Overview Of Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Mount Rushmore is an iconic American landmark.  At this site, you can see 60-ft tall George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, all carved into the rock. 

Why Should I Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial?

Think of Mount Rushmore as an American pilgrimage. You have seen it in the movies, see it in person too!  You can eat Thomas Jefferson’s original ice cream recipe while looking at Gutzon Borlum’s iconic Black Hills Sculpture.

The best things to do at this site are:

• Walk through the avenue of flags framing the mountain
• Hike the Presidential Trail, with rocks and trees framing out one president at a time
• Try Thomas Jefferson’s original 1700s ice cream recipe
• Visit the Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota Heritage Village
• Hike a more intense trail, like Old Baldy Mountain or Horse Thief Lake Trail
• Watch the Evening Lighting Ceremony
• Visit the Museum, Visitor Center, Theater, and Bookstore
• Check out the Sculptor’s Studio, with a model showing the construction of the monument

Our Experience At Mount Rushmore National Memorial

My wife and I visited Mount Rushmore as part of our first Black Hills trip.  We saw the memorial in the afternoon, after exploring Wind Cave in the morning.  Our hopes of a great view were not high, with the fog blocking our attempt to view Crazy Horse and our view from Rankin Ridge.

We drove the Iron Mountain Road from the South, but it was pretty foggy. We ended up having to drive it again the next day to get a clear view of the carvings.

When we arrived, it was foggy, but we could not believe how nice the entrance way to this memorial is. The entryway is immaculate, and you can tell that the craftsmen who built this entryway had a great attention to detail.

We went to the Visitor Center, and were surprised at how small it was. The park rangers showed us the stamp station and pointed us to the bookstore, which was huge and had every form of merch imaginable.

Next up was the ice cream store. We were bummed out that they were out of Thomas Jefferson’s original recipe. Next time we will show up earlier and grab some. We begrudgingly settled for a different flavor.

As we ate our ice cream and walked down the Avenue of Flags, the fog lifted for a moment, giving us a preview of Mount Rushmore. We were super excited.

When we got to the amphitheater at the end and threw away our garbage, and Mount Rushmore faded in and out of view with the fog.  We were just happy to see it after totally missing other views that day.

Presidential Trail

We started along the 0.6 mile Mount Rushmore and Presidential Trail Loop, stopping at each lookout and seeing the faces framed. Be prepared that there are over 400 stairs on this trail. The pine trees in this part of the country are Ponderosa Pines, and they have a distinct scent of butterscotch. Yes, they make the whole forest smell fresh. Yes, we also are the wierdos that sniff certain types of trees (Cedar is another offender)!

We really enjoyed the trail, and it gets you relatively close to the mountain.  I particularly enjoyed seeing the trees growing in the rubble created by carving the mountain. On the trail you also get a pretty good view of the amphitheater and Avenue of Flags.

What We Would Do Differently

Mount Rushmore was very foggy on our visit in May. Researching this, May and June are South Dakota’s wettest and foggiest months. The next time we visit this park, it will be in the fall, maybe in September.

When we revisit this park, we will show up earlier in the day, so that we can try Thomas Jefferson’s Ice Cream.

I saw on All Trails that there are other, more challenging hikes at this NPS Site. I would like to try the 2.1 mile Old Baldy Mountain Trail on our next visit.

Last, on our next trip to Mount Rushmore, we will return to watch the lighting ceremony in the evening. This patriotic event is seasonal in summer months, and we missed it.

Where To Eat Near Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Luckily, there is food onsite at Mount Rushmore, at the Carvers’ Café.  You can also get ice cream onsite at the ice cream store.

Mount Rushmore is located in Keystone, South Dakota, and is only 10 minutes away from the Powder House. This is a great place to try local favorites like Walleye and Bison. You can try a variety of meats with the game sampler.

