When you think of southwestern South Dakota, you probably imagine Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, Crazy Horse, or the Badlands. Maybe you think of the cities of Rapid City, Deadwood, or Spearfish. It’s unlikely planning a trip to South Dakota stirs sweet tastes of homemade pie. But you’re missing out if you’ve never visited the Purple Pie Place! Today, we’re sharing all about this fantastic little restaurant!
If you like trying different homemade pies as you travel, you must stop at the Purple Pie Place. This staple in the Black Hills serves hundreds of slices of pie every week. Visitors also go home with whole pies. Are you traveling with your furry friend? The outdoor patio is pet-friendly! The Purple Pie Place serves other items like sandwiches and soups if you’re not in the mood for a sweet treat.
The Purple Pie Place is located in Custer, South Dakota. It’s about 45 minutes from Mount Rushmore National Memorial, about 14 minutes from Jewel Cave National Monument, and less than 20 minutes from Crazy Horse Memorial.
The west entrance station at Custer State Park is four miles from the Purple Pie Place. When you visit southwest South Dakota to enjoy the outdoor recreation and visit the sites, you must put the Purple Pie Place on your must-see list.
Pro Tip: Check out How to Plan an RV Trip to South Dakota before making the trek to the Mount Rushmore State.
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Since Custer State Park is less than ten minutes from the Purple Pie Place, it’s an easy drive to savor your favorite homemade pie after a day of exploring the park. Custer State Park encompasses 71,000 acres in the Black Hills and is one of the most visited places in South Dakota.
Visitors enjoy camping, hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, and watching the wildlife here. The Bison Center tells the story of the park’s bison herd. You’ll likely see at least one of the 1,300 bison roaming the state park. The Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center is designed to encourage children and families to explore the unique ecosystems and play in the outdoor classroom.
Camping is very popular here; the campgrounds are always full during peak season. Nine total campgrounds offer a variety of amenities. If you camp at Custer State Park, a drive to the Purple Pie Place to grab a homemade pie only takes about seven minutes!
The Purple Pie Place serves sandwiches, paninis, soups, and salads on its menu. You can enjoy chicken pot pie, a BBQ pork sandwich, or a Caesar salad. For dessert, try a float, an ice cream sundae, or a milkshake.
But what makes the Purple Pie Place famous is its homemade pies. You can order a whole pie or a slice. Pie flavors include rhubarb, peach, cherry, blueberry, blackberry, apple, bumbleberry, strawberry rhubarb, raspberry rhubarb jalapeno, and peanut butter.
One happy customer wrote, “We stopped by the Purple Pie on a recommendation of a local, and we were not disappointed! Truly one of the best pies we’ve ever had! The crusts were outstanding, and we had apple and peach pie. It was so good; we highly recommend it!”
Another customer shared, “My wife and I had lunch there. The chicken pot pie was amazing. She had a chicken bacon avocado jalapeño ranch panini that was so good. We couldn’t leave without trying a slice of pie. I had blueberry À la mode, and the pie was just like it had come out of the oven – warm and full of blueberries. She had banana cream pie and said it was perfect. A must stop.”
Finally, another happy customer said, “Wonderful place! We went twice while staying in Custer. We had the peanut butter pie, coconut creme pie, strawberry-rhubarb pie, and the bumbleberry pie. All were fantastic. It’s possibly the best pie crust we’ve ever had. No imitation here, all fresh and homemade!”
The Purple Pie Place sits along Highway 16 in western South Dakota. It’s easily accessible even if you’re only passing through without stopping to see the national park sites or staying at Custer State Park. It’s less than an hour from I-90, and the drive through the Black Hills from the interstate is breathtaking.
You can head onto Wyoming along Highway 16 and rejoin I-90 at Moorcroft, about 90 minutes from the Purple Pie Place. So whether you’re spending several days or weeks exploring this part of South Dakota or passing through, it’s well worth a visit!
The only problem you may have is deciding which pie flavor to order!
