Everything You Need to Know for the Perfect Trip To Mount Rushmore with Kids
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Even with rain, Mt Rushmore was so much fun!
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If you’re looking for what to do at Mt Rushmore with kids, you’re in the right place. Mt Rushmore National Memorial is visited by approximately 3 million people annually and is about is 1,278 acres. Obviously the centerpiece of the National Memorial is the four 60 foot tall U.S. President heads carved into the granite mountain side. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt’s faces tower over the Visitor Center. While the heads vary slightly in size, each of their eyes is roughly 11 feet wide and their mouths are about 18 feet wide. This project was completed in October 1941 and has been an American Icon ever since. No Black Hills family vacation is complete with out a visit to Mount Rushmore.
Every visitor to Mt Rushmore National Memorial should make a stop at the park’s visitor center to get a park map, find up-to-date weather forecasts and possible park closures. Park Rangers are also a wonderful resource for learning more about the history of the memorial. As the only visitor center in the park, it is open 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM from October - March and from 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM between April - September.
Check Out Our Other National Park Guides
When to Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial
What is the best time of year to visit Mount Rushmore? Arguably the best time to visit Mount Rushmore is sometime between September and October when the crowds thin out, the temperatures cool and it’s much less likely to rain. An alternative is sometime between April and May before the throngs of people pour in for the summer and before the heat has settled in.
Summer time, June through August, is the extremely crowded. The bulk of the 3 million annual visitors visit during these months and the park can host thousands and thousands of people each day.
If you must visit in the Summer months, don’t worry! Plan your visit for first thing in the morning for a thin crowd. The park opens at 5AM daily, so come to watch the sunrise above the Badlands. Carver’s Cafe is open during this time too, so grab a hot coffee and breakfast while you spend your morning with 4 of the great U.S. Presidents.
No matter what season you visit, make sure you bring an umbrella or poncho because the weather changes quickly in the Badlands!
Graph Courtesy of: https://www.weather-us.com/en/south-dakota-usa/mount-rushmore-national-memorial-climate
How to get to Mount Rushmore National Memorial
DO NOT rely on your in car GPS to get you to the park Visitor Center. Many GPS directions will not take you to the park entrance. It is more reliable to use Google Maps or your phone’s map and search for “Mount Rushmore National Memorial” than to use an address. Another option is to use these coordinates: 43.8789472 -103.459825 OR these coordinates: 623773E 4859716N Zone 13
Mt Rushmore National Monument is fairly convenient to get to. To give you an idea of how long it will take to get to the park, here are a few examples.
We drove through custer state park to get to mt rushmore and were stuck in bison traffic!
How long does it take to get from Rapid City to Mount Rushmore? 31 Minutes
Wind Cave National Park to Mt Rushmore is 45 minutes
Badlands National Park to Mount Rushmore is 1 hour and 30 minutes
Denver to Mt Rushmore is 5 hours, 55 minutes
Sioux Falls to Mt Rushmore is 6 hours, 40 minutes.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park to Mt Rushmore is 4 hours, 25 minutes.
Mt Rushmore is closest to Rapid City. It is a very easy drive and doable as a day trip.
READ NEXT: Badlands National Park with Kids
If you don’t want to drive yourself, consider taking a guided tour!
How much does it cost to visit Mount Rushmore?
How much does it cost to park at Mount Rushmore?
It costs $11 per vehicle to park at the Parking Garage located at the entrance of Mount Rushmore. However, Active Duty members get to park for free and Senior Citizens over 65 can park for only $5. These parking passe are ANNUAL, so pay once and you can come back again and again at no additional cost.
How much is the entrance fee for Mount Rushmore?
It is free to visit Mount Rushmore. There is no entrance fee.
Where to Stay When Visiting Mt Rushmore National Memorial
Can you Camp at Mt Rushmore?
While there is no camping in Mt Rushmore grounds, there is plenty of camping in the surrounding areas. The National Park Service provides the following information:
“South Dakota Tourism offers extensive campground listings throughout South Dakota.
Black Hills and Badlands Tourism Association provides information on camping in the Black Hills area.
The Black Hills National Forest has 30 campgrounds available. Reservations can be made by phone through ReserveUSA at 1-877-444-6777 or online.”
We stayed at Ellsworth Air Force base during our stay in Rapid City - this is an excellent choice for military families!
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Can you find lodging close to Mt Rushmore? Yes. While Rapid City is the nearest city to Mt Rushmore, there are three small towns worth looking at for a more close-by stay. Keystone, South Dakota is only 3 miles away, Hill City is only 13 miles away, and Custer is only 20 miles away.
Rapid City, South Dakota
KOA Rapid City: With easy access from I-90, this KOA is in Rapid City, the gateway community to the Black Hills. Relax in a Camping Cabin, Deluxe Cabin or big-rig Pull-Thru RV Site. Enjoy amenities and activities such as s'mores parties and watermelon feeds (in season). Fill up on all-you-can-eat pancakes before heading to the hills to bike, hike or sightsee. At KOA, sign up for a guided tour or rent a car. You're close to five national parks! Have fun in the large heated pool and hot tub. Two playgrounds and a giant checkers/chess set provide plenty of family fun. Fido will love the Kamp K9 dog park.
