Thanksgiving road trip

Rapid City to Custer for Thanksgiving

Distance

45 mi

Driving

1.25 hrs + traffic

Halfway

Keystone

The next Thanksgiving lands on Thursday, November 26, 2026. On US-16 and the Wildlife Loop Road, the heaviest traffic usually hits the Tuesday and Wednesday before and the Sunday after. Drive Thanksgiving morning itself; roads are often the quietest of the week.

Book the halfway night early

Keystone sits about 25 miles from Rapid City and 20 miles from Custer. Holiday weekends sell out the rooms near the highway first.

• Stays in Keystone
• Stays in Custer

Along the way

• Wildlife Loop Road bison herds
• Begging burros
• Needles Highway

Full drive guide for this route