Plan Your Visit to Mount Rushmore National Memorial
This Mount Rushmore National Memorial travel guide helps you plan a first visit without spending hours figuring out how much time you need or what else is worth seeing while you’re in the Black Hills. Seeing the four enormous faces carved into the granite is the reason most people come, but walking the Presidential Trail, learning how the mountain was carved, and driving Iron Mountain Road toward the memorial make the visit much more interesting than simply stopping for a photograph.
You will find what not to miss, where to stay, when to visit, and how much time to spend at Mount Rushmore. I’ve also included the nearby places that can turn a short stop into a full day, from driving the Needles Highway and looking for bison in Custer State Park to seeing Mount Rushmore framed perfectly through the tunnels along Iron Mountain Road.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial at a Glance
Location: Black Hills of South Dakota, near Keystone
How much time: 1½–2 hours for the memorial; a full day when combined with nearby Black Hills sights
Best time to visit: Late spring through early fall for the most activities
Best time for photos: Morning
Best walk: Presidential Trail
Best viewpoint: Grand View Terrace
Best scenic drive nearby: Iron Mountain Road
Best nearby wildlife: Custer State Park
Closest town: Keystone
Closest airport: Rapid City Regional Airport
Entrance fee: No entrance fee, but there is a parking fee
Good to know: America the Beautiful passes do not cover the parking fee
Before you go: Check current hours, weather, trail conditions, and the seasonal lighting ceremony schedule
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Travel Guide
Top 10 Things to Do at Mount Rushmore National Memorial
1. See Mount Rushmore from Grand View Terrace
2. Walk the Presidential Trail
3. Explore the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center
4. Walk beneath the flags along the Avenue of Flags
5. Visit the Sculptor’s Studio when it is open
6. Learn how workers carved the mountain
7. Attend a ranger program
8. Stay for the evening lighting ceremony when offered
9. Try the Thomas Jefferson-inspired vanilla ice cream
10. Drive Iron Mountain Road for views of Mount Rushmore framed by the tunnels
Where is Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Mount Rushmore is located in the Black Hills region of southwestern South Dakota. This is the middle of America. In fact, you can drive 1.5 hours north to Belle Fourche, South Dakota for a selfie at the Geographic Center of the United States. Most people visit the memorial during a US road trip.
- Mount Rushmore to Theodore Rosevelt National Park: 260 miles/4.5 hours
- Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone National Park: 420 miles/7.5 hours
- Mount Rushmore to Glacier National Park: 740 miles/11.5 hours
How to Get to Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The closest airport to Mount Rushmore is Rapid City Regional Airport. It is a 45-minute drive to the memorial from the airport. There is no public transportation into the park. You will need to either rent a car or join a guided tour from Rapid City.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Entrance Fees and Park Hours
Mount Rushmore is free year-round. No entrance fee or pass is required. Parking is $10. A paid parking ticket is valid for unlimited visits within a year of the date of purchase. You must purchase your parking ticket before you can leave the facility. Pay-on-foot stations are located on parking levels One, Two, Four, and Five near the stairs, at the memorial entrance pergola, outside the Carvers’ Café and Gift Shop. You can also purchase a parking ticket at any checkout in the Carvers’ Café and Gift Shop. The America the Beautiful pass does not apply for parking.
The Memorial is open daily from 5 am to 11 pm during the summer months and 7 am to 9 pm in the winter. The information center, visitor center, gift shop, and cafe are closed December 25th. The visitor center is open 8 am to 10 pm during the summer, 8 am to 6 pm in October, and 8 am to 5 pm in the winter.
How Much Time Do I Need at Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Plan to spend 1.5 hours inside the memorial and 1 day to include all the great nearby things to do listed in this itinerary.
Where to Camp at Mount Rushmore National Memorial
There are no campgrounds or overnight stays at Mount Rushmore. The Black Hills National Forest has 30 campgrounds and Custer State Park has 10. Campgrounds can also be found in nearby Rapid City, Keystone, Custer, Hill City, and Hot Springs.
Accommodation near Mount Rushmore National Memorial
There is no lodging at Mount Rushmore. Accommodation can be found in Rapid City (30 minutes), Keystone (10 minutes), Custer (30 minutes), Hill City (20 minutes), and Hot Springs (1 hour). I stayed at the Powder House Lodge in Keystone and loved the property and restaurant.
Facts About Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Almost 2.5 million people visit Mount Rushmore each year.
- The Avenue of Flags was initially established as part of the celebration of the United States Bicentennial in 1976.
- The 56 flags on the Avenue of Flags represent the 50 states, one district, three territories, and two commonwealths.
