America's Shrine of Democracy, Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the 60-foot faces of four great American presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, respectively. These four U.S. Presidents represent the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country.
Open year-round and located near hotels, the park includes a half-mile walking trail, museum, gift shop and dining room. Below, you’ll find more trip planning tools and frequently asked visitor questions to help you plan your next great adventure to Mount Rushmore National Memorial!
NOTE: Masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings and enclosed public transportation, regardless of vaccination status. See the Mount Rushmore website for the most current information.
Top 10 Things To Do in 2022
1. Visit the Sculptor's Studio
Learn more about the carver's vision. Discover park history in the Information Center.
Top 10 Things To Do in 2022
2. Hike the Presidential Trail
Explore the Lakota, Nakota and Dakota Heritage at the Borglum View Terrace.
Top 10 Things To Do in 2022
3. Attend the Evening Lighting Ceremony
The ceremony is held nightly throughout the summer and is a uniquely inspirational experience.
Top 10 Things To Do in 2022
4. Become a Junior Ranger
Become an official Junior Ranger when you participate in either the paper or digital version of the Junior Ranger Program.
Top 10 Things To Do in 2022
5. Rent an Audio or Video Tour
Rent a multimedia hand-held photo/video tour or an audio tour wand to learn even more about the sculpture and its story.
Top 10 Things To Do in 2022
6. Take in a Ranger Talk
Take advantage of the immense knowledge of the Memorial's park rangers when you join a ranger walk or talk.
Top 10 Things To Do in 2022
7. Enjoy Thomas Jefferson Ice Cream
Enjoy a scoop of Thomas Jefferson ice cream from the Carver's Cafe - based on the first written recipe for ice cream in the United States.
Top 10 Things To Do in 2022
8. Take a Unique Picture
Take a picture of the sculpture from various unique angles, like the Carver's Cafe, Borglum View Terrace and the Sculptor's Studio.
Top 10 Things To Do in 2022
9. Hunt for a Gift Shop Treasure
Hunt for a treasure in the gift shop that will forever remind you of your Mount Rushmore experience.
Top 10 Things To Do in 2022
10. Find a Memento at the Bookstore
Find a book or memento at the Mount Rushmore Bookstorein the Information Center or Sculptor's Studio.
...Let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and rain alone shall wear them away.
Gutzon Borglum, Mount Rushmore Sculptor, 1930
Great Faces, Great Places, Genuine Experiences
While You're Here
A Stately Welcome
Walk beneath the proud, waving colors of 56 U.S. states and territories on your way to the Grand View Terrace and Presidential Trail.Meander through the relaxing South Dakota wilderness that reveals unique perspectives of the monument.
Nightly Lighting Ceremony
Each evening, May through September, a ceremony is held in the park's outdoor Amphitheater. It highlights the making of this national monument with a video, flag lowering ceremony, a salute to veterans and lighting of the memorial.
See Mountain Goats & Other Wildlife
Take a Ranger Tour
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
What is the closest airport to Mount Rushmore?
A:
Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) — located 30 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial — is the closest hub to South Dakota’s most famous park. Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, United and Boutique Air all fly into and out of the airport in Rapid City.
Q:
What is the driving distance to nearby U.S. cities from Mount Rushmore?
A:
Mount Rushmore is in some very remote country, far from major cities like Minneapolis (596 miles away) and Denver (367 miles away). Larger cities in the region include Casper, Wyoming (232 miles away), Rapid City and Sioux Falls (23 and 369 miles away, respectively) and Bismarck, North Dakota (321 miles away).
Q:
What is the best time of year to visit Mount Rushmore?
A:
June, July and August are the most popular times to visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial. September and October, when the weather tends to be a little cooler and drier, are great months for visiting.
Q:
What are the busiest times of week to visit Mount Rushmore?
A:
One of the most popular attractions in the U.S., Mount Rushmore has visitors all year long – but it’s especially popular in summer, when many families visit. June, July and August are the busiest months, while May, September and October are also popular months to visit. Most days, the monument experiences its highest traffic volume around noon, and weekends are a popular time to visit. To avoid crowds, plan your visit before 9 a.m. or after 3:30 p.m. The monument is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Q:
What is the climate, geographic information and history of Mount Rushmore?
A:
Mount Rushmore’s summer temperatures can reach as high as 100 degrees F, and winter high temps can sometimes only reach 20 F. Geographically, the granite that the famous sculpture is composed of is part of a rock formation that is among the oldest in the western United States. The setting of Mount Rushmore —the Black Hills — is high country, at 5,725 feet above sea level. As for Mount Rushmore’s background, it was an effort of fundraising and engineering that lasted for years, reaching completion in late 1941 just days before the U.S. entered World War II.
THESE GUYS HAVEN'T EVEN BLINKED SINCE 1941, THE MEMORIAL WILL BE WAITING FOR WHEN WE'RE ALL READY
Plan Your Visit
The monumental masterpiece.
Nearby Places to Stay
Nearby Attractions
Nearby Restaurants
13000 Highway 244
Keystone, SD57751
United States
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Mount Rushmore National Memorial
America's Shrine of Democracy, Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the 60-foot faces of four great American presidents who represent the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country.
Visit Mount Rushmore
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Jewel Cave National Monument
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Historic Deadwood
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Missouri River
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Crazy Horse Memorial
Korczak Ziolkowski began work on Crazy Horse Memorial in 1948. Once complete, this tribute to the Lakota leader will be the largest mountain carving in South Dakota, and the world. The on-site Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational & Cultural Center also provide educational and cultural programming.
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FAQs
Mount Rushmore | South Dakota's Great 8 Iconic Landmarks? ›
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, colossal sculpture in the Black Hills of southwestern South Dakota, U.S. It lies about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Rapid City, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Custer, and just north of Custer State Park.
Where is Mount Rushmore answer? ›Mount Rushmore National Memorial, colossal sculpture in the Black Hills of southwestern South Dakota, U.S. It lies about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Rapid City, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Custer, and just north of Custer State Park.
What is the famous landmark Mount Rushmore? ›America's Shrine of Democracy, Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the 60-foot faces of four great American presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, respectively. These four U.S. Presidents represent the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country.
How close can you get to Crazy Horse? ›How close can you get to Crazy Horse Monument? It is possible to get very close to Crazy Horse and to actually go right up to his face and walk along his arm. This though will be an extra $125 in addition to the entrance fee.
Who is the 5th face on Mount Rushmore? ›5. Is there a fifth face on Mount Rushmore? There is no secret fifth face carved into Mount Rushmore. However, for over 20 years, visitors were greeted by Ben Black Elk, unofficially called the fifth face of Mount Rushmore.