Custer sits at the junction of U.S. 16 and U.S. 385 in the southern Black Hills. Rapid City Regional Airport is the nearest commercial airport, about an hour away by car.
Driving is the practical way to arrive and to see the area. From Rapid City, U.S. 16 runs southwest through the Black Hills; from Hot Springs, U.S. 385 comes north past Wind Cave National Park. Roads can be icy in winter and slow in summer when wildlife or sightseeing traffic backs up the park drives.