Things to Do Near Jewel Cave National Monument

Known as the Summer White House, the historic State Game Lodge has 101 units, including cabins (the largest sleeps 28) and modern and historical hotel rooms. We offer Buffalo Jeep Tours, Chuckwagon Cookouts, trail rides, hiking, fishing and endless possible wildlife encounters within the 71,000-acre park. Our elegant restaurant features local game and casual breakfast and lunch dining with a more formal ambiance for dinner. It is open seven days per week, end of April through the end of October.

With Dakota Frontier Tours, your day-long adventure showcases many highlights of the southern Black Hills, including Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial, Sylvan Lake, buffalo at Custer State Park, Needles Highway and the "pig-tail" bridges. We also offer tours of Deadwood, Lead, Terry Peak and Spearfish Canyon. Our personalized, narrated, guided tours are provided in air-conditioned, 15-passenger vans. We offer free hotel or campground pickup in Custer, Keystone and Hill City.

Rockin R Trail Rides provides guided horseback trail rides in the beautiful Black Hills National Forest. We offer experienced guides and great horses at reasonable rates. We are centrally located in the Black Hills just outside of Custer and close to Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial. We are open late May (Memorial Day weekend) until October 1. Feel free to call or text us for more information.

Named a Top 10 US Safari by MSN, 2015, our Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour will take you where only we can go: off-road. Trek through Custer State Park in an open-air jeep in search of pronghorns, elk and the noble buffalo. Along the way, our guides will share historical and educational facts about the park and wildlife, and help you spot the critters. Tours depart daily from the State Game Lodge, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., May through October. The ride takes about 1.5-2 hours.

Legion Lake Lodge sits directly on the water's edge and features 26 cabins nestled in the surrounding forest (some with kitchens). The Centennial Trail is easily accessible. There is a convenience store to purchase fishing licenses and supplies, a playground, swimming and a hiking trail surrounds the lake. There is nothing fussy about eating at Legion Lake. Our menu features homestyle recipes like burgers and fries and homemade apple pie that you can enjoy on the deck, if the weather is nice.

Our old-fashioned hayride takes you on a 45-minute scenic drive on Custer State Park's beautiful backroads to a mountain meadow canyon for a chuck wagon feast. Along the way, you can sing-along to classic country and folk music tunes and look for wildlife along the road. Each paying guest gets a souvenir cowboy hat and bandanna to help you play the part. The meal includes your choice of a steak, burger, or veggie wrap. Reservations are required and must be made by 2 p.m. at Blue Bell Lodge.

Located one-half mile from Custer State Park’s west entrance, the campground is situated on the location where General Custer's expedition camped in 1874. Custer’s Gulch features basic and deluxe camping cabins, a family cabin, tent spots, and spacious, full-service RV sites with 20/30/50-amp back-in or pull-thru options. Resort amenities include free Wi-Fi, a clubhouse with kitchen facilities, store, shower house, flush toilets, dump station, laundry facilities, picnic tables, and fire grates.

Located just four miles west of Custer, Four Mile Old West town is a place to experience family fun and Western history as you walk through the 50 open-door buildings at the historic site. Step back into yesterday and experience the Old West as it really was. We are open mid-May through early-October.

Experience incredible theatre in a stunning setting! Since 1946, this cultural gem has been producing theatre on the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp. Join us for musicals, romance, comedy and drama in the rustic beauty of Custer State Park. We offer a casual atmosphere and air-conditioned theater, featuring concessions and lovely picnic grounds. Performances are Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday matinees (2 p.m.), and Wednesday through Saturday evenings (7:30 p.m.). Reservations recommended. See our website for information about tickets, directions, accessibility and group rates. A Custer State Park entrance pass is required.