Thanks : ). By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. *Parking passes for buses are valid for 24 hours from time of first entry. It is part of the Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway and it connects Custer State Park with Mount Rushmore. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. airport, and get to your destination. Good luck! It might be possible to drive through the Bighorn Mountains but you will have to keep an eye on the weather forecast and road conditions. Rapid City, SD 57701, La Quinta Inn & Suites Your trip begins in Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. Park in the small parking area to see the side-view of George Washingtons face. Largest WaterPark in South Dakota included in your stay?!?!?! Personally I normally favor backroads, but youll make the trip faster on the interstate. Pics perhaps? recommended restaurants, hotels, and things to do along Once youve checked out all the presidents, you can then head West on Hwy 244 until you hit HWY 16 again. Confirm the time of the Lighting Ceremony before your visit. With stops, it can take 10 hours or longer. From late-May through mid-August, this is held at 9 pm and from mid-August through September 30, the lighting ceremony is held at 8 pm. Your trip begins in Rapid City, South Dakota. amzn_assoc_linkid = "dd58c57bc26baab4532a682931cb56f4"; This is a great resource for exploring Mount Rushmore, The Badlands and Custer State Park. amzn_assoc_title = "Related Products from Amazon"; Late September through early October is a fabulous time not only to visit Mount Rushmore but the Black Hills of South Dakota. (Both The President's View Resort and The Royal Express are adjacent to the Boardwalk!). :-) Its such a great area, and we left so much unexplored. 14. With one to two hours, visit the Grand View Terrace, walk the Presidential Trail, watch the film about the construction of Mount Rushmore in the Visitor Center, and satisfy your sweet tooth with some ice cream at Carvers Marketplace. Along they way they'll share travel tips, photos, travel stories, and what to see wherever they ramble to next! At Loaf Mountain Overlook you get a great view of the Cloud Peak Wilderness. Find more details below or head to our top ten things list to start planning your visit. Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore: 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary, Beartooth Highway: Things to Do, Map, Photos & Travel Tips, Complete Guide to Devils Tower: How to Plan Your Visit, Ultimate Yellowstone Itinerary: Best Way to Spend 1 to 5 Days in Yellowstone. This promise only lasted until the 1870s, when gold was found in the area, attracting large numbers of prospectors. Must-see Ports of Call on a Baltic cruise, Top Car Buying Apps to Make Car Shopping a Breeze, http://www.nps.gov/moru/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm, http://web.rapidcitychamber.com/TOURSTRAVEL/. This is the location of the Borglum Historical Center (a tribute to Mount Rushmore's sculptor and the starting point for Mt. Both the Bighorn Mountains and Beartooth Highway can get their first significant snowfalls in early October. That's what Trippy is perfect for, DEVILS TOWER: Plan your day trip to Devils Tower from South Dakota and learn what there is to do and how to plan your time. Here is a list of things to do. Here's the quick answer if you make this quick drive without any stops. You can sample this ice cream at Carvers Marketplace and the Memorial Team Ice Cream Station. There are a lot of twists and turns on this part of the drive, as the road snakes up into the Bighorn Mountains. It was a lot of fun. So, where is Mount Rushmore? This trail leads up to the base of the mountain for close-up views of the sculpture. Youll see an exit for Alt-HWY 14 and thatll loop you down to 85 East where you can ride into Deadwood, SD and then continue on to Sturgis, SD. When its your stated mission to go out and seek new and interesting adventures, it can be hard to return to certain places. How far is Rapid City from Mount Rushmore? And then comes the most thrilling part of this scenic byway. Intellectually I know its all fine, but my body reacts differently! If you are doing well on time, you can continue straight to drive US-14A to Medicine Wheel, an ancient stone circle that is sacred to Native Americans. Do I need to say more? What is the Mount Rushmore city? Bobbette Webb, Im not sure to be honest. One of these famous battles was against General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn, aka Custers Last Stand. To see all the details on this itinerary, including Click Here to Book Best Western. Glad you enjoyed the area. Right in the Black Hills of South Dakota, a beautiful 30-minute drive from Rapid City, the largest city in the area with an airport, a wide range of hotels, dining, and shopping options for before or after meeting George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abe Lincoln. 