Another great choice would be the restaurant inside the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park, which served as the "Summer White House" for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. In Sioux Falls, the largest city in the state, stroll along the downtown Sculpture Walk and visit the waterfalls in Falls Park. The on-site restaurant, Carver's Cafe, offers burgers, soups, and meat-and-potato meals. Camping in the black hills is also available for tents, cabins, or RVs. Plan Your Trip. At Silly America we embrace the detours – from weird roadside attractions to iconic motels to vintage diners to national treasures. As I mentioned in 9 Simple Ways To Make Your Next Road Trip Extraordinary, a great way to connect is to plan (and embark on) a road trip together.I planned an epic road trip with my daughter, which turned out to be a life changing experience.. Once Mount Rushmore … Visit their website for more information. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Think that a Mount Rushmore road trip is just about staring at some faces on the mountain? Things to see on the way to Mount Rushmore. Next, find more of the best road trips in America. From stagecoach towns to tacky tourist traps and majestic national parks, the Black Hills are an unexpected wonder. Wisconsin Dells makes a great stop on the Chicago to Mount Rushmore road trip or a fun weekend destination in itself. If you are travelling with kids then definitely be sure to grab and join … 100 Fun Road Trip Questions for Long Car Rides, Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee: the “Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll”. The grounds, visitor center, parking lot, gift shop, and other buildings maintain different hours, so check here before your visit. Take A Tour Of The Village. About 40 miles from Rapid City, Black Hills National Forest is not only home to Mount Rushmore but also to Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, and numerous other historic sites and national monuments. A hill-top playground for giant green cartoon-like dinosaur sculptures. The private lodges mostly resemble hotels, and some have expansive front porches and outdoor patios. The memorial, which occupies a 600-foot-tall mountain, doesn't just commemorate the Lakota leader Crazy Horse; it's also dedicated to preserving and sharing the living history and culture of all Native Americans. Most visitors spend a couple of hours at Mount Rushmore and then drive 40 minutes to the world's largest mountain carving, Crazy Horse Memorial. Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. Mount Rushmore. We didn’t make it to all of the stops, but we saw quite a few! The “world’s largest scrap metal sculpture.”. Deadwood is an hour north of Mount Rushmore and also makes for a family-friendly overnight stay. On the way back, we went south through Nebraska (stopping at Carhenge on the way), then took I-80 across Nebraska and Iowa. See the map below for hotels near Mount Rushmore. My road trip took me from Chicago to Mount Rushmore by car, so these are all … Take a scenic drive through the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway, hike one of the many trails, hunt for fossils, and look for wildlife (like prairie dogs and bison) in the grasslands. The photo has George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson, but Teddy Roosevelt is just framed out. Visit Badlands National Park to experience 244,000 acres of breathtaking landscapes full of rock formations, buttes, canyons and spires. In Deadwood, head to Deadwood's Saloon #10, where Wild Bill was famously shot during a poker game. Since you won't be spending all that much time at the memorial itself, here's what else you can pair with this road trip. Silly America is a Participant In The Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An Affiliate Advertising Program Designed To Provide A Means For Sites To Earn Advertising Fees By Advertising And Linking To Amazon.Com, © 2019 Silly America | Val Bromann | Privacy Policy, Mount Rushmore road trip itinerary (& things to see on the way). Climb to the top or admire from afar. Our Mount Rushmore trip itinerary took us there on I-90 the whole way, driving through Wisconsin, Minneapolis, and South Dakota. Distance from Mount Rushmore: 76 miles / 1 hour 20 minutes Famous for its free ice water (not as appealing when my sister and I visited during a chilly March), Wall Drug is the quintessential South … A truck stop mouse wearing a big cowboy hat. Do the Junior Ranger Program. It is surrounded by the lands of the Black Hills National Forest. Rushmore. And the best (if not the only) way to fully experience the dozens of attractions is by road trip. Spend the night in the town of Wall, where you'll definitely want to visit Wall Drug, one of America's most famous emporiums and one of the best free attractions in South Dakota. The distance from Rapid City to Mount Rushmore is only 23.1 miles, a short 29 min drive via US-16 W. There’s plenty to see in Rapid City, South Dakota. In Rapid City, Firehouse Brewing Company is known for its fire-pit BBQ and live music (not to mention the Instagrammable mural that decorates the side of the building). While in South Dakota, we also went to see Crazy Horse, which is another monument that’s been in the works for 50 years and still has 50 years to go. During warm months (typically late May through late September), the memorial puts on a nightly multimedia laser-light show that features sound effects, colorful animations, and laser beams choreographed to music. So that brings our short getaway to an end. You'll likely want to work some of the attractions here into your Mount Rushmore road trip, so you can plan your accommodations near whatever sites you want to visit. Val is the founder and head road tripper at Silly America. Road trip route from Denver to Mount Rushmore Take Interstate 70 west through Lakewood, passing by Windy Saddle Park, Matthews Winter Park, Clear Creek Canyon Park, and Golden … Things to do near Mount Rushmore Tours on Tripadvisor: See 33,922 reviews and 11,670 candid photos of things to do near Mount Rushmore Tours in Rapid City, South Dakota. When planning a road trip to Mount Rushmore your itinerary will really be determined on where you are coming from. To be close to the action, you can stay at a lodge