Mount Rushmore and more! Rapid City, South Dakota
Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota is Mount Rushmore National Monument, one of the most visited sites in the United States. If you plan on being one of the over 2 million visitors a year to see Mount Rushmore, here are some ideas to enhance your trip.
Mount Rushmore National Monument, South Dakota
The epic sculpture of four iconic American presidents carved in granite is awe-inspiring. Gutzon Borglum designed the 60-foot-tall busts to face southeast to maximize sun exposure. You can get great photos and pics of Mount Rushmore any time of the day. There is a lighting ceremony from May through September, so you can also visit Mount Rushmore at night. Inside the park, the approach to Mount Rushmore features a walkway named the Avenue Of Flags. Lined with all the state flags in the United States, the Avenue Of Flags offers spectacular views to take pictures. Mount Rushmore has one dining option, The Carvers Cafe. There is also a bookstore where you can learn more about the rich heritage of American history. Click here to learn more about Mount Rushmore.
Rapid City, South Dakota
If you visit Mount Rushmore, Rapid City is a great place to stay. Located on U.S. Interstate 90 on the western edge of South Dakota, Rapid City is 30 minutes from Mount Rushmore. Rapid City has many lodging and dining options and a regional airport. Delta, American, United, Allegiant, and Sun Country provide service at Rapid City Regional Airport. Rapid City is also within driving distance of several state and national sites.
Custer State Park Resort, South Dakota
Custer State Park is just 45 minutes south of Mount Rushmore and one hour from Rapid City. Custer State Park checks all the boxes of what you look for in a park and resort. Custer State Park offers hiking, camping, dining, lodging, and scenic views. This park is also an excellent place for wildlife watching. Bison, elk, mountain goats, coyotes, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and many birds make their home at Custer State Park. For a unique experience, you can book a Jeep Safari tour, horseback riding, or hayride with a chuckwagon cookout. If you only have a few hours to visit the park, do a scenic drive. Needles Highway, Wildlife Loop Road, Iron Mountain Road, and Peter Norbeck Scenic Highway offer fantastic park views. A thirty-minute drive west of the park on Highway 385 is the Indian Museum of North America and Crazy Horse Memorial. If your time is limited, visiting the highlights of Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park in one day is quite manageable. Click here for more information on Custer State Park.
Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming
Devils Tower in Wyoming is one hour and forty minutes northwest of Rapid City. Devils Tower, also known as Bear Lodge Butte, is 867 feet from base to summit and was featured in the 1977 film Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. Lined with natural parallel cracks and columns that ascend the butte, Devils Tower is an optimal site for rock climbers. If you are not a rock climber, a 1.3-mile paved trail encircles Devils Tower. You'll find many grand views of the iconic landmark along the path. You can explore the park along hiking trails and a campground near Belle Fourche River, which features a prairie dog town. Many wildlife call Devils Tower home, including deer, bears, mountain lions, coyotes, foxes, bats, birds, and reptiles, so be prepared. You may have a close encounter of the wild kind. Click here for more information on Devils Tower.
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
One hour east of Rapid City is Badlands National Park. Badlands got its name from the Lakota people who lived near the region hundreds of years ago. When French explorers traveled the region, the Lakota told them the area was named Mako Sica, meaning bad land. The French soon learned why it was called bad land. The rough terrain made navigating cumbersome, and there was no hunting game or fresh water. Despite a lack of resources, Badlands' rugged terrain is unique and is worth visiting. You can find canyons, ravines, buttes, and hoodoos while exploring the Badlands. Wildlife in Badlands includes bison, bighorn sheep, ferrets, golden eagles, butterflies, rattlesnakes, and prairie dog towns. Click here for more information.
Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
Located one hour south of Rapid City and 45 minutes from Mount Rushmore is Wind Cave National Park. Visiting Wind Cave National Park is like seeing two parks in one. Below ground, you can get a guided tour and explore the wonder of a natural cave. Wind Cave is the 7th longest cave in the world. The 154-mile cave is famous for a honeycomb-like calcite formation called boxwork. Above ground, the park offers picturesque views of prairies, hills, and forests. Wind Cave has hiking trails and a campground where you can spot bison, badgers, ferrets, mountain lions, bobcats, and other wildlife. Click here for more information on Wind Cave National Park.
Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota
Jewel Cave National Monument is just over one hour from Rapid City along Highway 16. With 215 miles of mapped passageways, Jewel Cave is the 5th longest cave in the world. You can schedule a guided tour of Jewel Cave, where you can see unique calcite crystals for which Jewel Cave is famous. The crystallized formations often sparkle, hence the name Jewel Cave. Jewel Cave offers different levels of exploration. Your choice of a guided tour can range from a shorter, easier, and more accessible tour to a physically strenuous experience lasting 3 to 4 hours. Whatever tour you decide on, dress appropriately. The average temperature in the cave is 49 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Wear closed shoes, long pants, sweaters, or hoodies when visiting Jewel Cave. Click here for more information.
Bonus Adventures near Rapid City: Black Hills National Forest, Sturgis, Black Hills Central Railroad, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Bear Country USA
Black Hills National Forest
Explore the over 1 million acres of forest and wilderness of the Black Hills. Hundreds of miles of hiking trails and scenic highways await you.
Sturgis
Sturgis lies 30 minutes northwest of Rapid City on U.S. Interstate 90. This small town with a big spirit has tasty dining and hosts the world's largest motorcycle rally every August.
Black Hills Central Railroad
Relax, travel back in time, and enjoy riding an 1880-style train through the scenic Black Hills. The train has depots in Hill City and Keystone.
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
This historic site is a relic of the Cold War Era. Learn about the role of nuclear weapons in American history at an empty missile silo.
Bear Country USA
This drive-through park allows you to view black bears, bison, elk, reindeer, and other wildlife from the comfort of your vehicle.
Visiting Mount Rushmore and Rapid City offers many options for a memorable vacation. The proximity of so many sites allows you flexibility to plan your vacation. You may visit more than one site in a day, or if time permits, you can spend more time at each location. Learn more about Rapid City, South Dakota, click here and plan your next vacation there.
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