Things to Do Near Jewel Cave National Monument

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.

Overland America provides outdoor adventures specializing in Jeep and Overland Trailer rentals. We are based in Custer and provide service to the areas surrounding the majestic Black Hills. Western South Dakota is an outdoor recreational paradise. There are 1.2 million acres of National Forest allowing off-road and overlanding enthusiasts access to thousands of miles of trails by using the Black Hills National Forest Motorized Trail System. The area is also home to a variety of wildlife, and features many spectacular landscapes that provide a calming escape into nature. Overland America rental options include Jeep Wrangler Rubicons, a Jeep Gladiator, a Ford Bronco, camping trailers and camping equipment. Renters must be at least 25 years old.

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.

Black Hills Aerial Adventures offers flightseeing tours over the breathtaking Black Hills and Badlands. Flights are available seven days a week, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m., May through October. Our heliports are located near Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial and Badlands National Park. Reservations are not required, but are welcome. Our helicopters can accommodate 3-4 passengers. With prior arrangement, we can accommodate most requests for customization. See our rates on our website.

Located in the heart of the Black Hills of western South Dakota, Crazy Horse Memorial is the world's largest mountain carving in progress. When completed, the depiction of the great Lakota warrior will be 641 feet long and 563 feet high. Crazy Horse Memorial is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, with funding being provided by admission to the memorial and private donations. The purpose of the project is to protect and preserve the culture and living heritage of all North American Indians.

Adventure Rentals is your location for off-road and on-road rentals in Custer. Spend the day taking in the breathtaking beauty of the Black Hills from the comfort of our rentals. Explore the spectacular, mountainous scenery by land on our UTVs, bicycles, or scooters, or take to the water and discover South Dakota’s picturesque lakes with our paddle boards or kayaks. You can even experience the thrill of the open road on a state-of-the-art Polaris Slingshot. Our hours are 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Sunday. (We also have second location near Hill City.)

Located 3.5 miles west of Custer in Black Hills National Forest, the 19-acre Beaver Lake Campground has great rates, family camping and spacious, level, shaded and open sites to suit any size RV or tent. All sites have picnic tables and fire rings, and all tent sites have rain shelters. We also offer nine cabins as well as shower and laundry facilities, free Wi-Fi at the office, heated pool, playground, horseshoe pits, volleyball and basketball courts, dog park, and more. We are open April 1-November 1 and offer discounts for extended stays.

Pageant Hill in Custer is known as the spot where the annual 4th of July fireworks are displayed. But, it's a busy place the rest of the year, too. From sledding in the winter to disc golf and hiking year-round, Pageant Hill is a great spot to enjoy the outdoors. The area is mostly heavily wooded with some rocky outcroppings. The park is primitive and the disc golf course is ungroomed. There is a shelter and portable toilets, but no drinking water. For more information, contact the Custer Chamber of Commerce.

If you've come to the Black Hills for peace and tranquility, you'll find it at Dakota Dream near Custer. The smell of the pine in the air, skies filled with more stars than you can count, and comfortable beds covered in fine linens and cozy lodge quilts. Dream the night away! Book online or give us a call. For those guests trailering their horses on their visit to the Black Hills, Dakota Dream can accommodate 4-legged guests in our 5-stall barn.