Black Hills for Cave Lovers: 3 to 10 Days of Going Underground
If your idea of a good time involves stairs, 54°F air and a flashlight, this post is for you. The Black Hills have two of the best caves in the country, a mammoth graveyard and a Cold War bunker, and every itinerary below is built around going underground. I promise these puns are all cave-in-free.
This post is part of a series. The hub post covers each stop in detail and has the tour and trail cheat sheet. All costs below are for a family of four in a tent and cover admissions, tours and campsites only. Fuel, food and the Wall Drug donut fund are on you, though I've flagged the iconic lodges and restaurants worth a meal stop. Lodge dining in Custer State Park runs from about the end of April to mid-October, so check seasons before you go. Cave tour prices are estimates and many tours sell out, so book ahead on Recreation.gov when you can. Fees change, so treat these as a planning budget, not a quote.
Pick Your Trip Length
| Trip | Attractions | Camping | Trip Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Days: The Cave Trifecta → | $198 to $230 | $48 | $246 to $278 |
| 4 Days: Cave Crawl Plus a Breather → | $253 to $290 | $73 to $88 | $326 to $378 |
| 5 Days: Bunker, Mammoths and Two Caves → | $297 to $334 | $97 to $112 | $394 to $446 |
| 6 Days: The Double Feature → | $349 to $386 | $122 to $152 | $471 to $538 |
| 7 Days: The Full Cave Week → | $397 to $450 | $146 to $176 | $543 to $626 |
| 10 Days: Cave Lover's Dream (10 Days) → | $437 to $490 | $233 to $293 | $670 to $783 |
The Itineraries
3-Day Itinerary: The Cave Trifecta
Two Wind Cave tours and Jewel Cave, with no wasted driving. It's three days, three tours, zero sunburn.
Day 1 of 3
The Mammoth Site and Wind Cave
- Do: See the Mammoth Site (self-guided), then take your first Wind Cave tour.
- Hikes: Prairie Vista (1 mile) near the visitor center.
- Tours: Natural Entrance Tour (about 1 hour 15 minutes, about 300 stairs) for the best all-round first visit, or the Garden of Eden Tour (about 1 hour, about 150 stairs) for the gentle version.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $50 Mammoth Site + $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 2 of 3
Wind Cave, Round Two
- Do: Take a second, harder tour and spend the afternoon above ground.
- Hikes: Wind Cave Canyon (1.8 miles one way, easy) or Rankin Ridge (1 mile, highest point in the park).
- Tours: Fairgrounds Tour (about 1 hour 30 minutes, about 450 stairs), the longer and more strenuous option, and a good one for boxwork. The Wild Cave Tour (ages 16 and up) is for older kids and adults only.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 3 of 3
Jewel Cave
- Do: Tour Jewel Cave in the morning, then move to camp inside Custer State Park.
- Hikes: Roof Trail (0.25 miles) at the visitor center, or the Canyons Trail (3.5 miles, easy to moderate).
- Tours: Jewel Cave Scenic Tour (about 1 hour 20 minutes, 734 stairs). The 20-minute Discovery Tour is the easy option for little ones.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one. Dinner at Blue Bell Lodge, where the menu leans toward bison, beef and chicken, with a patio over French Creek.
- Camp: Head home or on to your next stop.
- Cost: $52 Jewel Cave Scenic Tour (includes reservation fees)
| 3-Day Totals | Approx. Cost (Family of 4) |
|---|---|
| Attractions | $198 to $230 |
| Camping | $48 |
| Trip total | $246 to $278 |
4-Day Itinerary: Cave Crawl Plus a Breather
Add a day above ground at Crazy Horse and the Wildlife Loop, so your eyes can readjust to the sun.
Day 1 of 4
The Mammoth Site and Wind Cave
- Do: See the Mammoth Site (self-guided), then take your first Wind Cave tour.
- Hikes: Prairie Vista (1 mile) near the visitor center.
