How long does it take to go through Needles Highway?

Take It Easy Winding drives throughout the park are most enjoyable at a slower pace. When making plans, please allow ample time to travel at a safe speed—generally 25 miles per hour or slower. Expect travel time of about 45 to 60 minutes to enjoy Needles Highway.



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The road lies within the 71,000 acre Custer State Park, just 30 miles south of Rapid City, and is an impressive 14 mile stretch that includes sharp turns, narrow tunnels, granite spires and world class views.

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Covering all 3 is a very full day, but it can be done with an early start. If I ran short on time, I'd eliminate Wall Drug. The Badlands will take an hour drive time from Rapid, and then allot around 4 hours to adequately see the park. Allot about an hour and a half back to Rushmore.

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Explore this 0.9-mile loop trail near Keystone, South Dakota. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 23 min to complete. This is a very popular area for walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

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In this one day (or multiple day) road trip you can hit up Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, the Crazy Horse Monument, and a few fun little towns and local breweries or wineries. There are some off-the-beaten-path options as well, depending on how much time you have.

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