Needles Eye
About
A geological formation located in Custer State Park.
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Top ways to experience Needles Eye and nearby attractions

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles1,744 reviews
Excellent
1,432
Very good
273
Average
32
Poor
5
Terrible
2

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MOTravelerken
Farmington, MO556 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
The Needles Highway is very neat. You can start at one end and finish the drive near Sylvan Lake or you can start at Sylvan Lake and go the other route. The Needles Eye is near Sylvan Lake so if you go to Sylvan Lake, I guess you could drive through the Needles eye and then just turn right back around and go back to the Lake without driving the entire Needles Highway. Such a neat area.
Written July 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

traveler
Wisconsin Dells, WI290 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020 • Couples
15 mph for miles of hills will heat up your brakes. I was in 3rd or 4th gear for quite a few miles. Watched many vehicles ride their brakes the entire way. Why they want to speed thru this scenery and brake is beyond me.The highway is barely two lanes in places. Quite a few 15 mph hairpin turns. Pay attention to speed limits. Tunnels as narrow as 8' 0" wide. Seriously. Beautiful scenery, wildlife if you are in the right place at the right time. The entire trip is beautiful with mountains, forests and vistas. Worth every minute. It took about an hour.

Take your time, go slow and enjoy one of the best drives in the country followed by a drive thru Custer with it's buffalos.
Written October 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alan U
New Ulm, MN17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
Experience South Dakota's Black Hills up close by driving the Needles Highway and stopping to view the Needles Eye. Located near a narrow tunnel, this colossal spire towers above the roadway and presents a photographic masterpiece to amaze and inspire. Young and old will appreciate the roadside trails which challenge climbers and offer views that make one thankful to be alive.
Written June 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Suzy L
Lincolnton, NC214 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
This was by far a highlight of our trip. All 6 adults had this in their top 3 favorite places we visited in South Dakota/Wyoming. It really is hard to describe. Pictures can't even do it justice. Every time we made a turn we just kept saying WOW. I have never seen anything like it. As others have said it is a very narrow road and not all vehicle types will be able to make it through the tunnels. Take your time and make sure to stop at all the overlooks as none of them will disappoint. We traveled at the end of September which was nice because crowds were fairly low. We were able to travel the road at our own pace. Make sure to stop at Sylvan lake and go for a walk.
Written October 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lisa Q
Wisconsin13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Family
Amazing geological experience! But be prepared for a hair rising ride along steep mountain roads that are very narrow in places. My little Honda CRV had a struggle in some areas as it chugged along in 96 degree temperatures. But the views are worth it!
Written July 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mjinwi1618
42 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
Custer as a whole is a beautiful place. Needles Eye is a lovely spot to see but there were SO many people trying to stop and take pictures it was a bit dangerous. There isn't a lot of parking available, the tunnel is right there so the road is VERY narrow and visibility is not the best. If this is a sight you really want to see, go at a time of day/year when traffic is light.
Written August 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

USASUN
Zurich, Switzerland253 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Couples
This road was really worth it. Lots of curves, fun tunnels with views of a great landscape. These granite formations are really special. That's why we did a trail here. It is worth driving the road in the late afternoon, as it has less traffic.
Automatically translated
Written October 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Guillermo P
Miami, FL51 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
The drive is breathtaking as well as fun. There are 2 tunnels carved through the mountain stones that barely fit one car. Only one direction of traffic can go through the tunnel at any given time. There are multiple overlooks with awesome views.
Written August 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

George H
9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
Great to see God’s creations. The night show at Mt Rushmore was inspiring and patriotic honoring all veterans in attendance. Don’t miss the Spearfish canyon drive and Needles highway drive. We took the Safari Jeep Buffalo trip with an excellent guide.
Written September 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nyormirror
Bay City, MI2,072 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
The Needles eye is located near the Needles Highway single vehicle tunnel. For some reason a Stagecoach West full size tour bus was there and spent 20 minutes trying to get through the narrow passage but finally did with the help of pre-Sturgis riders. We were unable to get a picture due to the back-up but did see it. I would definitely recommend.
Written September 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Needles Eye - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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