Most Midwesterners have to commit at least a week of vacation time to reaching and exploring western South Dakota’s squiggly, wiggly scenic-drive paradise. Trust us. It’s worth it. The Black Hills and Badlands put the West in Midwest: hairpin turns, alpine creeks, towering rock formations, mountain goats, not to mention Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Key routes Jaw-dropping scenery abounds throughout the region, but everyone should drive these scenic byways: the 70-mile Peter Norbeck, 20-mile Spearfish Canyon and the 31-mile Badlands Loop. The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway includes the legendary Needles Highway.
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For maps and trip planning
