A Weekend In South Dakota: The Badlands and The Black Hills

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Get ready to spend a weekend in South Dakota! Whether you enjoy history, are a nature lover, or just like to explore new places, South Dakota is a perfect weekend getaway. This itinerary covers the surreal landscapes of the Badlands National Park, hiking in Custer State Park of the Black Hills National Forest, and seeing the monumental faces of Mount Rushmore.

How To Get To The Badlands/The Black Hills

If you are coming from a nearby state, then make your weekend in South Dakota a road trip. Otherwise, fly into Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) and rent a car. From the airport to The Badlands, it is 55 miles and about an hour’s drive. To the Black Hills, it is about 34 miles and about a 40-minute drive.

Where to Stay

The Badlands

There is one lodge in the park which is the Cedar Pass Lodge and there are two campgrounds in the park as well. Otherwise, you can stay in the town of Wall, just about 15 minutes from the park entrance. A few popular hotels include Best Western Plains Motel, America’s Best Value Inn, and the Days Inn. Do not expect anything fancy for these hotels but they are exactly what you need for staying the night.

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 your weekend 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 check all websites before your trip to get updated information regarding fees and closures.

A Weekend In South Dakota Itinerary

Fly or drive to your accommodation near The Badlands the night before so you can have a full day for your Day 1.

Day 1: The Badlands

After waking up from hopefully a good night’s rest, you will first want to have breakfast. If you did not have time to visit the famous Wall Drug the night before, then head over to this cowboy-themed mall to see the unique attraction that you have seen numerous billboards for while driving in. Walk around the shops and have breakfast.

Next, it is time to explore The Badlands National Park! Just about 15 minutes from Wall, you will arrive at the entrance to the park. You will drive around the Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) to explore The Badlands. The scenic drive is 30 miles with various viewpoints and short hikes to get out of the car and explore the beauty. Get out at any spot that looks intriguing to you! Although ALL provide spectacular views, if you need help, here are my recommendations.

Scenic Overlooks

Pinnacles Overlook: Spectacular panorama view of endless terrain.

Yellow Mounds Overlook: A unique viewpoint as it showcases the colors of the distinct formations.

Panorama Point Overlook: A top viewpoint, it provides a spectacular panorama view including views of the distant vista.

White River Valley Overlook: Breathtaking view of the rugged terrain. It is also a great place to watch the sunset.

Big Badlands Overlook: Amazing view of the unique formations of the park. This is especially incredible at sunrise.

Hikes

Notch Hike: This is the best hike in The Badlands! It is 1.4 miles round-trip and you can see incredible scenic views and unique formations up close. The best part of the hike is the tall log ladder you climb on!

Door and Window Trails: These are quick and easy hikes (0.5 miles and 0.3 miles, respectively) on boardwalks to explore the formations up close.

Fossil Exhibit Trail: This is an easy 0.3-mile walk on a boardwalk with informative signs and fossil replicas.

Castle Trail/Saddle Pass Trail/Medicine Root Trail: This is a 5-mile loop, starting at Saddle Pass Trailhead. There are incredible views on this route!

Seeing The Badlands at sunrise or sunset is spectacular, so if you can work this into your itinerary, I would highly recommend it.

After a spectacular day exploring The Badlands, it is time to drive to The Black Hills. It will be about an hour and a half drive to your accommodation in Custer. There are various shops and restaurants in Custer to go to when you arrive.

Restaurants

Day 2: The Black Hills

After you wake up, eat breakfast and then start driving about 10 minutes (depending on where you are staying) to 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 end 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.

If you want to make this a 2-day itinerary, you can easily visit Mount Rushmore after your time in Custer State Park. Otherwise, if you have the time then save it for the next day.

After your day exploring The Black Hills, head back to your accommodation and have dinner in Custer.

Restaurants

Day 3: Mount Rushmore

On your final day, you will 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.

This concludes your weekend in South Dakota. Spend the rest of the day in Rapid City before your flight, or start your road trip back home!

A weekend in South Dakota is a fantastic idea! The sights are incredible throughout The Badlands and The Black Hills. From views to hiking to history, it has a little something for everyone!

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!

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