South Dakota is the perfect long weekend get-away in the midwest. There are many things to do in this beautiful state, and for us Nebraskans, it's not too long of a drive. So, pack your bags and get western!
South Dakota's southwest corner is something to behold. Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore, Black Hills National Forest, and Historic Deadwood are the makings of a great road trip.
Trip Itinerary
See it all in one long weekend: SD's SW Corner in 4 days
The BIG Version
Day One: Good morning, Deadwood! Choose your adventure based on the time of the year. Either take in historic Deadwood's downtown or fly down the mountain at Terry Peak Ski Area. The guys in our group had great things to say about the skiing at Terry Peak. It's a great cheap skii destination in the midwest! If you could spend every day skiing and every night gambling, Deadwood is your place.
Downtown Deadwood is a cute, walkable area that will be the center of the Deadwood portion of the trip. There are restaurants, bars, wineries (my personal favorite was Naked Winery's cherry wine), shops, boutiques, history plaques, and so many casinos. Go ahead, be a tourist and own it!
If you are a midwestern history buff like me, no visit to Deadwood is complete without a visit to Mount Moriah Cemetery. Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane, two wild west outlaws, are buried here. As a girl from northern Missouri, I had to pay my respects to Miss Calamity Jane herself. The cemetery is beautiful and quiet, on top of a hill overlooking Deadwood. There is a bit of walking uphill to the graves.
In the evening, hit Historic Main Street Deadwood for dinner, drinks, and of course, the casinos. Some folks may want to spend their whole trip in the casino, and they would be happy to end their itinerary right here! I highly recommend visiting the Bodega bar while in Deadwood if you like dancing. You may as well get a little western while you're out west!
Day Two: Take a day trip to Spearfish, SD, for the scenic beauty of South Dakota. Begin with hiking Lookout Mountain (3.6 miles), which is just outside of Spearfish. If you are short on time or prefer to hike less miles, this is a hike I would skip in exchange for a hike with a better view.
This is the "mountain" I got engaged on, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you, Lookout Mountain, for the best surprise ever!
All of the feelings!
Next, explore beautiful Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (19 mile drive). The canyon is located within Black Hills National Forest and it is worth the daytrip. I couldn't get enough of the tall, skinny trees as high as the eye could see!
Bridal Falls is a viewpoint right off of the main road. This is a highly accessible spot for all. It was frozen when we went in March, but still beautiful and powerful.
You could be like this guy and try to climb up the frozen waterfall. Oh wait, that's my husband.
Enjoy a short hike at Roughlock Falls State Nature Area (2 miles) for a view of a different waterfall. The landscape is just so different, interesting, and beautiful with its towering limestone cliffs and trees. I felt that this was the prettiest stop in Spearfish.
Return to Deadwood for an evening of casinos. End your night at The Bodega for drinks and dancing!
Day Three: There is so much American history in South Dakota, you just have to see it! Head to Mount Rushmore National Monument in the morning to beat the crowds and see those heads without a crowd. The visitor's center is a must-see, full of interesting history and documents.
If your family isn't moaning and groaning from the history lesson yet, take them to Crazy Horse Memorial to learn about Native American history in the west. Make the short journey to Custer State Park and feel like you entered a different world. Custer SP was the most beautiful place we visited on this trip and my favorite stop. We hiked Sylvan Lake Shore Trail (1.1) and then about half of Black Elk Peak Loop (7.1 mi).
Surrounded by Cathedral Spears on Black Elk Peak Loop
Black Elk Peak (7.1 mi) was a gorgeous hike and I wish we would have made it to the top, but a few factors convinced us to turn around. Lakota tribal members make pilgrimages to the peak to welcome the Wakinyan Oyate, or Thunder Beings, every year during the spring equinox, and we just happened to be on the trail on the spring equinox. Seeing all ages of Lakota people, many in native dress, ascending and descending the mountain was an awe-inspiring sight that we will not forget. It was so beautiful to see grandmas and grandbabies trekking the mountain for something so special to them. However, we just felt like we should not be there, as we were encroaching on a very holy day. It's also worth noting that the trail was a sheet of ice and very slick during March. We decided to turn around, but I would love to visit again and make it to the top!
