Mount Rushmore sits in the heart of the Black Hills, and the surrounding area is packed with things to do. We’ve spent years traveling to South Dakota and working with the state to create films on its beautiful public lands. Along the way we’ve found that the Black Hills region is one of the most underrated destinations in the country.
Within a short drive of Mount Rushmore you have two national parks, two national monuments, a national forest, a national grassland, state parks, and more. Here are the best things to do near Mount Rushmore, organized by distance from the memorial.
Mount Rushmore does not charge an entrance fee. There is a $10 parking fee per vehicle. The memorial itself takes about 1-2 hours to see. The real value of a trip here is the surrounding Black Hills region, which deserves 3-5 days minimum.
Things to Know Before Visiting Mount Rushmore
- Here’s our favorite guidebook and map for the Mount Rushmore area.
- Closest airport: Rapid City Regional Airport, which services most major US airlines daily.
- Best time to visit: May through October. September is ideal with warm days, cool nights, and fewer crowds.
- Keystone is the gateway town closest to Mount Rushmore. Small but functional with restaurants, gas, and lodging.
- Rapid City is 30 minutes away and has the full range of services including hotels, restaurants, and car rentals.
- Cell service is good in the towns and along major highways. Spotty in the backcountry areas of the national forest and parks.
Gas, Food, and Getting Around
Keystone has gas and restaurants and is the closest town (3 miles from the memorial).
Custer is a charming small town 20 minutes south. Gas, restaurants, and a good base for exploring Custer State Park and Wind Cave.
Rapid City has everything. The biggest selection of hotels, restaurants, and services in the region.
Getting around: A car is essential. The attractions are spread across a wide area. The scenic drives between them (Iron Mountain Road, Needles Highway, Spearfish Canyon) are attractions in themselves.
Mount Rushmore Area Itineraries
Mount Rushmore memorial in the morning. Drive Iron Mountain Road (one of the best scenic drives in America). Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Road in the afternoon. That is a full day hitting the three biggest draws in the area.
One Day Near Mount Rushmore
Two Days Near Mount Rushmore
Day 1: Same as above. Day 2: Black Elk Peak hike in the morning. Wind Cave National Park cave tour in the afternoon. Crazy Horse Memorial in the evening.
Three or More Days
Days 1-2 same as above. Day 3: Needles Highway and Sylvan Lake in the morning. Spearfish Canyon and Spearfish Falls in the afternoon. With 4-5 days, add Badlands National Park (75 min east), Jewel Cave, and Devils Tower National Monument (2 hrs northwest in Wyoming).
Visiting the Mount Rushmore area? Here’s our favorite hotel near Keystone.
Distance from Rushmore 0 min (surrounds it) Time Half day-multiple days Difficulty Varies
1. Explore Black Hills National Forest
Mount Rushmore is literally inside the Black Hills National Forest. To get to the memorial you drive through this beautiful forest. Of all the natural places we’ve traveled to in America, the Black Hills might top the list. The rock formations, pine forests, wildlife, and golden-hour light here are something else entirely.
There is something almost spiritual about this place. The Lakota people have considered the Black Hills sacred for thousands of years. The air is crisp, the forests are vibrant, and the recreation opportunities are endless.
2. Hike Black Elk Peak
Distance 7.1 mi RT Time 3-4 hrs Difficulty Moderate Distance from Rushmore 25 min
The highest point in South Dakota at 7,244 feet. We consider this the best hike in the Black Hills. The trail starts in pine forest, crosses a creek, and ascends to the peak with a historic fire tower at the top. The panoramic views from the summit are the best in the state. The trail passes through the congressionally designated Black Elk Wilderness.
3. Spearfish Falls and Spearfish Canyon
Distance 0.8 mi RT to falls Time 30 min + canyon drive Difficulty Easy Distance from Rushmore 1 hr
An 80-foot waterfall that most folks miss because the signage is lacking and the falls are not visible from the road. Park at the Latchstring Restaurant and look for the trailhead at the end of the parking lot. In autumn the falls are flanked by stunning foliage. Spearfish Canyon itself is one of the best scenic drives in the state.
