Western South Dakota delivers a wide variety of spectacular landscapes ranging from the prairies grassland and rock formations of the Badlands National Park, through to the mountains, canyons and forests of the Black Hills for you to explore.
On the man-made side, the gigantic carvings at Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial are iconic monuments of the United States not to be missed. Learn why they were built here, who and why they were chosen, what they represent, and the vision for each project.
These parts were once the very edge of the wild west. Home of the Sioux people, whose ancestors thrived for thousands of generations with a deep physical and spiritual attachment to the environment.
The lure of gold drew many seeking their fortune. You’ll see the one of the world’s richest gold mining operations at the Homestake Mine in Lead.
It also attracted a ragtag group of frontier settlers, lawless gunfighters and adventurers like Deadwood residents; Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.
On the Custer Wildlife Loop Road you might spot deer, antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, coyotes and the infamous ‘begging burros’. The buffalo population sits at around 1500.
Another scenic drive is Spearfish Canyon which follows a 19 mile route through 1000 foot limestone walls.
On the Wyoming side of the border, Devils Tower is a place of intrigue and fascination since becoming the nation’s first National Monument. And for a multitude of generations before that, and continuing to this day, Native Americans celebrate the site for its spiritual importance.
See Great Faces and Great Places in South Dakota.
Start on the I-90 (either arriving from the East or West), or join anywhere along the tour route(s) and pick up the commentary at the next audio point.
We recommend 3 days, which gives you time to explore all three driving loops, as well as tour downtown Rapid City. But if you only have 1 or 2 days, you can still make it work.
Black Hills Loop: Approx 90 miles.
Badlands National Park: Approx 95 miles between Rapid City and the Badlands National Park entrance (one way).
Spearfish Canyon: Approx 150 miles one way between Rapid City, through Spearfish, SD and onto Devils Tower, WY
Height restrictions apply along the Black Hills Loop Drive, as large RVs will not fit through the tunnels on Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road. See the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks website for full details.
