Best Places to Visit in Black Hills, United States
Top Destinations in Black Hills
Use our realistic List of the Best Places to Visit in Black Hills to plan your next adventure in this region.
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Black Hills is a mountain range and a region. It spans the state boundaries. While most of Black Hills is in South Dakota, the region also continues into Wyoming.
The origin of the region’s name is simple. Evergreen trees of the Black Hills appear black from a distance.
Black Hills region covers a relatively small area. But it has an impressive number of sights. Some of the longest caves in the world are in Black Hills. Formations that raise from the ground are also here. Human made structures and scenic drives complete the list of the region’s sights.
Continue with our Best Places to Visit in Black Hills List to get inspiration for your next trip to this region.
1. Jewel Cave National Monument
Jewel Cave National Monument rightfully claims the top spot on the List of the Best Places to Visit in Black Hills. This cave system is the 4th longest in the world.
Only a fraction of the cave’s 215 miles of passages are open to visitors. Still, the beauty of the accessible formations is enough to place Jewel Cave among the most beautiful caves in the US.
The cave is best known for its calcite crystals. They reflect light and appear as jewels, giving the cave its name. Jewel Cave is only open to ranger-led tours. Hurry up and secure your spot on a Scenic Tour.
2. Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park takes the close second place on the List of the Best Places to Visit in Black Hills. Technically, this park is outside of the Black Hills region.
But it is just a short 1-hour drive east of the region’s main sights. The park’s rugged terrain is not bad for panoramic views.
Badlands landscape is common across the Great Plains and Western United States. But most other destinations, like Cathedral Gorge State Park, are in very remote areas. Badlands’ location next to Black Hills works in its favor.
Moreover, the park offers great opportunities for wildlife spotting. Get ready to see prairie dogs and bighorn sheep while enjoying the overlooks.
3. Custer State Park
Custer State Park claims bronze on the List of Top Destinations to Visit in Black Hills. This massive state park has 4 scenic drives. Miles and miles of winding mountain roads, tunnels, and wildlife spotting await its visitors.
The scenic drives are hardly the most efficient way to travel between the region’s sights. So it might be a good idea to only pick one or two drives. Our vote goes to the Needles Highway as the most scenic road of the park.
4. Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave National Park has long been the symbol of Black Hills. In fact, the cave attracted visitors since its rediscovery in 1881. It was only natural that Wind Cave became the world’s first cave national park in 1903.
You might feel that Wind Cave should be higher on the List of Top Destinations based on this fact alone.
But the national park designation created unrealistic expectations. In reality, Wind Cave pales in comparison to other caves in the United States. It is not even the longest, deepest, or nicest cave in Black Hills.
Boxwork is the cave’s primary formation. While it is unique, it might not be enough to justify a guided tour at $15+ per person. On the bright side, Wind Cave offers more frequent tours than Jewel Cave, its prettier but lesser known cave neighbor.
5. Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower National Monument is the only Black Hills sight on this List that is in Wyoming. The Tower is a sight to see. It rises 865 ft above the ground.
You can get a free look at the Tower from the highway viewpoints. Or you could proceed to the monument and hike its trails.
The Belle Fourche River Valley views will reward those who ventured to the National Monument. Enjoy spotting deer, wild turkeys, and falcons as you hike the Tower Trail.
6. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Mount Rushmore National Memorial preserves carved sculptures of four US Presidents. The carving took place between 1927 and 1941.
The Memorial has since become an integral part of the American culture. But it has not always been rainbows and butterflies for Mount Rushmore. Native American tribes have been protesting its creation for years.
Controversy and culture aside, you have to pay a $10 parking fee to visit the Memorial. America the Beautiful annual pass will not cover this fee.
The fee feels too steep when you can get free views from the nearby overlooks. Stop at any of the viewpoints on the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway to enjoy the view.
There are a few other, less notable, destinations to consider when visiting Black Hills.
History lovers could stop by Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. And anyone looking for a peaceful hike in the prairies, should look into Buffalo Gap National Grassland.
Takeaways: Best Places to Visit in Black Hills
Black Hills should be on every traveler’s bucket list. Caves and forests, deserts and grasslands, tunnels and sculptures are in Black Hills. In fact, this remote region has so many sights that you might find it difficult to visit them all.
Black Hills have an edge over many other tourist regions in the US. There are a few factors to thank for it:
- Location: Rapid City, SD is in the center of the Black Hills region but is far from major airport hubs. A road trip is the easiest way to explore the region’s sights.
- Route: four nearby scenic highways make a drive to Rapid City memorable.
- Gas: South Dakota’s gas prices are below the national average, stretching your budget.
- Weather: Black Hills is perfect for outdoor exploration thanks to the average summer temperatures between 55°F and 86°F.
- Lodging & Dining: Rapid City is the second largest metro area in South Dakota. There are over 100 affordable hotels and nearly 250 mid-range restaurants to choose from.
- Activities: most of the Black Hills’ sights are either free, nearly free with an Interagency Pass, or are very affordable.
Take a look at our Best Places to Visit in Black Hills Video List and visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Black Hills are home to an impressive number of sights:
– Wind Cave National Park
– Jewel Cave National Monument
– Devils Tower National Monument
– Mount Rushmore National Memorial
– Custer State Park with 4 scenic drives
– Badlands National Park, which is a short drive east of Black Hills
Jewel Cave is the top destination in Black Hills. It is the 4th longest cave in the world.
You can explore the region’s sights in two long days. Here is a sample itinerary:
– Day 1: Badlands, Mt Rushmore, and Wind Cave
– Day 2: Custer, Jewel Cave, and Devils Tower
You should make an effort to tour Jewel Cave and drive on the Needles Highway.
Late summer and early fall are the best times to visit Black Hills. The summer school break crowds will be home. And the weather would still be nice for a visit.
Jewel Cave is longer, deeper, and more beautiful cave than Wind Cave. The National Monument wins over the National Park in this case.
You would need to pay $10 parking fee to visit Mount Rushmore. Annual Pass does not cover this fee.
Alternatively, you could catch a nice and free view of the Memorial from the highway viewpoints.
It costs $20 per vehicle to drive on any of Custer State Park’s three scenic drives. Parts of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway are free to drive in Custer.
Safe realist travels!