- Tours: Natural Entrance Tour (about 1 hour 15 minutes, about 300 stairs) for the best all-round first visit, or the Garden of Eden Tour (about 1 hour, about 150 stairs) for the gentle version.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $50 Mammoth Site + $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 2 of 4
Wind Cave, Round Two
- Do: Take a second, harder tour and spend the afternoon above ground.
- Hikes: Wind Cave Canyon (1.8 miles one way, easy) or Rankin Ridge (1 mile, highest point in the park).
- Tours: Fairgrounds Tour (about 1 hour 30 minutes, about 450 stairs), the longer and more strenuous option, and a good one for boxwork. The Wild Cave Tour (ages 16 and up) is for older kids and adults only.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 3 of 4
Jewel Cave
- Do: Tour Jewel Cave in the morning, then move to camp inside Custer State Park.
- Hikes: Roof Trail (0.25 miles) at the visitor center, or the Canyons Trail (3.5 miles, easy to moderate).
- Tours: Jewel Cave Scenic Tour (about 1 hour 20 minutes, 734 stairs). The 20-minute Discovery Tour is the easy option for little ones.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one. Dinner at Blue Bell Lodge, where the menu leans toward bison, beef and chicken, with a patio over French Creek.
- Camp: Game Lodge Campground (Custer State Park)
- Cost: $52 Jewel Cave Scenic Tour (includes reservation fees) + $25 Custer State Park entrance (7-day vehicle pass) + $25 to $40 camp
Day 4 of 4
A Day Above Ground
- Do: You've earned some daylight. Visit Crazy Horse Memorial, then drive the 18-mile Wildlife Loop at dusk.
- Tours: Optional $5 bus to the base of the mountain at Crazy Horse.
- Meal: Lunch at the Laughing Water Restaurant, with a view of the carving, Tatanka stew, fry bread tacos and complimentary coffee (peak-season hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Dinner at Blue Bell Lodge, where the menu leans toward bison, beef and chicken, with a patio over French Creek.
- Camp: Head home or on to your next stop.
- Cost: $30 to $35 Crazy Horse
| 4-Day Totals | Approx. Cost (Family of 4) |
|---|---|
| Attractions | $253 to $290 |
| Camping | $73 to $88 |
| Trip total | $326 to $378 |
5-Day Itinerary: Bunker, Mammoths and Two Caves
Open with the underground Cold War, then work through both caves. Reserve Delta-01 tickets early, because the bunker only fits a small group.
Day 1 of 5
Underground Cold War: Delta-01 and Wall Drug
- Do: Start at the Minuteman visitor center, tour the Delta-01 launch control facility (underground, naturally), view the Delta-09 silo through the glass, and finish at Wall Drug before the drive to Hot Springs.
- Tours: Delta-01 Launch Control Facility tour (45 minutes, ages 6 and up). Reserve on Recreation.gov the day tickets open. Delta-09 is free.
- Meal: Lunch at Wall Drug, because the donuts count as a food group.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $44 Delta-01 tour (includes reservation fees) + $24 camp
Day 2 of 5
The Mammoth Site and Wind Cave
- Do: See the Mammoth Site (self-guided), then take your first Wind Cave tour.
- Hikes: Prairie Vista (1 mile) near the visitor center.
- Tours: Natural Entrance Tour (about 1 hour 15 minutes, about 300 stairs) for the best all-round first visit, or the Garden of Eden Tour (about 1 hour, about 150 stairs) for the gentle version.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $50 Mammoth Site + $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 3 of 5
Wind Cave, Round Two
- Do: Take a second, harder tour and spend the afternoon above ground.
- Hikes: Wind Cave Canyon (1.8 miles one way, easy) or Rankin Ridge (1 mile, highest point in the park).
- Tours: Fairgrounds Tour (about 1 hour 30 minutes, about 450 stairs), the longer and more strenuous option, and a good one for boxwork. The Wild Cave Tour (ages 16 and up) is for older kids and adults only.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 4 of 5
Jewel Cave
- Do: Tour Jewel Cave in the morning, then move to camp inside Custer State Park.
