Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Needles Eye Tunnel Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Needles Eye Tunnel

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    The needle
    Alyssa Y.

    A must do in Custer! The road is windy and narrow in some areas, the tunnels are tight and parking can be at a minimum but the views are amazing! Lots of spots along the entire drive to take quick breaks and take in the views. Needles tunnel and the actual needle are highlights but here is so much to see including the iron tunnel and the cathedrals. Be patient, pack some snacks and marvel at the beauty!

    How wide is this tunnel
    Janet S.

    Set off early - 7.30 am and there was hardly any traffic. Windy roads indeed and hairpins but nothing half as scary as Glacier. Exceeded expectations with panoramic views, dramatic at every turn with lots of parking spots and photo ops. The stillness and coolness of the early morning was bracing. Our little Mitsubishi compact (Mitzi) sailed through the tunnels effortlessly. There were so few people we had time to get out and take our pictures out of the car in the tunnel - our arms spanning the tunnel walls. The fall colors made the drive spectacular.

    Maxine P.

    While driving the wildlife loop in Custer State Park we added this onto our road trip and what a gorgeous addition it turned out to be. The rock formation wonderland made a visual feast that just kept giving as you drove higher up toward the pass. Note to travelers this road is very narrow in places.....do not try this route with an RV. (One lane tunnels) There are a few tunnels through the rock formations with the most amazing one at the summit. We have friends while driving through it encountered mountain goats licking the walls and did not want to move causing a traffic jam at an already crowded area. As you make it through the tunnel it opened up to expansive views of the formations and the valleys below. Worth the drive and a must see.

    Danielle P.

    This was one of many of our hidden discoveries while we was visiting the local attractions recently. We didn't research this attraction itself, but while we were sightseeing the State park we came across it and thought it was definitely worth sharing. The Needles Eye Tunnel is located inside the Custer State Park on the Needles highway. It's a very narrow tunnel that is only passable by one vehicle at a time. It's an very unique experience and it felt as if we were driving through the rock mountain!!!

    Inside the tunnel, looking at Mt Rushmore
    Don W.

    A spectacular view. The drive up Iron Mtn Road is incredible. Saw several bison up close and personal

    Amazing worth the view but when inside look up it's worth it's for sport cars or motorcycles

    Needles Eye Tunnel in Custer State Park
    Jeana G.

    What fun! Being from Colorado, I'm use to these tunnels as a fun adventure, but really enjoyed Needles Eye. It is just barely big enough for your car to squeak thru, which was thrilling. Don't pass it by or the stunning drive thru Custer State Park to arrive to your destination.

    "You want me to put the truck through where?! " -my husband

    See all

    Photo of K G.
    1016
    581
    1582

    1 year ago

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 8
    Love this 18
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Don W.
    89
    35
    16

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chandra S.
    0
    126
    217

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    AMAZING, take the time to see, you won't be disappointed. Gods absolute splendor at its finest!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Really cool experience! It was well worth the side trip to get to see the Needles Eye Tunnel!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    A fun experience while taking the scenic drive. This is a must while in the area. Make sure you take video!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Very cool. Technical driving. Scenic by-way. Well worth the time.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Needles Eye Tunnel

    Review Highlights - Needles Eye Tunnel

    Our family of seven (4 generations) from Texas drove part of the Needles Highway while in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Dave's World Tours - Needle

    Dave's World Tours

    5.0(4 reviews)
    5.8 mi

    As soon as we called Dave's on a Sunday afternoon we really like this guy because of his sheer…read moreenergy on his voicemail. Dave called us back within a few hours and we were hooked. We thoroughly enjoyed our day out with Duane our guide from Dave's World Tours made us feel like family from the moment we met him. He got to our campsite early and had a plan for the day but we could alter the plan anyway we wanted to, but our goal was to get a complete overview of the highlights of the area so that the rest of our trip we could focus on places we want to go back to and spend more time at. We also brought our bicycles with us and Duane made sure we knew how to catch the Mickelson bike trail, which is previously a railroad route. Since we are at Mount Rushmore & Custer, SD in the off season, we had many opportunities to pull over to walk thru tunnels and get great photo ops without a concern about parking or being a hazard. We highly recommend Dave's World Tours. We also found out they do airport shuttles and bike drop offs/pick ups. Our fee included our admission to all the parks we visited and we were dropped off at the "front door" of each monument. If we wanted to spend more time (usually an hour)or less we just texted Duane and he was there in less than 5 minutes. We cannot say enough good things about our day with Duane with Dave's World Tours!

    Dave's World Tours is by far the best tour company I have ever used. Please consider them when…read moremaking plans to visit the area. Dave, the owner called a day prior to my scheduled tour day to make sure I knew exactly what would take place during my tour. Joe, my tour guide who I now consider a friend showed up on time and we hit it off immediately. He told me that it was MY tour and if there was anything I wanted to do along the way, all I had to do was ask. Joe, with a Law Enforcement and Park Ranger background helped make him the perfect tour guide. Being a long time resident he knows the area as well as anybody around. His knowledge of Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park made the days events come to life. Doing a selfguided tour would have been so much less than what Joe made it. I can't thank him enough for making the day so special for me. When we stopped for lunch several people approached him to say hello. These were his friends. Joe is a mainstay in the community. His pride and enthusiam about the area shines through. If you can't tell by now, I highly recommend Dave's World Tours. You will not regret your time in their caring hands.

    Photos
    Dave's World Tours - Wildlife Loop

    Wildlife Loop

    Dave's World Tours - Mount Rushmore

    Mount Rushmore

    Dave's World Tours

    See all

    Crazy Horse Memorial - what the finished memorial will look like

    Crazy Horse Memorial

    3.4(548 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    Crazy Horse Memorial was honestly one of the most impressive stops of our entire South Dakota road…read moretrip. Pictures really do not prepare you for how massive this mountain carving actually is in person. The scale is unbelievable, and learning that it has been actively worked on since 1948 makes it even more fascinating. What surprised me most was how much there is to do besides just looking at the mountain. The museums, cultural exhibits, artwork, and history throughout the memorial made the experience feel much deeper and more meaningful. You can tell there is a huge focus on honoring Native American culture and preserving history, which made the visit feel educational as well as visually incredible. We also highly recommend doing the bus tour to get closer to the carving because it really helps you understand the size and detail of the project. The views from the property are beautiful, and there are so many great photo opportunities everywhere you look. If you are visiting the Black Hills or heading to Mount Rushmore, this is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. It ended up being one of the most memorable places we visited in South Dakota, and I would definitely go back again. Check out our videos on our socials @reessroots

    Rip Off! $12 a person and you can't even get to the sight unless you pay another $5 a person…read more You can see what you want to see from the road - stop and take a picture and save your time and money. In addition, it's a scam, because the carving has barely changed in 40 years. This will never be a finished product. Don't waste your money at this private site.

    Photos
    Crazy Horse Memorial - Crazy Horse

    Crazy Horse

    Crazy Horse Memorial - Crazy Horse

    Crazy Horse

    Crazy Horse Memorial - Gift shop

    See all

    Gift shop

    Needles Eye Tunnel - landmarks - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...