Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills
Mount Rushmore is one of the most iconic sculptures in the entire United States. The ambitious project was supported by Washington (the federal government) with the goal of commemorating the presidents on one hand and developing tourism in the Black Hills region in the southwestern part of South Dakota. Today, the mountain attracts a huge number of visitors who also come to see the other natural sites and unique towns of the gentle ridge, in the western area at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. South of the large city Rapid City, there are nature reserves, unique caves open to the public, and of course, the mining town of Deadwood, one of the most legendary places of the Wild West.
How many days do you need for a trip to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills?
You can tour the area for a few hours and see Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, and several natural sites, or you can dedicate two days to really explore all the caves, scenic views, and attractions in this charming area. On the way to Yellowstone Park, you must stop at Devil's Tower.
Most people heading to Mount Rushmore stay in Rapid City, Custer, or the tourist town of Deadwood.
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What are the must-see attractions and activities at Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills?
- Explore the monumental sculptures of the four presidents carved into Mount Rushmore from all possible vantage points
- The Wild West on Deadwood's Main Street
- The iconic Devils Tower in eastern Wyoming
- The stunning crystals in Jewel Cave
- The spectacular rock formations in Badlands National Park
- Observe bison in Custer State Park and visit Wind Cave
- The amazing mammoth fossils at the Hot Springs site
- The enormous unfinished Crazy Horse Memorial
What are Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills?
Mount Rushmore is one of the grandest and most popular American symbols. This magnificent and mind-blowing site is the main reason for the influx of tourists to the remote area on the edge of South Dakota, filled with small towns and natural sites across the Black Hills.
- The Black Hills are an ancient granite range on the eastern edges of the Rocky Mountains. It's the first uplift of the massive folding to the west, bordering the Great Plains.
- This rare sculptural site was carved into the eastern slopes of Harney Peak, the highest mountain in the Black Hills range.
- Despite the range's name, the mountain's height is approximately 2,200 meters above sea level, and the peak of the sculptures at Mount Rushmore reaches about 1,750 meters.
Click here to download the Black Hills travel guide app…
In the early 1920s, a local historian named Doane Robinson came up with the idea to carve the presidents' statues into the mountain. The goal was to create a tourist attraction that would help develop the remote area. Robinson, with the help of politicians, managed to initiate the designation of the area as Custer National Park and gain approval to chisel the mountain as a national monument.
Robinson approached sculptor Gutzon Borglum, the son of Danish immigrants, who identified the precise location for the monument. Borglum chose Mount Rushmore due to the quality of the granite rock, which promised durability.
Borglum's construction project on Mount Rushmore naturally involved using dynamite to carve through the granite, followed by manual carving while rappelling from the mountain. The four portraits were sculpted over more than seven years, and on July 4, 1934, the monument was officially dedicated.
Today, the site attracts no less than two million tourists each year, who visit the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center.
Map of the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore
How to get to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills?
How to fly to Mount Rushmore?
Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) – The main airport in the western part of South Dakota is located in Rapid City, just a 35-minute drive from the Mount Rushmore Visitor Center. It's a small but relatively well-connected airport, located slightly east of the small city's center.
The airport is accessible from major Midwestern and Southwestern airports such as Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and more. Since the mountain is situated in a truly remote area, far from any major city, flying to Rapid City is the ideal way to get there unless you're incorporating Mount Rushmore into a road trip on the route from Chicago to Yellowstone Park.
How to drive to Mount Rushmore?
Mount Rushmore is located in one of the most rural and remote areas in non-desert America. The nearest major city, Rapid City, serves as the base for a trip to Mount Rushmore and offers central urban amenities such as restaurants, hotels, etc. (Of course, there are also motels and roadside diners along the highways). Rapid City is about a half-hour drive from Mount Rushmore's visitor center and within an hour's drive from all the parks, nature sites, and interesting towns in the Black Hills range.
Rapid City is located on the I-90 highway, an 8-hour drive from Minneapolis and 13 hours from Chicago. The area can also be reached from Denver to the south, with a drive time of just over six hours.
The drive time between the Black Hills and the popular Yellowstone Park is about eight hours, and it's definitely worth combining both parks in one spectacular road trip.
When is the Best Time to Visit Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills?
South Dakota's weather is characterized by a rather harsh continental climate with cold and relatively dry winters (there's snow because it simply doesn't melt) and a long summer that's quite hot and very dry. The continental climate in the western part of South Dakota is the main factor to consider when planning a trip itinerary to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore.
- The ideal season to visit the parks of the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore is spring. In spring, the weather is very mild, usually sunny and dry, and the weather is fantastic
- Summer is also a great season for visiting. The summer in this area is hot and dry, almost desert-like, but up in the mountains the heat is more bearable. In extreme cases, temperatures can get really high, reaching over 40 degrees Celsius
- Fall is also a fantastic season to explore the Black Hills. The weather is relatively mild, though you might encounter some rain here and there.
Traveling in the area during winter is quite challenging, with temperatures plummeting well below freezing, especially as you climb up the mountains. Although the winter might get snowy, the region is known as a sort of rain shadow desert where precipitation gets halted by the Rockies.