- Hikes: Roof Trail (0.25 miles) at the visitor center, or the Canyons Trail (3.5 miles, easy to moderate).
- Tours: Jewel Cave Scenic Tour (about 1 hour 20 minutes, 734 stairs). The 20-minute Discovery Tour is the easy option for little ones.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one. Dinner at Blue Bell Lodge, where the menu leans toward bison, beef and chicken, with a patio over French Creek.
- Camp: Game Lodge Campground (Custer State Park)
- Cost: $52 Jewel Cave Scenic Tour (includes reservation fees) + $25 Custer State Park entrance (7-day vehicle pass) + $25 to $40 camp
Day 5 of 5
A Day Above Ground
- Do: You've earned some daylight. Visit Crazy Horse Memorial, then drive the 18-mile Wildlife Loop at dusk.
- Tours: Optional $5 bus to the base of the mountain at Crazy Horse.
- Meal: Lunch at the Laughing Water Restaurant, with a view of the carving, Tatanka stew, fry bread tacos and complimentary coffee (peak-season hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Dinner at Blue Bell Lodge, where the menu leans toward bison, beef and chicken, with a patio over French Creek.
- Camp: Head home or on to your next stop.
- Cost: $30 to $35 Crazy Horse
| 5-Day Totals | Approx. Cost (Family of 4) |
|---|---|
| Attractions | $297 to $334 |
| Camping | $97 to $112 |
| Trip total | $394 to $446 |
6-Day Itinerary: The Double Feature
Both caves get a second look, including the Historic Lantern Tour. It's the sequel that's actually better than the original.
Day 1 of 6
Underground Cold War: Delta-01 and Wall Drug
- Do: Start at the Minuteman visitor center, tour the Delta-01 launch control facility (underground, naturally), view the Delta-09 silo through the glass, and finish at Wall Drug before the drive to Hot Springs.
- Tours: Delta-01 Launch Control Facility tour (45 minutes, ages 6 and up). Reserve on Recreation.gov the day tickets open. Delta-09 is free.
- Meal: Lunch at Wall Drug, because the donuts count as a food group.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $44 Delta-01 tour (includes reservation fees) + $24 camp
Day 2 of 6
The Mammoth Site and Wind Cave
- Do: See the Mammoth Site (self-guided), then take your first Wind Cave tour.
- Hikes: Prairie Vista (1 mile) near the visitor center.
- Tours: Natural Entrance Tour (about 1 hour 15 minutes, about 300 stairs) for the best all-round first visit, or the Garden of Eden Tour (about 1 hour, about 150 stairs) for the gentle version.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $50 Mammoth Site + $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 3 of 6
Wind Cave, Round Two
- Do: Take a second, harder tour and spend the afternoon above ground.
- Hikes: Wind Cave Canyon (1.8 miles one way, easy) or Rankin Ridge (1 mile, highest point in the park).
- Tours: Fairgrounds Tour (about 1 hour 30 minutes, about 450 stairs), the longer and more strenuous option, and a good one for boxwork. The Wild Cave Tour (ages 16 and up) is for older kids and adults only.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 4 of 6
Jewel Cave
- Do: Tour Jewel Cave in the morning, then move to camp inside Custer State Park.
- Hikes: Roof Trail (0.25 miles) at the visitor center, or the Canyons Trail (3.5 miles, easy to moderate).
- Tours: Jewel Cave Scenic Tour (about 1 hour 20 minutes, 734 stairs). The 20-minute Discovery Tour is the easy option for little ones.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one. Dinner at Blue Bell Lodge, where the menu leans toward bison, beef and chicken, with a patio over French Creek.
- Camp: Game Lodge Campground (Custer State Park)
- Cost: $52 Jewel Cave Scenic Tour (includes reservation fees) + $25 Custer State Park entrance (7-day vehicle pass) + $25 to $40 camp
Day 5 of 6
Jewel Cave, Round Two
- Do: Go back for the tour you didn't take. The Historic Lantern Tour is the flashlight-free option, which means the lanterns do the work.
