Mount Rushmore National Memorial (13000 Hwy. 244, Bldg. 31 Suite 1, 605/574-2523, www.nps.gov/moru) is nationally and internationally recognized as a symbol of American freedom and democracy. The park is open 364 days of the year, closed only on Christmas Day; hours vary seasonally.

During the summer season, late May–mid-August, the park buildings, including the information center and the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center, are open daily 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Mid-August–September 30, hours are daily 8 a.m.–9 p.m. Winter hours, which take effect on October 1, are daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Admission to Mount Rushmore is free, however, there is a $10 per car parking fee. The pass is good from date of purchase though December 31 of the same year. Since this is a use fee and not an admission fee, park passes (including the America the Beautiful Pass; National Park Passes; Golden Age, Access, and Eagle Passports) do not waive the parking fee. Walk-ins and bicyclists can visit the monument for free. There are bike racks near the entryway and bicyclists are welcome to wheel in their bikes with them.

The park is wheelchair accessible and there is a zone in front of the entryway for unloading passengers and wheelchairs before parking in the lot. Wheelchairs are also available for loan at the Information Center on a first-come, first-served basis. The Sculptor’s Studio is accessible to wheelchairs and other mobility-impaired visitors only through the remote parking lot, which must be arranged with a park ranger at the Information Center inside the park. The Presidential Trail is accessible from the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center to the base of the mountain, but is not accessible from the base to the Sculptor’s Studio. All other buildings and sites on the grounds are fully wheelchair accessible.

Getting to Mount Rushmore National Monument

The grounds of Mount Rushmore are relatively small. Once there, moving from site to site is all by foot. The distances are not great and there are no shuttles available.

The best way to travel throughout the region is by car. If you fly into Rapid City, which has the only commercial airport in the Black Hills, there are several car rental agencies located at the airport.

Mount Rushmore is located just 32 miles from the Rapid City airport. The city center of Keystone is just 2.5 miles east of Mount Rushmore. Hill City is located about 11 miles north and west of Mount Rushmore. Either city would serve as a good base location for travel throughout the Central Hills region.