From early spring to fall, you might experience thunderstorms occasionally that can dump a lot of rain and be quite intense. These storms are very short and fierce. The likelihood of these storms turning into tornadoes is low, due to the location north of the Tornado Alley (but it's possible).
How to Plan a Trip to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills?
Planning your route around Mount Rushmore is quite simple and involves a short drive from site to site. The base for trips in the area is Rapid City, which has plenty of accommodation options. You can also settle in the mining town of Deadwood, now a popular tourist destination.
- The access road to the area is I-90. For those coming from the east (like Chicago or Minneapolis), it's worth stopping first at the Minuteman Missile Site near Badlands National Park. Afterwards, you can drive a little further and enter the park area along Route 240.
- From the park, continue to Rapid City and then drive straight to the village of Keystone, where the Mount Rushmore Visitor Center is located.
- Besides visiting the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center on the mount, it’s worth checking out the sculptor's studio, located at the end of the walking path – the Presidents Trail. This route offers views of the sculptures from different angles
- After visiting Mount Rushmore, you can continue to Custer State Park and then head south to Wind Cave National Park
- South of the cave, there's the small town of Hot Springs, home to the cool Mammoth Site
- From Hot Springs, head north to the stunning Jewel Cave system, and from there to the unfinished Crazy Horse Memorial and the Native American Museum of North America
- From the memorial, it's recommended to head north to the legendary mining town of Deadwood and stroll through its vibrant Main Street
- From Deadwood, heading towards Yellowstone Park, cross the border into Wyoming and reach the stunning natural site of Devils Tower
Everything You Need to Know About Accommodation and Hotels Near Mount Rushmore
Accommodation in the Black Hills primarily revolves around the classic American concept of motels. Near Mount Rushmore, you'll find plenty of motels from large American chains like Motel 6, Super 8, Holiday Inn Express, and brands from major hotel chains. The stay in motels in the area is mainly rural but remarkably efficient for both couples and families. Motels offer large rooms, two queen or king beds, breakfast, and adjacent parking.
To check availability and prices in hotels around Mount Rushmore, click here…
The main hotel clusters in the Black Hills and nearby are located in three hubs:
- Rapid City, close to the I-90 route
- Along the streets of Deadwood Gorge
- On the main street of the town of Custer
Staying in Rapid City is the most urban in nature (don't expect a city, it's still quite rural). The prices in Rapid City are also the most affordable in motels, and the proximity to Mount Rushmore is especially convenient. Staying in Deadwood is tourist-oriented and the atmosphere in the town feels like a bed and breakfast. Custer is also a small and pleasant town, with a mountain atmosphere and beautiful scenery.
Click here to find accommodation in Deadwood hotels…
Map of places to stay near Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills
All there is to see and do in the Black Hills of South Dakota
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Park
Mount Rushmore National Park is the number one tourist destination in the remote areas of South Dakota. The site was originally built to attract tourism to this charming area, and indeed, with the unveiling of the presidents' sculptures, the entire western part of South Dakota has enjoyed development and an extensive tourist movement. The four presidential sculptures were designed and constructed by the Danish-American sculptor Gutzon Borglum. Borglum sculpted the likenesses of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln (from left to right), on the eastern slopes of Harney Peak, at an elevation of 1,745 meters.
The site gained momentum and became the main economic driver for the small towns and cities of the Black Hills. The Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center is the observation base for the mountain sculptures. This is also where the large amphitheater is located, where every evening, during sunset, a film is shown to the audience explaining how the sculptures were built in the 1930s, and afterwards, the mountain is illuminated.
From the Visitor Center begins the Presidential Trail, a hiking path along the mountain slopes where you can get closer to the base of the sculptures from below. The trail also leads to the Sculptor's Studio, the workspace of Borglum. At the studio, you can see the initial model of the portraits.
Click here for the latest park operation hours and useful information…
Custer State Park
Custer State Park is the first and most extensive nature reserve in South Dakota. It is named after General George Armstrong Custer, one of the heroes of the American Civil War. The park is located about a half-hour drive south of the village of Keystone, where the Mount Rushmore Visitor Center is located.
It stretches over the gentle mountains and hills of the Black Hills. The park is a place with breathtaking views, large grazing areas of bison, streams, small lakes, and impressively efficient American nature. The facilities in the park are excellent, and it is part of the travel route that of course also includes Mount Rushmore.
Click here for all the information about activities in the park…
Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park includes natural areas and stunning geological formations. The park is located south of the town of Wall on Interstate I-90. In the national park, there are enormous Pinnacle rock formations caused by the erosion of the hard granite rock by nature's elements (similar to the formations of Meteora in Greece). The park is located on the western shoulders of the Black Hills Range, in an area that, although not a desert, is reminiscent of a desert landscape due to its exposed rock formations.
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Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
The historic missile launch site is located east of Rapid City on I-90, east of Badlands National Park. It was once a US base and part of America's ballistic defense and attack system. Built during the Cold War, the site includes a small visitor center, a launch pad, and what was the control center for the missiles. It's an interesting spot for a short stop on the way to Mount Rushmore, especially for those who love military history.
