South Dakota Black Hills Self-Guided Tour

Explore the Black Hills with this self-guided walking and driving tour, weaving through landmark sites steeped in monumental art and history. Walk through the majestic Mount Rushmore, delve into the natural splendor of Custer State Park, experience the cultural resonance of Crazy Horse Memorial, and relax at the picturesque Sylvan Lake. Each location enriches your journey with its unique story and breathtaking vistas, creating memories that echo through the landscapes of South Dakota.
Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

Meeting Point

U.S. 16 Old

US-16 Old, Rapid City, SD, USA

After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.

What's included:

• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

Not included:

• Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations

What to expect:

Duration: between 2 hours and 3 hours

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

13000 Hwy 244, Keystone, 57751-4403, South Dakota

If you have my Mount Rushmore walking tour, you should exit this tour now and switch to that one. To access the Mount Rushmore tour, first tap Home in the top left corner of your screen. Then press Yes to exit this tour. Once you’ve exited, launch the Mount Rushmore tour. It will start near the Information Centre at the Entrance.
Note: This 66-mile-long tour covers the essentials of the Black Hills in 2-3 hours.

Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Iron Mountain Road

Custer, South Dakota

This section of 16A is called Iron Mountain Road, which, together with the Needles Highway, encapsulates the spirit of Custer State Park.

10 minutes

Doane Robinson Tunnel

Custer State Park, Custer, South Dakota

Next up is the second Pigtail Bridge, which is followed immediately by the first tunnel.

10 minutes

Iron Mountain Picnic Area

Keystone, SD 57751, USA

Enjoy this last section of single lane roller coaster driving. As you wind through the forest here, you'll soon be cresting the ridge and leaving the Mount Rushmore area.

10 minutes

Norbeck Overlook

US-16 Scenic, Keystone, SD 57751, USA

The highpoint of the Iron Mountain Road at 5400 ft. There's a big parking lot here, and I recommend taking the time to get out of the car to walk to the overlook.

10 minutes

Scovel Johnson Tunnel

US-16 Scenic, Keystone, 57751, South Dakota

The last tunnel on Iron Mountain Road is the Scovel Johnson Tunnel, named for the chief engineer and surveyor of the Black Hills Scenic drives.

10 minutes

Custer State Park

13329 US Highway 16A, , Custer, 57730-8351, South Dakota

You’re now driving through the heart of the Galena Fire from way back in 1988, one of largest wildfires in Custer State Park history.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Jewel Cave National Monument

11149 US-16 B-12, Custer, SD 57730, USA

“Jewel Cave”, The third largest cave system in the world, is probably already on your radar if you're at all fascinated with the subterranean world now.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

The Gordon Stockade

Custer State Park, Custer, South Dakota

In 1874, Lieutenant Colonel George Custer forever changed the fate of the Black Hills. In those days, the Black Hills belonged to the Sioux, as stated in the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie.

10 minutes

Needles Highway

23034 Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, Hill City, SD 57745, USA

If you want to visit cowboy poet Badger Clark's home, which will be on the left. You'll see a sign that says Badger's Hole.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Black Hills Playhouse

24834 S Playhouse Rd, , Custer, 57730-8328, South Dakota

You'll soon see a turnoff for the Black Hills Playhouse, possibly the single most obscure locations for drama in the world! Plays are staged between June and mid-August, a tradition that has been going strong since 1946.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Sylvan Lake

Custer, 57730, South Dakota

Not too long from now, you'll be at Sylvan Lake. That marks the state park boundary. There are two particularly worthwhile places of interest here.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Sylvan Lake Lodge

24572 SD-87, Custer, SD 57730, USA

You'll soon pass the historic Sylvan Lake Lodge on the right, although you'll not be able to see much through the trees.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Crazy Horse Memorial

12151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, 57730-8900, South Dakota

In just a few minutes, you're going to need to make a choice about whether you'd like to take the detour to the Crazy Horse Memorial, or continue following the tour loop around the Black Hills. Crazy horse is barely a ten minute drive from the junction.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Hill City

Hill City, South Dakota

The next few blocks are the town, and most things are pretty self-explanatory.

10 minutes