Mark and Kristen Morgan are experts at finding and booking hotels. They have been traveling the world non-stop for over 6 years, staying at more than 500 hotels across 4 continents.
They only write about places they have personally visited themselves, which means every article you read is created directly from first hand experience.
Are you looking for the best hotels in Custer SD? Perfect! We are going to show you the 8 top rated cheap, mid range and luxury hotel options available in the small city of Custer in South Dakota’s picturesque Black Hills.
Instead of trawling through randomly listed hotel search engine results, use our research and data driven guide to find the best hotels in Custer SD based on location, value, previous guest ratings and our own personal experiences in the city.
Here’s how we will break down the best hotels in Custer South Dakota to help you find the perfect place to stay:
- Our experience in Custer
- Why stay in Custer?
- Custer SD hotels map
- 8 best Custer SD hotels
Let’s find you the perfect Custer hotel for your trip to South Dakota!
*Please note this guide contains affiliate links. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Read more in our disclosure policy.*
Our Experience In Custer
We have been to Custer and the stunning Black Hills of South Dakota on two separate occasions.
The first was back in the fall of 2018 when the granite hills around Custer were covered in emerald green and golden yellow leaves. Fall was a wonderful time to explore the Black Hills. We highly recommend you visit Custer at the end of September or early October if possible.
Our most recent visit to Custer was in the spring of 2022 when the hills were blanketed in a dusting of snow. We spent a fantastic night at the popular Bavarian Inn slightly to the north of Custer and we ate a great breakfast at the Feel Good Cafe next door.
Want to visit Custer State Park? Read our guide to the best things to do in Custer State Park on our travel site Where Are Those Morgans next for all the details!
Why Stay In Custer?
Custer is centrally located within the Black Hills, which makes it a superb base to use for ticking off the top attractions on a South Dakota road trip itinerary.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is the most popular place to visit in the area and it can be reached in less than 30 minutes from Custer.
However, there are a ton of fun things to do near Mount Rushmore and many of them are closer to Custer than they are to Keystone (which is right next to Mt Rushmore).
From Custer it is just 7 miles to the photogenic Needles Highway and Sylvan Lake, which is where you can hike Black Elk Peak trail to a remarkable summit vista.
The popular Custer State Park wildlife loop and Iron Mountain Road scenic byway are both located just 25 minutes from the city of Custer. You can also reach Crazy Horse, Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave in under 20 minutes by car.
Even Badlands National Park can be reached in under 2 hours from Custer and we highly recommend a visit.
In summary, Custer is one of the best places to stay in the Black Hills whether you are planning to stay for just one night or if you prefer to book one hotel for the duration of your vacation.
What Are The Best Hotels In Custer SD?
The term best can be interpreted in several ways and it has a different meaning for everyone.
Does best simply mean the highest rated? The highest quality? What about price and location?
In this guide we strive for inclusivity when we show you our version of the best hotels. Our list is based on the highest guest ratings and our own experiences but crucially we include every budget category so that every type of traveler can find the best hotel available.
Are you curious about the best hotels in Custer SD based purely on ratings?
Here are the top 3 hotels in Custer according to thousands of reviews from several popular online sources (with at least 100 authentic guest reviews – correct as of September 2023 but subject to frequent changes):
Booking
- 1. EO Bungalows
- 2. Bavarian Inn
- 3. Rocket Motel
Hotels (Expedia)
- 1. Bavarian Inn
- 2. Rocket Motel
- 3. Holiday Inn Express
- 1. Rocket Motel
- 2. Bavarian Inn
- 3. Chalet Motel
Tripadvisor
- 1. Bavarian Inn
- 2. Rocket Motel
- 3. Comfort Inn
As you can see, both Bavarian Inn and Rocket Motel appear in the top 3 positions of all popular online sources for guest ratings.
Ratings are good to use as a guide but they are subjective and will fluctuate over time. Look for hotels with high scores and a high number of ratings. That is the sign of a quality hotel.