Hotels in Rapid City: Use the map below to find a hotel in Rapid City based on your family’s budget and need!
READ NEXT: 100+ Road Trip Snack Ideas
What to do at Mount Rushmore with Kids
1) Hiking:
Photo by Stephen Oliver on Unsplash
Presidential Trail: This is the most popular trail at Mt Rushmore. This .6 mile trail takes visitors up close to the sculptures. It offers a glimpse at local wildlife too! This trail does have 422 stairs, so it is not stroller friendly.
Blackberry Trail: This moderately strenuous 1-mile gravel hike is what connects visitors the Black Hills National forest from Mt Rushmore property. On this hike, visitors will encounter several water crossings, a bridge, water stations and places to safely tie up horses. This is a pet friendly trail.
2) Join a Ranger Program
Photo by Sara Hamza on Unsplash
There are several FREE Ranger Programs offered at Mount Rushmore. You do not need a reservation for any of them. All of them are weather dependent, so check the status at the Borglum View Terrace.
Ranger Talks: You can find a full schedule and topics at the Information center.
Evening Program: This program is held every evening May-September. There is a 10 minute ranger talk, playing of the national anthem, lighting ceremony and flag folding demonstration.
Youth Exploration: This program is offered June through August. These 10-30 minute program will allow young people a chance to explore the cultural, historical and natural aspects of Mount Rushmore. Find more information at the Borglum View Terrace.
Dakota, Nakota and Lakota Heritage Village: Learn more about the American Indian Tribes who have populated this part of the United States for thousands of years. Visitors will be able to explore more about the customs and traditions of these tribes. This program is offered June through August.
Self Guided Tour: While all self guided tours are free, you can also rent an audio tour wand to hear the story of Mount Rushmore while you walk a scenic route around the park. These are available to rent from the Audio Tour Building across from the Information Center. (German, Lakota, Spanish, English, French, & German available) Find out more about Self Guided tours HERE.
3) Mt. Rushmore Junior Ranger Program
There are several Junior Ranger programs at Mt Rushmore.
Ages 3-4: Junior Ranger Trainee: This program is a booklet of activities for the preschool-age child. Once complete, a Junior Ranger Badge will be rewarded!
Ages 5-12: Junior Ranger Activity Book: This free activity booklet will help elementary-age children learn about Mt Rushmore as they explore! Once the activity booklet is complete, the child will be awarded a Junior Ranger badge with a certificate!
Ages 13 and Up: Rushmore Ranger Activity Booklet: This free booklet was created for older children or adults to learn more about Mt Rushmore through activities around the Memorial. Once this booklet is complete, a certificate will be awarded!
OR Junior Ranger Quest: This activity is part of the Mount Rushmore Self-Guided Tour, which you can rent for $8. This new adventure allows visitors to participate in up to 16 challenges at different tour stops around the park. Once visitors complete 12 of the challenges, they’ll receive a Junior Ranger badge from a ranger desk. More information about the self-guided tour rentals is available here.
There are many view points to get a good photo with the presidents
I tried to get a photo of the entrance with the sculpture in the background, but it’s so massive!
4) Eat and Drink:
Mt Rushmore has an incredible café called Carver’s Café. Here you will find something for everyone’s taste. This food court style café offers Rushmore Roasters, Memorial Grill, Dakota Kitchen, Black Hills Harvest, and Memorial Team Ice Cream. Visitors can cozy up next to the giant fireplace while sipping a hand crafted latte, local Black Hills wine, Chef salad, Bison burger or even some lemon popper Chicken. From inside the Café visitors are rewarded with panoramic views of the Mount Rushmore sculpture!
Something extra fun: Try TJ’s Vanilla Ice Cream. This Ice Cream is based off of Thomas Jefferson’s original recipe from 1780!! President Jefferson is credited with bringing the very first written ice cream recipe to the United States! So, rejuvenate after a hike with taste of U.S. History!
Every visitor must try the ice cream based off of thomas jefferson’s own recipe
Enjoying a glass of wine while hanging with the presidents
5) Visit the Sculptor’s Studio:
No trip to Mount Rushmore is complete without a visit to the Sculptor’s Studio. Designing and sculpting Mount Rushmore was an incredible feat of technology and imagination in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. The Sculptor’s Studio pays tribute to the over 400 workers who built Mount Rushmore from October 1927 to it’s opening in October 1941. The Studio tells the history, sacrifice and dedication of these workers. You can find the Studio’s hours HERE.
Mount Rushmore is the perfect destination for families. This American Icon is a must see for anyone visiting or living in the United States. No matter whether you camp out, stay nearby in Rapid City, a family trip to Mount Rushmore will be an unforgettable family adventure. If you’re looking for other family things to do near Mount Rushmore, check out our guides with fun things to do in South Dakota with Kids.
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