September, 2026 – We started another epic road trip this fall. Our first stop–beautiful Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We entered the park by driving the famous Needles Highway, a gorgeous 14-mile drive through the granite mountains. As you drive along you see breathtaking “needle-like” granite formations soaring into the sky.
The drive is also famous for its tunnels. Many large vehicles have had to turn around when they reach the 8-foot wide Needles tunnel.
We camped at Sylvan Lake Campground. It is within walking distance from Sylvan Lake, called the crown jewel of Custer State Park. The lake has walking trails, picnic areas, and opportunities to kayak, canoe, swim or fish.
Custer State Park is also known for its beautiful pine and spruce forests and aspen trees. Wildlife Road is an 18-mile loop that you can drive to catch glimpses of the park’s wildlife. We lucked out and saw a group of bison, or buffalo, cross right in front of our car. We learned that their official name in North America is bison, but we commonly use the nickname buffalo, based on the french word boeuf or beef.
We definitely plan to visit Custer State Park again. It is definitely among our favorite campgrounds!
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