This site is around 25 minutes from Hill City, which is home to the Alpine Inn. The steak and wedge salad were great and it was a unique experience with great atmosphere and waitstaff.  I would eat here again any day.

Further out, Mount Rushmore is 30 minutes from Custer, SD, home to the Sage Creek Grille and other great restaurants. They are worth the drive.

Mount Rushmore is around 45 minutes from Rapid City, and while there is great food over there, I would prefer to eat within the Black Hills.

Lodging Near Mount Rushmore National Memorial

There is plenty of lodging available in the Black Hills.  I would recommend picking a location central to all of the Black Hills points of interest on your trip, like Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore.  We had a great stay at a fair price at the Everspring hotel in Hill City.

Tips For Visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial

May and June may be foggy. It is not great to try to view carvings in a mountain through the fog.

There are some crazy roads to and from Mount Rushmore. Iron Mountain Road allows you to view Mount Rushmore through a series of tunnels, curves, and switchbacks. Iron Mountain Road has more curves and is more scenic than the Tail of the Dragon. It is a great drive but you might get carsick.

The deer in the Black Hills are plentiful, and half of them have a death wish.  Please use extreme caution or avoid driving at night.

When To Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial

The grounds at Mount Rushmore National Memorial are open from 6:0AM-9:00PM.

The Visitor Center is open from 8:00AM-5:00PM, but it may stay open later in the summer.

Always refer to nps.gov for the most up-to-date information on operating hours and closures.

We recommend visiting in the late summer or early fall. Winter will be super cold in South Dakota, and you want to dodge the May-June fog. We sat next to a guy on the plane ride home who had recently retired, and this was a bucket list trip for him. He returned to Mount Rushmore for 5 days in a row before the fog cleared enough for him to take in the sculpture. You can learn from his and our mistake and go during a better time of the year.

What To Bring To Mount Rushmore National Memorial

You do not need to bring very much to this NPS site. I would recommend bringing a strong dose of patriotism to Mount Rushmore, as well as a camera and a good pair of walking shoes.

Does Mount Rushmore National Memorial Have An Entrance Fee Or Require Reservations?

There is a parking fee, and it was $10 per vehicle when we went.

Sample Itinerary For Mount Rushmore National Memorial

We recommend that you visit for 4-5 hours for the first time you go to this NPS site. This includes driving the Iron Mountain Road on your way to the park.

Here is a 4.5 hour evening trip to Mount Rushmore:

• Coming from Custer State Park, take the Iron Mountain Road to this site: 1 hour
• Park, get your stamp at the Visitor Center, and visit the giant bookstore: 1 hour
• Grab ice cream and walk down the Avenue of Flags: 30 minutes
• Complete the Presidential Trail Hike: 30 minutes
• Visitor Sculptor’s Studio: 30 minutes
• Attend the Lighting Ceremony and leave: 1 hour, seasonal

If you want to extend your trip, start earlier and hike one of the other trails at Mount Rushmore.  There is a 2 mile and a 4 mile trail that depart from the site.

Summary

Mount Rushmore is an iconic American sight and one I hope to take my kids to one day. In my opinion, it is a must-see on your next trip to the Black Hills. Try Thomas Jefferson’s ice cream and take in the giant carvings of our founding fathers.

Other Sights Near Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Custer State Park – Bison, Donkeys, National Treasure 2, scenic drives, and access to the highest mountain east of the Rockies.

Wind Cave National Park – Great for cave tours to see boxwork as well as hiking above ground.

Jewel Cave National Monument – This cave is not talked about very much but is even more impressive than Wind Cave.  You have to see it to understand.

The Black Hills – A national forest sprinkled with awesome small towns and NPS sites.

Devil’s Tower – A giant rock in the middle of nowhere, but that you should see on a trip to the Black Hills area.

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site – This is very close to Badlands and is a great place to go to learn about the Cold War and Mutually Assured Destruction.

Badlands National Park – Dramatic landscapes formed by erosion and surrounded by grasslands.