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Wide shot of the front of Sylvan Lake Lodge at Custer State Park Resort

Sylvan Lake Lodge Rooms

At the top of Needles Highway (elev. 6,145 feet) historic Sylvan Lake Lodge's location was selected by Frank Lloyd Wright. The 1938 stone and timber building still boasts many of the beautiful original building elements.

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You Don't Want to Miss This View

Stay at Sylvan Lake Lodge and see Custer State Park's crown jewel for yourself. Rich in history and natural beauty, the lodge is situated in a spot suggested by architect Frank Lloyd Wright—within a hillside forest of pine and spruce trees, in harmony with the beauty of the rugged landscape. This stone and timber lodge sits atop the sloping hills and the breathtaking beauty of Sylvan Lake.

The original Sylvan Lake Hotel was a stopping point for adventurers hoping to scale Black Elk Peak, the highest point in America east of the Rockies. Some of the finest trails lead from Sylvan Lake to the peak, including the challenging Black Elk Peak Trail and the more moderate Sunday Gulch Trail.

Rent watercrafts, go fishing, or take a swim at picturesque Sylvan Lake. It also serves as a stunning backdrop for wedding receptions and other events.

  • Located along Needles Highway, part of Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway
  • Elev. 6145 feet
  • Only lodge in Custer State Park with an elevator
  • Sylvan Lake is geographically within 500 feet from the lodge; approximately 3/4 mile via paved route
  • Walking path 1000 feet to the lake; moderate terrain
  • Sylvan Lake Lodge was recently featured online in 2023 National Geographic Travel
  • The east wing of lodge rooms have been entirely rebuilt since the 2021 fire
  • The wing of lodge rooms that opened with the hotel in 1937 have been renovated

  • 24-hour on-demand coffee machine in the lobby
  • 24-hour Front Desk
  • First floor ice machine & soda vending machines
  • Seasonal Artist-in-Residence located in the lobby
  • Elevator
  • Ground-level entrance to the Lodge, Front Desk & Restaurant
  • Ramp from exterior side door available for accessible entrance to the lodge rooms & the elevator
  • Four steps from the lobby to the first floor of hallway rooms and elevator
  • To-go orders available from the Restaurant or from Sylvan Store (lakeside)
  • Guest laundromat, general store, and watercraft rentals are available down by the lake
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi signal in the lobby only. Cell service is limited throughout the property. Signal strength varies.

Specific room amenity lists can be found within each of the room descriptions. A full review of room details for specifics is encouraged.

  • Small refrigerator, microwave
  • Four (4) down-alternative polyester fiber-filled pillows per queen bed, suitable for guests with allergies
  • Serta 12" Plush Bed Mattresses with PillowSoft Aire and Cool Twist Gel Foam. Rated a "5" on a hardness scale of 1-10, which is in the middle of not too soft and not too hard.
  • Stayover housekeeping service available upon request
  • Fitted sheet, flat sheet, and fitted polyester blend duvet coverlet
  • Sheets, pillows & blankets for sofa sleepers
  • Extra blankets available from the Front Desk

  • Check-in after 4pm
  • Check-out before 10am
  • In order to accommodate guests with allergies, our lodge rooms are rented pet-free
  • $10 for rollaway/pack-n-play per night - Available in Select Units. Limited availability.
  • When you book a room, the cost of your room for the first and last night (plus tax) is required as a deposit. We will refund your deposit if you cancel your reservation at least 15 days before the arrival date. A $25.00 cancellation fee will be deducted from your refund.

Private Balconies

A stay at Sylvan Lake Lodge is not complete without taking in the full surroundings. Upgrade to a Queen/Queen Balcony or King Balcony room for some of the most private Custer State Park balcony rooms offered. You might have neighbors, but you won't see them; and they won't see you as you relax outside your room.