One thing to note is that hotels with the best ratings often translate to hotels with the highest nightly cost. And that is why we do not simply list hotels with the highest ratings in our guides.
Are Hotels In Custer SD Expensive?
Hotels in Custer SD are more affordable than you might imagine considering it is so close to Mount Rushmore and the popular Black Hills tourist spots.
If you book a Custer hotel during a weekend in summer or a holiday weekend you can naturally expect the prices to be inflated.
However, we can tell you from years of experience that midweek prices and off season prices at hotels in Custer SD are extremely affordable when compared to other popular areas around the US.
One important thing to remember about booking hotels in Custer is seasonality. Many hotels in Custer and around the Black Hills are only open in peak season from around April through October.
Not sure where to stay in the Black Hills? Read our guide to the best hotels near Mount Rushmore which also covers more nearby towns such as Hill City, Rapid City and Deadwood.
Hotel Tax In Custer
Bear in mind when booking your hotel in Custer that you will pay 9% hotel tax on top of your base rate. You will also be required to pay $2 city tax per night (per room).
So let’s say the basic nightly room cost at a cheap Custer hotel is US $100.00 for one night, your actual total cost will be $111.00.
- When booking your hotel using Booking.com look under the price for includes taxes and fees. This means the price you see is final and will not be subject to further add ons.
- Conversely, if you see text reading something like +$10 for taxes and fees, that means you will pay the hotel room cost + the additional 10% tax.
Taxes are just something to be aware of so you avoid any nasty surprises when you come to pay.
Custer Hotels Map
Let’s take a quick look at an interactive Google Map showing the locations of our 8 best Custer SD hotels featured in this guide.
Map key:
- Green stars – Cheap hotels in Custer
- Red stars – Mid range budget hotels in Custer
- Blue stars – Luxury hotels in Custer
Click or touch the map to activate.
Zoom in and out, move around the Custer area to see exactly where each lodging option is located.
8 Best Hotels In Custer SD
OK, let’s take a look at each of the best Custer hotels.
We have hand picked the top 8 Custer hotels by compiling and comparing previous guest ratings, location, value for money and our own experiences in the area.
Featured hotels are listed in order of average nightly cost within three price range categories; cheap, mid range and luxury.
We selected three future dates in different seasons and collated prices in order to list with a degree of accuracy.
You will find 3 x cheap hotels, 4 x mid range budget hotel and 1 x luxury hotel. Each represents a top rated hotel within its price category.
Let’s kick things off with the best cheap hotels in Custer South Dakota!
1. Chalet Motel Custer
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.6 / 10
- Google – 4.6 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast included, pet friendly
- Location: East side of Custer
Chalet Motel is one of the best cheap hotels in Custer SD with excellent guest reviews and extremely affordable nightly prices. You will stay in old but cute and cozy detached cottages which are perfect for light sleepers.
Reviewers rate staff, cleanliness and location the highest at Chalet Motel. The cottages are right in town, they are pet friendly and comments are very positive about cleanliness. With such low rates, this is a hard Custer hotel to beat if budget is your top priority.
>> Book Hotel: Chalet Motel Custer
2. Rocket Motel Custer
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 9.1 / 10
- Google – 4.8 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free WiFi, fire pit, BBQ, hot tub
- Location: Center of Custer
Rocket Motel is the top rated cheap hotel in Custer SD. It has exceptional guest reviews across all popular online platforms, a central downtown location and affordable rates. Comments about the owners are extremely positive so you will be in good hands.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities, value for money and location the highest at Rocket Motel. It takes a clean sweep across the board for every aspect we take into account. This low budget Custer motel with sky high ratings is a fantastic option.
>> Book Hotel: Rocket Motel Custer
3. Chief Motel Custer
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.7 / 10
- Google – 4.4 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free WiFi, indoor swimming pool, sauna, hot tub
- Location: Center of Custer
Chief Motel is another fantastic cheap hotel in Custer SD with super ratings and a great downtown location. The prices are affordable and here you get the added benefit of a year round pool, hot tub and sauna to use after long days exploring the Black Hills.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at Chief Motel. All restaurants in town are within easy walking distance and family rooms are available. If keeping costs down is your priority, we highly recommend comparing prices at all three excellent hotels in our cheap category.
