![Mount Rushmore located in South Dakota, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20191004_081631-1024x576.jpg)
We all know that South Dakota is home to Mount Rushmore, but did you also know there are other iconic sites in this beautiful state? Custer State Park for one with its wildlife and rugged landscape. You can visit Spearfish Canyon or go hiking at Sylvan Lake area which has stunning views of the Black Hills! Some people may think visiting South Dakota means only going on vacation within our country’s borders – they would be wrong because we have so much more than just mining history here—from world-class wines, Ancient Trees National Forest provides habitat preservation opportunities while still allowing tourists access to some amazing places. Check out some great ideas to help you plan your weekend trip to beautiful South Dakota!
Why You Should Take A Weekend Trip in South Dakota
South Dakota is often overlooked as a vacation destination but it will not leave you disappointed if you go! It has incredible hikes, delicious cuisine, breathtaking scenery and wild animals. South Dakota is not only home to the iconic National Monument, Mount Rushmore, but also Custer State Park, where the buffalo and burros roam, Spearfish Canyon, full of hikes and beautiful scenery. I was surprised with all that South Dakota had to offer and spent plenty of time researching how to best spend our limited time there. The season here runs from May to the beginning of October, we stayed at the end of the season to catch the fall colors. We did encounter some shops and restaurants that were closed by the end of the season when we went but there was still plenty to do and the fall foilage was amazing.
Where you should stay in South Dakota
![The view of the farm and rolling hills from a VRBO that you can rent in Custer, South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2019-10-04_07-15-36_396-2-1.jpeg)
![Stairs leading up to a loft in an VRBO that you can rent in Custer, South Dakota](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2019-10-04_06-44-06_145-scaled.jpeg)
![A Kitchen sink, with a sign above the window, at a VRBO you can rent in Custer, South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2019-10-04_06-44-28_699-scaled.jpeg)
We chose to stay in Custer, about 30 minutes from Mount Rushmore but only about a 15 minute drive to Custer State Park. Custer was small, friendly and quiet, something we were looking for in our stay. If you are looking for more wilderness and less town, I would recommend staying in Custer. We stayed at this VRBO – it felt like home from the moment that you walked through those front doors; not only did they provide accommodations but also memories which will last forever . It has sweeping rolling hills views from your front porch, cozy accommodations and great place to spend quiet evenings. There are a couple of hotels in town that are highly rated if you want more of a traditional vacation feel to your accommodations, such as in house breakfast, a pool, or your room made up everyday.
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Custer, featuring free breakfast, mountain views, pool, and game room.
- Comfort Inn & Suites Custer, featuring free breakfast, a fitness room, bicycle rentals and a pool.
- VRBO cabin that sleeps 6, featuring breathtaking views, private deck and hot tub.
The Classic town and closest town to stay in when visiting the Black Hills area is Keystone, South Dakota. It has plenty of hotels and also can be a good basecamp for your adventures in South Dakota. Some places with great reviews to stay at are:
- K Bar S Lodge, featuring free breakfast, views of Mount Rushmore, balconies, as well as family rooms.
- Comfort Suites & Inn Mt. Rushmore, featuring free breakfast, walkable to shops and restaurants, as well as a pool and hot tub.
- Roosevelt Inn, family owned inn featuring free breakfast, walkable to shops and restaurants, as well as a pool and hot tub.
Things to do in South Dakota
Mount Rushmore
![Mount Rushmore located in South Dakota, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2019-10-04_09-14-42_616-1024x768.jpeg)
![The entrance pillars to Mount Rushmore, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2019-10-04_08-14-32_501-scaled.jpeg)
![Ice Cream with two spoons on a table with a view of Mount Rushmore in the background,](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2019-10-04_08-54-01_514-scaled-768x1024.jpeg)
No trip to South Dakota would be complete without seeing the iconic Mount Rushmore. Mount Rushmore was carved from 1927-1941 and features the presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Rosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. We found that a great time to visit the memorial was in the morning, less of a crowd to see everything. In addition to viewing Mount Rushmore from the amphitheater, you can take a stroll on the President’s trail to give you a closer look at the monument. You can also take a walk down to the Sculptor’s studio, where the model of the original plans are on display.
The gift shop here was surprisingly great and we found a few things that weren’t the status quo items to purchase (don’t worry, they had the classic gift shop wares as well if that is what you are looking for). The cafe isn’t super impressive but they did have homemade ice cream that was delicious. You can’t beat eating ice cream with an iconic view. This was a great morning adventure for us, I would only really plan on a couple hours here though. Then plan on filling your afternoon with a great lunch in Custer at Black Hills Burger and Bun, this place has amazing and unique, fresh made burgers as well as homemade desserts. After lunch take a drive through Custer National Park or if you are up for an adventure like we were, take a beautiful hour drive and do some hiking in Spearfish Canyon.
You can visit the Mount Rushmore site to give you more information on park hours and special events.
Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park
![A Ferral burro on the side of the road in Custer State Park, on the Wildlife Loop, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20191005_135952-1-scaled.jpg)
![A bufflo eating grass in Custer State Park on the Wildlife Loop, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20191005_141639-1024x576.jpg)
![Meadow and a animal in the distance on the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2019-10-05_13-45-59_256-scaled.jpeg)
If you love scenic drives and animals, this is the place to go. Located in Custer State Park, this is an 18 mile loop that takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to drive with views of buffalo, deer, elk, and if you are lucky, bighorn sheep. There is also a pack of feral burros that love to be fed and are not shy in coming up to your car. For viewing animals, the best times to go are early in the morning or just before sunset.
