Road Trip From Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower National Monument

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When visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota, you must make the drive from Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower in Wyoming. Both places are located 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 you continue on your journey to Yellowstone National Park.

Either way, let’s take a look at the road trip from Mt Rushmore to Devils Tower. It’s based on our summer road trip from Texas.

How far is Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower?

If you google the driving distance from Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower National Monument, you will see 3 suggestions.

The fastest one 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 drive, depending on the traffic. 

The second fastest is actually 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 longer 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, when we did the road trip around South Dakota and Wyoming from Texas, we made our own itinerary. Our driving distance between the two national parks was 175 miles with approximately 3 hr 30 min driving time. We drove via US-385 N.

Our travel time was longer because we stayed in Hot Springs, which is around 1 hour drive to the south of Mount Rushmore. We stayed in Hot Springs after we visited Scotts Bluff and Agate Fossil Beds National Monuments in Nebraska.

Interesting Stops From Mt Rushmore to Devils Tower

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

There are so many beautiful natures and attractions that we didn’t get to see. I think 2 days in the Black Hills is not enough. A return trip was needed and I still 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 weren’t disappointed at all. And I know you won’t either.

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

1st stop – Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave is one of the longest and most complex caves in the world. Home to boxwork, a unique formation rarely found elsewhere.

Our plan was 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 get to see boxwork, 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, so no cave tours were offered. However, the Visitor Center was open, and we got to see the exhibition inside.

From Hot Springs drive on US-385 N around 15 minutes 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, drive pass Crazy Horse. After 20 minutes you will arrive at the CCC Museum in Hill City. Address is 23935 US-385, Hill City, SD 57745.

A visit to CCC Museum wasn’t in our list. In fact, we found the museum when we drove through the city. We decided to make a stop since we are always thankful for the Civilian Conservation Corps work on the State Park and National Park Systems.  

The CCC Museum is small. It won’t take a lot of your travel time when making a stop 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 by itself 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 good times there. He even got a treat from a ranger.

We learned that visitors can swim, relax on the beach, boating or stand-up paddleboarding, fishing, 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. With a map and a note from him, we left for Deadwood and the waterfalls.

5th stop – Deadwood

Somewhere on US-385 N between Pactola and Deadwood, we passed a sign of Trout Haven. My husband believed it’s the spot 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’s around 40 minutes 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 to the right of the hotel. We got to sit outside where dogs are welcome.

After lunch we walked to the Fairmont Hotel that’s been said to be haunted. But Snoopy didn’t sense anything and he even 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 where you came from Pactola, but 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 with a limited time, we only got to visit 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 for you.

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. It has suggested stops to make along the scenic byway, but it started from the opposite direction.

One thing to watch out for while driving on Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. People can drive their ATV & OHV on the highway when moving from one trailhead to another trailhead. 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 minutes 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 turned my head across the street, I saw a Welcome to South Dakota sign. We didn’t 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. 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 at that time, but the restrooms were still open.

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

We arrived around 6pm 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’s 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 that took place near the campground, and the next morning we left for Fort Laramie.

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