Custer is South Dakota's Yellowstone
Bison herd in Custer State Park in South Dakota
Basecamp in Custer, S.D., for incredible access to the legendary sites of the Black Hills.
With more than 1,300 bison roaming free, along with a fleet of pronghorn antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, deer, elk and more, it would be easy to call South Dakota’s Custer State Park the Yellowstone of the Midwest.
You’ll see it all in this 71,000-acre mix of mountains and open range surrounding the town of Custer. Drive the Wildlife Loop Road to maximize your fauna intake on the open prairies and pine-studded hillsides of the park. The ride normally takes about 45 minutes, but prepare to be stopped by roving herds that temporarily take over the roadway.
Just up the road from the park’s main entrance, the town of Custer is a hub for the outdoor attractions surrounding it, including Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. One of the Black Hills’ original settlements, the historic downtown is a hive of restaurants, shopping and museums, including one housed in an original Dakota Territory Courthouse from 1881. Spend a summer night at the Black Hills Playhouse for a Broadway-caliber performance at the 71-year-old theater.
Biking on the 109-mile Mickelson Trail. Photo courtesy of Custer, S.D.
For more information:
Custer Visitor Center
(866) 601-5099
615 Washington St., Custer, SD 57730
visitcuster.com
