Road trip · Western South Dakota
Black Hills & Badlands Loop
The loop
Badlands formations, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park's wildlife loop and Wind Cave.
Overview line between stops, not turn-by-turn directions.
Stop by stop
- 1
Badlands National Park
Suggested: 2 days (full guide: 2–3 days)
~49 mi straight-line from Badlands National Park
2Mount Rushmore
Suggested: 1 day (full guide: 1–2 days)
~22 mi straight-line from Mount Rushmore
3Custer State Park
Suggested: 2 days (full guide: 2–3 days)
Regional Entrance Permits and Seasonal Facility Reservations
~11 mi straight-line from Custer State Park
4Wind Cave National Park
Suggested: 1 day (full guide: 1–2 days)
Securing Subterranean Tour Tickets and Park Access
Quick answers
How many days do I need for the Black Hills & Badlands Loop?
Plan about 6 days to give each of the 4 stops its suggested minimum time, plus extra if you add rest days.
Which order should I visit the stops in?
Badlands National Park, then Mount Rushmore, then Custer State Park, then Wind Cave National Park. The order keeps each leg as short as possible.
Do any stops on this loop need reservations?
Check booking rules early for Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park. Each stop's guide links to the official source.