- Hikes: Hell Canyon Trail (5.3 miles loop, moderate) if you want a real hike.
- Tours: Historic Lantern Tour (about 1 hour 45 minutes, about 600 stairs, ages 8 and up, summer only).
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one. Dinner at the State Game Lodge's White House Dining Room, built for President Coolidge's 1927 stay.
- Camp: Game Lodge Campground (Custer State Park)
- Cost: $52 Jewel Cave Historic Lantern Tour (includes reservation fees) + $25 to $40 camp
Day 6 of 6
A Day Above Ground
- Do: You've earned some daylight. Visit Crazy Horse Memorial, then drive the 18-mile Wildlife Loop at dusk.
- Tours: Optional $5 bus to the base of the mountain at Crazy Horse.
- Meal: Lunch at the Laughing Water Restaurant, with a view of the carving, Tatanka stew, fry bread tacos and complimentary coffee (peak-season hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Dinner at Blue Bell Lodge, where the menu leans toward bison, beef and chicken, with a patio over French Creek.
- Camp: Head home or on to your next stop.
- Cost: $30 to $35 Crazy Horse
| 6-Day Totals | Approx. Cost (Family of 4) |
|---|---|
| Attractions | $349 to $386 |
| Camping | $122 to $152 |
| Trip total | $471 to $538 |
7-Day Itinerary: The Full Cave Week
Three Wind Cave tours, two at Jewel Cave and a bunker. You will leave with a lot of stairs in your legs and a lot of cave facts in your head.
Day 1 of 7
Underground Cold War: Delta-01 and Wall Drug
- Do: Start at the Minuteman visitor center, tour the Delta-01 launch control facility (underground, naturally), view the Delta-09 silo through the glass, and finish at Wall Drug before the drive to Hot Springs.
- Tours: Delta-01 Launch Control Facility tour (45 minutes, ages 6 and up). Reserve on Recreation.gov the day tickets open. Delta-09 is free.
- Meal: Lunch at Wall Drug, because the donuts count as a food group.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $44 Delta-01 tour (includes reservation fees) + $24 camp
Day 2 of 7
The Mammoth Site and Wind Cave
- Do: See the Mammoth Site (self-guided), then take your first Wind Cave tour.
- Hikes: Prairie Vista (1 mile) near the visitor center.
- Tours: Natural Entrance Tour (about 1 hour 15 minutes, about 300 stairs) for the best all-round first visit, or the Garden of Eden Tour (about 1 hour, about 150 stairs) for the gentle version.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $50 Mammoth Site + $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 3 of 7
Wind Cave, Round Two
- Do: Take a second, harder tour and spend the afternoon above ground.
- Hikes: Wind Cave Canyon (1.8 miles one way, easy) or Rankin Ridge (1 mile, highest point in the park).
- Tours: Fairgrounds Tour (about 1 hour 30 minutes, about 450 stairs), the longer and more strenuous option, and a good one for boxwork. The Wild Cave Tour (ages 16 and up) is for older kids and adults only.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 4 of 7
Wind Cave, Round Three
- Do: Yes, a third tour. This is the Garden of Eden day: a short, gentle tour, then a longer hike to stretch your legs.
- Hikes: Cold Brook Canyon (1.4 miles one way, moderate) or Elk Mountain (1 mile).
- Tours: Garden of Eden Tour (about 1 hour, about 150 stairs). The Candlelight Tour (about 2 hours, ages 8 and up, summer only) is the evening option, but check the park for its price since I didn't budget it.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 5 of 7
Jewel Cave
- Do: Tour Jewel Cave in the morning, then move to camp inside Custer State Park.
- Hikes: Roof Trail (0.25 miles) at the visitor center, or the Canyons Trail (3.5 miles, easy to moderate).
- Tours: Jewel Cave Scenic Tour (about 1 hour 20 minutes, 734 stairs). The 20-minute Discovery Tour is the easy option for little ones.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one. Dinner at Blue Bell Lodge, where the menu leans toward bison, beef and chicken, with a patio over French Creek.
