WHAT ARE THE GREAT 8 OF SOUTH DAKOTA
The Great 8 of South Dakota are most simply put – 8 must-visit destinations when in South Dakota! Some are incredibly well-known – like Mount Rushmore. Some are much lesser known, but we are here to tell you all about them so you can plan your visit to the great state of South Dakota! The Great 8 are spread out across the state, although mostly are situated on the western side of the state. We will cover each location in detail, give you an idea of how much time you’ll need to experience the spot, and ideally how long you’d need if you want to visit them all!
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK
For National Park lovers, visiting Badlands National Park is a non-negotiable. The unique, sweeping and rugged landscapes combined with the prairie dog and bison sightings move it to the top of many peoples’ lists! Badlands National Park is a great national park for all because there’s something for everyone. It’s an easily driveable park with many pullouts and overlooks, which is perfect for those who aren’t interested in hiking or maybe don’t have the time allotted to hike but still want to be able to explore this magnificent park!
TIME NEEDED
There are multiple scenic drives that are options! To drive the popular Badland Loop Road runs through the North area of the park and has 12 overlooks and pullouts that you can stop at to take in the views. You would need 1-2 hours to drive the whole road, but allow more time if you want to spend extra time at overlooks or a picnic area. For hiking trails, they range from 0.25 miles to 10 miles, and many trailheads are along the Badland Loop Road.
WHEN TO VISIT
The park is open year-round 24 hours a day. This means that even in winter months, the park and roads are accessible. This doesn’t mean that every season is perfect for a visit – it will depend on what you’re looking to do. Summers are HOT and can get up over 100ºF / 38ºC. And winters can bring hail, several inches of snow, and temperatures that drop well below 0ºF / 18ºC. The busiest months of the year tend to be July and August, with the shoulder seasons being April/May and September/October. You can call the park at (605) 433-5361 or go HERE to learn more about current road conditions.
As for time of day, we would HIGHLY recommend visiting at sunrise or sunset – the park isn’t called “The Land of Stone and Light” for no reason! Watching the golden hour fall across the rock formations and the prairie lands is truly magical. Since Badlands National Park is open 24-hours a day, it is also a perfect spot for stargazing! Because of the rural location of the park there is almost no light pollution giving a breathtaking and unobstructed view of the night sky.
FEES
Badlands National Park is free to enter with the America the Beautiful National Park pass, or $30 per vehicle for 7 days. Additionally, there is a Badlands National Park specific annual pass for $55.00 per year.
If you’d like to get the full rundown on this park, you can read our ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK!
WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK
What’s so special about this stop in the Great 8 of South Dakota is that all of what makes it famous is under-ground. Wind Cave National Park network of caves that is the seventh largest in the world! It also houses over 90% of the world’s boxwork which is a delicate cave formation that is incredibly rare. Some cave formations are living, as in – they continue to grow and form. But boxwork formed due to one time being under water, and since it has now emerged, the boxwork will no longer grow and must be preserved in order to keep being enjoyed by visitors!
The only way to see inside the caves is by a guided tour. This is to protect the visitors as well as preserve the caves from destruction and vandalism. There are varying routes, distances, and difficulty levels to choose from when it comes to the cave tours. And many require descending down a long narrow set of stairs.
In addition to the cave systems, there is also over 33,000 acres of prairie land and forests with several hiking trails ranging from 1-9 miles and from easy to strenuous. Wind Cave National Park also has an open hike policy, which means you can actually hike off the designated trails.
TIME NEEDED
If you’re planning on just stopping in for one tour, you can easily visit in just one day. You can time it to do multiple tours in one day, or camp at the park or stay nearby and spread it out over two days. Almost all of the hikes require climbing several stairs which isn’t always fun to cram into one day.
WHEN TO VISIT
The best time to visit Wind Cave National Park is May through September. Tours and the visitor center runs on limited operating hours during the winter months, which means less tour options and times to choose from. The temperature inside the cave is always 54ºF / 12ºC, so even if it’s warm out – be sure to bring a light jacket!
FEES
Wind Cave National Park is free for all to enter, but guided tours range from $7.00-$17.00 per tour, and have moved to a cashless payment system as of June 15, 2022. Tickets will typically sell out 1-2 hours before the tour time, so be sure to plan and book in advance.
If you’d like to get the full rundown on this park, you can read our ULTIMATE GUIDE TO WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK!
MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL
You might not think to visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial because it’s too touristy – but truth be told, we are here to tell you; you’d be missing out! After years of seeing this iconic landmark in school books, travel magazines, and countless movies… It is unreal to stand beneath it and see it with your own eyes! Undoubtedly one of the most famous spots in South Dakota, making it a must-stop when visiting the Great 8!
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Mount Rushmore, it is a monument of the faces of four former United States Presidents carved into the Black Hills of South Dakota. The sculptor Gutzon Borglum skillfully carved out the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln into stone, 60ft tall and high above the viewing platform known as the Grand Terrace.
