Custer Travel Guide

 
by Dymphna1
 
  •   Custer
    by Dymphna1
  •   Custer
    by 807Wheaton
  •   Things to Do
    by Dymphna1
  • Protoge of completed sculpture
      Protoge of completed sculpture
    by 807Wheaton
  • Interior of cultural center
      Interior of cultural center
    by 807Wheaton
 

Pro

Rabbityama profile photo

  Crazy Horse 


Con

bilgeez profile photo

  Touristy of course 


In a nutshell

807Wheaton profile photo

  Many beautiful sights 

 

Explore Custer

Things to Do  

Huge Memorial

Huge Memorial, Custer

 Sagespot Says:  No visit to South Dakota is complete without a visit to the Crazy Horse Memorial. The memorial has a huge complex of museums and informational/educational venues. They have a huge visitor's center with a great orientation film, Indian Museum of North America, sculptor's... 

Four Mile Old West Town

Four Mile Old West Town, Custer

 Dymphna1 Says:  This place is affordable. It is only $4.00 per person and comes with a tape recorder as to what you are looking at as you go through it. It is built in the site of an old city where there was also a fort at one time. It get's it's name from the fact that this watering whole... 

The Norbeck Highway

The Norbeck Highway, Custer

 807Wheaton Says:  This was another great daytrip we enjoyed while staying in Custer. We drove to Keystone for lunch and then started our scenic drive where we encountered a huge herd of buffalo in the road - they would not move! The cars had to drive carefully around them. Three males were... 

See Mount Rushmore in the morning

See Mount Rushmore in the morning, Custer

 807Wheaton Says:  We got that tip before we visited Mount Rushmore. We got there about 11 AM which was a good time tio view it because the sun is shining on it. As the day goes on, the face profiles get shadows on them and they are not so clear. We read the information about the project and... 

Crazy Horse

Crazy Horse, Custer

 807Wheaton Says:  My husband enjoyed this stop better than Mount Rushmore. We saw a video before we viewed the other areas. We were able to tour the home of the sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. He was born in Boston 6 September 1908 and was orphaned at age one. He grew up in foster homes. He... 

Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake, Custer

 apbeaches Says:  Perhaps one of the most beautiful lakes in South Dakota, Sylvan Lake offers spectacular recreational opportunities with a serene ambiance. The lake is nestled at the base of Harney Peak, and surrounded by impressive rounded rock formations and ponderosa pine trees. The... 

Custer State Park

Custer State Park, Custer

 apbeaches Says:  The Park Rangers were so knowledgeable & informative we were impressed. They shared maps and specific directions of where to locate each animal. We found ourselves surrounded by a herd of bison, in a praire dog community, feeding a burro, very close to deer & antelopes. It... 

Crazy Horse Memorial Indian Museum

Crazy Horse Memorial Indian Museum, Custer

 apbeaches Says:  Admission was $10.00 and another $4.00 was for the bus to take us near the monument.Tribute to the Native Americans. Memorial incl. world's largest mountain carving in progress. 17 mi. from Mt. Rushmore. Family attraction open year round Native Artists, Museum gift shop.... 

Needles Highway Scenic Drive

Needles Highway Scenic Drive, Custer

 apbeaches Says:  We stopped along Needles Highway Scenic Drive to take photographs of the scenery and animals. We got out climbing the rocks and viewing scenery from varied vantage points. The 14 mile route threads through the oddly shaped, weathered granite spires from which the highway... 

Hotels  

Holiday Inn Express Custer

 1 Review and 134 Opinions  My wife is aa few steps away from OCD and she loved the place. 

Chief Motel

 106 Opinions

Restaurants  

Elk Canyon Pub & Grill: Maybe for Sandwiches

Elk Canyon Pub & Grill: Maybe for Sandwiches, Custer

 apbeaches Says:  Western themed pub & grill on Main Street in downtown Custer. Service was good, restaurant was clean. Taco salade was acceptable. I ordered an appetizer "Bucket o' Bones" lb. of ribs for $7.99. There were 4 huge ribs with meat & fat falling off. It was incredibly fatty &... 

State Game Dining Room: Historic yet packed with buses

State Game Dining Room: Historic yet packed with buses, Custer

 apbeaches Says:  We had 6:45 dinner reservations and were seated near the noisey door of the historic restaurant. Our room had photographs of the Eisenhower's at the State Game Lodge, but ambiance was wood paneling ...The bread was good and our salads came promptly. We then waited over an... 

