American Travel Journal: Wildlife Loop Road

Custer State Park is located adjacent to and north of Wind Cave National Park. A series of three roads form a 31.2-mile loop through the southern hills and prairie of the state park. Entering the park from the south on SD-87, we drove north 4.9 miles to Wildlife Loop Road and the entrance fee station to the state park. Turning right, we drove 18.1 miles on Wildlife Loop Road, also known as Custer State Park Road 1, to its terminus at US-16A. Along the way, we passed the single paved runway of Custer State Park Airport at about 15 miles. After turning left onto US-16A and crossing Grace Coolidge Creek, we turned right into the parking lot for the Custer State Park Visitor Center. The park rangers and volunteers were very knowledgeable and helpful.

Leaving the visitor center, we continued west on US16A to the junction with SD-87 in 7.5 miles. Along the way, we passed Game Lodge, Coolidge General Store, Grace Coolidge Campground, Legion Lake, and Legion Lodge.

We turned south onto SD-87 and drove 10.5 miles back to Wind Cave National Park, passing Blue Bell Lodge & Resort and the entrance fee station along the way.

As for wildlife viewing, we saw bison, wild donkeys, deer, antelope, and several bird species.

We spent most of a day driving the loop during our May 2021 trip to the Dakotas, Wyoming, and Montana. You can read about our August 2017 visit to Custer State Park by clicking on the highlighted posts of Legion Lake, Needles Highway, scenic SD-87, and Wildlife Loop Road.