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Get the inside scoop for your upcoming vacation —> this itinerary is the most detailed, epic, and easy-to-follow guide to the park!
1. Avenue of Flags
A most magnificent welcome awaits you as you walk toward Mount Rushmore! Enjoy this dramatic flag display that lines the path to the memorial.
What You Need to Know
The Avenue of Flags is made up of 56 flags — 50 states, one district (Washington D.C.), three territories (Guam, American Samoa, Virgin Islands), and two commonwealths (Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands).
If you want to find the flag from the state you are from, they are in alphabetical order. The A’s begin near the concessions and park store, and the W’s are near the visitor center and amphitheater. The name of each state is written on the corresponding pillar.
Getting Here
From the park entrance, walk straight forward and pass by the buildings on either side of you. As you walk toward Mount Rushmore, you will see the Avenue of Flags.
2. Sculptor’s Studio
Discover the fascinating stories of the sculptor and carvers who brought Mount Rushmore to life! This small studio is all about the people that worked tirelessly to create the sculpture we see today.
What You Need to Know
This studio is the second on-site studio for sculptor Gutzon Borglum and was built in 1939. Inside, you can see a plaster model that is 1/12 the scale of Mount Rushmore! You’ll also find worker tools that showcase all the effort it took to make Mount Rushmore a reality.
A fabulous ranger talk is offered here many times a day (usually on the hour or half-hour), and it’s worth sticking around to learn more about the sculpting process. The ranger talk is what makes this sight a can’t-miss!
If you want to learn more about the history of Mount Rushmore beyond what is found in the Sculptor’s Studio, stop by the visitor center located below the Grand View Terrace (at the top of the amphitheater).
Getting Here
From the park entrance, walk straight forward and pass by the buildings on either side of you. Walk through the Avenue of Flags to the Grand View Terrace. On the far right side of the Grand View Terrace, you’ll see a path that leads down to the Sculptor’s Studio.
3. Presidential Trail
Mount Rushmore is beautiful from afar, but it’s definitely worth a closer look! A short hike along the Presidential Trail will bring the memorial alive as you admire it from its base.
What You Need to Know
The Presidential Trail takes you as close as you can get to Mount Rushmore. It’s a 0.6-mile loop with over 400 stairs and about 150 feet of elevation gain. Pets are not permitted on this trail (or anywhere in the memorial).
Hiking this trail clockwise will have you going down most of the stairs, and hiking counter-clockwise will have you going up most of the stairs.
The Presidential Trail is cool because you get to see Mount Rushmore from many different angles—you even get close enough to look up their noses :). Along the way, you’ll see informational signs that share the history of each president and why each face was memorialized in stone.
Getting Here
From the park entrance, walk straight forward and pass by the buildings on either side of you. Walk through the Avenue of Flags to the Grand View Terrace. If you want to hike the trail clockwise, walk to the far-left side of the Grand View Terrace and pick up the trail from there.
If you want to hike counter-clockwise, follow the directions to the Sculptor’s Studio and then begin the Presidential Trail from the left side of the building.
4. TJ’s Vanilla Ice Cream
Who doesn’t love ice cream, especially on vacation? Step back in time as you taste a delicious part of history!
What You Need to Know
Thomas Jefferson might be best known for the Louisiana Purchase or the authoring of the Declaration of Independence, but he is also credited with bringing the first written ice cream recipe to the United States!
Stop in at Memorial Team Ice Cream to try out his recipe (well, it’s based on his original recipe) from 1780. TJ’s vanilla ice cream is produced locally — it’s absolutely creamy and delicious! I look forward to a scoop every time I’m in the area.
Getting Here
From the park entrance, walk straight forward and pass by the buildings on either side of you. Take a right just before reaching the Avenue of Flags and enter the large building to find the ice cream shop.
5. Evening Lighting Ceremony
Celebrate America with people from all around the world! This ranger program is nestled among the rocks and trees at the base of Mount Rushmore — who could ask for a better backdrop?!
What You Need to Know
The Evening Lighting Ceremony might be my favorite ranger program in the entire country—and that’s saying something (especially considering I used to be a park ranger)!
It begins with a 10-minute ranger talk, followed by a 20-minute movie about the memorial and the lighting of Mount Rushmore. As the credits roll, veterans and active-duty military are invited to the stage to take down the flag. This ceremony is incredibly touching and inspiring.
The Evening Lighting Ceremony is held from late May to the end of September. Click here for the current schedule.
If you’re planning on being at Mount Rushmore for the lighting, I suggest coming earlier to see the sunset. South Dakota sunsets are spectacular, and the sunset behind Mount Rushmore is something you’ll always remember! (If you’re visiting in July or August, you’ll want to get there early to get a seat anyway.)
Getting Here
From the park entrance, walk straight forward and pass by the buildings on either side of you. Walk through the Avenue of Flags to the Grand View Terrace. Take the elevators or stairs on either side of the Grand View Terrace down to the amphitheater.
Bonus: Iron Mountain Road
For a unique view of Mount Rushmore, take a drive along the scenic Iron Mountain Road! This road highlights the scenery, wildlife, and history of the area as it travels through the beautiful Black Hills.
What You Need to Know
The Iron Mountain Road (Highway 16A) begins in Custer State Park. This state park is just a few minutes away from Mount Rushmore (its more famous neighbor), but WOW, it’s certainly worth its own trip.
You’ll find many activities in the state park, but if you’re hoping to see a different view of Mount Rushmore, be sure to drive along the Iron Mountain Road. You’ll experience fabulous vistas as you drive this road, but the tunnels that perfectly frame Mount Rushmore steal the show!
Plan at least an hour to make this drive. You’ll want to travel north along the Iron Mountain Road (starting in Custer State Park and ending near Mount Rushmore) if you’re hoping to see the tunnels framing the memorial out of your front windshield.
A fee is required to enter Custer State Park. If you have some extra time, the Wildlife Loop and the Needles Highway are both spectacular as well!
Getting Here
If you just want to drive the Iron Mountain Road and nothing else, you’ll turn left as you leave Mount Rushmore (toward Keystone) and drive for 1.5 miles. Take a right onto Highway 16A, following signs for Custer State Park. This is the Iron Mountain Road, but you’ll be going the wrong way to see the tunnels framing the memorial, so you’ll need to drive the road and then turn around and drive back out the way you came.
If you want to see more of Custer State Park, you can enter the park via the Needles Highway. You’ll turn right as you leave Mount Rushmore and drive west along Highway 244 for 9 miles. Take a left at the junction, then another quick left onto Highway 87 toward Custer State Park. This is the Needles Highway. When you exit the scenic drive, you can either take a right and drive the Wildlife Loop, or take a left to get to the Iron Mountain Road. Take a look at the map before you go.
Have a fantastic trip to Mount Rushmore. For more trip planning help, click NEXT to see the Ultimate Mount Rushmore Trip Planning Guide!
How many hours by car from the Badlands Nationa Park to Mt Rushmore
It’s about 1.5 hours :)
How long would you say it takes to do all these activities at Mt. Rushmore? How far of a drive is it from Rapid City?
It’s about 30 minutes from Rapid City, and you only need about a half day to get through this list!
Spearfish Canyon Drive is so close and not to be missed!
That’s a beautiful area! So much to do!