- Camp: Game Lodge Campground (Custer State Park)
- Cost: $52 Jewel Cave Scenic Tour (includes reservation fees) + $25 Custer State Park entrance (7-day vehicle pass) + $25 to $40 camp
Day 6 of 7
Jewel Cave, Round Two
- Do: Go back for the tour you didn't take. The Historic Lantern Tour is the flashlight-free option, which means the lanterns do the work.
- Hikes: Hell Canyon Trail (5.3 miles loop, moderate) if you want a real hike.
- Tours: Historic Lantern Tour (about 1 hour 45 minutes, about 600 stairs, ages 8 and up, summer only).
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one. Dinner at the State Game Lodge's White House Dining Room, built for President Coolidge's 1927 stay.
- Camp: Game Lodge Campground (Custer State Park)
- Cost: $52 Jewel Cave Historic Lantern Tour (includes reservation fees) + $25 to $40 camp
Day 7 of 7
A Day Above Ground
- Do: You've earned some daylight. Visit Crazy Horse Memorial, then drive the 18-mile Wildlife Loop at dusk.
- Tours: Optional $5 bus to the base of the mountain at Crazy Horse.
- Meal: Lunch at the Laughing Water Restaurant, with a view of the carving, Tatanka stew, fry bread tacos and complimentary coffee (peak-season hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Dinner at Blue Bell Lodge, where the menu leans toward bison, beef and chicken, with a patio over French Creek.
- Camp: Head home or on to your next stop.
- Cost: $30 to $35 Crazy Horse
| 7-Day Totals | Approx. Cost (Family of 4) |
|---|---|
| Attractions | $397 to $450 |
| Camping | $146 to $176 |
| Trip total | $543 to $626 |
10-Day Itinerary: Cave Lover's Dream (10 Days)
All of it, plus the Badlands as a palate cleanser and three days of surface scenery to balance the stairs. You'll have seen every kind of Black Hills hole there is.
Day 1 of 10
Badlands Loop: The World Above Ground
- Do: Cave lovers deserve a view of the sky too. Drive the full Badlands Loop and take in the canyons, which are the cave's opposite: all rock, no roof.
- Hikes: Door Trail (0.75 miles), Window Trail (0.25 miles) and Notch Trail (1.5 miles, log ladder).
- Meal: Lunch at the Cedar Pass Lodge & Restaurant next to the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, where the Sioux Indian Tacos come on fry bread made fresh daily (open mid-April through October).
- Camp: Cedar Pass Campground (Badlands)
- Cost: $30 Badlands entrance (7-day vehicle pass) + $37 camp
Day 2 of 10
Underground Cold War: Delta-01 and Wall Drug
- Do: Start at the Minuteman visitor center, tour the Delta-01 launch control facility (underground, naturally), view the Delta-09 silo through the glass, and finish at Wall Drug before the drive to Hot Springs.
- Tours: Delta-01 Launch Control Facility tour (45 minutes, ages 6 and up). Reserve on Recreation.gov the day tickets open. Delta-09 is free.
- Meal: Lunch at Wall Drug, because the donuts count as a food group.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $44 Delta-01 tour (includes reservation fees) + $24 camp
Day 3 of 10
The Mammoth Site and Wind Cave
- Do: See the Mammoth Site (self-guided), then take your first Wind Cave tour.
- Hikes: Prairie Vista (1 mile) near the visitor center.
- Tours: Natural Entrance Tour (about 1 hour 15 minutes, about 300 stairs) for the best all-round first visit, or the Garden of Eden Tour (about 1 hour, about 150 stairs) for the gentle version.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $50 Mammoth Site + $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 4 of 10
Wind Cave, Round Two
- Do: Take a second, harder tour and spend the afternoon above ground.
- Hikes: Wind Cave Canyon (1.8 miles one way, easy) or Rankin Ridge (1 mile, highest point in the park).