4. Wind Cave National Park
Distance from Rushmore 50 min (38 mi) Time Half day Difficulty Easy-Moderate (cave tour)
Home to what could be the longest cave in the world. The surface is equally impressive with bison, elk, pronghorn, and prairie dogs roaming through mixed-grass prairie and pine hills. Show up at least 30 minutes before the visitor center opens at 8am if you want a cave tour. Lines form fast even in the off-season.
5. Jewel Cave National Monument
Distance from Rushmore 35 min (24 mi) Time 2-3 hrs Difficulty Easy-Moderate (cave tour)
The third longest cave in the world, known for its calcite crystal formations that give the cave its “jewel” name. Less visited than Wind Cave but equally impressive underground. Multiple tour options available. Check the NPS website for tour times and reservations.
6. Custer State Park
Distance from Rushmore 20 min (15 mi) Time Half day-full day Difficulty Easy
South Dakota’s premier state park and one of the best wildlife viewing destinations in the country. The Wildlife Loop Road is an 18-mile drive through open prairie where you will almost certainly see bison, pronghorn, wild burros, and prairie dogs. Needles Highway, also in the park, is one of the most dramatic roads in America with narrow tunnels carved through granite spires.
7. Drive Iron Mountain Road
Distance 17 mi Time 1 hr Difficulty Easy (driving)
An engineering marvel connecting Mount Rushmore to Custer State Park. The road features pigtail bridges (corkscrew overpasses), one-lane tunnels that perfectly frame Mount Rushmore in the distance, and hairpin turns through the Black Hills. One of the best scenic drives in America and a must-do if you have a car.
8. Sylvan Lake
Distance from Rushmore 20 min Time 1-2 hrs Difficulty Easy
A stunning alpine-style lake surrounded by granite boulders and ponderosa pines. The 1-mile loop trail around the lake is easy and scenic. Swimming is allowed in summer. This is also the trailhead for the Black Elk Peak hike. Located in Custer State Park.
9. Crazy Horse Memorial
Distance from Rushmore 15 min (17 mi) Time 1-2 hrs Difficulty Easy
The world’s largest mountain sculpture (still in progress). When finished, Crazy Horse will be 563 feet tall and 641 feet long. The face was completed in 1998. The museum and cultural center on site are excellent. Separate admission required ($15 per person). Worth a stop to see the scale of the project and learn about the Lakota leader it honors.
10. Wall Drug
Distance from Rushmore 1 hr (60 mi) Time 30 min-1 hr Difficulty Easy
A roadside tourist trap that has been advertising on billboards for 500 miles in every direction since 1931. Is it cheesy? Absolutely. Will you stop there anyway? Almost certainly. Free ice water, five-cent coffee, and a giant animatronic dinosaur. Best combined with a trip to Badlands National Park, which is 8 miles further east.
11. Badlands National Park
Distance from Rushmore 1 hr 15 min (75 mi) Time Half day-full day Difficulty Varies
One of the most underrated national parks in the system. Otherworldly rock formations, bison, bighorn sheep, and some of the richest fossil beds in the world. An absolute must if you’re in western South Dakota. Budget at least half a day for the Loop Road and a few short hikes.
12. Devils Tower National Monument
Distance from Rushmore 2 hrs (130 mi, in Wyoming) Time 2-3 hrs Difficulty Easy (tower trail loop)
America’s first national monument. A massive volcanic rock formation rising 867 feet above the Belle Fourche River. The 1.3-mile Tower Trail circles the base and gives you views from every angle. Sacred to multiple Native American tribes. Worth the 2-hour drive from Mount Rushmore, especially if you’re already heading northwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need near Mount Rushmore?
Three days minimum to hit the highlights. Five days if you want to include Badlands National Park and Devils Tower. The Black Hills region has far more to offer than most folks realize.
Is Mount Rushmore itself worth visiting?
Yes, but manage your expectations. The memorial itself takes 1-2 hours. The real value of a trip to the area is everything that surrounds it. The Black Hills, Badlands, Wind Cave, and Custer State Park are the reason to spend multiple days here.
What is the Mount Rushmore controversy?
Mount Rushmore was carved into the Black Hills, which are sacred to the Lakota people and were guaranteed to them in the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. The U.S. government seized the land after gold was discovered in 1874. This history is important context for any visit to the area.