We saw all sorts of animals on our visit there but didn’t see the elusive bighorn sheep, maybe you will spot one on your drive through the loop. Even without seeing the bighorns, we had a great time spotting animals and were amazed at the large buffalo herd. Along the loop there are also plenty of places to picnic, as well as a restaurant, the State Game Lodge.
You can visit the Custer State Park site for hours, cost, and other information to help plan your day.
Needles Highway
![Views from Needles Highway located in Custer State Park, South Dakota, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2019-10-06_14-38-42_446-1024x1024.jpeg)
![A one car width tunnel carved out of the mountain, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20191005_152555-scaled.jpg)
![A road with a cuve in it and trees with golden leaves on the sides, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20191005_153302-scaled.jpg)
![The mountains at the top of Needles Highway with tree surrounding the peaks, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20191005_154843-scaled.jpg)
![Sylvan lake with big boulders and trees lining the shore, some with golden leaves, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20191005_161315-scaled.jpg)
This drive is even more breathtaking in person than in pictures, it was definitely the surprise favorite activity of our trip. This is a 14 mile drive located in the Custer State Park and takes about an hour to drive. The drive is through beautiful Ponderosa Pine forests, awe inspiring needle like granite formations ( the inspiration for the name of the highway) and spectacular sweeping views. Two, one way tunnels carved out of the granite are also on this highway. You will also pass through the Needle’s Eye, named for the opening created by erosion.
Visit the Custer State Park site for more information to plan your drive.
You can combine the Wildlife Loop Drive and Needles Highway drive into one drive. We entered Custer State Park through the West Entrance, did the loop and exited onto the Needles Highway, making a stop at the end of the highway at Sylvan Lake. Sylvan lake has a variety of recreational activities, including renting non-motorized boats, hiking trails, campsites, and general store. It is a great way to spend the day as part of your weekend trip to South Dakota.
Be sure to bring some snacks and water for your drive. The only place with restrooms and facilities along Needle Highway is at Sylvan Lake.
Spearfish Canyon
![A little waterfall with a pool of water in the foreground surrounded by rocks and trees, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20191004_132636-scaled.jpg)
![Devils' Bathtub in Spearfish Canyon located in South Dakota, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2019-10-04_13-15-04_460-1024x768.jpeg)
![A rushing waterfall with trees at the top, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20191004_144351-scaled.jpg)
![A hiking path with golden aspens on the sides in South Dakota, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20191004_150725-scaled.jpg)
![A rushing veil waterfall with green moss on rocks, something you can plan on seeing for your weekend trip to South Dakota.](https://theoverresearchedtraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20191004_151930.jpg)
Spearfish Canyon is a great place to go mountain biking, rock climbing or hiking, featuring multiple waterfall hikes. Roughlock Falls is a 2 mile hike that has a nice path as well as picnic tables and restaurants. It is a pretty easy hike and we combined it with a couple of other hikes. Spearfish Falls is close to Roughlock Falls and is an easy, under a mile hike/walk. If you don’t pack a lunch, the Latchstring Inn restaurant is close by, where you can enjoy some blackened trout or canyon nachos.
We also did the Devil’s Bathtub hike that is located off the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. It is roughly a mile and half hike, crossing the stream multiple times and is a moderate hike. The scenery is incredible and this was by far, my favorite hike of the day. Definitely plan on wearing some sort of water hiking sandal, as your feet will likely get wet.
Places to Eat in South Dakota
There are some great places to eat in South Dakota, but our favorite find was Skogen, a great Norwegian restaurant in Custer! Here are some other great choices to fill your bellies while exploring the Black Hills:
- Skogen – A great Farm to Table restaurant in Custer. When we went, we could only get reservations at the community table. That is usually not my first choice, but was so glad we ended up there. The other two couples we sat with were great and the food was delicious, it made for a great experience. They serve dinner Tuesday-Saturday and reservations are recommended.
- Black Hills Burger and Bun – This place has great handcrafted burgers and have specialty burgers that rotate each week. We really enjoyed our meal there, especially the in-house crafted dessert, a peach kuchen.
- Latchstring Inn – A great stop before or after a day exploring Spearfish Canyon. They feature dishes serving up trout, buffalo, and have an assortment of burgers.
- Grapes & Grinds – This place has great coffee, lattes, & gelato. Also offering wine tasting featuring local wines.
- State Game Lodge – A great stop if you are exploring Custer State Park for the day and need a place to stop and relax.
- The Farmhouse – This place is so delicious! We ate here when we were in Spearfish and were not disappointed. It is a farm to table concept restaurant with a seasonal menu. We enjoyed everything here- the bacon jam burger, the Banh Mi and dessert, a strawberry and basil shortcake with homemade ice cream.
South Dakota is a hidden gem with plenty of activities and delicious food to enjoy. Whether you’re looking forward to exploring Spearfish Canyon, Mount Rushmore, or Custer State Park, there’s something for everyone in this great state. Don’t forget to indulge in some of the amazing local cuisine – from buffalo burgers to kuchen, you won’t be disappointed! Hope we inspired you to make some epic plans for a weekend trip to visit South Dakota.
What do you look forward to doing most on your trip to South Dakota?
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Our South Dakota Adventures
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