Needles Highway sunrise

How to Spend 5 Days in South Dakota's Black Hills

Discover the best of South Dakota’s Black Hills with this five-day itinerary, packed with history, adventure and breathtaking landscapes.

From the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial to the rugged beauty of Badlands National Park, you'll experience some of western South Dakota’s most stunning sights. Step into the past in Historic Deadwood, where Wild West legends come to life, then explore the wildlife and scenic drives of Custer State Park. Whether you’re hiking, sightseeing or simply soaking in the views, this itinerary showcases the unforgettable beauty and spirit of the Black Hills.

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Rapid City

Arrive in Rapid City, the City of Presidents, named for its life-size bronze sculptures of U.S. presidents displayed throughout downtown. With all the destinations in this itinerary within an hour’s drive, Rapid City is the perfect base camp for your adventure.

Travel Tip: If you're flying into South Dakota, Rapid City Regional Airport offers a convenient gateway to the Black Hills.

Things to Do in Rapid City

journey museum
Journey Museum & Learning Center 

The Journey Museum offers an immersive look at the Western Great Plains from many perspectives. Browse exhibits and artifacts to learn about the region’s Indigenous people, pioneers and even the scientists who are currently studying the Black Hills’ unique geology.

Main Street Square, Rapid City
Main Street Square

A popular community gathering place in the heart of downtown, Main Street Square is home to more than 300 free events throughout the year. It’s also a great jumping-off point for exploring other downtown attractions, like Art Alley and the Dahl Arts Center.

A dinosaur state stands above visitors at Dinosaur Park in Rapid City
Dinosaur Park

Head up to the top of Skyline Drive for panoramic views of the city from Dinosaur Park, a collection of life-sized concrete dinosaurs dating to the 1930s.

Museum of Geology
Museum of Geology 

This paleontology exhibit features original fossils found in South Dakota alongside minerals from around the world.

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Day 2: Wall & Interior

Head east from Rapid City on Highway 44 for a day of adventure in Badlands National Park, where 244,000 acres of otherworldly landscapes await. Enter via Interior, a gateway to both the Badlands and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. Afterward, stop at Wall Drug Store, the iconic roadside attraction known for its quirky charm and free ice water.

Things to Do in Wall & Interior

A group of people ride on horseback in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Badlands National Park

Discover a striking maze of buttes, canyons, pinnacles and spires at Badlands National Park, one of South Dakota’s Great 8 iconic landmarks. Take in the park’s most scenic views on the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway and stop into the Ben Reifel Visitor Center to learn about the park’s amazing geology.

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site 

Comprising three sites along I-90, this attraction reveals a secret chapter of Cold War history hidden beneath the prairie. Call ahead to reserve a ranger-led tour of the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility or take a self-guided tour of the Delta-09 missile silo, which once held a 65,000-pound ballistic weapon.

Wall Drug
Wall Drug Store

Founded in 1931, Wall Drug Store has evolved from a tiny store into a 76,000-square-foot wonderland of attractions. Pro Tip: Snap a selfie on the giant jackalope in the backyard and take some donuts to go for a delicious road snack!

Day 3: Sturgis, Spearfish & Deadwood

Take Interstate 90 to spend an action-packed day exploring the northern Black Hills. Exits 30 and 32 bring you to Sturgis, home of the world-famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Next up is Spearfish, a beautiful mountain town that offers year-round outdoor adventures. In Historic Deadwood, legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane once roamed the rough, dusty streets — now a lively, family-friendly destination. Play your cards right and you could strike your own fortune at one of the town’s many gaming casinos.

Things to Do in Sturgis, Spearfish & Deadwood

Sturgis Motorcycle Museum
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally — the world's largest biker gathering — takes over the town each August, but Sturgis’ rich motorcycle heritage is on display year-round at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. Explore an impressive collection of American and metric bikes, along with exhibits, photographs and memorabilia celebrating the history of motorcycling.

Bear Butte State Park
Bear Butte State Park

Formed millions of years ago, this striking geological landmark is one of several ancient intrusions of igneous rock in the Black Hills. Bear Butte State Park is considered sacred by many Native American tribes, and remains a site for spiritual ceremonies. The park also offers hiking, camping, fishing and boating.

