Southern Hills

The highest U.S. mountain range east of the Rocky Mountains is located in the Southern Black Hills of South Dakota. Here is where you’ll find the communities of Keystone, Hill City, Custer, Hot Springs and Edgemont.

You can view one of the world’s greatest monuments, Mount Rushmore National Memorial; experience the monumental sculpture-in-progress, Crazy Horse Memorial; marvel at the outdoor cathedral of the towering granite spires along the Needles Highway; take a family drive through the Needle’s Eye and tunnels framing Mount Rushmore, then twist your way through the pigtail bridges on Iron Mountain Road.

Visit attractions such as the 1880 Train, Cosmos Mystery Area, Rushmore Borglum Story, National Presidential Wax Museum, Presidents Slide at Rushmore Tramway, Big Thunder Gold Mine, Sitting Bull Caverns, Rushmore Cave, Flintstones, Heritage Village and Prairie Berry Winery.

Nationally known Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument and scenic Custer State Park are also on the agenda. You will have the opportunity to go deep underground through a maze of delicate and colorful crystal formations and through the beauty of one of the nation’s premier state parks. Your trip will include the park’s drive-through wildlife loop — home of one of America’s largest wild buffalo herds, begging burros and a variety of other wildlife; as well as the historic State Game Lodge, summer homes for Presidents Coolidge and Eisenhower. There's lots of camping spots, plus enjoy trail rides and chuckwagon cookouts at Blue Bell Lodge, a Buffalo Jeep Safari or take in a performance at Black Hills Playhouse.

Venturing farther south, you will come upon one of the richest archaeological finds in recent years near Hot Springs. Other family must-sees in the Southern Hills area are Black Hills Putt-4-Fun, Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Evans Plunge and The Mammoth Site.