- Tours: Fairgrounds Tour (about 1 hour 30 minutes, about 450 stairs), the longer and more strenuous option, and a good one for boxwork. The Wild Cave Tour (ages 16 and up) is for older kids and adults only.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 5 of 10
Wind Cave, Round Three
- Do: Yes, a third tour. This is the Garden of Eden day: a short, gentle tour, then a longer hike to stretch your legs.
- Hikes: Cold Brook Canyon (1.4 miles one way, moderate) or Elk Mountain (1 mile).
- Tours: Garden of Eden Tour (about 1 hour, about 150 stairs). The Candlelight Tour (about 2 hours, ages 8 and up, summer only) is the evening option, but check the park for its price since I didn't budget it.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one.
- Camp: Elk Mountain Campground (Wind Cave)
- Cost: $48 to $64 for one Wind Cave tour + $24 camp
Day 6 of 10
Jewel Cave
- Do: Tour Jewel Cave in the morning, then move to camp inside Custer State Park.
- Hikes: Roof Trail (0.25 miles) at the visitor center, or the Canyons Trail (3.5 miles, easy to moderate).
- Tours: Jewel Cave Scenic Tour (about 1 hour 20 minutes, 734 stairs). The 20-minute Discovery Tour is the easy option for little ones.
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one. Dinner at Blue Bell Lodge, where the menu leans toward bison, beef and chicken, with a patio over French Creek.
- Camp: Game Lodge Campground (Custer State Park)
- Cost: $52 Jewel Cave Scenic Tour (includes reservation fees) + $25 Custer State Park entrance (7-day vehicle pass) + $25 to $40 camp
Day 7 of 10
Jewel Cave, Round Two
- Do: Go back for the tour you didn't take. The Historic Lantern Tour is the flashlight-free option, which means the lanterns do the work.
- Hikes: Hell Canyon Trail (5.3 miles loop, moderate) if you want a real hike.
- Tours: Historic Lantern Tour (about 1 hour 45 minutes, about 600 stairs, ages 8 and up, summer only).
- Meal: Pack a picnic lunch for this one. Dinner at the State Game Lodge's White House Dining Room, built for President Coolidge's 1927 stay.
- Camp: Game Lodge Campground (Custer State Park)
- Cost: $52 Jewel Cave Historic Lantern Tour (includes reservation fees) + $25 to $40 camp
Day 8 of 10
A Day Above Ground
- Do: You've earned some daylight. Visit Crazy Horse Memorial, then drive the 18-mile Wildlife Loop at dusk.
- Tours: Optional $5 bus to the base of the mountain at Crazy Horse.
- Meal: Lunch at the Laughing Water Restaurant, with a view of the carving, Tatanka stew, fry bread tacos and complimentary coffee (peak-season hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Dinner at Blue Bell Lodge, where the menu leans toward bison, beef and chicken, with a patio over French Creek.
- Camp: Game Lodge Campground (Custer State Park)
- Cost: $30 to $35 Crazy Horse + $25 to $40 camp
Day 9 of 10
Needles Highway and Sylvan Lake
- Do: Another daylight day. Drive the Needles Highway through the Needles Eye Tunnel and spend the afternoon at Sylvan Lake.
- Hikes: Sylvan Lake Shore Trail (1 mile loop) for the easy version. Cathedral Spires (2.3 miles, strenuous) and Little Devils Tower (1.5 miles one way, strenuous) are the scrambly ones.
- Meal: Lunch at Sylvan Lake Lodge on the stone veranda.
- Camp: Game Lodge Campground (Custer State Park)
- Cost: $25 to $40 camp
Day 10 of 10
Iron Mountain Road and Mount Rushmore
- Do: Take Iron Mountain Road to Mount Rushmore, past the pigtail bridges and the tunnels that frame the memorial. Catch the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center film (about 14 minutes). The Evening Lighting Ceremony runs nightly late May through September, at 9 p.m. through August 10 and 8 p.m. after that.
- Hikes: Presidential Trail (0.6 miles, about 422 stairs from the Sculptor's Studio). Budget two to three hours for the memorial.
