Hotels Near Crazy Horse Memorial: Where to Stay in Custer and Hill City
Real distances to the memorial, rooms in both towns, and the dates when they go first.
Updated: October 13, 2026 | Hotel comparison updated; confirm current rates and opening dates
Crazy Horse Memorial sits on US-16/385, 4 miles north of Custer and 9 miles south of Hill City, according to the memorial's directions page. Those two towns hold the nearest rooms, so choosing where to sleep mostly means choosing between them. This page lays out the distances, the hotels and cabins in each, and the weekends when rooms go first.
Quick answer: where to stay near Crazy Horse Memorial
The closest lodging is Custer, 4 miles south of the memorial entrance, followed by Hill City, 9 miles north. Mount Rushmore is 17 miles from the memorial, so either town covers both carvings. Pick Custer if the trip includes Custer State Park or the caves. Pick Hill City for Main Street dinners, the 1880 Train, and a shorter run to Rushmore. Admission is $30 per car from Oct 1, 2026 to May 14, 2027. Book early for the Sturgis Rally (Aug 6 to 15, 2027), Buffalo Roundup week, and Volksmarch weekends.
Which hotel near Crazy Horse fits your trip?
Choose the town first: Custer for the shortest approach to the memorial and park days, Hill City for the train and a trip split between the two memorials. Town distances below are not measurements from each hotel driveway.
| Trip | Stay to compare | Base | Booking check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Families | Bavarian Inn | Town of Custer | Check dates (opens in a new tab) |
| Character and walkability | Rocket Motel | Downtown Custer | Check dates (opens in a new tab) |
| Walking to Main Street | EverSpring Inn & Suites Hill City | Hill City | Check dates (opens in a new tab) |
| Families | Comfort Inn & Suites Near Mt. Rushmore | Hill City | Check dates (opens in a new tab) |
We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you. These are trip-based picks, not live price or availability rankings. Compare room layout, parking, cancellation terms and winter opening dates.
How far each base is from Crazy Horse
The first two rows come from the memorial itself. Keystone is the 3-mile hop from Mount Rushmore added to the 17-mile run between the memorials, and Rapid City is the figure in our Black Hills distance guide.
| Base | To the Crazy Horse entrance | Why choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Custer | 4 miles | Closest rooms. Custer State Park, Wind Cave, and Jewel Cave are on this side of the Hills. |
| Hill City | 9 miles | Between the two memorials, with a walkable Main Street and the 1880 Train. |
| Keystone | About 20 miles | Mount Rushmore is about 3 miles away. See Keystone hotels. |
| Rapid City | About 38 miles (50 minutes to an hour) | The most rooms and the airport. See Rapid City hotels. |
Hotels in Custer, 4 miles from the memorial
Custer has the shortest drive to the carving and the better position for Custer State Park, Wind Cave, and Jewel Cave, which is 13 miles west of town. The five below run from $99 to $165 a night at indicative rates. Our Custer hotels guide ranks nine, including the in-park lodges.
Rates are indicative USD per night and move on summer weekends and event dates. We earn a commission from qualifying bookings at no extra cost to you. Confirm the property, dates, total, and cancellation terms before booking.
Town of Custer
Bavarian Inn
Indoor and outdoor pools, games, and an easy drive to town food. More flexible than an in-park lodge when plans change.
Indicative from
$165 USD /night
Best for: Families
Town of Custer
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Custer
Modern rooms, an indoor pool, and the usual included breakfast. A sensible base when you have a memorial, a park, and a cave in the same two days.
Indicative from
$155 USD /night
Best for: Busy itineraries
Town of Custer
Comfort Inn & Suites Custer
Larger rooms, breakfast, and pool time. Useful when everyone needs a little space.
Indicative from
$145 USD /night
Best for: Family rooms
Downtown Custer
Rocket Motel
A compact mid-century motel with a memorable sign and hands-on service. Rooms are simple, and dinner is close.
Indicative from
$115 USD /night
Best for: Character and walkability
Downtown Custer
Chalet Motel
A locally run motel dating to 1938. Basic rooms and continental breakfast.
Indicative from
$99 USD /night
Best for: Budget
Hotels in Hill City, 9 miles north
Hill City costs a few more miles to the carving and saves you some on the way to Mount Rushmore. EverSpring, the Golden Spike, and Super 8 are all within walking distance of downtown. The full Hill City hotels guide ranks eight.
Hill City
EverSpring Inn & Suites Hill City
Galleries, restaurants, and the 1880 Train are on foot. Free hot breakfast is included.