3. Start by reading the Trippy page on where to stay in Rapid City. Hill City, SD 57745 But for a real trip, there can be plenty of differences On the following day, drive Beartooth Highway in the morning and spend the afternoon in Yellowstone National Park. Not only was Thomas Jefferson the main author of the Declaration of Independence but he is also credited with having the first ice cream recipe in the USA. We write a blog too called, Adventures in Travel. In that case, your travel time would really need to Because of the curvature of the Earth, the Most of this drive is on Interstate 90 which is a large divided highway. your total travel time for this trip. This trail is 0.6 miles long with 422 steps. (605) 574-2886. Entrance into the memorial is free, however, parking fees apply. While there make sure to soak in all the custom cruisers and choppers and stop in at one of the many bars for a drink. You can see the schedule at the Information Center (when you first enter the park) or at the Visitor Center. It is 130 miles and takes around 2 hours and 12 minutes to get there, depending on the traffic. I dont know the answer to that either. Rapid City, SD 57701 If beers not your thing (get out!!) This is a quaint, historic town that is located at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains. distance from Rapid City to Mt Rushmore, or go to the main page From here, you have a clear view of the four presidents. With several public parks and gardens, access to golf, fishing, hiking and biking, Hot Springs is certainly a great outdoor town. will be there five days ,how much can we see ?driving from florida, Im not aware of any specific guided bus tours but Im sure there are tour operators that cover the area. Here is the view along this part of the drive. Day 4: Buffalo, Wyoming . 4.06 miles from destination. There are several pull outs along the road if you want to stop for photos. 306 7th St Finally, drive for about 17 minutes and arrive in Mt Rushmore. Located beneath Grand View Terrace, you can learn more about the history and construction of Mount Rushmore in the exhibits. Is it easy and safe to drive in early march. What are your thoughts on doing this trip March 29-April 3rd with young teens? After all the natural beauty we experienced that day there was only one thing left to do. Click here to Book LaQuinta. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Mount Rushmore. So much to do, and a great destination for families on a budget. Enjoy a 15 minute ranger talk that dives into the tools and process used to carve Mount Rushmore and gives you a glimpse into the lives of the workers. We are planning our family camping road trip this June! If youre looking for the easiest drive, then youd want to take I-90 across. Its a beautiful road to drive but there are two places where you can get a very unique view of Mount Rushmore. Make sure you take some time to stop in Wall, SD before getting on the Interstate. This is a longer route and there is a lot to see and do on Beartooth Highway, so this driving route takes two days. Drive from Mount Rushmore to Ellsworth Air Force Base 48 min $6 - $10 Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Mount Rushmore Ellsworth Air Force Base Unrestricted Share Travel safe during COVID-19 Rules to follow in United States 2m Recommended Travel within United States Observe COVID-19 safety rules Our trip, though to the same area, was the same, yet quite different! Rapid City to Keystone? Park information. What more could you ask for? No hurry, please, were 70! Even on a short drive, it might be more interesting to stop along the way and explore the local area. This canyon gets its name from the shell fossils that are embedded in the granite walls. Youll miss out on so much if you just stay in your car. You'll want to fly into Rapid City Regional Airport. The Sioux were forced out of the Black Hills so the area could be mined for gold. Spend the night in Red Lodge. :-). Your trip begins in Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. Two of these driving routes go through Bighorn National Forest and the Bighorn Mountains. There will be a few hairpin turns but we found it to be a very safe road, with guardrails and lots of wide turns in case you need to stop for any reason. For more information about how to visit Devils Tower, check out our Guide to Devils Tower. Check our our USA Road Trip Guide for travel ideas and sample itineraries. When it came to selecting who should be carved into one of the worlds most iconic landmarks - everyone had their own ideas. Or drive Route#1, 2 or Medicine Wheel Byway all the way to Cody, then deviate north to Red Lodge, the Beartooth Highway and Yellowstone. This small building is located at the end of the Presidential Trail, before you walk back up to Grand View Terrace. For more information on your visit to South Dakota take a look at these helpful sites. Schedules are posted at the Information Center (they are not available online). In 1904, Murdo Mackenzie was busy shipping trainloads of Texas steer to a small area of South Dakota for grazing on the Standing Rock Reservation. (605) 348-1915. Learn how to put all of this together into one epic one week vacationOne Week in South Dakota: Black Hills & the Badlands or a 10 day road trip to the Black Hills, Badlands, Devils Tower, Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks. There was a whole lot of fun to be had in the area, we were there for a very short time though. To get here, turn right onto Highway 244 when exiting the park and drive 0.7 miles to the turn-out. If you have any questions about how to drive from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone, or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below. It ends in Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. It was an awesome experience. Pets are only allowed in the pet exercise areas located at both ends of the upper level parking garage and at the entrance to the main visitor area and must always remain on a leash. Every year starting the Friday before Memorial Day, the Mount Rushmore illumination is accompanied by Park Ranger talks about its storied history and honoring all veterans in attendance. Starting at Mount Rushmore, visit Devils Tower and continue on to Red Lodge, Montana. Learn more here. Alternatively, you can also stay at Lake Yellowstone (1 hour beyond Cody) or Old Faithful Village or Canyon Village (2 hours beyond Cody), inside of Yellowstone National Park. Once back in South Dakota, keep an eye out for Spearfish, SD. Phones are answered from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It was a quick jaunt down the road and then BAM! If you enjoy gaming make sure to pick up some of those little guide books at your hotel or tourism offices and look for coupons. 