- Danish-American sculptor Gutzon Borglum was commissioned by South Dakota to create an attraction to draw tourism to the area.
- Dynamite carved 90% of the mountain, removing more than 450,000 tons of rock. A team of over 400 men did the actual carving.
- Mount Rushmore is granite and erodes about 1 inch every 10,000 years. The basic shape of the presidents’ heads may last up to 7 million years.
- The project cost $989,992.32.
- Borglum chose to sculpt George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln because they represent the nation’s birth, growth, development, and preservation.
- George Washington (1732-1799): the nation’s founding father.
- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826): author of the Declaration of Independence.
- Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919): the conservation President.
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865): key role in the civil rights movement.
- Each president’s face is 60 feet high and the faces appear in this order: Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln.
- The carving of Mount Rushmore began in 1927 and finished in 1941 when funding ran out. Washington’s face was completed in 1934 and Jefferson’s in 1936. Lincoln and Roosevelt were both finished in 1937.
- Yes, there is a secret room called the Hall of Records at Mount Rushmore. No, it’s not open to the public.
- The memorial was named after Charles E. Rushmore, a New York attorney who visited the area in 1885.
- The Black Hills National Forest is about 110 miles long and 70 miles wide with 450 miles of hiking trails.
- 200+ Rocky Mountain Goats are living in the area.
Best Time of Year to Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial
September and October are the best times to visit Mount Rushmore. There are fewer crowds, moderate temperatures, and the leaves will be changing colors. The busiest months are June, July, and August. Expect rain in May and June; snow is common in March and April. The Memorial is busiest between the hours of 9 am and 3:30 pm.
Where to Eat at Mount Rushmore National Memorial
There is one restaurant at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Carvers’ Café. Try a bison burger. The Memorial Team Ice Cream Station serves vanilla cones made from Thomas Jefferson’s recipe!
Things to Do at Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Check out the exhibits and watch the short film Mount Rushmore: The Shrine at the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center.
- Learn about the sculptor and carving process at the Sculptor’s Studio (closed in the winter).
- Attend a Ranger Talk and learn about the sculpture that was created.
- View the flags of all 50 states, one district, three territories, and two commonwealths of the United States of America.
- Take a selfie with the monument as the fifth presidential head on the Avenue of Flags, black and white looks more authentic.
- Walk the 0.6-mile Presidential Trail for different viewpoints of Mount Rushmore.
- Photograph Mount Rushmore from the Grand Terrace.
- Grab a scoop of ice cream made from Thomas Jefferson’s recipe at the Memorial Team Ice Cream Station.
- Hike the 1-mile Blackberry Trail
- Watch the nightly lighting ceremony from May through September, times change depending on the season.
Best Viewpoints in Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- The best viewpoints within the memorial are from the Grand Terrace and along the President’s Trail.
- The profile of George Washington can be snapped at the Mount Rushmore Profile Viewpoint outside the park.
- 3 viewpoints are framing Mount Rushmore through tunnels when driving south to north on Iron Mountain Road.
Things to Do Near Mount Rushmore & South Dakota’s Great 8
- Custer State Park and scenic Iron Mountain Road (drive from Custer State Park toward Mount Rushmore)
- Devils Tower National Monument and Spearfish Canyon Scenic Drive
- Badlands National Park and Wall Drug
- Step into the Wild West in Deadwood South Dakota
- Go underground at Wind Cave National Park or Jewel Cave National Monument
- Go for a swim at Hippie Hole
One Day at Mount Rushmore National Memorial Itinerary
8 am Begin the day at Mount Rushmore
10 am Drive past the Crazy Horse Memorial and view from the road on the way to Custer State Park.
11 am Spend the afternoon in Custer State Park. Kayak or go for a walk around Sylvan Lake. Drive the Needles Scenic Highway and hike the Cathedral Spires trailhead. Drive the Wildlife Loop Road and watch the bison.
5 pm Stop in a brewery or winery off Hwy 16 for a tasting (and food)
9 pm See Mount Rushmore illuminated at night
Have more time? Add a day trip to Devil’s Tower or Badlands National Park
Tips for Visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Mount Rushmore is best photographed in the morning light.
- Self-guided audio tours are available for rent at the Audio Tour Building.
- Pets on a leash (no longer than six feet) are permitted in parking garages, outside the developed area, and in the pet exercise area.
- Service animals are permitted to accompany visitors with disabilities in all areas open to the public at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
- Drones are prohibited at Mount Rushmore.
- Practice Leave No Trace Principles https://www.nps.gov/articles/leave-no-trace-seven-principles.htm
- Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks
- Check with the National Park Service for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.
Bookmark and Pin Mount Rushmore National Memorial Travel Guide for First Time Visitors
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