The 385 Tour

There are a lot of ways to explore the Black Hills. Highway 385 puts some of the best of them along one road.

Running north and south through the heart of the Hills, U.S. Highway 385, also known as the Black Hills Parkway, connects pine-covered landscapes, mountain lakes, historic towns, and easy turnoffs to some of South Dakota's most iconic places. Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial®, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Sheridan Lake, Pactola Reservoir, and Deadwood can all become part of the journey.

Take the route northbound. Flip it and head south. Spend an entire day completing the tour or choose the stops that sound best and save the rest for tomorrow.

Either way, keep the windows down and the camera close. On Highway 385, the road is part of the destination.

Before you go: U.S. Highway 385 is nearing the end of a multiyear reconstruction project, with expected completion in 2027. Check current closures and detours before heading out so you can adjust your route if needed.

Start Wild at Custer State Park

For this version of the tour, head south from Rapid City and make Custer State Park your first big stop.

Spanning 71,000 acres in the southern Black Hills, the park gives you plenty of ways to decide how the day begins. Cruise Wildlife Loop Road in search of bison, pronghorn, prairie dogs, and the park's famous burros. Follow Needles Highway between towering granite formations. Take a trail into the hills or simply find a quiet place to let the scenery do the talking.

You could spend an entire day here. Today, Highway 385 is calling.

Local tip: Scenic roads inside Custer State Park can close because of weather and other conditions. If Needles Highway or another scenic drive is part of your plan, check current road conditions before heading out.

Stand Before a Mountain in Progress

From Custer, follow Highway 385 north toward one of the Black Hills' most recognizable landmarks.

At Crazy Horse Memorial®, the mountain carving is only part of the story. Give yourself time to explore the cultural and educational experiences across the campus and learn more about the Indigenous people, histories, and living cultures connected to this region.

This is not a stop to squeeze between destinations. Slow down, look closer, and leave room to learn before getting back on the road.

Take the Turn Toward Mount Rushmore

Continue north on Highway 385, then follow Highway 244 east for a detour worth every mile.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial brings you face to face with the 60-foot granite carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Walk the Avenue of Flags, take in the classic view from Grand View Terrace, explore the visitor center, or follow the Presidential Trail for another perspective on the mountain.

When you are ready to keep moving, follow Highway 244 back toward Highway 385 and pick up the route north once again. U.S. Highway 385 connects with Highway 244 west of the memorial.

Local tip: Save a little room for Thomas Jefferson vanilla ice cream at Carvers' Café. Some road trip traditions are worth keeping.

Find the Water Between the Pines

The granite gives way to another side of the Black Hills as Highway 385 carries you north past Sheridan Lake and Pactola Reservoir.

These mountain waters offer an easy excuse to pull over and slow the trip down. Find a picnic spot, stretch your legs beside the shoreline, cast a line, or turn a scenic stop into a few hours of kayaking, paddleboarding, or boating. Both lakes sit within the Black Hills National Forest and offer access to outdoor recreation along this central stretch of the Hills.

Pactola is the largest and deepest reservoir in the Black Hills, and Highway 385 travels directly alongside it, delivering one of the signature views of the entire route.

Fun fact: All 15 Black Hills lakes are manmade. There are no natural lakes here. They were created for water storage, flood control, recreation, and wildlife preservation.

Local tip: Even if getting on the water is not part of today's plan, pull over at the Pactola Visitor Center, perched on a bluff overlooking the entire lake. A few quiet minutes overlooking blue water surrounded by pine-covered hills is reason enough.

Follow the Road Into Deadwood

Keep following Highway 385 north and eventually the forest gives way to one of the most storied towns in the American West.

Deadwood built its reputation during the Black Hills gold rush of 1876, and pieces of that history still fill the streets today. Walk historic Main Street, explore museums and historic sites, catch a reenactment, grab something to eat, or try your luck at the gaming tables.

This can be a quick afternoon stop or the place where the itinerary stretches into evening.

Then comes a choice.

Choose Your Way Back

You have made it to the Northern Hills. Now decide how you want to finish.

Chase Waterfalls Through Spearfish Canyon

Head toward Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway and trade Highway 385 for a road winding beneath towering limestone walls.

Waterfalls, hiking trails, Spearfish Creek, and pullouts tucked between the canyon walls make this the scenic choice. Take your time working through the canyon, then connect with Interstate 90 for the 45-minute trip east to Rapid City. Spearfish Canyon is recognized as one of the Black Hills' signature scenic drives.

Follow the Ride Through Sturgis

Or point the car toward Sturgis, the city whose name has become inseparable from motorcycles and the open road.

Explore downtown, grab a bite, and soak in a little Black Hills motorcycle culture before joining Interstate 90 for the easy drive back to Rapid City.

No motorcycle required. A road trip state of mind will do just fine.

Bring It Back to Rapid City

Whichever direction you choose, Highway 385 proves just how much can fit along one Black Hills road.

Wildlife and granite. Monumental stories. Mountain lakes and pine forests. Gold rush history. Canyon walls or motorcycle legends.

And when the day's last stretch of highway leads you back to Rapid City, you are right where you need to be for dinner, a comfortable bed, and another route tomorrow.

Because around here, one road is never the whole story.