Sylvan Lake Lodge – 13389 US Hwy 16A, Custer, SD 57730
Stay in the Lodge or in one of their cabins just around the corner and you have a great place to start your trip around Sylvan Lake and up Harney Peak . You can also take your chances through driving through Needles Highway, slow down and drive a smaller vehicle.
Here is their website.
We stayed in one of the cabins. Some cabins are bigger than others. Ours had 2 beds and a bathroom. The campfire outside was nice and the fireplace inside was fun to have in the room. We found some flying insects in the room, but this is a park and bound to happen.
The cabins are a very short walk to the lodge and the restaurant. We ate breakfast and one dinner at the lodge. The lounge area is really nice. We took our dinner on the outdoor patio. There is an opening along the wall of the patio that you can take right off a ledge or down to the front of the building, I love South Dakota. It is very tread at your own risk.
Breakfast the lodge can be a little slow, but the food is amazing: pancakes, try the pancakes. The bacon was pretty good too. The restaurant is very high end for South Dakota. Check out their menu.
This cost is high for South Dakota, but not super expensive. Really the overall cost was rather reasonable. Plus you are right there to start your trek up to Harney Peak or around Sylvan Lake.