Allow 2–3 hours at Devils Tower for a first visit, including a walk around the base and time to enjoy the views. That is time inside the monument, so add the drive from your accommodation. If you also want the Red Beds Trail and a picnic, set aside 4–6 hours.
The Tower is the obvious draw, but the landscape around it changes how you experience the visit. The paved Tower Trail brings you close to the rock columns; Red Beds gives you more space, a longer walk and views across the surrounding valley. You do not need to climb the Tower to have a worthwhile day.
How much time do you need at Devils Tower?
| Time at the monument | Suggested plan | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 60–90 minutes | Views from the visitor-centre area and a short walk | A brief stop; leave the full circuit optional if parking takes time |
| 2–3 hours | Tower Trail, photographs and visitor centre if open | The most useful first-visit plan |
| 4–6 hours | Tower Trail plus Red Beds and a picnic | A walking-focused half day with more varied scenery |
These are suggested visit allowances, including breaks. Summer traffic and parking queues can add time before you begin walking. A late-afternoon visit may be quieter, but check daylight and visitor-centre hours before building the day around it.
Getting to Devils Tower
Devils Tower National Monument is in northeastern Wyoming, south of Hulett. Save the monument entrance rather than relying on a nearby business with “Devils Tower” in its name.
The NPS directions route drivers from I-90 onto US 14, using Sundance when approaching from the east or Moorcroft from the west. Follow WY 24 and then WY 110 into the monument. Hulett is another approach from the north.
If you are combining the stop with the Black Hills, count both the outward and return journeys before adding another attraction. For a road trip continuing through Wyoming, the Tower works best when it fits your direction of travel rather than creating a rushed out-and-back diversion.
Download directions before leaving. Set your return route while you have reception, and keep enough fuel for the next part of the journey.
Entrance fee, parking and visitor facilities
The NPS fee page currently lists $25 for a private non-commercial vehicle and its passengers. The monument is cashless, so bring a payment card or an accepted entrance pass. Fees and pass terms can change; the official page is the place to confirm them before your trip.
For a longer national-park road trip, our guide to whether a US national park pass is worth it helps you compare the options. Check current pass prices and eligibility rather than assuming every visitor pays the same amount.
The visitor-centre lot is the convenient starting point for the Tower Trail and Red Beds. NPS warns that it can fill between 10am and 3pm in summer. Arriving earlier or later gives you a better chance of finding a space, though it is not a guarantee.
The official parking guide explains the designated areas for cars, RVs and trailers. For larger vehicles, the picnic-area lot is worth planning around; NPS recommends leaving trailers there before continuing with a passenger vehicle. Joyner Ridge has a narrow dirt-road approach and limited turning room.
Parking below the visitor centre changes your walking plan. A connecting trail uphill adds distance and climbing; it is not the same outing as stepping out of the car beside the Tower Trail.
Check visitor-centre opening information if exhibits or ranger advice are part of your plan. Bring your own drinks and snacks so a closed building does not derail the visit.
Tower Trail: the best starting point for a first visit
The Tower Trail’s loop is 1.3 miles / 2.1 km. NPS lists approximately 1.8 miles / 2.9 km for the complete walk with its approach from the visitor-centre parking area, so allow for more than the loop alone.
The paved path takes you around the base, changing your view of the Tower’s columns as you go. Give yourself around an hour or more for a relaxed circuit with stops rather than treating it as a quick photo lap.
Paved does not mean flat or fully accessible. The NPS trail guide describes an accessible approach to the loop junction, with the circuit beyond it not ADA-accessible. If a wheelchair, scooter or step-free route is essential, check that distinction before setting off.
Keep to the path and designated areas. The boulder field is not a shortcut to the top, and scrambling on loose rock adds a different level of risk to an ordinary sightseeing walk.
Red Beds Trail: add a longer walk
The Red Beds Trail is a 2.8-mile / 4.5-km loop from the visitor-centre area. It includes unpaved ground and steep sections between the upper area and the Belle Fourche River valley.
Choose it when you want to spend more of the visit walking and see the Tower from farther away. It is a more demanding addition than another short paved circuit, particularly in hot weather.
As a practical allowance, budget about 1½–2½ hours for Red Beds with breaks, adjusted for your pace. Walking both Red Beds and the complete Tower Trail outing amounts to roughly 4.6 miles / 7.4 km before any other detours.
Start with whichever trail matters most to you, then decide whether the second still fits the weather and your energy. You will not improve the day by squeezing in a longer walk when you are already short of water or daylight.
A simple Devils Tower half-day plan
- Arrive early: pay or show your pass, park legally and read the trail notices.
- Walk the Tower Trail: take time to look at the columns, landscape and interpretive information.
- Pause before extending: decide whether you have the water, conditions and energy for Red Beds.
- Add Red Beds if it suits: keep its climbs and walking time separate from the short circuit.
- Finish with a picnic: use a designated picnic area, pack away leftovers and allow time for the next drive.
With only 2–3 hours, keep the Tower Trail as your main activity. With a longer stop, the second walk is more useful than racing between several distant viewpoints.
Respect the Tower’s cultural importance
Devils Tower is a sacred place for many Indigenous peoples. You may see prayer cloths or bundles in trees beside the trail. Leave them untouched and avoid photographing them. Treat ceremonies and other visitors with the same respect you would offer at any active sacred site.
A day visit does not require technical climbing. If climbing is the purpose of your trip, use the park’s current climbing information for registration, restrictions and cultural considerations rather than this walking itinerary.
What to bring and when to visit
Bring drinking water, sun protection, shoes with grip, snacks and a layer suited to the forecast. Add a map and a small first-aid kit if you are walking beyond the main circuit.
On hot days, do the longer walk in the cooler part of the day and keep some water for the return. In cold or wet conditions, watch for slippery paving and muddy sections. During thunderstorms, head for proper shelter rather than lingering beneath an isolated tree or against the rock face.
The trails are also subject to current conditions and closures. Check those before travelling; opening of the monument does not establish that every trail is suitable.
Pets are not allowed on monument trails. If a dog is travelling with you, plan an allowed area and proper care separately. Do not leave an animal in a hot vehicle while the group hikes.
For a road-trip picnic, our guide to packing a compact camp kitchen helps you keep the food kit manageable. You do not need a cooking setup for a simple lunch.
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Where to stay near Devils Tower
Hulett is a nearby base to consider if you want an early or late visit. Sundance may fit an I-90 journey, while a Black Hills base can work if you are comfortable with the additional driving. Compare the whole route before choosing a room solely for its distance from the monument.
Devils Tower day-trip FAQs
Can you see Devils Tower without hiking?
Yes. You can enjoy views from the visitor-centre area and other designated stops without completing a full trail. Allow time to park, and use the accessible approach if its surface and slope suit your needs.
Is the Tower Trail the same as Red Beds?
No. Tower Trail is the paved circuit close to the Tower, while Red Beds is a longer unpaved loop with steeper sections and wider landscape views.
Is a day trip enough?
A day trip is enough for the main sightseeing walk and, with more time, a second trail. Stay nearby if you want to visit at a quieter time without a long drive afterwards.
