Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup

The Annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival is a very popular event in the Southern Black Hills of South Dakota, where approximately 1,300 buffalo are collected into corrals. This annual event is typically scheduled for late September. We'll share some of the important details in this article.

It was reported that approximately 25,000 people attended the Buffalo Roundup in 2021. Many people who attend the Buffalo Roundup come from outside of the local area.

The Buffalo Roundup begins at 9:30 AM, and the parking lots open at 6:15 AM. With so many people attending, some people plan to enter Custer State Park early in the morning. There are reports of waiting in traffic for more than an hour, sometimes multiple hours, depending on the arrival time.

There are two parking and viewing areas. Attendants must stay in the viewing area until the Roundup has been completed, which is reported as occurring about noon. Some people have asked the question, "Which is the best viewing area?" Some have suggested that the North viewing area is better, but both North and South viewing areas are popular.

Breakfast is available in both viewing areas, and lunch is available at the corrals following the completion of the roundup.

Weather can change dramatically between early morning and midday, so be prepared with appropriate clothing and sunscreen.

Pets are not allowed at the viewing areas.

Guests can bring chairs. Cameras and binoculars are recommended. However, drones are not permitted.

With 25,000 people attending the Buffalo Roundup, many RV travelers come to the area for this multi-day event. Each year, Sunset RV Park receives many requests for reservations for the Buffalo Roundup weekend because of our proximity to Custer State Park, and sites are reserved well in advance of the event. Unfortunately, quite a few people call for reservations too late and must be turned down.

Call us today to reserve your RV site for the Annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival weekend!