Custer district, South Dakota, United States

Places to visit near Custer

Custer is a town in Custer district, South Dakota, United States, home to about 1,952 people. Within 50 km by road there are 127 places to visit — 66 hill stations & viewpoints, 11 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 11 forts & heritage and 11 museums. The must-see places are 1881 Courthouse (1 km), Crazy Horse Memorial (10 km) and Sylvan Lake (12 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Custer on the map

Custer, South Dakota
Custer, Custer district, South Dakota, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Custer at a glance

Location
Custer district, South Dakota, United States
Population
about 1,952
Coordinates
43.7666° N, 103.5988° W
Places within 50 km
127 (26 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for museums

Top places to visit near Custer

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Custer: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Custer

Things to see near Custer, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Custer

135 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Custer. The closest is Big Rock Lookout (1 km); the best-known is Needles Eye Tunnel (12 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

All hill stations & viewpoints in South Dakota →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Custer

47 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Custer. The closest is Stockade Lake Dam (8 km); the best-known is Sylvan Lake (12 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in South Dakota →

Forts & heritage near Custer

36 forts & heritage within 100 km of Custer. The closest is Gordon Stockade (7 km); the best-known is Crazy Horse Memorial (10 km). Best time: october to february.

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Museums near Custer

24 museums within 100 km of Custer. The closest is 1881 Courthouse (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Caves near Custer

16 caves within 100 km of Custer. The closest is Wind Cave National Park (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Waterfalls near Custer

11 waterfalls within 100 km of Custer. The closest is Thunderhead Falls (45 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

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A one-day trip from Custer

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 55 km on the road.

  1. Start in Custer
  2. 1 km 1881 Courthouse · museum, Custer
  3. 10 km Crazy Horse Memorial · monument, Custer
  4. 6 km Sylvan Lake · lake, Custer
  5. 2 km Needles Eye Tunnel · viewpoint, Custer
  6. 23 km Cicero Peak · peak, Custer
  7. 13 km Back to Custer

Plan a longer trip from Custer — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Custer

No traveller has reported from around Custer yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Custer

    All places near Custer by distance

    Within 15 km of Custer

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Custer by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints66135Big Rock Lookout (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs1147Stockade Lake Dam (8 km)
    Forts & heritage1136Gordon Stockade (7 km)
    Museums11241881 Courthouse (1 km)
    Caves1316Wind Cave National Park (1 km)
    Waterfalls311Thunderhead Falls (45 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens47Custer State Park (15 km)
    Churches34Cathedral Spires (13 km)
    Other attractions131880 Train (Hill City) (23 km)
    Parks13Evans Plunge (47 km)
    Beaches & coast22Sylvan Lake Beach (12 km)
    Treks11Centennial Trail (38 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves01Cheyenne River (80 km)

    Custer: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Custer?

    1881 Courthouse (museum, about 1 km), Crazy Horse Memorial (monument, about 10 km), Sylvan Lake (lake, about 12 km), Needles Eye Tunnel (viewpoint, about 12 km), Cicero Peak (peak, about 13 km), Custer State Park (nature spot, about 15 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Custer?

    127 places on Spotwander: 66 hill stations & viewpoints, 11 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 11 forts & heritage, 11 museums, 13 caves.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Custer?

    Big Rock Lookout, about 1 km by road; Buckhorn Mountain (3 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Custer?

    Stockade Lake Dam, about 8 km by road; Sylvan Lake (12 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Custer?

    Gordon Stockade, about 7 km by road; Crazy Horse Memorial (10 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Custer?

    Start in Custer, visit 1881 Courthouse, then Crazy Horse Memorial, then Sylvan Lake, then Needles Eye Tunnel, then Cicero Peak, and drive back — about 55 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Custer?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for museums.

    Towns near Custer

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Custer’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Custer on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.