TIME NEEDED
You can easily come and go in 30-minutes just to take a few quick pictures, and be back to your car and onto the next spot. If you have more time, you can walk the 1-mile Presidential Trail that goes through the trees by the base of the sculpture and has informational signs along the way that share details about each President on the mountain. There also plenty more ways to explore this memorial. Whether through ranger-led programs, self-guided tours, or visiting the Sculptor’s Studio to learn more about Gutzon Borglum. You can also eat at the Carvers’ Café or enjoy ice cream at TJ’s Ice Cream, where you can try vanilla ice cream made based off of Thomas Jefferson’s original ice cream recipe!
WHEN TO VISIT
Mount Rushmore National Memorial parking structure and memorial grounds are open daily (weather permitting) from 5:00AM-11:00PM, but the other facilities open at 8:00AM or later. And we’d advise arriving early! We went just after sunrise and had the entire monument almost to ourselves! We had the entire parking lot to pick our ideal spot and had all the views and time for photos that you could dream of! Based on the parking garages and spots available – it’s clear this destination gets CROWDED. Whether you’re looking to get in-and-out or spend some time exploring, it’s best to get there early if you want a more relaxing visit to one of the most famous monuments in the United States.
FEES
There is no fee to enter the memorial, but there is a fee to park. As of 2022 it is $10 per vehicle, $5 for Seniors, and free for Active Duty Military for all day parking.
JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT
The Jewel Cave National Monument earned its name from the crystals that are found within the cave. Believe it or not, Jewel Cave National Monument is even longer than Wind Cave, ranking 3rd longest in the world! In order to preserve the underground wonders, cave entry is only allowed via ranger-guided tours. One of the coolest things about Jewel Cave is that they offer an inclusive tour – which means that anyone can do it! It is a 20-minute tour that takes an elevator to a manmade entrance into the cave and makes it accessible for anyone who wants to visit! To find out what tour fits the needs of your group, check out this 5-minute video.
TIME NEEDED
Cave tour durations range from 20-minutes to 3-4 hours. Along with a cave tour, there are two trails that begin right outside the visitor center. Always leave a little time to visit the gift shop!
WHEN TO VISIT
Summer months (Mid-May through September) is the only time of year that all 4 tours are offered. In the shoulder months, only two tours are offered and at limited times. The temperature inside the cave is always 49ºF / 9ºC, so even if it’s warm out – be sure to bring a light jacket!
FEES
Fees are not required to visit the monument, but to book a tour costs $6-45 per person, depending on the tour. We also recommend reviewing the list of what not to bring before heading into your tour or you will have to take a trip back to your car to drop off prohibited items.
CUSTER STATE PARK
In our opinion, Custer State Park needs to be upgraded to a National Park! Absolutely one of our favorite stops out of the Great 8 of South Dakota! 71,000 acres of recreational enjoyment in the Black Hills region with multiple lakes, campgrounds, hiking trails… This is an outdoor lover’s dream location! You can view wildlife year-round roaming around, same as they have since the parks opening in the early 1900’s.
There are some 1,300 bison that call Custer State Park home. And you can see them in their natural habitat throughout the year. Additionally, you’ll see elk, mountain goats, and pronghorn antelopes in this expansive wildlife preserve. This is the largest of the Great 8 of South Dakota – you don’t want to miss it!
TIME NEEDED
With the vast area this park covers and activities from biking and hiking to swimming and boating… you could easily spend DAYS exploring Custer State Park. Luckily, the entrance fee is for a 7-day license, giving you the flexibility to plan to visit all the corners and many different activities! We would recommend 2 days if you can; and definitely plan for sunrise at Sylvan Lake!
WHEN TO VISIT
Custer State Park is open year-round. This means you can enjoy everything from paddleboarding to snowshoeing depending on what time of year you visit. The average temperatures range from lows nearing 15ºF / 9ºC in winter months and summer can bring highs of 79ºF / 26ºC. Springtime weather across the state can bring cooler temperatures and be unpredictable with sunshine, rain, hail or snow – and sometimes all 4 in one day!
FEES
For a 7-day license, the fee is $20 per vehicle. This allows for in-and-out privileges for a full 7-day period! There are additional options for annual passes – but if you only have time to drive through, there is no fee for non-stop passes through the park on US HWY 16A. If you plan to book a cabin or a campsite, book early as this is a popular destination!
CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL
This memorial to Crazy Horse is so unique for many reasons, but mainly because it is still in progress. Begun in 1948 by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, the memorial is a tribute to Crazy Horse, a war leader of the Lakota people. An incredible fact about this sculpture is that there are no known photos of Crazy Horse, and the stone depiction we see today is based on descriptions from those who knew him. Ziolkoski passed away in 1982, but the vision of the memorial work is carried on by his wife, 10 children and the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation.
Once this sculpture is completed, it will be the largest rock sculpture in the world – but even now – it’s worth a visit! It is obvious why this stop is one of the Great 8 of South Dakota. With the historic and cultural artifacts in the Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational & Cultural Center, you can learn about who originally owned the land and how they lived and protected it. There are beautifully preserved tools, art, and clothing on display throughout the three museums. Along with quotes from Native American leaders that are painted on the walls are heavy reminders of the way the United States as we know it was formed.