Indicative from
$109 USD /night
Best for: Walking to Main Street
Hill City
Comfort Inn & Suites Near Mt. Rushmore
Indoor pool, free breakfast, and refrigerators in the rooms, at a mid-range price for the town.
Indicative from
$112 USD /night
Best for: Families
Main Street, Hill City
Best Western Golden Spike Inn & Suites
A railroad-themed Best Western on Main Street with an outdoor pool and free breakfast. Galleries and the 1880 Train are a short walk.
Indicative from
$113 USD /night
Best for: Train fans
Hill City
Super 8 by Wyndham Hill City
The only motel in Hill City and the cheapest listing here. Indoor pool, free breakfast, and downtown restaurants within walking distance.
Indicative from
$85 USD /night
Best for: Lowest price
Cabins and lodges near Crazy Horse
The cabin stock sits around Hill City and Keystone rather than on the highway at the memorial. Several of these are seasonal, and we could not confirm winter dates for all of them, so check the dates for your trip before you book. Inside Custer State Park, the lodges and cabins at State Game Lodge, Sylvan Lake, Legion Lake, and Blue Bell are covered in our Custer State Park lodging guide, and you can browse park lodging on Expedia (opens in a new tab).
Hill City area
Mountain View Lodge & Cabins
Lodge rooms and cabins with mountain views, a covered deck for cookouts, a pool, and free breakfast. The Mickelson Trail is nearby.
Indicative from
$140 USD /night
Best for: Cabins with a deck
Hill City area
Spring Creek Inn Motels and Cabins
Motel rooms and cabins with a playground, volleyball, and a shared fire pit. ATV riders get trailer parking and trails across the street.
Indicative from
$101 USD /night
Best for: Budget cabins, ATV riders
Between Hill City and Keystone
Mount Rushmore Resort & Lodge at Palmer Gulch
Standard rooms plus private cabins, with a pool, bike rental, hiking, and a restaurant on site. KOA lists the resort as open May 1 to October 1, so confirm room dates.
Indicative from
$114 USD /night
Best for: Resort amenities
Keystone
K Bar S Lodge
A quieter lodge with views and breakfast. The lodge says it is open from mid-April through October.
Best for: Quiet hill views
Keystone
Under Canvas Mount Rushmore
Canvas tents rather than a hotel room. Travel South Dakota lists its season as May through September.
Best for: Glamping
Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore tours
Guided day trips that cover both memorials, if you would rather not drive the mountain roads yourself.
We earn a commission on Viator bookings, at no extra cost to you. Check dates and final prices on Viator. Tour information collected May 15, 2026; not live availability.
Twilight Tour: Custer State Park & Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony
Confirm group format · 6h
Viator snapshot: 5.0/5 (38 reviews)
Route and experience details
Experience the scenery of the Black Hills on this private afternoon & evening tour, designed to highlight the region’s most scenic drives & end with the Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony. First, we visit the tranquil Sylvan Lake, in pine-covered hills & dramatic rock formations. We continue with a picturesque journey along the legendary Needles Hwy, where towering granite spires, narrow tunnels, & sweeping views create an drive. You’ll have plenty of time for photo stops, short walks, and commentary from your knowledgeable local guide. Then, travel the engineering marvel of Iron Mt Rd, known for its pigtail bridges, scenic switchbacks, & tunnels that perfectly frame Mt Rushmore in the distance. We arrive at Mt Rushmore with time to explore, then as night falls, gather at the amphitheater for the Lighting Ceremony, a patriotic & heartfelt experience that includes a short film, tribute to veterans, & the illumination of the iconic carvings.
Confirm pickup town, admission inclusions and cancellation deadline for your date.
From USD 760
Confirm whether the price is per person or per group. Cached price; check your dates.
Check dates on Viator (opens in a new tab)
Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Tour
Confirm group format · 9h
Viator snapshot: 5.0/5 (34 reviews)
Route and experience details
What makes this tour unique is the combination of three of Western South Dakota's most iconic destinations, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park Wildlife Loop, into a single, comprehensive, and fully narrated experience. Over 8-9 hours, you'll not just see these landmarks, but gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for their history, cultural significance, and natural beauty. We always give the guest time to buy their lunch during the tour.
Confirm pickup town, admission inclusions and cancellation deadline for your date.
From USD 312
Confirm whether the price is per person or per group. Cached price; check your dates.
Check dates on Viator (opens in a new tab)
Private Mount Rushmore and Flume Trail Hike
Private tour · 8h
Viator snapshot: 5.0/5 (16 reviews)
Route and experience details
This tour gives you incredible in-depth knowledge of the Flume Trail, the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. There is a two person minimum to book this tour.
Confirm pickup town, admission inclusions and cancellation deadline for your date.
