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Black Hills Balloons, Custer, SD
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Black Hills Balloons

747 Mt Rushmore Rd · Custer, SD

Why you should go…

Black Hills Balloons has flown the Black Hills since 1984, launching sunrise flights daily from May through October over Custer Valley and Custer State Park, near Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Wind Cave National Park. Flights last about an hour and are followed by a landing celebration with champagne and light snacks. The company's pilots are FAA certified and it operates the only FAA-certified balloon repair station in the region.

  • #balloon ride
  • #views
  • #outdoor
  • #sightseeing
  • #seasonal

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Black Hills Balloons, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Stay
    Outdoor Adventure

    Custer's Gulch RV Park and Campground

    $50+

    A Black Hills RV park and campground near the west entrance of Custer State Park, with full-hookup sites and cabins.

    2.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Stay

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Four Mile Old West Town Museum

    Under $25

    Recreated 1880s Black Hills stagecoach town with over 50 buildings, western artifacts and a comic Old West show.

    4.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Black Hills Aerial Adventures

    $50+

    Take a helicopter tour over the Black Hills for aerial views of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park.

    5.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Needles Highway

    $25–$50

    Drive 14 winding miles past granite spires, Sylvan Lake and narrow rock tunnels in the Black Hills of Custer State Park.

    5.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Black Elk Peak

    $25–$50

    Climb to South Dakota's highest summit, topped by a 1930s stone fire tower with views across the Black Hills.

    7.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Custer State Park

    $25–$50

    Drive the Wildlife Loop past free-roaming bison, wind through the Needles Highway and walk the shore of Sylvan Lake.

    12 mi awayMore like this