Planning a trip to The Black Hills
Information
For information on Mount Rushmore, contact the Superintendent, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 13000 Hwy. 244, Building 31, Ste. 1, Keystone, SD 57751 (tel. 605/574-2523; www.nps.gov/moru). For information about Custer State Park, contact the park at 13329 U.S. Hwy. 16A, Custer, SD 57730 (tel. 605/255-4515; www.custerstatepark.com). To get information about Wind Cave, contact the Superintendent, Wind Cave National Park, 26611 U.S. Hwy. 385, Hot Springs, SD 57747 (tel. 605/745-4600; www.nps.gov/wica). For details on Jewel Cave, contact the Superintendent, Jewel Cave National Monument, 11149 U.S. Hwy. 16, Building B12, Custer, SD 57730 (tel. 605/673-8300; www.nps.gov/jeca). To get information about Crazy Horse, contact the Crazy Horse Memorial, Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD 57730 (tel. 605/673-4681; www.crazyhorsememorial.org).
For information about the entire area, contact South Dakota Tourism, Capitol Lake Plaza, 711 E. Wells Ave., Pierre, SD 57501-3369 (tel. 800/S-DAKOTA [732-5682] or 605/773-3301; www.travelsd.com), or the Black Hills Visitor Information Center, north side of I-90 at exit 61, Rapid City, SD 57701 (tel. 605/355-3600; www.blackhillsbadlands.com). Open 8am to 5pm.
Seasons & Climate
Summer days in the Black Hills are often sunny, with temperatures in the 80s (upper 20s-lower 30s Celsius), so a broad-brimmed hat and sunscreen are advised. Temperatures often drop rapidly after sunset, particularly in the mountains. In the fall, sunny skies and crisp temperatures can make for pleasant conditions, though snowstorms may occur as early as September at higher elevations. Winter daytime temperatures average 20° to 40°F (-7° to 4°C), and icy roads are common. Even in spring, weather can often be cold and wet.
Getting There
Rapid City is the most popular gateway to the Black Hills and its bountiful selection of national and state parks, monuments, and memorials.
The most direct route to the Black Hills by car is I-90. To reach Mount Rushmore, take exit 57 to U.S. 16 (Mt. Rushmore Rd.) and continue approximately 23 miles southwest of Rapid City to the memorial entrance.
Custer State Park, between Mount Rushmore and Wind Cave National Park, is accessible via S. Dak. 79 and S. Dak. 36 from the east, U.S. 16A from the north and west, and S. Dak. 87 from the north and south.
Wind Cave National Park is best accessed via U.S. 385 north of Hot Springs, South Dakota, or S. Dak. 87 from Custer State Park, which shares its southern boundary with Wind Cave's northern perimeter. It's about an hour's drive south from Mount Rushmore.
The Crazy Horse Memorial is 5 miles north of Custer on U.S. 16/385.
Jewel Cave National Monument, the westernmost of the sites discussed in this chapter, is just off U.S. 16, 13 miles west of Custer.
The Nearest Airport
Rapid City Regional Airport (tel. 605/393-9924; www.rcgov.org/Airport), 10 miles southeast of Rapid City on U.S. 44, provides direct access to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. American Airlines/American Eagle, Delta/Skywest, Allegiant Air, and United Express offer flights between Rapid City and Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. Car-rental agencies at the airport include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National.
