Needles Highway (Custer State Park)
Winds through towering eroded granite pillars, spires, and pine forest. Navigates tight single-lane rock cuts including the famous Needles Eye Tunnel (8'4" wide) and Iron Creek Tunnel. Expect slow tour bus bottlenecks, free-roaming wildlife, and extraordinary rock formations.
Join free with 1-tap Google or Apple login to bookmark this route across your devices.
Save Route (Free)
Certified Motorcycle Repair
Rider-Friendly Lodging
The undisputed epicenter of motorcycle culture in the eastern United States, sitting at Mile 0 of the Tail of the Dragon (US-129). An electric, adrenaline-fueled carnival of sportbikes, adventure tourers, and interstate cruisers. Smells of warm tire rubber, two-stroke exhaust, and hickory smoke.
Tank-Bag Quick Reference Sheet
Frequently Asked Questions
How many curves and miles is Needles Highway (Custer State Park)? ▼
Needles Highway (Custer State Park) spans 14 miles and packs approximately 155 curves (11.1 curves per mile) with an elevation delta of 4,800 ft - 6,145 ft and technical rating 7/10.
Where are the start and end coordinates? ▼
The route starts at Sylvan Lake, SD (Latitude 43.8475, Longitude -103.5658) and finishes at Custer State Park Visitor Center, SD (Latitude 43.7667, Longitude -103.5417).
How can I download the GPX file for GPS navigation? ▼
Click the "Download Free GPX" button on this guide. The standard XML file is 100% free and ready to load into Garmin zūmo, BMW Motorrad Connected, Rever, Scenic, or Google Maps.