Southern Black Hills: Crazy Horse, the Needles and Wind Cave
The Crazy Horse carving, crystal caves, granite spires on the Needles Highway, bison in Custer State Park and the mammoth dig at Hot Springs.
- Distance
- 174 km (108 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 56 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 9
- States
- SD
- Updated
- May 10, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 174 km (108 mi) with 9 stops, from Rapid City to Hot Springs. About 1 h 56 min of driving in total.
More road trips in South Dakota
Route description
From Rapid City take US-16 south-west toward Hill City and Custer, about 1 hour to the Crazy Horse Memorial. Allow two hours for the museum and film. Continue through Custer on US-16 west to Jewel Cave; tours in summer sell out, so book online, and wear good shoes for the stairs. The town of Custer has fuel, groceries and plenty of campgrounds.
Return to Custer and take SD-89 north to Sylvan Lake, the start of the Needles Highway (SD-87). The road winds past granite spires and through narrow tunnels; the Needles Eye tunnel is only about 2.5 m wide and 3 m high, so check your vehicle size before you go. From the east end of the Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road (US-16A) runs north toward Mount Rushmore, with pigtail bridges and tunnels that frame the monument.
Custer State Park needs a park pass, sold at the entrances and visitor centers. The Wildlife Loop Road is best in the early morning or late afternoon, when bison, pronghorn and deer are most active. Stay in your vehicle near bison, which can be dangerous. The begging burros near Blue Bell will stop traffic; do not feed them.
From the south of Custer State Park, SD-87 continues into Wind Cave National Park, where the prairie is home to bison and prairie dogs. Cave tours leave from the visitor center on US-385; some can be booked online, the rest sell out early on summer days. End in Hot Springs, a sandstone town with the Mammoth Site. Most roads here close or get icy in winter; summer is peak season.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Rapid City
SD - 250 km
Crazy Horse Memorial
HistoryCuster, SDAn unfinished mountain carving of the Lakota leader Crazy Horse, in progress since 1948, with a large Native American museum and cultural center. An entry fee is charged; a nightly laser show runs in summer.
- 324 km
Jewel Cave National Monument
NatureCuster, SDOne of the longest caves in the world, lined with calcite crystals. Tours sell out in summer, so reserve online; the Scenic Tour has hundreds of stairs, and the visitor center is off US-16 west of Custer.
- 430 km
Sylvan Lake
NatureCuster, SDA small reservoir framed by granite boulders at the north end of the Needles Highway in Custer State Park. A short loop trail circles the lake, and the Black Elk Peak trail starts here; a park pass is required.
- 52 km
Needles Highway and Needles Eye Tunnel
ViewsCuster, SDSD-87 twists 23 km through granite spires and three one-lane tunnels, the narrowest about 2.5 m wide at the Needles Eye. Closed in winter; check tunnel sizes before taking an RV or large truck.
- 620 km
Custer State Park Wildlife Loop
NatureCuster, SDA 29 km loop road through grassland and pine hills with one of the largest public bison herds in the country, plus pronghorn and the begging burros. Drive it early or late in the day; a park pass is required.
- 729 km
Wind Cave National Park
NatureHot Springs, SDA cave famous for rare boxwork formations lies under prairie with bison and prairie dog towns. Cave tours start at the visitor center on US-385 and sell out in summer; some can be booked online, the rest are sold on the day.
- 818 km
The Mammoth Site
HistoryHot Springs, SDAn active paleontology dig inside a building over an ancient sinkhole, where more than 60 mammoths have been found in place. Guided tours run all year; kids can join a simulated dig in summer.
- 91 km
Hot Springs
SD
FAQs
How long is Southern Black Hills: Crazy Horse, the Needles and Wind Cave?
3-day road trip of about 174 km (108 mi) with 9 stops, from Rapid City to Hot Springs. About 1 h 56 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Southern Black Hills: Crazy Horse, the Needles and Wind Cave?
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 56 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Southern Black Hills: Crazy Horse, the Needles and Wind Cave start and end?
It starts in Rapid City and ends in Hot Springs.
Which states does Southern Black Hills: Crazy Horse, the Needles and Wind Cave pass through?
South Dakota.