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Unbeatable Location

Between the crisp, fresh air at 6,145 feet, the gently-winding roads, and the pure rugged landscape surrounds, the skyline location of Sylvan Lake Lodge reigns as Custer State Park's crown jewel. While the lodge does not sit lakeside due to the elevation, mesmerizing Sylvan Lake is within 500 feet as the crow flies, or a quarter-mile moderate-terrain walking path from the Lodge. Read more about Sylvan Lake Lodge's history here.

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Our Lodge Rooms

  • Spacious corner room with king bed and a sofa sleeper. Sleeps a maximum of four (4) people
  • Room includes a telephone, small refrigerator, microwave, TV, hair dryer
  • Eco-friendly thermostat adjusts for occupied vs unoccupied room temperature
  • Table & chairs
  • Stuffed luggage bench
  • All-in-one credenza with flat-screen 42" TV, 2 dresser drawers, ice bucket, microwave, mini fridge
  • Stuffed accent chair, end table & lamp
  • Full coat closet with iron & board
  • LED backlit vanity mirror & wall-mounted floating sink
  • Headboard & night stands with reading lamps, USB ports & wall outlets
  • Full-length mirror
  • Adjoins with a QN/QN Accessible Room
  • Private balcony with forest view & patio chairs
  • Adjoining 60" vanity with 2nd sink & LED lighted mirror
  • One (1) walk-in shower with sliding glass door
  • Room was entirely rebuilt for 2023
  • $339 night

  • Deluxe room with two (2) queen beds. Sleeps a maximum of four (4) people
  • Room includes a telephone, small refrigerator, microwave, TV, hair dryer
  • Eco-friendly thermostat adjusts for occupied vs unoccupied room temperature
  • Table & chairs
  • Stuffed luggage bench
  • All-in-one credenza with flat-screen 42" TV, 2 dresser drawers, ice bucket, microwave, mini fridge
  • Full coat closet with iron & board
  • LED backlit vanity mirror & wall-mounted floating sink
  • Headboard & night stands with reading lamps, USB ports & wall outlets
  • Full-length mirror
  • Adjoins with another QN/QN Room with Balcony. If booking adjoining rooms is important to you, the Reservations Office must be notified no less than 7 days prior to arrival.
  • Private balcony with forest/walking trail view & patio chairs
  • Adjoining 60" vanity with 2nd sink & LED lighted mirror
  • One (1) walk-in shower with sliding glass door
  • Room was entirely rebuilt for 2023
  • $319 night

  • Deluxe room with two (2) queen beds. Sleeps a maximum of four (4) people. ADA Accessible.
  • Room includes a telephone, small refrigerator, microwave, TV, hair dryer
  • Eco-friendly thermostat adjusts for occupied vs unoccupied room temperature
  • Table & chairs
  • Stuffed luggage bench
  • All-in-one credenza with flat-screen 42" TV, 2 dresser drawers, ice bucket, microwave, mini fridge
  • Full coat closet with iron & board
  • LED backlit vanity mirror & wall-mounted floating sink
  • Headboard & night stands with reading lamps, USB ports & wall outlets
  • Full-length mirror
  • Adjoins with King Room with Balcony.
  • Separate 60" vanity with sink & LED lighted mirror
  • One (1) curtained walk-in tiled shower with ADA grab bars, shower handle, shower seat
  • Room was entirely rebuilt for 2023
  • $299 night

Spacious two-room suite with one king bed and a sofa sleeper. Sleeps a maximum of four (4) people. Room is original to the hotel when it opened in 1937; renovated 2023 with new furniture. Quiet top floor location (3rd floor, elevator). The two rooms share an adjoining bathroom with a walk-in tiled shower & toilet; but the Jack & Jill layout gives each room has a pedestal sink.