- Meal: Dinner at the State Game Lodge's White House Dining Room, built for President Coolidge's 1927 stay.
- Camp: Head home or on to your next stop.
- Cost: $10 Rushmore parking
| 10-Day Totals | Approx. Cost (Family of 4) |
|---|---|
| Attractions | $437 to $490 |
| Camping | $233 to $293 |
| Trip total | $670 to $783 |
More From the Black Hills Series
Looking for the rest of the series? Start here:
References
- Badlands National Park fees: https://www.nps.gov/badl/planyourvisit/fees.htm
- Badlands National Park trails: https://www.nps.gov/badl/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
- Cedar Pass Campground rates: https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/park/subpage/camping-badlands
- Minuteman Missile NHS Delta-01 tour fees and reservation details: https://www.nps.gov/mimi/planyourvisit/calendar.htm and https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/10113322
- Minuteman Missile NHS overview and Delta-09: https://www.visitrapidcity.com/parks-and-monuments/minuteman-missile-national-historic-site/ and https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Minuteman_Missile_National_Historic_Site
- Wind Cave fees, booking windows and cave conditions: https://www.nps.gov/wica/planyourvisit/fees.htm and https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/10088514
- Wind Cave tour descriptions: https://blackhillsparks.org/planning-your-wind-cave-tour/
- Wind Cave trails: https://www.nps.gov/wica/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
- Wind Cave tour price estimates: https://hikewithryan.com/?p=2060
- Wind Cave Elk Mountain Campground fee: https://www.nps.gov/wica/planyourvisit/fees.htm
- Jewel Cave fees and tour details: https://www.nps.gov/jeca/planyourvisit/fees.htm
- Jewel Cave trails: https://www.nps.gov/jeca/planyourvisit/trails.htm
- Custer State Park 2024 fee changes: https://espnsiouxfalls.com/ixp/485/p/south-dakota-state-park-entry-fees-are-going-up/
- Custer State Park entrance information: https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/custer-state-park/
- Custer State Park trail guide: https://gfp.sd.gov/userdocs/csp23trail_guide.pdf
- Cathedral Spires Trail: https://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/things-to-do/outdoors/trails/cathedral-spires-trail/
- Custer State Park campground reported rates: https://www.campendium.com/game-lodge-campground and https://www.campendium.com/sylvan-lake-south-dakota
- Mount Rushmore parking and Presidential Trail: https://gosssquatch.blogspot.com/2026/09/as-close-as-youre-legally-allowed-to.html
- Our own posts for the routes and tours we drove and took: https://gosssquatch.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-scenic-route-our-first-bad-decision.html, https://gosssquatch.blogspot.com/2026/07/visiting-wind-cave-national-park-what.html, https://gosssquatch.blogspot.com/2026/07/needles-highway-road-peter-norbeck.html and https://gosssquatch.blogspot.com/2026/09/custer-state-park-pigtail-bridges.html
- Crazy Horse Memorial admission: https://www.crazyhorsememorial.org/pricing-and-admission.html
- The Mammoth Site admission and background: https://mammothsite.org/?p=170
- Devils Tower fees: https://www.nps.gov/deto/planyourvisit/fees.htm
- Devils Tower trails: https://www.nps.gov/deto/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
- Belle Fourche River Campground rate and season: https://outdoorithm.com/campgrounds/wy/devils-tower-national-monument/belle-fourche-river-campground
- Devils Tower history: https://www.evansoutdooradventures.com/devils-tower-americas-first-national-monument/
- Custer State Park lodge dining (State Game Lodge, Blue Bell Lodge, Sylvan Lake Lodge, Legion Lake Lodge): https://custerresorts.com/dining
- Cedar Pass Lodge & Restaurant: https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/interior/cedar-pass-lodge-restaurant
- Laughing Water Restaurant at Crazy Horse Memorial: https://crazyhorsememorial.org/laughing-water-restaurant.html
Comments
Post a Comment