Wildlife Loop Road Guide

Where is the Wildlife Loop?

The loop sits in the southern half of Custer State Park, between US 16A and SD 87. It runs from the east entrance near the Custer State Park Visitor Center around to the Blue Bell entrance on the west side of the park. Custer State Park Resort describes it as a U, so the road itself does not bring you back to where you started.

To close the circle, continue north on SD 87 and east on US 16A. That adds about 12 miles and 30 minutes, according to Custer State Park Resort, and it passes Legion Lake and the turnoff for the Needles Highway. The closest town is Custer, and Hill City and Keystone are both an easy morning drive.

How long does the Wildlife Loop take?

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks lists the drive at 18 miles and about 1 hour 30 minutes, and warns that the real time depends on "wildlife jams." The resort that runs the park lodges says to plan on 1.5 to 2 hours at a minimum. When the herd crosses the road, nobody moves until the bison do, so leave slack in your day.

Best time to drive the Wildlife Loop

Go at dawn or in the last hour or two before sunset. Game, Fish and Parks says the best time to see animals along the road is early morning or late evening, and that deer and elk are most visible early and late. Custer State Park Resort adds that the animals tend to be more active before the afternoon sun.

For the season, think about what you want to see. The park's bison are on the loop all year. Late September brings the Buffalo Roundup, which takes place along the Wildlife Loop. Our best time to visit Custer State Park guide compares the months.

What animals will you see?

Bison first. Game, Fish and Parks counts about 1,350 free-roaming buffalo on its scenic drives page, and the park trims the herd at its November auction, so the winter number runs lower. Our herd size and Roundup statistics page tracks the latest count.

Expect prairie dog towns and the park's band of feral burros. White-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and pronghorn graze the open grassland. With luck you may see bighorn sheep, burrowing owls, coyotes or, very rarely, a mountain lion.

Bison rules: stay in the car

The animals are used to cars, but they are wild. Feeding or disturbing wildlife is against park regulations, and that includes the burros. If you get out, keep your distance.

Dogs are welcome on the drive. Park rules require a leash no longer than 10 feet, and pets are not allowed in park buildings or on swim beaches. Our dog-friendly Black Hills guide covers the rest of the region.

Is the Wildlife Loop open in winter?

Yes. Unlike the Needles Highway, which closes to cars with the first snow, Wildlife Loop Road is open all year. Game, Fish and Parks asks for careful driving in winter conditions, and any park road can close for weather, so check SD511 after a storm.

Plan for fewer services. Between October 1 and April 30, the park says showers, flush toilets and other water systems may be closed. Vault toilets usually stay open. The Custer State Park Visitor Center is open year-round, and so is Creekside Lodge, the in-park lodge next to State Game Lodge. Our Black Hills in December guide lists what else stays open.

Do you have to pay to drive the Wildlife Loop?

Yes. The loop is inside Custer State Park, so every vehicle needs a park entrance license. The Custer State Park temporary license is $25 per vehicle or $20 per motorcycle, good for seven days and expiring at 6 p.m. on the seventh day. An annual license is $40 for South Dakota residents and $60 for everyone else, per Game, Fish and Parks. One license covers the loop, the Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake and the rest of the park.

Stops, restrooms and gas along the way

Start at the Custer State Park Visitor Center near the east end for maps and the park's Tatanka Guide. Partway around, the Wildlife Station Visitor Center is a short break, and the Custer State Park Bison Center near the south end tells the story of the herd.

Custer State Park Resort lists modern restrooms at the Visitor Center, the Coolidge General Store and State Game Lodge on the east end, at the Bison Center on the south end, and at Blue Bell Lodge and the Blue Bell Store on the west end. The Coolidge General Store is the place for gas and groceries. Check hours before a winter drive, since some of these stops are seasonal.

Drive it yourself or take a jeep tour?

Driving yourself is the cheapest way to see the loop and works well at sunrise. A guided jeep tour adds a driver who knows where the herd was that morning, and the resort's Buffalo Safari jeeps use private dirt roads inside the loop that are closed to private cars. Compare departure times and current prices in our Custer State Park jeep tours guide, or browse guided wildlife tours.

Where to stay near the Wildlife Loop

Sleep inside the park if sunrise on the loop is the point of your trip. There is no lodging on the loop itself, but State Game Lodge and Blue Bell Lodge are each less than a mile from an end of it, and Legion Lake Lodge sits on US 16A along the full circle. Our Custer State Park lodging guide compares all of the in-park lodges and which ones stay open in winter.

For more choice and lower rates, base yourself in Custer, the closest town, or compare every area in our Black Hills hotels guide.

Pair it with the other park drives

The loop is one of three scenic drives on the Game, Fish and Parks scenic drives page. The Needles Highway runs 14 miles past granite spires to Sylvan Lake and closes to cars in winter, and Iron Mountain Road runs 17 miles toward Mount Rushmore. A morning on the loop, lunch at a park lodge and an afternoon on one of the others makes a full day. Our Black Hills scenic drives guide maps all of them.

Wildlife Loop FAQ

Sources: South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Custer State Park scenic drives, Custer State Park and park entrance licenses; Custer State Park Resort Wildlife Loop Road. Read November 3, 2026. Hours, fees and road conditions can change, so recheck before you go.