Fall in Spearfish Canyon
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway rewards visitors with views of towering limestone cliffs and thick pine forests. This drive features several hiking spots, scenic overlooks and waterfalls, including Roughlock Falls. As gorgeous as it is in summer, Spearfish Canyon might be even more beautiful in the fall and winter!

man reaching out to touch an artistic globe shaped piece of artwork hanging from the ceiling
Termesphere® Gallery

Dick Termes, an internationally known local artist, paints on spheres dangling from ceiling motors that slowly rotate the artistic wonders. Termes’ creations are celebrated for their unique six-point perspective system, and you can get a good look at them at his Termesphere® Gallery in Spearfish.

A couple views historic wagons at the Days of 76 Museum in Deadwood, SD.
Days of 76 Museum

Home to a huge collection of Indigenous and Old West artifacts, Days of 76 Museum includes over 50 authentic horse-drawn vehicles, including the original "Deadwood Stage." Browse many items from Deadwood’s early days, as well as the area’s proud rodeo history.

Broken Boot Mine
Broken Boot Gold Mine

Take an underground tour of an authentic gold mine where miners once pursued gold ore veins with black powder and candlelight. Visitors to this Deadwood Gulch attraction can also pan for real gold!

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Day 4: Hill City, Custer & Keystone

A “monumental” adventure awaits on day four! Begin your day in Keystone for a majestic morning visit to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Stroll the streets of Hill City, the second-oldest town in the Black Hills, for beauty, history and a bit of culture. Continuing into the southern Black Hills will bring you to Custer, a beautiful small city surrounded by large granite outcroppings and ponderosa pine trees. 

Pro Tip: These cities are linked by the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, one of America’s most scenic drives. Follow the byway signs for the best views of iconic landmarks like the Needles formation and the wooden bridges of Iron Mountain Road.

Things to Do in Hill City, Custer & Keystone

Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Known as America's Shrine of Democracy, Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the 60-foot faces of four American presidents who represent the nation's birth, growth, development and preservation. Pro Tip: Since the sun sets behind the faces, morning is the best time to take pictures of Mount Rushmore.

1880 Train/Hill City
1880 Train

Take in the stunning beauty of the Black Hills from the windows of a vintage steam stream. A two-hour (20-mile) roundtrip ride between Hill City and Keystone, the 1880 Train is fun for all ages, with narrated rides, Old West shootouts and seasonal events like Rails & Ales and the 1880 Train Wine Express.

 

Crazy Horse Memorial
Crazy Horse Memorial®

This gigantic sculpture of legendary Lakota leader Crazy Horse is the world’s largest in-progress mountain carving. While there, be sure to visit the Indian Museum of North America to learn more about the cultural significance of the Black Hills.

A bison stands in an open field with trees in the background
Custer State Park

Explore one of the last truly wild places at Custer State Park. Its 71,000 acres are home to nature trails and abundant wildlife, including one of the largest publicly owned bison herds — which you can see up-close on the Wildlife Loop Scenic Byway. Many visitors choose to stay the night in one of the park's historic lodges.

Tour group inside Jewel Cave with a Ranger
Jewel Cave National Momument

Named for the crystals that line its walls, Jewel Cave National Monument is the third-longest cave in the world! Cave tours are popular and book up fast, so we highly recommend reserving yours in advance.

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Day 5: Hot Springs

The city of Hot Springs was founded as a frontier health spa to capitalize on springs of warm mineral water rising in Fall River Canyon. Explore this southernmost part of the Black Hills for some amazing finds above and below ground.

Must-See Stops

Mammoth Site Hot Springs
The Mammoth Site 

The Mammoth Site boasts the largest concentration of mammoth remains in the world, with 58 Columbian and three woolly mammoths at last count. Embark on a self-guided tour and watch as scientists continue to unearth Ice Age fossils at this active paleontological dig site.

Exploring Wind Cave
Wind Cave National Park

The first cave to be designated a national park, Wind Cave features the world's largest concentration of rare boxwork formations, along with a 28,295-acre wildlife sanctuary on the surface. Tour options range from simple walking tours to lantern tours.

moccasin-springs-03-2024-tb.jpg
Natural Springs

Spend your last day in the Black Hills relaxing in the area’s plentiful natural springs. Dive into the world’s largest natural indoor warm springs swimming pool at Evans Plunge, or indulge in a soak and massage amid historical ruins at Moccasin Springs.

THE BLACK HILLS TOOK MORE THAN 75 MILLION YEARS TO BECOME WHAT THEY ARE. WHEN YOU'RE READY, SEE WHAT GREAT PLACES ARE WAITING.
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