Black Elk Peak Loop viewpoint, about halfway to the peak
We could have spent so much more than just an afternoon at Custer State Park! If you have more time to spend on your trip, I would recommend spending it right here. There are so many hikes to do in this beautiful park. I have heard great things about Sunday Gulch Trail (3.9 mi), but we only had enough time to do one hike (Black Elk Peak). If we could go back, I would complete Black Elk Peak, hike Sunday Gulch, and drive the Needles Highway (it was closed for the winter during our trip).
Drive Wildlife Loop Road (18 mile drive) before exiting the park. We saw mountain goats, buffalo, mules, donkeys, horses, and prairie dogs while driving through the park. There's nothing like the excitement of spotting animals in the wild!
Day Four: If you aren't feeling like an outlaw yet, the next stop should get you into the right mindset. Badlands National Park is such a unique spot. It just feels otherworldly, and it's hard to believe that people were able to survive in such a barren environment. They were tough!
Get up close and personal with these rock formations on Notch Trail (1.5 mi). Don't let the rope ladder intimidate you, it is by far the most challenging thing on the trail and is not bad at all.
Notch Trail was my favorite activity at Badlands NP. Take time to explore, climb the rocks, and weasel your way through the cracks (safely, please!).
Cruise through the Badlands and stop at the two viewpoints before beginning your roadtrip home. We found that a few hours is all that you need to visit Badlands NP.
The QUICK Version
Day One: Good morning, Deadwood! Choose your adventure based on the time of the year. Either take in historic Deadwood's downtown or fly down the mountain at Terry Peak Ski Area. Visit Mountain Moriah Cemetery to pay your respects to Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane if your a midwestern history buff like me! Hit Historic Main Street Deadwood for dinner, drinks, and of course, the casinos.
Day Two: Cruise over to Spearfish for a day trip. Get your steps in hiking to Lookout Mountain (3.6 miles). Explore beautiful Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Stop to see Bridal Veil Falls (roadside viewpoint) and then take a short hike at Roughlock Falls State Nature Area (2 miles). Return to Deadwood for an evening of casinos. End your night at The Bodega for drinks and dancing!
Day Three: Are you feeling patriotic yet? Drive to Mount Rushmore National Monument and explore. Learn about American history at Crazy Horse Memorial. Visit Custer State Park, lace up your hiking boots for Black Elk Peak Loop (7.1 mi) and Sylvan Lake Shore Trail (1.1 mi), and watch the animals play. (If you have more time to spend on this trip, I would spend it right here in Custer SP).
Day Four: Hit the road to Badlands National Park. Take short hikes/walks at Notch Trail (1.5 mi) and Fossil Exhibit Trail (0.4 mi). Drive through the park and stop at the viewpoints. When you have had all the Badlands you can handle, begin your roadtrip home.
Itinerary Add-Ons
If you like a good tourist trap, you must visit Wall Drug in Wall, SD (close to the Badlands) and The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD (on your way out west, depending on the direction you travel from). We had visited both previously, so we did not stop on this trip.
One for the Road
Let's get into the details! This is a really fun trip to take with friends, especially with the casinos in downtown Deadwood. We visited SD in March as a spring break get-away.
Custer SP was the snowiest by far, while the rest of the trip was just cold. The guys were happy with the snow for skiing on Terry Peak! South Dakota is beautiful in March, but it is worth noting that there are certain things you can't do in Custer SP during the winter. If you want to visit The Needles Highway, you will need to visit during the summer.
This itinerary could be changed to be shorter, longer, or spend more time in different places. Although we only spent half a day at Custer State Park, I would recommend dedicating a full day to this park. The Badlands NP requires a much shorter visit of a few hours, as there are fewer hikes.
We stayed in an Airbnb in Deadwood for the majority of the friend trip, and then a hotel in Rapid City (after leaving Custer State Park, but before going to Badlands National Park).
Pack plenty of snacks and drinks for your roadtrip before you leave home. Depending on the direction you come from, there is a very long stretch of road without any restaurants, gas stations, fast food, or anything at all, until about Rapid City.
Enjoy the journey! Katie
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