Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is one spot everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. I remember visiting the area in my youth, and this summer I was able to share it with my wife and kids. Our stop at Mount Rushmore was one of the many things we explored in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

If Mount Rushmore is on your list, here’s a rundown of what you need to know as you plan your trip.

NOTE: Our itinerary didn’t get us to Mount Rushmore until late afternoon. However, the best time to photograph the sculpture would be in the morning between 9 and noon. There will be fewer shadows and less backlighting on the mountain.

But first – a dad joke: How many presidents are on Mount Rushmore? The answer is at the bottom of this article.

Getting to Mount Rushmore + Parking Info

It’s pretty easy to find the entrance to Mount Rushmore. It’s 3 miles west from Keystone, South Dakota, along Highway 244. As you get closer, you can see the faces carved on the mountain. Follow the signs to get off the highway and to the main entrance.

As you arrive, there are several bays you can pull through. Stop at the gate and grab a ticket from the machine. Then follow the instructions to the parking garage. Be sure and keep the ticket with you as you visit the memorial. You can use any of the Parking Station Kiosks to pay the $10 parking fee.

There is no entrance fee for Mount Rushmore, but there is the $10 parking fee. That means you annual National Parks pass won’t cover the parking fee.

Avenue of Flags and Grand View Terrace

It’s pretty easy to find your way – just walk toward the faces on the mountain. Along the way, you’ll find an information center, bathrooms, an audio tour rental area, and a gift shop. As of summer 2020, areas of the memorial are under construction, so some of the building locations may be shifting around to accommodate.

The final walk-through area is lined with flags from each state and U.S. territory. Challenge your kids (or spouse) to find your state’s flag without looking at the names below each grouping of flags. That walkway is usually teaming with people, so it may be a little tough to get a family photo without people photo bombing you.

At the end of of the Avenue of Flags is the main lookout for Mount Rushmore. We took our family photo there. Below the terrace is the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center. The film, “Mount Rushmore, The Shrine,” is shown every 20 minutes in one of the two theaters. The exhibits in the museum tell the story of Gutzon Borglum, the creation of Mount Rushmore and the workers who helped.

Hike the Presidential Trail

After getting the picturesque view of the mountain, follow the Presidential Trail to get a closer look at the four presidential faces. The trail is a 0.6-mile loop. There are four stops along the trail, each one highlighting the four president’s featured in the carving: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

The trail is a mixture of stairs, paved paths and a little dirt path. We went clockwise and found the stairs to be more of a downhill than uphill climb.

After walking underneath the president’s noses, you’ll arrive at the Sculptor’s Studio. It’s there where you see a large sculpture of what the finished carving was to look like. However, the carving wasn’t complete. The park ranger said if we wanted to start a GoFundMe and convince Congress to sign off on finishing the work, we could. Anyone interested?

Jr. Rangers can participate in a Ranger Talk to learn more about the memorial on the mountain. This takes place inside the Sculptor’s Studio. You’ll find a large air compressor used to power the jackhammers that carved out the rock to bring the faces out of the mountain.

After visiting the Sculptor’s Studio, make your way back up to the Grand View Terrace, or follow the Nature Trail off-shoot to the parking garage to make your way to the next stop on your Black Hills itinerary.

And here’s the answer to the joke above: None. They are only carvings. 😉

The Details

Address: 13000 Highway 244, Keystone, SD 57751

Parking: There are six parking lots available at Mount Rushmore. When you enter the park through one of the many gates, an attendant will let you know which lot to park in.

Cost: There is a $10 cost to park at Mount Rushmore. An annual National Parks Pass does not cover that fee. There is no cost to explore Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Hours: The parking lot and memorial area are open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. There is an evening lighting ceremony at 9 p.m. The buildings and other elements of the area have varying hours, so visit the official park website before your visit.

Website: https://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm

Phone: (605) 574-2523

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