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The Black Hills & Badlands: 5-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
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The 5-day version for June: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 3-day plan · 4-day plan · 5-day plan · best time to go.
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5
days
335 km
distance
10.5 h
driving
26
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- ~15.3 hours of daylight in June — the plan keeps days inside a realistic window.
- The Needles Highway's granite eye-of-the-needle tunnels are open, Custer State Park's 1,300 bison graze the loop road, and the Badlands glow pink at both ends of the day.
Day 1 Rapid City
- Transit
- 1h34
- Finish
- ~17:05
- Temperature
- 12.7°C–28.0°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 15.3h
09:00
10:00
Explore fascinating exhibits on Native American history and culture.
50 min · Rapid City
11:00
12:00
Let kids' imaginations soar in this whimsical children's park.
90 min · Rapid City
14:05
Encounter a wide variety of lizards, gators, and massive snakes up close.
50 min · Rapid City · Price varies by season, children under 4 free
open: Hours vary by season
15:35
Art Alley artalleyrc.com map ↗
Stroll through ever-changing murals, sculptures and local art in downtown.
90 min · Rapid City · Free
open: 24 hours
Overnight here
e.g. Hotel Alex Johnson · The Price Motel
Day 2 Mount Rushmore & Keystone
- Transit
- 1h18
- Finish
- ~17:30
- Temperature
- 9.1°C–23.9°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 15.3h
09:45
11:30
Ranger Walk search
A ranger will guide you to the base of the mountain, sharing stories of the carving and the surrounding Black Hills.
90 min · Mount Rushmore & Keystone
13:15
Sculptor's Studio Talk search
Learn about the tools and techniques used to carve the presidential faces, straight from a park ranger.
90 min · Mount Rushmore & Keystone
15:00
Evening Program search
Enjoy a ranger-led talk followed by a film about American history under the stars in an outdoor amphitheater.
90 min · Mount Rushmore & Keystone
16:30
Day 3 Deadwood
- Transit
- 2h27
- Finish
- ~17:10
- Temperature
- 11.1°C–25.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 15.3h
10:25
Take in panoramic views of the town and visit graves of Wild West legends.
50 min · Deadwood · $2
open: Memorial Day to mid-October: 8AM-6PM, visitors center 9AM-5PM. Cemetery open in winter with limited maintenance
11:25
Explore a beautifully preserved Queen-Anne mansion steeped in history and charm.
50 min · Deadwood · $5
open: Daily 9AM-5PM
12:25
Visit the famous saloon near the spot where Wild Bill was assassinated.
90 min · Deadwood
open: Daily 11AM-1AM
14:05
Tatanka: Story of the Bison storyofthebison.com map ↗
Learn about the dramatic history and cultural significance of the North American buffalo.
50 min · Deadwood · Daily passes: senior (65+) $6.50; adult (12+ years) $12; child (6-12 years) $5; children (5 years and under) free
open: May 15 - September 30: 9AM - 5PM
15:40
Play a relaxing 9-hole golf course surrounded by the beautiful Black Hills.
90 min · Deadwood · $50-75 with cart
Overnight here
e.g. Bullock Hotel · Martin Mason Hotel
Day 4 Badlands
- Transit
- 3h36
- Finish
- ~17:35
- Temperature
- 13.7°C–29.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 15.2h
11:15
13:25
14:25
15:25
16:45
Overnight here
Day 5 Around Badlands
- Transit
- 1h34
- Finish
- ~17:30
- Temperature
- 13.7°C–29.2°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 15.2h
09:00
10:55
12:35
14:20
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.