From USD 325
Confirm whether the price is per person or per group. Cached price; check your dates.
Check dates on Viator (opens in a new tab)When rooms near Crazy Horse disappear
Volksmarch weekends
The memorial's Volksmarch page lists the 2026 spring march on Saturday, June 6 and the fall march on Sunday, September 27, each for one day only. It calls the event the most popular organized hike in the United States, with 15,000 walkers in a record year. The 2027 dates are not posted yet, so book a refundable room and adjust once they are.
Buffalo Roundup week
Custer State Park holds its Roundup on a Friday in late September, and Custer is the nearest town. Game, Fish and Parks has not announced 2027 (Roundup page). A park-concessionaire schedule lists Friday, September 24, 2027, which fits the last-Friday pattern, but treat that as provisional.
Sturgis Rally
The 87th rally runs August 6 to 15, 2027 (official rally site). SDDOT counted 448,166 vehicles entering Sturgis in 2026. Riders spread across the whole Hills, so reserve early or use the Sturgis rally hotels guide.
If Custer and Hill City are full, Rapid City is the fallback at about 38 miles from the memorial. You can compare Rapid City rooms on Expedia (opens in a new tab).
Plan the visit: admission, hours, and time needed
- Admission, Oct 1, 2026 to May 14, 2027: $30 for a vehicle with 3 or more people, $24 for 2, $12 for 1, and $7 per person on a motorcycle or bicycle. No parking fee.
- Summer rates: the memorial has not posted prices from May 15, 2027. Summer 2026 was $35 for a full car.
- Included: three museums, the orientation film, scheduled cultural programs, and views from the veranda. The bus to the base of the mountain is a separate $5 per person.
- Return visit: a free re-admit pass, available at the Welcome Center, covers one return within seven days.
- Hours: open daily year-round. On October 9, 2026 the site banner listed 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., while the Hours and Schedule page still said 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurant runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the snack shop 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (605) 673-4681 to confirm.
- Evenings: the Legends in Light laser show ended on September 30, 2023 and there is no regular evening program, so dinner in town is the evening plan.
Source: the memorial's pricing and admission page and hours page. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the carving, the Indian Museum of North America, and the bus. Our Crazy Horse Memorial guide has the full breakdown, and when will Crazy Horse be finished covers how far the carving has come.
Pair Crazy Horse with Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park
Mount Rushmore is 17 miles from Crazy Horse, so the two fit in one day from any base on this page. If you are deciding how to split your time, Mount Rushmore vs Crazy Horse compares cost, crowds, and what you see at each. If you want to sleep closer to Rushmore, the Keystone hotels put it about 3 miles away. For the park, start with the Custer State Park lodging guide, and use the distance guide to plan the drives between stops.
Questions about staying near Crazy Horse
What is the closest town to Crazy Horse Memorial?
Custer. The memorial says its entrance on US-16/385 is 4 miles north of Custer and 9 miles south of Hill City, so those are the two closest bases. Keystone is about 20 miles away and Rapid City about 38.
Is it Crazy Horse Memorial or Crazy Horse Monument?
The official name is Crazy Horse Memorial. Searches for "Crazy Horse Monument" or "Crazy Horse SD" lead to the same place, at 12151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD 57730, on US-16/385 between Custer and Hill City.
Should I stay in Custer or Hill City?
Stay in Custer if the plan includes Custer State Park, Wind Cave, or Jewel Cave. Stay in Hill City if you mostly want Mount Rushmore, Main Street dinners, and the 1880 Train. Both are close enough that either choice puts Crazy Horse within a short drive.
How much is admission, and can I come back the next day?
From October 1, 2026 to May 14, 2027 admission is $30 for a vehicle with 3 or more people, $24 for 2, $12 for 1, and $7 per person on a motorcycle or bicycle. There is no parking fee. The memorial offers a free re-admit pass at the Welcome Center, good once within seven days, so a two-night stay does not mean paying twice.
Can one hotel cover both Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore?
Yes. The two memorials are 17 miles apart. Hill City sits between them, Custer is on the Crazy Horse side, and Keystone is about 3 miles from Mount Rushmore. Each works as a base for both.
When should I book for 2027?
Book early for the Sturgis Rally (August 6 to 15, 2027), for Buffalo Roundup week in late September, and for the Crazy Horse Volksmarch weekends in early June and late September. Of those, only the Sturgis dates are confirmed. The memorial has not posted 2027 Volksmarch dates, and Game, Fish and Parks has not announced the 2027 Roundup.
Compare the two bases
Custer for the park and the caves, Hill City for Main Street and the run to Rushmore. Each guide has the full ranked list.