Planning a trip to Mount Rushmore?
We have all seen a million photos and movies and replicas and even parodies of Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota. For that reason, I did not expect to be as awestruck as I was when I finally stood in front of it.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is spectacular. It is an impressive feat of art and engineering set in one of the most beautiful parts of our nation. It stirred feelings of patriotism and reverence in me to a degree that I did not expect.
I have visited Mount Rushmore twice – several years apart. The first time was with my husband and two young children. The second was a family reunion with my parents and my sisters' families. It was a group of 18, ranging in age from 7 to 70.
Here are my tips for making the most of a visit to Mount Rushmore.
Getting There
Mount Rushmore is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is a rugged and rural area located about 20 miles from Rapid City on a winding mountain road. The road is wide, paved and well-maintained.
Mount Rushmore does not charge admission, but you will need to pay $10 per car for parking. There aren't any other parking options.
Your parking pass is good for a full year, so return all you want during your stay in the Black Hills. Mount Rushmore has several parking structures to accommodate large numbers of visitors. The parking lots are a great place to spot hard-to-find plates for the license plate game.
What to Expect
After leaving the parking area, visitors enter a wide long plaza with a view of Mount Rushmore at the end. A display of flags from every U.S. state flanks both sides of the plaza. Lots of seating can be found just past the gift shop for viewing the monument, or the stage and amphitheater below. Stairs on each side of the plaza lead to the amphitheater.
A loop trail allows visitors to get a closer look at Mount Rushmore. Expect lots of stairs and little distance – about half a mile. Most visitors will not find it strenuous – especially if you stop often.
On the trail, enjoy the scenery. A hands-on Native American exhibit and an artist's studio can be found along the way. At the artist's studio, see the finished product that Mount Rushmore's sculptor originally intended. On both trips, we enjoyed live presentations from dancers and artists.
Back at the amphitheatre, you'll find a small museum and short film in the visitors center.
Visitors to Mount Rushmore National Memorial can also find an ice cream shop, a cafe and a large gift shop, which was my daughter's favorite part of our visit. We visited Mount Rushmore twice during our stay and were there for a couple of hours each time.
Related: The Ultimate Black Hills Itinerary for Families
When to Go
Mount Rushmore National Monument and most of its amenities are open year-round. It is located in a mountainous area where the road twists and turns and changes elevation frequently. The weather can be cool, even in summer.
Most people visit in the summer. If you want to avoid crowds, visit any other time.
We have visited in early June and early July. Mount Rushmore was busy in early June, but still relatively laid back.
The monument was packed the first week of July over Independence Day. Nevertheless, we didn't have much trouble getting a parking space first thing in the morning or before the evening program. At its busiest, Mount Rushmore is still very doable. It's built for crowds.
How Much Time Do You Need?
Half a day is plenty of time to visit Mount Rushmore. If you just want to see it and get a few pictures without spending much time at the exhibits, you can do it in an hour or two.
There are a lot of other things to do nearby. Mount Rushmore might be a check off your bucket list, but you might find that it's not even your favorite part of the Black Hills. My favorite place is Custer State Park. Reptile Gardens, Storybook Village and Bear Country U.S.A. are also fun for families.
Related:
- 5 Fun Things to Do at Custer State Park
- Why Storybook Island is Rapid City's Best Park for Kids
- Tips for Visiting Reptile Gardens
- Tips for Visiting Bear Country U.S.A.
Evening Program
My husband and I attended the Evening Lighting Ceremony on our second trip to Mount Rushmore. It's a patriotic program held every night from late May through late September.
The program begins with a short ranger talk and a short patriotic film. Veterans from all branches of the U.S. military were invited to the stage and then the U.S. flag was lowered for the night. The monument is lit to the applause of the crowd. Watching the program with a large, enthusiastic crowd was truly stirring.
There are lots of seats in the amphitheatre, and on one of the busiest nights of the year there were still seats available until about 15 minutes before the program started. We arrived about an hour in advance and had our pick – which was the very back row against the wall.
Junior Ranger Program
The ranger desk and visitor center are located one level below the plaza. We stopped there on our first trip to get free Junior Ranger information for our children. The Junior Ranger activities helped our children learn about the history, nature and wildlife in the area. When they completed the required number of activities, they took the books back to the ranger who quizzed them on the activities and swore them in as junior rangers. They received a plastic gold Mount Rushmore badge.
Need a place to stay?
Narrowing down your options can be one of the biggest challenges to staying in the Black Hills. On our first Black Hills trip, we stayed at Howard Johnson Rapid City, which gets strong reviews on Trip Advisor. Click the button to check rates and availability at TripAdvisor.
On our second Black Hills trip, we stayed in a rental home just outside of Custer State Park. It was everything we hoped it would be. It's #760445 on VRBO.com. Click the button below to see it now.
Related: My Review of Howard Johnson Rapid City
Conclusion
Mount Rushmore National Memorial was the highlight of our Black Hills vacation. It is an artistic and engineering feat celebrating four of the United States' great leaders. Don't miss an opportunity to see it.
Good to Know
Where: Just outside the town of Keystone, South Dakota and about 20 miles from Rapid City.