23845 US-385 I have 1 day free on a business trip next week to Rapid City. 512 Main Street Suite 240 Rapid City, SD 57701, Verified, non-profit Educational Bus - $25*. best things to do in Badlands National Park, one perfect day in Badlands National Park. To hit the Badlands next, take 79N to 44E about 32 miles and into the scenic route running through the southern portion of the Badlands. That doesn't mean that the only thing to do in Deadwood is work on a winning hand, however. Rapid City Regional Airport is located 35 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial on South Dakota Highway 44. Have a great time Rusty! Coming from Florida and staying 1 night in Sioux Falls .What would you recommend to Rapid City ? But what if I told you that you had several options and each of these included a different but very scenic drive. We stayed in the Alpine Lodge and had dinner at Prerogative Kitchen. You can view a map of these locations on the memorial's website. 10 day road trip to the Black Hills, Badlands, Devils Tower, Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks. Go South on 87 and follow my route OR continue on HWY16 towards Crazy Horse. Spend the night in Red Lodge. See more about planning your Badlands to Mount Rushmore road trip: Things to do at Wall Drug; Wall Drug signs along I-90 west . This gives you plenty of time to visit Devils Tower and other scenic stops along the drive. The first was that there is this quaint miniature town called Longhorn, which is all but deserted, along the route. For such a non-descript place, Rapid City sure has a lot going for it. This makes the drive longer and less scenic. One Week in South Dakota: Black Hills & the Badlands. Visiting Mount Rushmore is on the top of many peoples must-do list when they are in the Rapid City, South Dakota area. The drive from Cody to the east entrance of Yellowstone is also a very scenic drive on the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway. Thirsty yet? Cant find something their draft list? If you have any questions about how to visit Mount Rushmore or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below. Distance: 428 miles Driving Time (without stops): 7.5 hours. Right in the Black Hills of South Dakota, a beautiful 30-minute drive from Rapid City, the largest city in the area with an airport, a wide range of hotels, dining, and shopping options for before or after meeting George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abe Lincoln. Econo Lodge has one of the state's largest indoor water slides, and the Radisson Hotel's lobby floor uses over 75 types of natural stone to create a 60' x 24' homage to Mount Rushmore. Its a scenic drive through scrubland and youll pass a neat little abandoned town on the way. I recommend walking the trail in a clockwise direction. Our website uses cookies. Cities Surrounding Mount Rushmore: Keystone, Rapid City, Deadwood, Wall, Hot Springs & Murdo. Kenin, Wish you would include the Mammouth Museum in Hot Springs., SD. BEST OF THE BADLANDS: Learn about the best things to do in Badlands National Park, how to hike the Notch Trail, how to spend one perfect day in Badlands National Park, a get a list of the best hiking trails in the park. That's what Trippy is perfect for, Neither did I. The 2,378 sq. :), We have a second post about the Rapid City area that has a lot more things to do here: https://www.theconstantrambler.com/ramblin-guide-to-rapid-city-sd-from-the-badlands-rushmore-sturgis-custer/. US-16 winds through this canyon for several miles and the views are beautiful. La Quinta is always a great standby hotel in any city. Finally, drive for about 17 minutes and arrive in Mt Rushmore. it may be busy as it may be spring break for your area, but no where near as busy as the summer. Thanks for the pictures and information! Thanks so much and hope you continue to have wonderful travels! travelers and answer some questions about Rapid City! Thanks Donna! My husband and I love to hike and so we are looking forward to our summer road trip to the Badlands and Mount Rushmore. When you leave Rapid City (H and A on the map below) you'll want to head South on Highway 16 towards Mount Rushmore. The Ale House is more pub than restaurant but theyve got you covered for some munchies if the words Hand Crafted Pizza get your taste buds going. And thus, Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln were carved into Mount Rushmore. It takes just over an hour to drive from Shell to Cody on US-14. Mount Rushmore was already named before the carving began. The good news is that there are lots of lovely sites to visit in the Black Hills area of South Dakota. Now let's assume you have a private jet and you can fly in the Thanks, this is so helpful. Youll pass the Blue Bell Lodge which is a good landmark to look out for. Required fields are marked *. This drive starts in Red Lodge, Montana and ends at the northeast entrance of Yellowstone. It techincally is not in a city, but there are many cities