Striped spires, towering carvings & wild frontier roads
Striped spires, towering carvings & wild frontier roads
Badlands National Park, SD 57750Deadwood, SD 57732
Trip overview
Experience the rugged grandeur of the Great Plains and Black Hills on this monumental road trip. Traverse the otherworldly, striped canyons of the Badlands, wind through granite spires, and encounter towering historic icons.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 — Badlands National Park
Pinnacles Overlook
Gaze across a vast, sweeping expanse of jagged, colorful siltstone spires and deep canyons. This spot offers one of the most dramatic and comprehensive views of the Badlands' unique geology.
Badlands Loop Road, Badlands National Park, SD 57750
Notch Trail
Climb a log ladder and hike along a narrow cliff ledge to a dramatic notch in the wall, revealing a stunning overlook of the White River Valley.
Notch Trail Trailhead, Badlands National Park, SD 57750
Wall Drug Store
Explore a massive, historic roadside emporium famous for its free ice water, 5-cent coffee, quirky animatronics, and western outfitter shops.
510 Main St, Wall, SD 57790
Day 2 — Keystone
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Stand before the monumental 60-foot granite faces of four American presidents carved into the sheer cliffs of the Black Hills.
13000 SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751
Iron Mountain Road
Drive this engineering marvel featuring wooden pigtail bridges, tight switchbacks, and narrow tunnels that perfectly frame Mount Rushmore in the distance.
US Highway 16A, Keystone, SD 57751
Black Hills Burger & Bun Co
Savor award-winning, house-ground burgers served on freshly baked buns in a cozy, welcoming downtown spot.
130 Mt Rushmore Rd, Custer, SD 57730
Sylvan Lake Lodge
Stay in a historic stone-and-timber lodge overlooking Sylvan Lake, often called the 'crown jewel' of Custer State Park.
24577 Needles Hwy, Custer, SD 57730
Day 3 — Custer
Custer State Park Wildlife Loop
Drive through rolling prairies to spot free-roaming bison herds, pronghorns, elk, and the famous 'begging burros' that approach cars.
Wildlife Loop Road, Custer, SD 57730
Needles Highway
Navigate a spectacular 14-mile drive winding through narrow tunnels and massive, sharp granite needles that pierce the South Dakota sky.
SD Highway 87, Custer, SD 57730
Crazy Horse Memorial
Behold the world's largest mountain carving in progress, dedicated to honoring the culture, tradition, and living heritage of North American Indians.
12151 Ave of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD 57730
Spearfish Canyon Lodge
Nestled deep within the towering limestone walls of Spearfish Canyon, this rustic lodge offers premier access to serene forest trails.
10619 Roughlock Falls Rd, Lead, SD 57754
Day 4 — Lead
Roughlock Falls Trail
Wander a gentle, beautifully maintained path through lush canyon greenery to a multi-tiered waterfall cascading over limestone ledges.
Roughlock Falls Road, Lead, SD 57754
Mount Moriah Cemetery
Pay your respects at the final resting place of Wild West legends Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, perched on a pine-covered hill overlooking Deadwood.
10 Mt Moriah Dr, Deadwood, SD 57732
Experiences & guides
Bookable tours and stops worth a detour along this route.
Experiences
Guide content may not reflect current conditions. Always verify information before your trip.
Frequently asked questions
The Badlands Black Hills road trip covers about 303 mi and roughly 7h 16m of driving, comfortably spread across about 4 days.
This itinerary maps out 13 stops from Badlands National Park, SD 57750 to Deadwood, SD 57732. Highlights include Notch Trail, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and Needles Highway.
It begins in Badlands National Park, SD 57750 and ends in Deadwood, SD 57732, following a mapped, road-following route the whole way.
The estimated cost is around $902, covering fuel, lodging, food, and activities. Your actual total varies with the season, your pace, and the choices you make along the way.
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