When I planned my South Dakota 5 day itinerary, I didn’t have high expectations. Mostly, I decided to visit to try to visit two more national parks in my journey to visit every national park in the United States. Over a long weekend, I visited two national parks, a state park, and two national monuments and found myself surprised by the beauty in this area of the country. From the Badlands to the Black Hills, there’s a lot to see in this one small area of South Dakota.
While there’s enough to do to keep travelers busy for a week, I’m limiting this to a five day Itinerary. This is just enough for a long weekend trip. You’ll get a taste of this area, but also see some highlights. But if you have more than five days, I’ll give some ideas at the end of where else you can spend your time.
South Dakota 5 Day Itinerary
This is based on my own South Dakota itinerary. It differs slightly than my original itinerary because I didn’t fly in. So unless you are also driving 13 hours all the way from Lake Michigan to the Black Hills, your itinerary is going to look just a little bit different than mine.
So, here’s my modified five day South Dakota itinerary which starts and ends in Rapid City.
Day 1 – Hello, South Dakota
This trip focuses on southwestern South Dakota. If you’re flying, you’ll want to fly into Rapid City, SD. Flights here are limited, but this is where you’ll need to come if you’re flying in.
Once you arrive, pick up your rental car and drive east to Wall, South Dakota. You’ll travel east, then work your way back to Rapid City. Then head south to the Black Hills before returning to Rapid City.
If you’re driving, plan to arrive in Wall, South Dakota. This is the first true stop on this South Dakota itinerary.
As you drive along Interstate 90, you’ll see more billboards than you can count for “Wall Drug”. This drug store is located in the town of Wall and is a tourist hotspot. I’ll be honest, it’s a bit of a tourist trap, but if you know that going in, it can be a fun experience. This first day of your trip has no hiking, so why not spend a little time wandering this massive drugstore. You’ll find a little bit of everything at Wall Drug.
Sure, there’s a pharmacy, but you’ll also find South Dakota souvenirs, sweet treats, a cafeteria, a western art gallery, and more.
My visit to Wall lasted about an hour. This included Wall Drug and wandering the other tourist souvenir shops nearby.
Tonight, you’ll sleep in Wall, South Dakota as it will make a jumping off point for exploring nearby Badlands National Park.
Sleep: Wall, SD
Day 2 – Badlands National Park
Today is the first full day of this five day South Dakota itinerary and it’s all about Badlands National Park. There’s scenic views, some fun hikes, and plenty of chances to spot some wildlife.
For efficiency, enter Badlands National Park through the Northeast Entrance. This allows you to work your way west through the park (since you’ll be driving west to your next destination at the end of the day).
Start your morning off with a quick stop at Big Badlands Overlook. This will give you your first views of the Badlands and it’s a great introduction to what you’ll be seeing throughout the day. From there, do some hiking on the Doors, Windows, and Notch Trails which can all be accessed from the same parking lot. Just up the road you’ll hit the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail and beyond that Saddle Pass and the Fossil Exhibit Trail. Continue driving west as you pass more scenic viewpoints and overlooks.
As you make your way out of the park, you have a choice. Just passed the Pinnacles Overlook, you can jump on the highway to get back to Wall. From there, get on I-90 and head west. Or, you can take the 25 mile gravel Sage Creek Road. This scenic route has more overlooks, but will add more time to your day. Sage Creek Road will take you to Scenic, SD, where you can take Highway 44, west toward Rapid City. The choice of whether to do Sage Creek Road is yours.
When you exit the park, you’ll drive west toward Rapid City, then south before finishing your day in Keystone. This will be your home for the next three nights and makes an excellent base for exploring the Black Hills.
Sleep: Keystone, SD
Day 3 – All About the Caves
While yesterday was all about the dramatic landscapes of Badlands National Park, today is all about caves and exploring underground. You’ll visit two incredible caves today: Jewel Cave and Wind Cave.
The caves can be visited in any order, so feel free to flip flop this schedule. I’m just starting with Jewel Cave because that’s what I did.
Jewel Cave National Monument is located a 40 minute drive from Keystone. A highlight here is to see the popcorn like formations through this cave. While there’s plenty of other caves across the United States (and the world), this cave still fills unique.
Get an early start because you’ll want to get one of the first tours of the day. Same day tickets are available for purchase at Jewel Cave, but it’s a better idea to make your reservation in advance. Tickets are limited and can sell out. To make efficient use of your day, just buy the tickets early so you can get on the first tour of the day.
Jewel Cave offers two tours: a short Discovery tour and a longer Scenic Tour. I took the scenic tour and recommend this option if you are able. The Discovery Tour is ideal for those with mobility issues as there are no stairs. The Scenic Tour takes you deeper into the cave, allowing you to really get a feel for its scale. However, the Scenic Tour does come with 734 stairs, but they aren’t all at once, nor are they all ascending stairs.
From Jewel Cave, hop in your car for the thirty minute drive to Wind Cave National Park. Similar to Jewel Cave, I recommend purchasing your tickets in advance. This time though, instead of purchasing the first tour of the day, purchase tickets for the last tour of the day. Like with Jewel Cave, there are different tour options. I recommend the Natural Entrance for the best views.
In an ideal world, you’ll have some time for lunch between tours and I recommend packing a picnic lunch.
If you have more time, consider a hike around some of the above ground trails. The Rankin Ridge Trail is a one mile hike and offers some nice views of the surrounding area. The Lookout Point Trail is longer but offers some more diverse hiking. You’ll walk along a stream, up through what can only be described as prairie dog central, and onto some prairies. The Lookout Point Trail is longer, but you can just walk a section of it.
