One Day In The Black Hills

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Get ready to spend one day in the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota! In this itinerary, you will explore spectacular hikes in Custer State Park, go on scenic drives, and see the monumental faces of Mount Rushmore.

Are you looking for a full weekend exploring South Dakota’s beauty? Check out how to spend a weekend visiting The Badlands and The Black Hills.

How To Get To The Black Hills

If you are coming from a nearby state, then you can get to the Black Hills by doing a road trip. Otherwise, fly into Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) and rent a car. From the airport to the Black Hills, it is about 34 miles and about a 40-minute drive.

Where to Stay

The Black Hills

I recommend staying in the town of Custer when visiting the Black Hills. EO Bungalows is highly rated, otherwise, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites is a good option. Another good option is to stay right at Custer State Park at Custer State Park Resort.

When To Visit

The best time for exploring the Black Hills in South Dakota is Spring-Fall (April-October). The Spring can include rain, with highs of 60-70 degrees (Fahrenheit) and lows of 30-40 degrees. July and August are the most popular and you can expect sun, heat, and increased crowds. Temperature highs will be around 80-90 degrees, with lows in the 60’s. The fall provides less crowds, but still warm temperatures.

I went in early September and I thought this was the best time to visit South Dakota! The weather was pleasant and the crowds were manageable. Mornings were cool so I wore sweatshirts/jackets to start, but then as it heated up I was wearing shorts and a tank top.

Tips Before You Go

Make sure to visit the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore websites before your trip to get updated information regarding fees and closures.

Start your day in Custer State Park. You will do some beautiful hikes in the morning. I recommend starting with an 8-mile round trip hike combining three popular hikes: Cathedral Spires + Devil’s Tower + Black Elk Peak. These are all incredible and showcase the beauty of The Black Hills. If you have room for more, hike Sunday Gulch which is a 3-mile loop, or Sylvan Lake Shore Trail, a 1-mile loop.

Hikes

Cathedral Spires: This 1.6-mile round-trip hike takes you through areas surrounded by needles of granite rock.

Devil’s Tower: This 3-mile round-trip hike takes you to a rock scrambling section on top of a granite dome that provides beautiful views of the park.

Black Elk Peak: This 7-mile round-trip hike is the longest trail in the park, but is the best! It is incredible and showcases spectacular views throughout the hike. The trail ends at the highest peak in the USA east of the Rockies.

Sunday Gulch: This hike is a 3-mile loop, often much quieter than the other hikes. As you descend into the gulch you will walk on large rocks with a handrail and cross streams.

Sylvan Lake Shore Trail: This is a leisurely 1-mile loop around Sylvan Lake.

Another activity in Custer State Park is swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, or canoeing in Sylvan Lake, which can all be rented nearby. You can also have lunch at Sylvan Lake Lodge.

Then, there are a few scenic drives to continue your day. First, Drive Needles Highway. This drive is 14 miles and provides incredible overlooks of the park. You will see the needle-like spires that are found throughout Custer State Park. One highlight of the drive is the Needles Eye Tunnel, a narrow tunnel only 8 feet wide you drive through.

If you are up for another scenic drive, explore the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road to travel through the grasslands and see bison, elk, or prairie dogs. On the Southern end of the loop will be the Begging Burros, in which Burros (donkeys) will come up to your car “begging” for food.

Your last stop of the day is to experience the monumental faces of Mount Rushmore. You can admire and take pictures with the faces carved into the mountains: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. Make sure to also walk the Presidential Trail and learn about the history of Mount Rushmore in the visitor center.

Mount Rushmore is a popular bucket list item and I was pleasantly impressed! It is mesmerizing to see up close and interesting to learn about this unique piece of art and history.

Another option is to visit Crazy Horse Memorial. It is still a work in progress to complete and will depict Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota warrior, riding a horse and pointing toward his tribal lands. You can view the monument from the Welcome Center from afar, or you can take a shuttle to the monument for a closer look.

Although the history is interesting, I would recommend skipping the Crazy Horse Memorial as I do not think it is worth the fee and time.

If you have a longer amount of time in the Black Hills, you can easily spread out your time and move Mount Rushmore to the next day, along with one of the scenic drives. With even more time, check out this South Dakota weekend itinerary!

If you have time in the town of Custer, here are restaurant recommendations!

Restaurants

This concludes your one day in the Black Hills! With plenty of hiking, views, and history, the Black Hills is incredible! If you want to extend your trip to South Dakota, then add on more days in The Black Hills using this weekend in South Dakota itinerary.

Follow for more on social media and email me with any questions! If you use this itinerary, I would love to hear about your experience!