Road	Length	High point
Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway (SD-240) SD-240 twists for 39 miles through Badlands National Park between Cactus Flat and Wall, curving through a wall of eroded pinnacles and buttes with 16 scenic overlooks. There is no fuel inside the park, and summer heat on the exposed prairie can be intense.	35 mi	—
Bridal Veil Falls PulloutStop A 60-foot waterfall cascading down a sheer limestone cliff directly beside US-14A (Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway), roughly 5.8 miles south of the canyon's north entrance. A paved crosswalk leads to a wooden viewing platform on the opposite bank — one of the easiest waterfall stops in the Black Hills, with roadside parking on the shoulders.	—	—
Crazy Horse MemorialStop A mountain-carving monument under construction on privately held land in the Black Hills, honoring the Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse. The entrance is on US-16/385 about 4 miles north of Custer, SD. When finished the sculpture is planned to reach 641 feet long and 563 feet high; the visitor campus holds a welcome center, restaurant, theaters, and the Indian Museum of North America.	—	—
Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Road Custer State Park's Wildlife Loop Road is an ~18-mile paved road through the open grasslands and ponderosa-pine foothills of the park's southern half in South Dakota's Black Hills. It is best known for close encounters with the park's free-roaming bison — one of the largest publicly owned herds in the country — along with pronghorn, deer, prairie dogs, and the park's famous "begging burros" (feral donkeys). The road links US-16A near the State Game Lodge with SD-87 as part of the Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway. Ride early or late for the best wildlife activity, keep well back from the bison, and expect the herd or burros to stop traffic without warning.	18 mi	—
Downtown Sturgis — Main StreetStop The heart of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally: the downtown Main Street strip of saloons, vendors, and souvenir shops in Sturgis, SD. The rally began in 1938 with a group of Indian Motorcycle riders and now draws around 500,000 people over roughly ten days each August, when Main Street is closed to cars and given over to motorcycles.	—	—
Historic DeadwoodStop The Old West gold-rush town in the northern Black Hills, born in 1876 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Its brick Main Street is lined with historic gaming halls and saloons, and it is best known as the place where Wild Bill Hickok was shot dead during a poker game. Deadwood legalized casino gaming in 1989 and now hosts more than 20 casinos.	—	—
Iron Mountain Road (US-16A) US-16A between Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore packs 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, three wooden pigtail bridges, and three single-lane tunnels engineered to frame Mount Rushmore in the windshield. Ride it south-to-north for the tunnel framing, and expect heavy tourist traffic in summer.	31 mi	—
Iron Mountain Road Pigtail BridgesStop Three corkscrew wooden bridges on US-16A that spiral over their own roadbed to gain elevation without blasting switchbacks into the hillside — a 1933 engineering feat designed by Peter Norbeck. Each of the three tunnels along the same stretch is deliberately aligned to frame Mount Rushmore in the exit portal. The north-end pullout at the bridge cluster is the prime stop on this 17-mile road of 314 curves and 14 switchbacks.	—	—
Mount Rushmore National MemorialStop The 60-foot granite sculptures of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln carved 1927–1941 at 5,725 ft elevation in the Black Hills. Administered by the National Park Service; the Avenue of Flags walkway and Grand View Terrace provide the classic face-on perspective. Motorcycle parking is a flat $10 valid for the calendar year.	—	—
Mount Rushmore Road (SD-244) A 10.5-mile state highway in Pennington County connecting US-16/US-385 south of Hill City eastward to US-16A near Keystone, winding through Black Hills National Forest past Summit Peak and Old Baldy Mountain before entering Mount Rushmore National Monument. The entire route is part of the Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway, offering forested mountain riding with a Mount Rushmore profile view from the roadside pullout — distinct from the Iron Mountain Road approach via US-16A.	10 mi	—
Needles Eye TunnelStop The most iconic pinch-point on SD-87 (Needles Highway): a hand-carved granite tunnel measuring only 8 ft wide and 9 ft 9 in tall, with a small parking area and a direct view up to the namesake granite spire. Designed in the early 1920s by Senator Peter Norbeck to thread through the Black Hills' most dramatic rock formations, it's one of the most photographed tunnel portals in the American West.	—	—
Needles Highway (SD-87) SD-87 threads through Custer State Park between granite "needle" spires, with sharp switchbacks and two very narrow single-lane tunnels — the Needles Eye Tunnel is just 8'0" wide, so check your handlebar and mirror clearance on a wide bike. The road is closed in winter, typically from late October or early November through April.	21 mi	—
Peter Norbeck Byway — SD-89 Segment The 34.5-mile South Dakota Highway 89 runs through Fall River and Custer counties, with the scenic northern segment from Custer to SD-87 forming part of the 70-mile Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway. This stretch passes through the southern Black Hills, connecting Custer and the Sylvan Lake area to the Needles Highway junction in a forested mountain corridor distinct from the other three Peter Norbeck roads.	18 mi	—
Rimrock Highway — SD-44 West The western Black Hills segment of South Dakota Highway 44, running approximately 16 miles from Rapid City westward to US-385. Known locally as the Rimrock Highway, this stretch climbs from Rapid City's 3,400 ft elevation to nearly 4,500 ft through limestone canyon walls with continuous twists, elevation changes, and forested terrain in Black Hills National Forest. Less trafficked than the Peter Norbeck corridors except during the Sturgis Rally; passes Pactola Reservoir and access to Buzzard's Roost overlook.	201 mi	—
Spearfish Canyon LodgeStop A full-service lodge at 10619 Roughlock Falls Rd in the heart of Spearfish Canyon, adjacent to Roughlock Falls and Little Spearfish Creek. Open year-round with a restaurant, gift shop, and UTV/snowmobile/bicycle/slingshot rentals. Sits within the Black Hills National Forest, roughly midway along US-14A.	—	—
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US-14A) US-14A winds through a 1,000-foot limestone canyon between Spearfish and Cheyenne Crossing, passing three waterfalls along Spearfish Creek; the area appeared in Dances with Wolves. The mapped route follows all of US-14A, which continues past the canyon through Lead and Deadwood back to I-90.	44 mi	—
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of FameStop The hall of fame of American motorcycling, on Main Street in the rally capital of the world.	—	—
Vanocker Canyon Road (CR-26) A 17-mile county road (County Road 26 / Forest Service Road 26) winding through the northern Black Hills between Sturgis and Nemo, passing through dense ponderosa pine forest with quick, frequent twists and elevation changes through the canyon corridor. The route connects to Nemo Road for a popular 35-mile loop back through the hills. Not a designated scenic byway but consistently ranked among the top Black Hills motorcycle roads for technical challenge and pavement quality.	32 mi	—
Wall DrugStop The legendary roadside complex — 5¢ coffee, free ice water, and an 80-foot brontosaurus — drawing two million visitors a year to a town of fewer than 900.	—	—
Wall Drug StoreStop The legendary roadside emporium at 510 Main St in Wall, SD — the self-described 'World Famous Free Ice Water Store' open since 1931. A two-block complex of cowboy-themed shops, a western art gallery, 5-cent coffee, an 80-ft brontosaurus, and an all-day-breakfast diner. Wall is the eastern gateway to Badlands National Park on I-90.	—	—