Transportation  

Crazy Horse to/from Mount Rushmore

Crazy Horse to/from Mount Rushmore, Custer

 Rabbityama Says:  Crazy Horse is located on Highway 16. From Crazy Horse, travel North on Highway 16 until you get to 244. If turn right onto 244, you'll be taken to Mount Rushmore! That's not too hard. From Mount Rushmore, just travel on 244 until you come across Highway 16. Travel South on... 

Crazy Horse Mountain Monument...

Crazy Horse Mountain Monument..., Custer

 basstbn Says:  Crazy Horse Mountain Monument is located on US Highway 16, six miles north of Custer, South Dakota. It is about 20 miles south of Mount Rushmore National Park, but in peak summer months the heavy traffic will make it a long ride. Admission: Native Americans free; everyone... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Watch out for herds of Bison

Watch out for herds of Bison, Custer

 807Wheaton Says:  We have never in our travels seen such an abundance of wildlife. This time we were not disappointed. We were able to see these creatures up close - but kept our safe distance. Be careful driving the twists and turns here, and drive slowly - they can be right around a curve,... 

Tourist Traps  

Finstones Bedrock City

Finstones Bedrock City, Custer

 Dymphna1 Says:  Just save your money on this one! Even my children did not like it when they were young. It is very boring! 

Oh, the state is full of them...

Oh, the state is full of them..., Custer

 erikajj Says:  Oh, the state is full of them and they are just everywhere in the Black Hills. In my opinion, anything with 'Ranch' or 'Chief' in its name, excluding the Chief Crazy Horse Monument, is a tourist trap. Stick with the national and state parks and the major monuments. 

What to Pack  

Packing List

Packing List, Custer

 erikajj Says:   Camping Please see my camping list on my South Dakota page. All I will add is that it was VERY CHILLY AT NIGHT. We wore several layers of clothes and zipped together the sleeping bags. 

Packing List

Packing List, Custer

 pipsqueak Says:  A backpack or a lumbar pack with water-carrying capacity if a good idea in summer. The weather in summer is generally very warm during the day and pleasantly cool at night. The Black Hills do experience sudden thunderstorms, so some kind of rain gear is a good idea, even if... 

Favorites  

time of year

time of year, Custer

 pringlepoacher Says:  If you are thinking about coming to the Black Hills of South Dakota, Then June or July is the Time. Usually you can get reservations at most hotel/motel, bed and breakfasts. If you choose to wait until august, there may not be any accomodations. You see there is a motorcycle... 

unbelievable view

unbelievable view, Custer

 hutchsky Says:  In Custer State Park, There is a road that goes up Mt. Coolidge to the fire tower. It's made of granite and the view is amazing! Fishing at Stockade lake. 

The Place

Plan a Custer vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Custer locals

Experience Custer
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Map of Custer
 

The People

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Our Members Say
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 Visit Custer State Park and take a drive on any of the scenic loop roads. You may actually see some wildlife on the Wildlife Loop Road.Here is a photo of some... 

4 members live in Custer

 

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Top Custer Writers

1

pipsqueak's New Custer Page

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 Custer, SD is an excellent base to explore the Black Hills National Forest and nearby Custer State Park. If you enjoy the outdoors, this is a great place to visit. 

2

Crazy Horse Mountain Monument

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 The year was 1939. Sioux Indians native to South Dakota and the northern plains watched the completion of Mount Rushmore in their beloved Black Hills. Henry Standing Bear was moved to action, and... 

3

Volksmarch 2001

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 The 2001 Volksmarch was a fabulous opportunity to experience the Crazy Horse Monument on a personal level. The 10K walk was difficult at times, but the scenery was beautiful and the breeze cool. The... 

4

Custer, South Dakota, home of Mount Rushmore

bilgeez profile photo

 Custer, South Dakota, is just a few minutes from Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorials and the Custer State Park. I stayed in this charming little town when I passed through South Dakota to visit... 

5

Went on to 4 mile

Dymphna1 profile photo

 The Flintstones is really bad. My kids did not even like it when they were little and passed it by. Drive on to Four Mile Old West Town 

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