When: Year-round, but many attractions and visitor services are only open from May-September.
How Much: There is no charge to visit the monument, but parking is $10 per vehicle. Seniors pay $5 and active military park for free. National parks passes do not cover the parking fee. Your parking pass is good for one full year!
How Long: 1-4 hours
Amenities: restrooms, gift shop, cafe, ice cream, audio tour
Website: www.nps.gov/moru
Lisa
It always amazes me that someone even had the idea to carve Mount Rushmore – would love to see it for myself someday!
Allison
It is amazing. You don’t realize how big it is until you are there. I hope you see it before too long. The Black Hills is such a great destination for families. It is the great American road trip.
[email protected] We There Yet Mom?
WOW! Thanks for all the great tips- I definitely want to take my kids to see it one day!
Thank you for linking up too!
Sere
Thanks for the info. I am hoping to make a fall colors trip out to South Dakota this fall and plan to spend a little bit of time at Mt. Rushmore. Did you see the Crazy Horse Memorial while you were out there? I just think the engineering for Mt. Rushmore is just remarkable.
Sere
Allison
We drove past the Crazy Horse Memorial and were able to see it from the road, but did not go in for a better look. Even from a distance, it is impressive.
Kate's Travel Journal
Just came back from South Dakota. Visited Mt. Rushmore, Custer, Windcave and Badlands. It was an awesome experience. I feel like an American!
Allison Laypath
That’s how I feel about the Black Hills. It’s the ultimate American road trip.
Ron Allen
My wife and I are looking for a nice vacation and I had mention to her about Mt. Rushmore.
We would have to make it a week vacation because we live in central Connecticut and will be driving out that way. It really looks like a really nice place to visit. We are both in our early 60s and I walk with a cane to help me walk. Thank You for all your info on Mt. Rushmore.
Allison
You are welcome! I hope you have a great trip. I’m sure there will be many wonderful things to see along the drive.
Rick
Can anyone share a place to stay about halfway between mount rushmore and Branson, MO . Looking for a city and accommodations. Thanks
Allison
Omaha, Nebraska or Sioux City, Iowa are both about halfway in between Rapid City, South Dakota and Branson, Missouri. Unfortunately, we don’t have any specific recommendations, but they should both have a lot of good lodging options.
rick
Thanks for the info. I will look into both
Darlene Herrera
We will be heading to Mt. Rushmore Labor day weekend. We are looking for a place to camp and atv near there? Any suggestions. Would love to be able to set up camp then drive truck to Mt. Rushmore, Then be able to atv somewhere close by.
Allison
I did not camp, but I know that there must be many options. It’s a beautiful, rural area. Try in or near Custer State Park or the city of Custer. If any readers have recommendations, please share!
Jennifer
Custer State Park has several very nice camping areas but they may be booked up for this year. Go to custerresorts.com for information. It is $20 to get into the park for a week. The camping fee will be additional.
Himanshu
Thanks for all the info.
How good is it to visit during the thanksgiving weekend? How is the weather at this time?
Allison
I have not visited during Thanksgiving. According to Weather.com, it looks like the weather is cool and a little warmer than average this year. The roads will be paved, and presumably well maintained, but the terrain is mountainous, so beware of rain and snow. The monument is open year round, but hours and services will be reduced. Check the official website for details. Some local services and attractions may be closed for the season. It will be a great time to enjoy Mount Rushmore without the crowds!
Jennifer
We were there this past weekend and it is awe inspiring. They charged us $10, and the pass is good until December 31 if this year. We also went to the evening ceremony and lighting and if you ever get the opportunity, you should do it!
Allen Parker
My wife will visit in September and are in our 80s, so we were wondering how long a walk is it to the amphitheater from the parking lot. We understand that is where you see the light show.
Allison
Hello! It’s a fairly flat walk from the parking lots to the amphitheatre – maybe a quarter mile or less. There are things to see and places to stop or sit along your way. My mother is on oxygen, and she walked it without too much trouble.
Once you reach the amphitheatre, you’ll have a great view of Mount Rushmore, and you’ll be at the upper level of the amphitheatre. You can take a seat there, or take an elevator or stairs down to the lower level of the amphitheatre and visitor center. There is much more seating below. The seats are hard concrete benches. We attended the lighting ceremony during the first week of July 2018, and found that the best seats (in the back against the wall, or front and center) filled 45-60 minutes in advance, but there were still plenty of seats until about 15-20 minutes in advance. We didn’t have much problem with traffic afterward. You probably don’t need to worry as much about crowds in September. Hope that helps! Have a great trip!
George frabel
Is it wheel chair friendly
Allison
Yes. Much of Mount Rushmore is wheelchair accessible. Here is the official accessibility page for Mount Rushmore, with details: https://www.nps.gov/moru/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm
Chai
Hi, Me and my family is attending an event on Mt Rushmore Memorial Amphitheatre, how far is it to the four faces?
Allison
You’ll have a great view of the four faces of Mount Rushmore from the amphitheater. You cannot hike onto the faces, but a loop trail from the amphitheater will take you to the base of the mountain where you can look up at them. The loop trail is about a mile roundtrip.