//Rallies & events

Rally

Rally · Every August, ~10 days

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Sturgis, SD, US

The largest US motorcycle rally — ten days in the Black Hills with rides, concerts, and racing, running since 1938. The 86th edition runs in August 2026.

NextAug 7–16, 2026

Scale537,459 vehicles counted by SD DOT in 2025 (sturgis-sd.gov)

Official site ↗

By Switchback · Updated 2026-07-08

Best season

Late spring through fall

Helmet law

Required under 18 only

Lane splitting

Illegal

Signature terrain

Granite spires, limestone canyons, Badlands

South Dakota packs two completely different riding worlds into one state. East of the Missouri River you get wide-open prairie and long, straight horizons. West of it, the Black Hills rise out of nowhere into ponderosa forest, limestone canyons, and granite spires threaded by roads engineered specifically to slow you down and make you look. The Badlands add a third dimension: an alien landscape of eroded pinnacles where the road curves through the formations rather than around them. None of this requires a particular bike type — baggers, ADV rigs, and nakeds all find their place here — but the western routes reward riders who are comfortable with tight switchbacks, one-lane tunnels, and sudden wildlife in the road.

Two States in One Tank

Most riders come to South Dakota for the Black Hills, and the Black Hills deliver — but understanding how the routes fit together saves a lot of backtracking. The western pocket of the state, roughly bounded by I-90 to the north and US-385 as a north-south spine, holds the majority of the paved riding that draws people here. The Badlands sit about an hour east of Rapid City and feel like a different planet.