TIME NEEDED
We would recommend spending 3-4 hours visiting Crazy Horse Memorial. This allows for time to visit all three on-site museums, viewing of the Mountain Carving, and if you chose, take the 25-minute round trip bus tour.
WHEN TO VISIT
Crazy Horse Memorial is open year-round with the hours of operation changing seasonally throughout the year. If there is inclement weather, this could hinder the view of the Mountain Carving as well as impact the bus to the base due to road conditions. The memorial is typically busier in summer months, but never too crowded to enjoy! Be sure to check the future schedule dates and times to plan accordingly and make the most of your visit!
FEES
Pricing varies based on time of year and determined by vehicle and number of passengers. You can pay upon arrival at the entrance gates or purchase tickets online in advance. Admission ranges from $7-10 for a single person on a motorbike to $30-35 for a vehicle with 3 or more people. Additional tours to the base of the mountain are not included with the price of admission and are available for $4 per person.
HISTORIC DEADWOOD
Historic Deadwood is a unique destination in the Great 8 of South Dakota because it is an entire town! Visiting Historic Deadwood is such a surreal experience. To stand in an area that was truly part of the gold rush and the wild west era. Not to mention was the inspiration and location for the television show Deadwood.
Established in 1876 when there was a discovery of gold in the Black Hills, Deadwood became a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Historic Deadwood as it stands today is full of history and landmarks. But as it has survived three major fires, many of the buildings you see have had to be rebuilt. But you can still almost imagine horses tied up out in the streets and outlaws meandering into saloons.
TIME NEEDED
Based on the size of Historic Deadwood, you wouldn’t need more than a few hours. But there is so much to do that it could easily be a weekend trip, too! It’s the perfect amount of time to walk around to the different museums, casinos, gift shops, and explore the historic landmarks… Like having a drink at the location where Wild Bill Hickok was shot. We’d also recommend stopping in at the Nugget Saloon for a smoked old fashioned (you can thank us later). There are also tours available where you can learn more about the historic events that shaped the area. Or maybe relax with a day at the spa.
WHEN TO VISIT
Deadwood is always open and ready for you! With casinos open 24/7, tours run year-round, there are restaurants and breweries to visit. There’s no bad time to visit Historic Deadwood! Be sure to make this a stop on your tour of the Great 8 of South Dakota!
FEES
No fees to enter as this is a living town. Parking in the area is paid only. Tours and other attractions have various costs, with some tours charging as little as $5.00.
MISSOURI RIVER
The Missouri River is the longest river in the United states and runs through the entire state of South Dakota earning its spot on the Great 8! At 2,341 miles long, it makes its way from Montana all the way to the Mississippi. Originally home to Native American peoples, it served as the source of water for the Great Plains. Fast forward and it continues to be a part of this country’s history. From the exploration of Lewis and Clark, to being instrumental in trade and agriculture.
There are endless activities to do along and in the Missouri River. Hiking, biking, fishing, boating, only to name a few! Just within the state of South Dakota there are four reservoirs – Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis & Clark Lake that draw many visitors each summer.
TIME NEEDED
This will depend on which activities you’ve picked! You can enjoy an afternoon picnic along the bank for an hour or two, or spend a full day out on a boat – its up to you!
WHEN TO VISIT
Summer is the most popular time to visit for boating and other water activities in the warm weather. If water activities aren’t high on your list or you’re visiting in the chillier months, there are plenty of historic and cultural points to visit!
FEES
There are many stops and parks along the river that are free to access. Fees you will run into will be for equipment rental or taking a riverboat cruise. You can also just take in scenic views as you drive through South Dakota!
VISITING & ROAD TRIPPING THE GREAT 8 OF SOUTH DAKOTA
If you’re planning to visit all of the Great 8 of South Dakota in one trip, we’d recommend allotting 12-14 days to enjoy! Some require quite a bit of driving in between, and many require physical activity so not overbooking yourself would be wise. Many of the stops along the Great 8 accept advance purchase of tickets and usually sell out on the day of. So any chance you get to plan ahead – take it!
Outside of planned tours, as we’ve mentioned, sunrise is typically the least crowded (and most beautiful, in our opinion) to visit. But it’s not always easy to get up when that early alarm goes off… especially on vacation. Luckily, South Dakota is not short on space. So even at the most popular times, you’ll find space to spread out and explore.
THE GREAT 8 OF SOUTH DAKOTA
The Great 8 of South Dakota are reason enough to plan a trip to South Dakota. But if you’re looking for additional stops, check out our article about the BEST THINGS TO DO IN SOUTH DAKOTA!
And for more info on South Dakota, check out Travel South Dakota!
We hope this guide has provided you everything you could possibly need to plan a trip of your own to The Great 8 of South Dakota. And if it didn’t, if we missed something, let us know below in the comments so we can make sure to update here and include in future posts!
Thanks for reading! – Ryan & Katy