Bedroom:

  • One king bed
  • Table & chairs
  • In-room climate control & ceiling fan
  • Headboard & night stands with reading lamps, USB ports, wall outlets, telephone & alarm clock
  • Closet with foldable luggage rack & ironing board
  • Full-length mirror
  • Pedestal sink with mirror

Living room:

  • Queen sofa sleeper with nesting tables
  • All-in-one credenza with flat-screen 42" TV, 2 dresser drawers, ice bucket, microwave, mini fridge
  • In-room climate control
  • Cushioned accent chair
  • Closet with foldable luggage rack
  • Full-length mirror
  • Pedestal sink with mirror

$279 night

  • Spacious one-room unit with two queen beds and one sofa sleeper. Sleeps a maximum of six (6) people.
  • Room includes a telephone, small refrigerator, microwave, TV, hair dryer
  • In-room climate control
  • Luggage bench
  • All-in-one credenza with flat-screen 42" TV, 2 dresser drawers, ice bucket, microwave, mini fridge
  • Full coat closet with iron & board
  • Headboard & night stands with reading lamps, USB ports & wall outlets
  • Nesting tables for the sofa sleeper
  • Full-length mirror
  • Room is original to the hotel when it opened in 1937; renovated 2023 with all new furniture
  • One (1) full bath with shower/tub combo
  • $269 night

  • Spacious one-room unit with one king bed and one full size sofa sleeper. Sleeps a maximum of four (4) people.
  • Room includes a telephone, small refrigerator, microwave, TV, hair dryer
  • Table & chairs
  • In-room climate control & ceiling fan
  • Cushioned accent chair
  • Luggage bench
  • All-in-one credenza with flat-screen 42" TV, 2 dresser drawers, ice bucket, microwave, mini fridge
  • Four-drawer dresser
  • Full coat closet with iron & board
  • Headboard & night stands with reading lamps, USB ports & wall outlets
  • Nesting tables for the sofa sleeper
  • Full-length mirror
  • Room is original to the hotel when it opened in 1937; renovated 2023 with all new furniture
  • One (1) full split bath with shower/tub combo & separate vanity with sink
  • $248 night

  • Quaint one-room unit with one queen bed & a sofa sleeper. Sleeps a maximum of four (4) people
  • Room includes a telephone, small refrigerator, microwave, hair dryer, alarm clock
  • In-room climate control with ceiling fan
  • Flat-screen 42" TV
  • Dresser with drawers, ice bucket
  • Small coat closet with iron & board & folding luggage rack
  • Headboard & night stands with reading lamps, USB ports & wall outlets
  • Nesting tables for the sofa sleeper
  • Full-length mirror
  • Room is original to the hotel when it opened in 1937; renovated 2023 with all new furniture
  • One (1) full bath with pedestal sink & shower/tub combo
  • $199 night

  • Quaint one-room unit with one queen bed. Sleeps a maximum of two (2) people.
  • Room includes a telephone, small refrigerator, microwave, hair dryer, alarm clock
  • In-room climate control with ceiling fan
  • Flat-screen 42" TV
  • Dresser with drawers, ice bucket
  • Folding luggage rack
  • Headboard & night stands with reading lamps, USB ports & wall outlets
  • Full-length mirror
  • Room is original to the hotel when it opened in 1937; renovated 2023 with all new furniture
  • One (1) full bath with pedestal sink & shower. (If a tub is important to you, please express this to our reservation staff at the time of making your reservation).
  • $189 night

Lodge Area

Stay at Sylvan Lake Lodge and see Custer State Park's crown jewel for yourself. Rich in history and natural beauty, the lodge is situated in a spot suggested by architect Frank Lloyd Wright—within a hillside forest of pine and spruce trees, in harmony with the beauty of the rugged landscape. This stone and timber lodge sits atop the sloping hills and the breathtaking beauty of Sylvan Lake. Spend the day hiking, fishing, swimming with the store available for conveniences and the Restaurant serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. View a property map here.

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How to Book a Room at Sylvan Lake Lodge

We're so excited for you to come join in the adventure. Book your stay online below, or call our reservations team for assistance.

Call: 888-875-0001