Click here for the site's current operating hours…
Rapid City
Rapid City is the largest city in the western part of South Dakota and the second largest in the state after Sioux Falls in the east. It's a very large city by Northern Great Plains standards, home to 80,000 people, and serves as the gateway to the tourist area around Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills.
The city lies on the Rapid Creek River (after which it is named), right on the border of the Great Plains (the vast valley formed along the Mississippi-Missouri river path) and the beginning of the eastern rise of the Rocky Mountains. The city's center is Main Street, lined with shops, restaurants, and hotels.
Black Hills National Forest
The Black Hills National Forest is another nature reserve on this ridge, slightly west of Keystone and Mount Rushmore. This vast forest predominantly consists of Ponderosa Pine trees. It marks the easternmost distribution area of this tall pine species typical of the Rockies. Within the reserve, there are driving roads, hiking trails, and spots with beautiful scenic views.
Crazy Horse Memorial
The Native Americans' response to Mount Rushmore and the claim that it was built on land belonging to them is the Crazy Horse Monument, which is still under construction. About a half-hour drive west of Mount Rushmore, there lies another massive rock carving in the granite of the Black Hills. This is the head of the famous Native American hero, Crazy Horse, who was one of the most renowned leaders of the Native American tribes in the Black Hills.
Work on the statue began in 1948 as a local answer to the presidential statues. The local Native American leaders invited the Polish-American sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to carve the figure of the hero. Ziolkowski was one of Gutzon Borglum's main assistants in the planning of the Mount Rushmore statues.
As of today, only the head from the original master plan, which includes a depiction of Crazy Horse riding a horse, has been completed. The bare mountain remains a massive construction site, and in recent years, work on the sculpture has gained some momentum, although there is no end in sight yet. In the unofficial visitor center of the sculpture, you'll find the Indian Museum of North America, showcasing exhibits and information about the Native American tribes of the region.
Click here for the current park operating hours…
Wind Cave National Park
About a fifty-minute drive south from Mount Rushmore, in the southern part of Custer State Park, lies the huge cave surrounded by a national park. This was the first cave in the USA to be declared a national park in 1903, of course, by President Theodore Roosevelt, the father of the national parks in the USA. Access to the cave and the park is through the Wind Cave National Park Visitor Center, near Highway 385. You can head out from the visitor center for hiking on marked trails.
Click here for the park's current operating hours…
Jewel Cave National Monument
Jewel Cave is another one of the impressive natural sites of the Black Hills. The cave is located about a fifteen-minute drive west from the village of Custer and a fifty-minute drive from Mount Rushmore. Access to the cave is from the Jewel Cave National Monument Visitor Center, which is located near Highway 16.
The underground cave network is the fifth longest system in the world, stretching over 350 kilometers. It is named for its stunning geological formations inside, including natural crystals, stalactites, and more. You can enter the cave through marked and organized paths, and it is considered a very popular tourist spot.
Click here for the park's current operating hours…
The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs
The town of Hot Springs (you can probably guess where it got its name from) is located an hour's drive south of Rapid City, in a wide valley in the southern part of the Black Hills. The paleontological site is right in the heart of the town and includes an active excavation site that has become a tourist attraction. Within the rocks, you can see the remains of bones and fossils of a large herd of mammoths found there.
Click here for the site's current operating hours…
Deadwood
The historic town of Deadwood is located a forty-five minute drive west from Rapid City, not far from Interstate 90. This mining town is nestled on the northern slopes of the Black Hills range and was once the base of what is known as the Black Hills Gold Rush, following General Custer's expedition in the area.
Click here for a guided tour of Deadwood's Main Street and all the Wild West secrets of the town…
The city was rapidly built in the 1880s and at its peak was home to more than 25,000 people. Like all gold rush cities, it was a very masculine and quite violent hub, and its main street was part of the Wild West. During this period, the city hosted some notable figures such as Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, and Wild Bill Hickok, who met his death there in 1876.
Today's town still basks in the glory of the Wild West, yet only on the touristy side of things. It's lined along two long ravines that merge right where Main Street stands. Deadwood's Main Street is a Wild West experience, with rows of packed houses and hordes of tourists replacing the rough gold rush men of the past. Tourists love this place, with plenty of motels, making it an excellent base for exploring the Black Hills area.
Click here to check availability and prices at Deadwood hotels…
Devils Tower
Devil's Tower is one of the most famous and beautiful geological sites in the entire USA. The tower is located at the eastern edge of Wyoming, not far from the border with South Dakota, less than an hour's drive from the Wild West town of Deadwood. This magnificent and unique monolith rises almost 400 meters above the ground on a plateau of the Rocky Mountains, which is 1200 meters above sea level.
This is the spectacular mountain that starred in Steven Spielberg's movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (the mountain carved from mashed potatoes in the iconic scene at the start of the film). After the movie, the mountain became a pilgrimage site for tourists and an integral part of the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore travel route. The Devil's Tower Visitor Center is located on the western side of the monolith.
