the Needles Highway and picnic at Sylvan Lake. Stand beneath the faces of Mount Rushmore, watch Crazy Horse take shape on his mountain and explore caves lined with crystals.
The town itself is friendly and unpretentious, with motels, cabins and cafés along a wide main street. We help you choose the right experiences, book them with confidence and get more out of every day.
- 1875 the year Custer City was founded
- 71,000 acres in Custer State Park
- 45 min from Custer to Mount Rushmore
Traveller favourites
The best tours & experiences around Custer
Top-rated experiences booked through Viator. Most run from May to October. Tap any tour for live prices and availability.
Wildlife safari
Season: Spring to autumn
Scenic flight
Season: Spring to autumnHelicopter flight over Mount Rushmore
- Close views of the four presidents
- Short and long flights to choose from
Heritage railway
Season: Spring to autumn1880 Train between Hill City and Keystone
- A vintage steam train through the hills
- Stories of the gold rush along the way
Scenic drive
Season: Spring to autumnNeedles Highway and Custer State Park tour
- The Needles Eye tunnel and Cathedral Spires
- Sylvan Lake and the Wildlife Loop
Sightseeing tour
Season: Spring to autumnMount Rushmore and Crazy Horse tour
- Mount Rushmore and the Avenue of Flags
- Crazy Horse Memorial and its museum
Day trip
Season: Spring to autumnBadlands National Park tour
- The Badlands Loop Road and its overlooks
- Bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and Wall Drug
Outdoor activity
Season: Spring to autumnBlack Hills horseback ride
- Ponderosa forest and granite views
- Gentle rides for beginners with a wrangler
Family activity
Season: Spring to autumnGold panning near Keystone
- A walk into an old gold mine
- Pan for gold and keep what you find
Where to go
Must-see places near Custer
From the bison of Custer State Park to the faces of Mount Rushmore and the crystals of Jewel Cave.
State parkCuster State Park
Bison, lakes and granite peaks
South Dakota’s largest state park, with free-roaming bison, scenic drives, mountain lakes and historic lodges, starting five minutes east of Custer.
Scenic driveNeedles Highway
Granite spires and one-lane tunnels
A 14-mile road that twists between towering granite needles and squeezes through tunnels cut in the rock. One of the great drives in America.
MemorialCrazy Horse Memorial
The world’s largest mountain carving in progress
A colossal carving of the Lakota leader Crazy Horse, begun in 1948 and still in progress, with a museum of Native American culture, just north of Custer.
National memorialMount Rushmore
Four presidents in granite
The 60-foot faces of Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Lincoln, carved between 1927 and 1941, about 45 minutes from Custer.
National monumentJewel Cave
One of the longest caves in the world
More than 200 miles of mapped passages lined with sparkling calcite crystals, explored on ranger-led tours 13 miles west of Custer.
National parkWind Cave
Boxwork below, bison above
One of America’s oldest national parks, famous for rare boxwork formations underground and bison, elk and prairie dogs on the prairie above.
Where to stay
Motels, cabins and historic lodges
Where you stay shapes your trip. We compare four bases, with the trade-offs of each and direct hotel searches.
- Custer for the most central base
- Custer State Park for lodges among the bison
- Keystone for Mount Rushmore
- Hill City for galleries, wineries and the 1880 Train
Stories & guides
Latest from the blog
Itineraries, wildlife guides, day trips and practical advice for your trip.
Black HillsVisiting the Crazy Horse Memorial: what to see and how to plan it
A visitor’s guide to the Crazy Horse Memorial near Custer: the story of the carving, the museums, the bus to the mountain, the night laser show and the Volksmarch.
OutdoorsWind Cave or Jewel Cave? Choosing a cave tour near Custer
Two of the longest caves in the world are a short drive from Custer. Here is how Wind Cave and Jewel Cave compare, which tours to choose and how to get tickets.
PlanningThree days in the Black Hills: an itinerary from Custer
Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and the caves in three days, all from a base in Custer, with tips on timing and what to book.
Plan like a local
Free Black Hills travel guides
Tours & Tickets
Our pick of tours, safaris and experiences around Custer and the Black Hills, with who each one suits.
Getting There
Airports, driving routes and getting around Custer and the Black Hills, explained.
Travel Guide
Weather, seasons, events, wildlife safety and costs: what to know before you visit Custer, South Dakota.
Plan your Black Hills trip
Make the most of the Black Hills
Ride a jeep among the bison, fly over Mount Rushmore, take the 1880 Train or head out to the Badlands. Compare tours and book in a couple of taps.
Good to know
Visiting Custer: your questions answered
Is Custer City the same as Custer, South Dakota?
Yes. The town in the Black Hills was founded as Custer City in 1875, during the gold rush, and today is simply called Custer. It is not the same place as the small town of Custer City in Oklahoma.
Why stay in Custer?
Custer is the most central base for the southern Black Hills. Custer State Park starts five minutes away, Crazy Horse Memorial ten, Jewel Cave and Wind Cave about half an hour, and Mount Rushmore under an hour.
How many days do I need?
Two days cover Custer State Park, Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore. Three days let you add Jewel Cave or Wind Cave, and four or five days leave time for the Badlands and Deadwood. See our three-day itinerary.
When is the best time to visit?
Late May to September, when everything is open and the weather is warm. Early September brings fewer crowds and the Buffalo Roundup takes place at the end of the month. See when to visit.
How far is Mount Rushmore from Custer?
About 30 miles, or 45 minutes to an hour by car, depending on the route. The scenic route over the Iron Mountain Road takes longer but is well worth it.
Do I need a car?
Yes, in practice. There is no public transport between the sights. If you do not want to drive, guided tours from Rapid City and Keystone cover the main highlights.