Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower: The Best Road Trip Guide.

When visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota, you must drive from Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower in Wyoming. Both places are not too far from each other.

You can make a day visit from Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower. Or, spend a night in Devils Tower before continuing to Yellowstone National Park.

Let’s look at the road trip from Mt Rushmore to Devils Tower. Based on our summer road trip from Texas.

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How far is Mount Rushmore from Devils Tower?

You will see three suggestions if you google the driving distance from Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower National Monument.

The fastest is driving on I-90 W via Rapid City, Sturgis, and Spearfish. It is 130 miles and takes around 2 hours and 12 minutes to get there, depending on the traffic.

The second fastest is 2 miles shorter but a few minutes longer. You will drive via US-16 W through Custer and Newcastle in Wyoming.

And the last one is farther in miles and minutes. You will drive for 137 miles via US-16 W and US-14 E through Custer, Newcastle, and Moorcroft. The driving time is around 2 hr 29 min.

As you can see, travel time between Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota to Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming is relatively short.

But our travel time was longer because we stayed in Hot Springs, which is around 1-hour drive to the south of Mount Rushmore.

Our driving distance between the two national parks was 175 miles with approximately 3 hr 30 min driving time. We went through US-385 N.

Interesting Stops From Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower

Within two days in the Black Hills & Badlands of South Dakota, we saw Badlands National Park, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Mount Rushmore, and Custer State Park. 

The Black Hills & Badlands of South Dakota has so many beautiful natures and attractions that we didn’t get to see. I think two days in the Black Hills is not enough. We need a return trip, and I want to explore more of Custer State Park.

As I mentioned above, the driving time from Hot Springs to Devils Tower is 3 hr 30 min. Since we made several stops, it turned into almost 10 hours. Yes! You read it right, and we were not disappointed at all. And I know you will not either.

So, here are the best stops between the two places.

1st stop – Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave is one of the world’s longest and most complex caves. Home to box work, a unique formation rarely found elsewhere.

We planned to take the Garden of Eden Tour since we had a limited time. It is ⅓ mile and takes 1 hour only. But visitors will see box work, cave popcorn, and flowstone on this short trail. It enters and leaves the caves by elevator with 150 steps along the tour route.

Too bad the elevator was under construction during our visit. The park didn’t offer any cave tours. However, the Visitor Center was open, and we could see the exhibition inside.

From Hot Springs, drive around 15 minutes on US-385 N to get here.

2nd stop – Custer

Less than 30 minutes later, we arrived in Custer. We saw painted buffalo statues and made a quick stop. 

You won’t miss seeing these painted buffalo sculptures around downtown Custer. They make good photo ops.

3rd stop between Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower – CCC Museum in Hill City

Continue on US-385 N, and drive past Crazy Horse. After 20 minutes, you will arrive at the CCC Museum in Hill City. The address is 23935 US-385, Hill City, SD 57745.

A visit to CCC Museum was not on our list. We found the museum when we drove through the city. We decided to stop since we are thankful for the Civilian Conservation Corps working on the State Park and National Park Systems.

The CCC Museum is small. You will not need a lot of time spent here.

4th stop – Pactola Reservoir in Pennington County

After driving for about 15 minutes, still, on US-385 N, we saw a blue lake in the distance. The closer we got, the more beautiful the area was. Then we saw the Pactola Reservoir Visitor Center on the left and parked our car.

Immediately I felt like you need at least one day to explore the Pactola. We went inside, and all the rangers were extremely friendly. Dogs are welcome inside the Visitor Center, so our dog Snoopy had a good time there. He even got a treat from a ranger.

We learned that visitors could swim, relax on the beach, boat or stand-up paddleboarding, fish, and even scuba diving at Pactola Lake. There’s a town at the bottom of the lake! It’s like the Atlantis of South Dakota. Isn’t it cool?

When the Head Ranger heard we were heading to Deadwood, he told us about these waterfalls outside the city. Then we left for Deadwood and the waterfalls with a map and a note from him.

5th stop – Deadwood

Somewhere on US-385 N between Pactola and Deadwood, we passed a sign of Trout Haven. My husband believed it was where the Griswold stopped during their cross-country drive in the National Lampoon’s Vacation. Lol.

At the end of US-385 N, turn right onto US-85 towards downtown Deadwood. It is around a 40-minute drive from Pactola.

Deadwood is a historic Old West town where legends like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Seth Bullock found their forever home in Mount Moriah Cemetery. 

This 1870s gold rush town became a National Historic Landmark in 1961. It’s a touristy town in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

After driving around, we finally found a parking space behind the Fairmont Hotel and Oyster Bay Bar on 628 Main St. We had lunch at the restaurant on the right side of the hotel. We got to sit outside where dogs are welcome.

After lunch, we walked to the haunted Fairmont Hotel. But Snoopy didn’t sense any spirits and wanted to get inside.

Then we left before the Old West show started because they would close the road. 

I hope it won’t be too crowded during your visit so you can explore more than when we were there.

6th stop – Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

Back to Pactola. You will continue on US-14A W towards Cheyenne Crossing. When you get to Cheyenne Crossing, keep driving on US-14A to Spearfish. You are driving on Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.

There are waterfalls and hiking trails along this scenic byway. But we didn’t have time, so we only visited Roughlock Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

To go to Roughlock Falls, turn left to Forest Service Road 222 once you get to Savoy. Travel approximately one mile. Then you will arrive at Little Spearfish Canyon. There will be parking lots, and I hope you will find a space.

Back to US-14A and keep driving until you see the Bridal Veil Falls sign. Parking lots are on the left side of the road, while the falls are on the right. Be careful when you cross the street!

I wish we had more time to explore the Spearfish Canyon area. Check out this self-guided tour of Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. You will find suggested stops along the scenic byway. It starts from the opposite direction.

When driving on Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, watch out for ATVs & OHVs on the road. People can drive these toy vehicles on the highway when moving from one trailhead to another. Be careful!

7th stop – Welcome to Wyoming and Welcome to South Dakota signs

I don’t know about you, but our family likes to take pictures by the state sign.

After about a 15-minute drive on I-90 W from Spearfish towards Devils Tower, we saw a Welcome to Wyoming sign. Of course, we had to make a stop.

When I looked across the street, I saw a Welcome to South Dakota sign. We did not see one when we entered South Dakota from Nebraska. So, we turned around at the next exit to take pictures by the Welcome to South Dakota sign. It sounds crazy, but that’s us. Haha.

End of Our Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower Drive

From the Welcome to Wyoming sign, we made a quick pit stop at Northeast Wyoming Welcome Center. The office was closed, but the restrooms were still open.

Then we turned right onto WY-111 N towards Aladdin. Next, we turned left onto WY-24 W to Devils Tower. It takes around 60 minutes to drive.

We arrived around 6 pm at Devils Tower and pitched a tent at the Belle Fourche River Campground inside the Monument. It’s on a first-come, first-served basis, and we were lucky to get a space.

There’s a KOA by the entrance and a few accommodations near Devils Tower if you plan to spend a night here.

Since it was still bright, we went to the Tower and hiked the Tower Trail. Dogs are not allowed, so my husband stayed around the parking lot with Snoopy. 

In the evening, we joined a ranger program near the campground. The next day we left for Fort Laramie.

You will like this alternative driving route from Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower. You will get to see more rather than taking the Interstate Highway.

This road trip itinerary will also work if your plan is to drive from Devils Tower to Mount Rushmore.