If you hike, just remember to keep an eye on the clock so you can meet your tour.
Despite Jewel Cave and Wind Cave’s close proximity, the caves are very different. Jewel Cave has the popcorn like rock formations while Wind Cave has natural box work.
Unfortunately for me, tours at Wind Cave were suspended during my visit, so I never got to go into the cave. However, I had plans to tour the cave based on recommendations from others, so I’m including it on this itinerary.
After your tour, start working your way back to Keystone. On the way, you’ll have the option to add in Crazy Horse. This massive stone carving is in progress and is being constructed to honor the Native American leader. A visit here costs $15 per person.
Sleep: Keystone, SD
Day 4 – Custer State Park
It’s the last full day of this South Dakota itinerary and I’ve saved (what I feel is) the best for last. Today we’re exploring Custer State Park. This state park is a gem, with beauty around every corner. You’ll find hikes, scenic drives, wildlife, and pure beauty out here. While you could easily spend a few days here, working your way along all of the hiking trails, we only have one day.
For the best experience, I recommend entering Custer State Park via the Sylvan Lake Entrance. Yes there are closer entrances to Keystone, but trust me. It’s better to start here and work your way back. As an added bonus, you’ll start your day off on the Needles Highway, a fabulous scenic drive through the Black Hills with switchbacks and stunning views.
Unsurprisingly, nearby the Sylvan Lake Entrance is Sylvan Lake. Stop here for some great views and a good warm up hike. The route running around the entire lake is about one mile, with just enough elevation change and rock scrambling to keep things interesting. Plus, as you hike, you’ll have great views of the lake.
Next you have a choice. You could do the harder Little Devil’s Tower Trail, the slightly easier Cathedral Spires Trail, or if you’re fit and have the energy, both trails. My mom and I chose the Cathedral Spires Trail, which has some rock scrambling, but great views.
After the your hike, continue heading south. You’ll continue on the Needles Highway all the way to Legion Lake. The views are nice, but I found the best views on the Needles Highway were on the northern end of the highway (which you would have driven earlier in the day).
At Legion Lake, you can do the optional 0.75 mile hike around the lake. While Legion Lake is beautiful, I think Sylvan Lake is better. But if you still have the energy, this is a great, easy hike to add to your itinerary.
After Legion Lake, you need to make a decision. For wildlife lovers, consider adding on the Wildlife Loop, which will take you through the southern portion of Custer State Park. It does add more driving, but as the name suggests, you’re more likely to see some wildlife here. Admittedly, my mom and I skipped this loop, in favor of other hikes and experiences in the park. But as neither of us are big animal people, it made sense for us.
Your final scenic drive of the day is Iron Mountain Road. This road will take you back north and out of the park, so it’s an ideal scenic route to end your day. The road is windy and full of hairpin turns. Drive carefully.
Along Iron Mountain Road, you’ll find plenty of pull outs, but there’s two landmarks that you’ll want to pay attention to—and the good news is they are right next to each other. The first is the Scovel Johnson Tunnel. Keep your eyes open as you come through the tunnel. As you drive from south to north, you’ll see a break in the trees and you’ll actually see Mount Rushmore peaking through. Just beyond the tunnel is the Norbeck Overlook, where you can park and walk a short distance to a great view of Mount Rushmore in the distance.
When you exit the park, you have two choices. Return back to Keystone or take a slight detour to visit Mount Rushmore, which is just a short drive from the end of Iron Mountain Road.
A visit to Mount Rushmore is free, but costs $10 for parking. Your visit can be quick, just enough to walk up and take some photos, or longer, if you spend more time learning about the monument and the Native Americans of the Black Hills. My mom and I spent about 45 minutes here, which was enough time to take some photos and walk the 0.6 mile Presidential Loop Trail.
Sleep: Keystone, SD
Day 5 – Goodbye, South Dakota
The South Dakota itinerary is over and it’s time to head home. If you’re flying, drive back to Rapid City, return your rental car, and catch your flight home.
With More Time
You could easily add in additional time at nearly any stop on this five day itinerary. If you like hiking, I’d consider adding an extra day at Custer State Park. There just felt like there was so much more we could have done at this park.
Another option is to add a day trip to nearby Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. It’s a longer day trip, with 3-4 hours of driving depending on where your hotel is, but this is another great option. In fact, had I had an extra day for my South Dakota itinerary, this is what I would have done.
When to Do This
While parts of this South Dakota itinerary can be done all hear round, parts of Custer State Park will close during the winter. So if you want to do those scenic drives, don’t visit in winter. Summers can be hot and will have the largest numbers of tourists.
I visited in mid September. Temperatures were in the low to mid 70s everyday and we didn’t experience any rain. A friend of mine visits the Black Hills area of South Dakota regularly and has been there at every point during the here. When I mentioned I was visiting in mid September, he enthusiastically said “that’s the best time to go”. So, take that for what you will.
Final Thoughts
The Black Hills of South Dakota make for a great long weekend trip. While you can always find ways to spend more time, even just five days is a great amount of time to get a nice taste of this region.
Continue Your Adventure
South Dakota: Visit two great national parks at Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park. For even more caves, you can visit Jewel Cave National Monument. And for a state park with a little bit of everything, visit Custer State Park.
More Short Itineraries: For more great long weekend itineraries, try my Arizona in Five Days or Colorado in Five Days.