Ultimate Premium Tour: Mt Rushmore-Crazy Horse-Custer State Park

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Needles Highway

   Experience the ultimate luxury journey along Needles Highway. This premium, curated excursion showcases the Black Hills' most exclusive vistas, towering granite spires and cathedral peaks. Your itinerary includes a stop at the iconic Needles Eye formation for private photography. Sit back as your expert guide effortlessly navigates the switchbacks and the historic, hand-carved Iron Creek Tunnel. The centerpiece of your tour is an extended experience at pristine Sylvan Lake. Celebrated for its breathtaking aesthetic, this alpine oasis offers a serene escape. Enjoy the shoreline walking trail, perfect for capturing tranquil reflections and majestic boulder formations.

   60 minutes here · Admission included

2. Iron Mountain Road

   Experience America’s most engineered scenic drive on this unforgettable journey along Iron Mountain Road. Connecting Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial, this 17-mile masterpiece was intentionally designed to slow you down, offering dramatic views, historic architecture, and an immersive Black Hills experience. Perfect for photographers, nature lovers, and engineering enthusiasts alike.

   40 minutes here · Admission included

3. Wildlife Loop Road

   Spanning 18 miles of pristine prairies and pine-speckled hills, the Wildlife Loop Road inside Custer State Park is one of the premier locations in North America to view iconic Western wildlife in their natural habitat. From the comfort and safety of your special vehicle, you'll cross paths with the park's world-famous herd of 1,400 free-roaming bison, often resulting in thrilling, up-close "bison jams" right on the road! Look out for pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, elk and prairie dog. For nature lovers, this drive offers a front-row seat to the untamed spirit of the American West. And a fan-favorite stop on this route includes an encounter with the park's famous wild burros. These friendly, curious animals know our vehicles well and approach us first, anticipating their favorite treat. This unique interaction offers unmatched photo opportunities for travelers of all ages. They are descendants of working burros used for trail rides up Harney Peak in the 1920s and later set free.

   90 minutes here · Admission included

4. Stockade Lake

   Stockade Lake is the largest and most tranquil lake in Custer State Park. Offering a serene atmosphere, and a welcome escape from the crowds, it is an ideal destination for a peaceful afternoon gourmet picnic by the water.

   30 minutes here · Admission included

5. Custer State Park Visitor Center

   Uncover the rich heritage, presidential secrets, and wildlife legacies hidden within one of America's premier state parks. This journey takes you through four essential historic landmarks: State Game Lodge: renowned for its grand, historic character. It served as the "Summer White House" for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927 and later hosted President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. Bison Center: Engaging, interactive, and dynamic interpretive displays of the North American Bison of the Great Plains. This modern facility offers immersive exhibits and an introductory film that explores the deep history of the prairie and its most iconic resident, the American bison. Badger Hole: Explore the rustic, three-room cabin hand-built by Charles Badger Clark Jr., South Dakota’s very first poet laureate. Nestled in the woods, this historic home offers an intimate glimpse into the life of the writer behind legendary cowboy poems like "A Cowboy Prayer" and "Ridin'."

   90 minutes here · Admission included

6. Mount Rushmore National Memorial

   Mount Rushmore is considered a great place to visit because it serves as an iconic visual symbol of American history, showcasing a monumental engineering feat carved directly into the Black Hills granite. The memorial honors four key U.S. presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln—who collectively represent the birth, growth, development, and preservation of the United States. Beyond its symbolic nature, the site offers unique educational exhibits, dramatic mountain scenery, and highly accessible viewing walkways. The tour includes: Presidential Trail, Avenue of the Flags and Sculptor's Studio.

   90 minutes here

7. Crazy Horse Memorial

   Crazy Horse Memorial is a good and meaningful place to visit because it serves as a massive cultural repository, a tribute to Indigenous resilience, and an educational hub. Commissioned in 1948 by Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear and sculpted by Korczak Ziolkowski, it was envisioned as a way to show the world that Indigenous peoples have great heroes, too The tour includes: 14,000 Native American pieces of art, a 20 minute movie about the history of the project, and time at the gift shop.

   60 minutes here · Admission included

Where it starts and ends

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 14 travelers per booking

Operated by

Black Hills Open-Top-Tours

Know before you go

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Photos

Traveler reviews

2 verified traveler reviews for Ultimate Premium Tour: Mt Rushmore-Crazy Horse-Custer State Park. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.