Many people head out west to explore the national parks, such as Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Tetons National Park, the Badlands National Park, or Glacier National Park, but some of our favorite places have been the smaller sites, such as Minute Man National Historic Site or Custer State Park in Custer, South Dakota. The park is situated in the Black Hills and perfectly placed to visit both Jewel Cave National Monument, Mount Rushmore National Monument, and Wind Cave National Park (which is runs up to); however, Custer State Park itself is worth visiting all on its own.

We have visited over a hundred state parks, but Custer State Park is perhaps one of our favorite. The park is quite extensive and provides visits with a great way to get away and be in nature. In many ways, the park is set-up more like a national park, including a visitor center, lodges, camping, larger entry fee ($20 a car), and a scenic drive through the park that makes the views accessible to visitors. The park provides visitors with an assortment of activities, including hiking, horse back riding, fishing, birding, boating, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, rock climbing, swimming, fishing, biking, and winter activities such as snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

During our visit we utilized the park as a base, staying a couple nights, but we also enjoyed exploring the state park. Our campsite had only a couple other tents near us, but overall we were fairly separate from everyone, allowing us to feel like we truly got away in nature. For those who don’t have too much time, we definitely encourage at least driving throughout the park and looking for an assortment of critters. Custer State Park provided us with a great opportunity to be in nature. We definitely look forward to visiting again!