>> Book Hotel: Chief Motel Custer
4. Comfort Inn And Suites Custer
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.5 / 10
- Google – 4.5 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, indoor pool, hot tub, breakfast included, fitness center, laundry
- Location: West side of Custer
Comfort Inn and Suites is the most affordable chain hotel in Custer SD with high ratings. This amenity heavy hotel has a pool, hot tub, gym, continental breakfast and laundry available for guests. It is located to the west of Custer but you can use sidewalks to easily get into town.
Reviewers rate comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at Comfort Inn and Suites. You know exactly what to expect at a well regarded Comfort Inn, so this Custer SD hotel might better suit travelers who want to sleep somewhere familiar.
>> Book Hotel: Comfort Inn and Suites Custer
5. Bavarian Inn Custer
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 9.1 / 10
- Google – 4.6 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot tub, laundry, pickle ball court, pet friendly, on site restaurant, breakfast available, board games
- Location: North side of Custer
Bavarian Inn is the top rated hotel in Custer SD. It has hundreds of exceptional ratings across all popular online platforms, it is affordable and it has a secluded location less than 1 mile to the north of town. We spent a fantastic night at Bavarian Inn based on sky high reviews and it did not disappoint.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities, value for money and location the highest at Bavarian Inn. It takes a clean sweep with especially high scores for staff and location. This is one of the better inns we have stayed at in the US for this affordable price point.
>> Book Hotel: Bavarian Inn Custer
6. EO Bungalows Custer
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 9.3 / 10
- Google – 4.6 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, kitchenettes, robes
- Location: Center of Custer
EO Bungalows is the most unique place to stay in Custer SD and it is perfect for couples. It doesn’t have as many ratings, but the ratings so far are sky high and extremely positive. In time this quirky, cozy and thoughtful accommodation could become the best hotel in Custer.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities, value for money and location the highest at EO Bungalows. Every score is near perfect at this original and personable lodging. If you prefer something unique over a typical hotel chain, look no further than EO Bungalows.
>> Book Hotel: EO Bungalows Custer
7. Holiday Inn Express Custer
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.8 / 10
- Google – 4.4 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, indoor swimming pool, hot tub, fitness center, breakfast included, laundry
- Location: West side of Custer
Holiday Inn Express is a solid mid range budget Custer SD with excellent ratings. Comments are positive about the extensive breakfast and pool area which might be helpful for families with kids. It is a little more expensive for a hotel chain but it is a quality place to stay in Custer.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Holiday Inn Express. We have all stayed in Holiday Inn hotels around the world and some are better than others. This is one of the better Holiday Inn properties and it is located just a few minutes walk to the west of town.
>> Book Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Custer
8. Creekside Lodge At Custer State Park Resort
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 9.2 / 10
- Google – 4.6 / 5
- Price: Luxury $$$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, laundry, on site restaurant and bar, breakfast available
- Location: Custer State Park
Creekside Lodge is a wildcard entry to this list of best Custer SD hotels because it is located next to the Custer State Park visitor center which is a 25 minute drive from the city of Custer. The lodge is luxurious and perfect for driving the wildlife loop but it is more expensive.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities, value for money and location the highest at Creekside Lodge. It is a new hotel option but so far the reviews are exceptional. You will be immersed into nature and surrounded by plenty of bison!
>> Book Hotel: Creekside Lodge At Custer State Park Resort
Best Hotels Near Custer
- Deadwood – Where to stay in Deadwood SD
- Keystone – Best places to stay in Keystone SD
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We hope this guide to the best hotels in Custer helps you book the perfect hotel for your visit to South Dakota!
Please let us know if you have any questions about any of the hotels in our list of best places to stay in Custer SD by commenting below.
Happy Booking,
Mark and Kristen
Best Hotels Anywhere
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