Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
A double loop through Custer State Park and the Black Hills on the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road: granite spires, one-lane tunnels and pigtail bridges.
Also known as Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length68 miles[1]
- Drive timeAbout four hours of driving, or a day to experience it[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsIncludes the Needles Highway (SD 87) and the Iron Mountain Road[2]
- Start and endA double loop through Custer State Park and the Black Hills[3]
- Fees and passesNot verified
- Best seasonNot verified
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNarrow rock tunnels: Needles Eye Tunnel is 8 feet wide by 9 feet 9 inches high and Iron Creek Tunnel 8 feet 9 inches by 10 feet 10 inches; Iron Mountain Road's three tunnels are 10 feet 9 inches to 12 feet wide. Check your vehicle's size before you go.[2]
- Seasonal closuresNeedles Highway closes to vehicles with the first snow and reopens April 1 or later. Iron Mountain Road closes periodically in winter; the Wildlife Loop is open year-round.[2]
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.
About the drive
The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway loops through Custer State Park and the Black Hills on two famous roads. The Needles Highway winds among granite spires past Sylvan Lake and squeezes through the one-lane Needles Eye Tunnel. The Iron Mountain Road has spiraling pigtail bridges and three tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore in the distance.
The tunnels are tight. Needles Eye Tunnel is only 8 feet wide and 9 feet 9 inches high, so check your vehicle's size first. The state suggests driving the Iron Mountain Road at no more than 20 mph to take in the views.
Needles Highway closes with the first snow and usually reopens around April. Plan about four hours for the drive.
Stops along the way
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Sylvan Lake
Mountain lake at the start of the Needles Highway.
Official information · 43.84603, -103.56341 · about 0.2 mi from the route line
-
Needles Eye
Narrow granite spire next to the one-lane Needles Eye Tunnel.
Official information · 43.84141, -103.54475 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Doane Robinson Tunnel
One of three Iron Mountain Road tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore.
Official information · 43.86823, -103.4348 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The memorial at the north end of the Iron Mountain Road.
Official information · 43.87886, -103.45901 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Black Hills Farmers MarketRapid City, SD · about 17.6 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Sources
- America's Byways: Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Scenic drives through Custer State Park (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway (Travel South Dakota) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial (NPS) (checked 2026-10-22)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).