Within the Black Hills, the roads cluster into two networks. The Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway — combining Iron Mountain Road (US-16A), Needles Highway (SD-87), the SD-89 segment, and SD-244 — forms a roughly 70-mile loop of engineered mountain roads built to be ridden slowly. These are not roads to hurry. Wildlife jams (bison, burros, bighorn sheep) are common and unpredictable, especially on the Custer State Park segments. Spearfish Canyon (US-14A) and Vanocker Canyon (CR-26) offer a different character — canyon corridor riding with quick, frequent direction changes — and connect naturally into the northern Black Hills around Sturgis and Deadwood.

Choosing Your Route

Technical / sightseeing: Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road reward patience and a bike you're comfortable maneuvering at low speed through one-lane tunnels.
Canyon flow: Spearfish Canyon and Vanocker Canyon suit riders who want continuous movement through forested terrain without the tourist density of the Peter Norbeck roads.
Open landscape: The Badlands Loop is the outlier — exposed, fast-feeling, with long views and no shade. Carry water and watch your fuel.
Adventure / mixed surface: The Black Hills BDR-X (~355 miles, 3 days) combines the Peter Norbeck paved routes with gravel forest roads and two-track through Black Hills National Forest.

Hazards Worth Naming

Wildlife is the most consistent road hazard across all of these routes — bison in Custer State Park do not yield, and deer are a real risk at dawn and dusk on canyon roads. The Badlands in midsummer can see extreme heat with no shelter; afternoon thunderstorms develop quickly and can include hail. On Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway, tourist traffic — including RVs that struggle with the tunnels and pigtail bridges — can back up without warning. Gravel wash across pavement after rain is common on canyon routes.

Logistics

Rapid City is the practical hub: fuel, lodging, and services in every direction. Sturgis works as a northern base for Spearfish Canyon and Vanocker Canyon. There is no fuel inside Badlands National Park along the SD-240 loop, and no fuel at Mount Rushmore. The Custer State Park entrance fee covers the Needles Highway and Wildlife Loop Road. Mount Rushmore charges a flat $10 motorcycle parking fee valid for the calendar year.

For Needles Highway specifically: confirm it's open before building a trip around it, particularly in April or after any early-fall snowfall.

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// Frequently asked

South Dakota requires helmets only for riders and passengers under 18. Riders 18 and older are not legally required to wear one, though eye protection or a sufficient windscreen is mandatory for all operators under state law (SDCL 32-20-4.1). Wearing a helmet remains strongly advisable regardless of the law.

No. Lane splitting and lane filtering are both prohibited under South Dakota law. Motorcycles must remain within a single full lane. This applies on busy stretches like I-90 during the Sturgis Rally as much as anywhere else.

Needles Highway (SD-87) closes to motor vehicles with the first snow of the season — typically sometime in late October or November — and does not reopen until April 1 or later, depending on conditions. Always check the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks website or the SD DOT before planning a spring or late-fall trip.

It depends on your goals. The rally (ten days in early August) brings hundreds of thousands of riders to western South Dakota, which means heavy traffic on Iron Mountain Road, Spearfish Canyon, and the Needles Highway. If you want those roads at a normal pace, late May through early July or September are significantly quieter. If the rally itself is the draw, book lodging many months out.

No. There is no fuel available along the Badlands Loop (SD-240) inside the park. Fill up in Wall to the west or at Cactus Flat / Interior to the east before entering. The 39-mile loop is not a problem on a full tank, but catching it low is avoidable.

The Needles Eye Tunnel is 8 feet wide and 9 feet 9 inches tall — the tightest restriction on the road. Most standard-width touring bikes, including Road Glides, fit, but you should measure your handlebar width and mirror clearance before committing. Large trikes and some sidecar rigs may not clear.

//Sources & references

Scenic Drives through Custer State Park — SD Game, Fish and Parks (Official) ↗South Dakota Codified Laws Title 32, Chapter 20 — Motorcycle Regulation (SD Legislature) ↗Motorcycle Touring — Black Hills & Badlands (Official SD Tourism Region) ↗Scenic Motorcycle Rides in the Black Hills — Travel South Dakota (Official State Tourism) ↗Understanding South Dakota's Motorcycle Helmet Law — Kinney Law (cites SDCL 32-20-4) ↗