What is the closest airport to Custer State Park?

Custer State Park is located in a remote section of the Black Hills, though it’s easy to get there from Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP), located just 37 miles north. Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, United and Boutique Air all fly into and out of the airport.

What is the driving distance to nearby U.S. cities from Custer State Park?

At 31 miles away, Rapid City is the nearest major city to Custer State Park. Other notable cities in the region include Gillette, Wyoming (127 miles), Casper, Wyoming (213 miles), Denver (360 miles) and Minneapolis (600 miles).

What is the best time of year to visit Custer State Park?

Custer State Park is a popular outdoor destination that can be enjoyed any time of year. Winter is the coolest, calmest season at the park, when you can try your hand at ice fishing and snowmobiling. The months of May through early September are ideal for trail hikers, though be aware summertime temperatures can reach into the 90s. Be sure to pack sunscreen and plenty of water.

What are the busiest times of week to visit Custer State Park?

While summer is a busy time for buffalo spotting, you can glimpse the park’s famous residents all year long during a drive along its scenic loop. The traffic flow is steady throughout the day here, but dusk is the best time to see the buffalo. You can see the park’s other beloved inhabitants, adorable prairie dogs, poking out of their mounds all day long. If you do visit in winter, be sure to check with the park ahead of time for any road closures due to snow.

What is the climate, geographic information and history of Custer State Park?

Custer State Park’s climate is surprisingly milder than other destinations in western South Dakota, thanks to the warmer Chinook winds that keep temperatures less extreme than elsewhere. The southern Black Hills are a landscape of rolling prairie grasslands and rugged terrain — the perfect place for bison to roam — and Custer State Park, being South Dakota’s oldest and largest state park, is right in the middle of it all. The park dates to 1912, with the founding of what was then called Custer State Forest. With the addition of bison, pronghorn and bighorn sheep in the park’s first decade, and roads through the region during the 1920s and 1930s, Custer State Park became a popular destination for nature lovers. Learn more about weather and seasons in South Dakota

Custer State Park | South Dakota's Great 8 Landmarks

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Things to Do

Where to Stay

Camping in Custer

Top Experiences

Buffalo roam on the Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway — as do deer, pronghorn antelope, burros, elk, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs.

The Needles are towering granite pinnacles surrounding Sylvan Lake that offer some of the best rock climbing in South Dakota.

Hit the trails to explore Custer State Park’s 71,000 acres. The park offers more than a dozen trails and backcountry roads of varying length, terrain and difficulty.

custer state park — Whether you’re fly-fishing or casting a line from a boat or dock, the lakes of Custer State Park are trout-fishing heaven.

Make camp with your horses in the pines, pitch your tent beside a pristine mountain lake or hook up your RV near wandering wildlife — the park’s 10 memorable campgrounds are sure to accommodate.

At 7,242 feet, Black Elk Peak is the highest point in the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains. Topped with a stone fire tower, this hike serves up stunning views of the Black Hills and is a go-to favorite for outdoor lovers. Access is available via trailheads within the park and Black Elk Wilderness Area.

Sylvan, Legion, Stockade and Center lakes provide ways to cool off or catch dinner. Experience summertime fun while swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, hydro-biking or fly-fishing.

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Reflected in clear mountain waters, needles of granite splay into blue sky above emerald forests and windswept prairies, where herds of wildlife roam free.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Custer State Park: Discover a true hidden treasure in western South Dakota.

Round ‘em Up: See highlights from the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup.

Check Out Our Podcast

The Travel South Dakota Stories

Episode 1: The Fall and Rise of the Buffalo

Feel the ground rumble and see the dust fly as 60 cowboys and cowgirls saddle up to bring in a thundering herd of 1,300 buffalo at the annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup. But we’re not just watching it. We’re in the thick of it, as we get thrown around on the back of a truck chasing the herd across the wide-open plains!

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