Wildlife Loop Road Scenic Byway
An 18-mile road through Custer State Park's prairie and pine hills, from the visitor center to the Blue Bell entrance, past bison herds.
Also known as Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway; Custer State Park
Photo: Hcrumplermd, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Length18 miles[2]
- Drive time1 hour 30 minutes, depending on wildlife jams[2]FHWA's byway page says approximately 30 minutes.
- RoadsNot verified
- Start and endEast entrance near the Custer State Park Visitor Center to the Blue Bell entrance on the west side[1]
- Fees and passesA South Dakota State Park Entrance license is required for vehicles; temporary or annual licenses are available.[3]
- Best seasonYear-round; summer is the busiest time[4]
- SurfacePaved, all-weather two-lane road[4]
- Vehicle notesSpeed limit 35 mph. Suitable for buses, motor coaches, motor homes and cars; expect delays from bison herds crossing the road and burros in the way.[4]
- Seasonal closuresOpen year-round, but winter conditions call for careful driving.[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 29, 2026.
About the drive
The Wildlife Loop Road is a South Dakota state scenic byway inside Custer State Park. It runs about 18 miles in a U shape from the park's east entrance near the visitor center to the Blue Bell entrance on the west side.
Game, Fish and Parks says about 1,350 free-roaming bison live in the park, and most days you'll meet some on the road. Deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and the park's feral burros are also common. Animals are easiest to see early in the morning or near sunset.
Traffic stops for wildlife, so plan on about an hour and a half. The road is open year-round; you need a South Dakota state park entrance license.
Stops along the way
-
Blue Bell Lodge
Lodge near the byway's western end.
Official information · 43.71574, -103.48376 · about 0.8 mi from the route line
-
Custer State Park Visitor Center
Near the east end; shows where the bison are each day.
Official information · 43.76173, -103.36814 · about 2.5 mi from the route line
-
State Game Lodge
Historic park lodge near the byway's east end.
Official information · 43.77111, -103.38381 · about 3.5 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
In season during the best months to drive
The drive's best months are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.
- Acorn squashSep, Oct, Nov
- AlmondsAug, Sep, Oct
- ApplesAug, Sep, Oct, Nov
- ApricotsMay, Jun, Jul
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- Peter Norbeck Scenic BywaySD · about 11 mi away
- Spearfish Canyon Scenic BywaySD · about 56 mi away
- Native American Scenic BywaySD, ND
More scenic drives in South Dakota
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway (Travel South Dakota) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Scenic drives through Custer State Park (South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks) (checked 2026-10-29)
- America's Byways: Wildlife Loop Road Scenic Byway (FHWA state byway page) (checked 2026-10-29)
- America's Byways: Wildlife Loop Road Scenic Byway, visitor services (FHWA byways.org, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-29.
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).