National Park Trekkers
The carved faces of Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Lincoln
All parks
National Memorial, South Dakota. Established 1925.

Mount Rushmore

Four presidents carved into Black Hills granite, 60 feet tall each.

Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln, each about 60 feet tall.Photo © Volt Grid Media, LLC
Hours
8 a.m. to 5 or 10 p.m. by season
Entry
Free entry, $10 parking
Reservations
Not required
Size
1,278 acres

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Mount Rushmore is a national memorial rather than a national park, but it is one of the most recognizable places in the country. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum and about 400 workers carved the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln into the granite of the Black Hills between 1927 and 1941. Each face is about 60 feet tall, and about 90 percent of the rock was removed with dynamite before the fine work began.

The four presidents were chosen to represent the birth, growth, development and preservation of the nation. The memorial also sits on land sacred to the Lakota people, and the visitor center and rangers talk about that history openly. Most visitors spend a few hours here, but the memorial is the gateway to the wider Black Hills: Custer State Park's wildlife loop, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and Wind Cave and Badlands National Parks are all within an easy drive.

The park and surrounding area

Badlands National ParkRapid CityHill CityCusterMount Rushmore
  • Other parks
  • Major highway
  • Road
  • Rivers and lakes
  • Town

The park boundary isn't included in this map's data source, so the park is shown by its icon.

Watch

Walking in on the Avenue of Flags. The approach from the entrance to Grand View Terrace, with the sculpture ahead the whole way. Video © Volt Grid Media, LLC

Plan your trip

Best time to go
May to September, with the evening lighting program in summer. September brings cooler days and smaller crowds. Winter visits are quiet and the sculpture is often dusted with snow.
How long to stay
2 to 3 hours at the memorial; 2 to 3 days for the Black Hills.
Getting there
Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) is about 40 minutes away. The memorial is 3 miles from Keystone.
Wildlife
Mountain goats on the rocks near the sculpture, plus chipmunks, deer and birds of prey. Bison roam nearby Custer State Park.

Plan and book

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Where to stay

Tours and activities

What to pack for Mount Rushmore

A first day, start to finish

  1. Morning photos from Grand View Terrace
  2. Presidential Trail loop to the base of the faces
  3. Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center film and exhibits
  4. Sculptor's Studio (open in summer)
  5. Drive Iron Mountain Road through the tunnels framing the faces, then on to Custer State Park

Don't miss

  • Grand View TerraceThe classic head-on view of the sculpture, at the end of the Avenue of Flags.
  • Avenue of FlagsFlags of all 50 states and the US territories line the walkway in.
  • Presidential Trail0.6-mile loop with 422 stairs that brings you closest to the faces.
  • Sculptor's StudioGutzon Borglum's working studio, with his plaster model of the original design.
  • Evening Lighting CeremonyA summer ranger program and film that ends with the faces lit against the night sky.

Know before you go

Do

  • Walk the Presidential Trail for the closest views.
  • Stay for the evening lighting program in summer.
  • Combine with Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Wind Cave and Badlands.

Don't

  • Climb on the sculpture or go off-trail toward it; it is closed to the public.
  • Fly drones anywhere in the memorial.
  • Leave pets anywhere except the designated pet areas.

Grounds open every day except December 25. In 2026 they are open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. from March 10 to September 30, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year (Mountain Time). The evening program and sculpture lighting run in the summer season; check the park calendar for start times. No overnight parking.

The faces catch the best light in the morning, when the sun is on them. Come early for photos and fewer crowds.Trekker's tip