My South Dakota Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup Experience

Every fall, thousands of people make their way to Custer State Park for one of South Dakota’s most incredible traditions...the annual Buffalo Roundup.

The 2026 South Dakota Buffalo Roundup Schedule looks like this:

• Roundup Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
• Roundup Time: Herd movement starts at 9:30 A.M. Mountain Time (MT)
• Parking Open: Gates open at 6:15 A.M. and close at 9:00 A.M.
• Arts Festival: Thursday, September 24 through Saturday, September 26
• Cost: Free admission; no tickets required

I had the chance to experience the Buffalo Roundup myself in 2019, and even after all these years, it remains one of those trips I still think about.

Attending the 54th Annual Buffalo Roundup on September 27, 2019, checked a pretty big item off my bucket list.

I stayed overnight at the Stockade South Campground, and at 5:30 that Friday morning, I pulled out and headed toward the Wildlife Loop and buffalo viewing area.

I quickly discovered I wasn't the only person with the same idea.

There was already a seemingly endless line of headlights stretching down the road. A drive that normally took about 15 minutes turned into a nearly two-hour adventure.

With more than 20,000 people showing up, I suppose I should have expected a little traffic.

Once I finally parked, I still had roughly two hours to wait before the first bison appeared in the distance, moving across the bluff.

Then, suddenly, the whole thing came alive.

Thousands of pounds of bison thundered toward the corrals, surrounded by cowboys, cowgirls, trucks and Custer State Park staff. In just minutes, the herd was right in front of us. It was loud, chaotic and absolutely incredible.

Standing there watching those massive animals move across the prairie, I couldn't help but imagine what this landscape must have looked like more than a century ago, when enormous herds of buffalo roamed the Great Plains.

The traffic, the waiting and the early wake-up were all worth it.

Today, in 2026, the Buffalo Roundup remains one of those South Dakota experiences I’m really glad I can say I’ve witnessed in person.