around the area. In that case, your travel time would really need to You could email or call the National Park Service for more information. And dont miss our 10 day road trip with Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore. Rapid City, SD 57701 Schedules are posted for these at the Information Center and the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center. The total driving distance from RAP to Mount Rushmore is 32 miles or 51 kilometers. Rapid City, SD 57701 shortest distance is actually the "great circle" distance, or Since the completion of Mount Rushmore, Native Americans have staged protests to have the Black Hills returned to them. Its slightly longer than taking the Interstate the whole way, but itll keep you from taking the same road twice and its a pretty cruise. If this is part of a. you can read all of our articles about the United States in ourUnited States Travel Guide. The most scenic is driving the Bighorn Scenic Byway. Check! PRO TRAVEL TIP: You can visit Mount Rushmore twice on the same day with one entrance fee. Sanfords Grub & Pub On this private full day tour, visit Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park with a knowledgeable guide. Then we want to venture to Bryce, Zion and sequoia. Badlands National Park has a little bit of everything for everyone. Absolutely beautiful county! If you are planning a road trip, you might also want to calculate the total driving time from Mount Rushmore to Rapid City, SD so you can see when you'll arrive at . How would you plan the drive to cover Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse and Sylvan Lake Custer State Park , Mt Coolidge, Needles Highway and Iron Mtn Road . I dont know of any bus tours that do that but you could search more in the internet to see what you find. Cloud Peak Skyway reaches its highest point at Powder River Pass (9,666 feet). Will be using your directions and tips. Head East towards Custer State Park. Youll continue on that route for a total of about 18 miles and then go south on Route 16A until you connect with SD 244 West. Just over 20 miles north of Mount Rushmore, Rapid City provides the most luxurious of all romantic hotel options near the Black Hills. How far is Mount Rushmore from Devils Tower? We have more information aboutthings to do in Wyomingin our Wyoming Travel Guide. Next, drive for another 13 minutes then stop at Mount Rushmore, SD and stay for 1 hour. "as the crow flies" which is calculated using an iterative The road is wide and in great condition. There are a few restaurants and general stores located at the entrance to Devils Tower National Memorial where you can get lunch and refill your gas tank. It gets very hot and arid there. With more time, join a ranger program. The total straight line flight distance from Mount Rushmore to Rapid City, SD is 18 miles. Each overnight option here comes with great views of the surrounding Black Hills. However, you can take the taxi to Rapid City, SD, take the bus to Sheridan, WY, then take the drive to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. we only had one day which is why we put together this route. If you plan to drive out and back between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone, you can drive Cloud Peak Skyway to Yellowstone and return on Bighorn Scenic Byway. Once youve finished up, head down Hwy 24 to Hwy 14 (theres lots of signs, and get back on I-90 East towards South Dakota. In this post, learn how to visit Mount Rushmore, with tips to have the best experience. Vincenty formula. Thx. A little research later viola! Let's say you're actually planning a road trip to Rapid City, and you want to stop on the way to explore. Stop for refreshments and fun at Wall Drug and the surrounding area. From Devils Tower, it takes 2 hours to drive to Buffalo (130 miles). Airlines United Airlines Delta American Airlines Bus operators Salt Lake Express The official visitors center is on Exit 131 and they provide tickets and tour info for the other sites. There are 3 ways to get from Rapid City, SD to Mount Rushmore by taxi, car or shuttle Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Learn more here. But I really want to go! From Ten Sleep, it takes just under two hours to drive to Cody (100 miles). In the photo below, you can see Loaf Mountain, Bighorn Peak, and Dayton Peak. You could easily spend a whole day in the Badlands or Custer. Recommended option Taxi Take a taxi from Rapid City, SD to Mount Rushmore 35 min $55 - $70 2 alternative options Drive We pulled into the parking area right after the tunnel and met these little guys. Continue South on SD 87 until you see the entrance to Custer State Park and then follow the Wildlife loop the whole way around until you hit HWY 16 again. Rushmore, Custer, Windcave and Badlands. 8. Rushmore Tours), Keystone Historical School & Museum, the National Presidential Wax Museum, President's Alpine Slide (a scenic chairlift ride), Big Thunder Gold Mine and an 1880's Train. Then take US-72 south to State Highway 308 to Red Lodge. Mount Rushmore is worth a quick visit, whether you are touring South Dakota or road tripping across the United States. If you plan to visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial on a road trip with Yellowstone National Park, we have a detailed guide about the different driving routes between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone. It is a 30 miles / 20 minutes shortcut that misses on Granite Pass and Shell Canyon but follows the Medicine Wheel Scenic Byway and unsurprisingly passes very near Bighorn Medicine Wheel.