- Custer is 42 miles southwest of Rapid City.
- Although a small community, Custer does have many services and amenities geared for visitors to the Black Hills region.
- Various well known attractions can be found within a 30 minute drive from town.
Overview
Established in 1875, Custer City, South Dakota is the oldest city in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. This small community has a unique setting – surrounded by thick forests of Ponderosa Pine, the city also contains outcroppings of granite stone.
Location
Custer City, South Dakota can be found approximately 42 miles southwest of Rapid City, SD along near the junction of US Highway 16 and US Highway 385. It is found in the west central portion of the State, just south of the geological center of the Black Hills.
Service/Amenities
Small and quaint, with a population of roughly 2,000, Custer City offers a large inventory of motels, campgrounds, restaurants and attractions, which makes it an ideal base camp for touring in the southern Black Hills.
Activities
There is much to see and do in the Custer area including both in town and out of town recreation. In town, residents and visitors enjoy three city parks, ball fields, volleyball & tennis courts, horseshoe pits, a community swimming pool, nine hole public golf course, and a skateboard park.
Mountain bike enthusiasts love to use Custer as their jumping off point for all the various trails and adventures in the Custer State Park. This is also a good starting point for hiking and other park related activities.
Attractions
Within a 30-minute drive from Custer you can visit Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Jewel Cave and Wind Cave National Parks, and various other areas within the 73,000 acre Custer State Park.
Getting Here
Custer can be found just an hour’s drive southwest of Rapid City, SD. Rapid City is perhaps the most well known of the many communities that can be found through out the Black Hills region. Furthermore, Rapid City can be found sitting alongside Interstate 90, making it an easy marker for exploration to the other communities.