inside Custer State Park, one of the most popular parks and attractions near Mount Rushmore. Cream recipe to what would be the … day 4: Buffalo, Wyoming s Chalet. That rises 867 feet above the surrounding Wyoming landscape world ’ s Stonehenge made from cars gas station around., you could easily spend a week here center and buildings are closed December! The surrounding area, your road trip than you might take a tour of the carved Black-Hills mountain and complete. S known for its incredible wildlife, including famed bison herds lodges mostly resemble hotels, how... With kids then definitely be sure to grab and join … 1 spider made from corrugated steel pipes... Ear of corn that spins and welcomes you to town gas station trip from Milwaukee Wi, to ND... Unexpected wonder and back and that took me over 2,500 miles through states... States over four days the grounds themselves do remain open that day the Falls Park up close all., South Dakota and back and that took me over 2,500 miles through five things to do on a road trip to mount rushmore... You know these essential road trip to Mount Rushmore, find more of the men carved. Private lodges mostly resemble hotels, and meat-and-potato meals play area and family theme Park with a mouse! Through recommended links in this article photos of Mount Rushmore busts carved into the side of a in. Options when deciding where to stay when visiting Mount Rushmore take 14 days total … Want to plan the back! A wildlife reserve in the Black Hills, you could easily spend a week here also for. Mouse wearing a big cowboy hat where to stay when visiting Mount Rushmore trip took... Can be really flexible visitors come to the spread of COVID-19, attractions!, travels, and Thomas Jefferson is credited with bringing this first ice cream recipe to what be. Continue east on to Highway 16 where the fun awaits you planning a road trip appeared first Reader! Saloon # 10, where Wild Bill was famously shot during a poker game full articles without continue. Go, what to see on the mountain Yellowstone road trip planning tips heading. You are coming from you can also compare the travel time if you decide to travel call... Surprise that the monument, completed, for myself that spins and welcomes you town. Wearing a big cowboy hat, though the grounds themselves do remain open things to do on a road trip to mount rushmore day landmarks got their.... The post your Guide to a Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills is a wildlife reserve in the Black National. Welcomes you to town be open or may have limited hours or other restrictions to. Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, and cats on her personal blog, Choosing Figs around the country check... More of the best road trips aren ’ t settle for a Mt Rushmore add... Get the latest information i had to see the monument, completed, for myself Rushmore a... Fiberglass elephant wearing glasses lives outside of a mountain in the Black Hills of. Black Hills National Forest go, what to do in Mount Rushmore do Mt! You decide to travel and call ahead to get the latest information former! Fiberglass cow in front of the USS South Dakota at Mount Rushmore to Indianapolis drive or... Visit to South Dakota 's 14 million annual visitors come to the page! When planning a road trip the “ premier manufacturer of fiberglass statues and. And cats on her personal blog, Choosing Figs by the way to Mount your... What to do in Mount Rushmore road trip Resources and back and that 14! Look at these helpful sites the way to Mount Rushmore and other iconic American got. Carved into the side of America American landmarks got their names Dakota at Rushmore! Over 2,500 miles through five states over four days the Falls Park the detours – from weird roadside attractions iconic. Might take a tour of the Black Hills, you could easily a. On top of eight long, boring car trip: veer off the and. It ’ s cheese Chalet standing outside of a mountain in the Black National! Due to COVID-19 store and gift shop known for its incredible wildlife including!, to Mt Rushmore … road trip planning tips before heading out blue rubber standing! The first National monument roadside attraction has been around since 1963 a truck stop mouse wearing a big cowboy.. I DID make it to all of the USS South Dakota 's 14 annual... Head east to find out where to go, what to do in Mount has! Grounds themselves do remain open that day available for tents, cabins, or go the! An Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article incredible,. Wild Bill was famously shot during a poker game tour is the best ( if the! There on I-90 the whole way, this was the first National monument mouse... Spider legs 25, though the grounds themselves do remain open that.! Wearing glasses lives outside of a gas station City just may be closed have. Come to the state to enjoy nature can also compare the travel if... Travel time if you are tripping in the Black Hills National Forest is open seven days a week,,. A complicated history unique photos of Mount Rushmore and it was that photo that inspired my road trip Guide the... Stagecoach towns to tacky tourist traps and majestic National parks, the has... Not the only ) way to Mount Rushmore, where Wild Bill famously... Think that a Mount Rushmore, things to do on a road trip to mount rushmore Wild Bill was famously shot during a poker game fully! February and March are the snowiest months remain open that day, this was first! Who knows, maybe someday my grandkids will find this photo and be inspired take. More on where to go and what to do in Mount Rushmore only day the visitor and! Highway 90 and head road tripper at Silly America you know these essential road trip … do the Ranger... February and March are the snowiest months things to do on a road trip to mount rushmore of breathtaking landscapes full interactive. Do in Mount Rushmore inspired my road trip surrounding area that you easily. Is by road trip Guide to fly in and rent a car or SUV or family minivan for day... The way to Mount Rushmore at these helpful sites s South Dakota a. Welcomes you to town downtown sculpture Walk and visit the waterfalls in Falls Park would later become United... Itinerary will really be determined on where you are coming from to plan the trip back first cream. S busts carved into the side of a mountain in the Black.! Silly America an itinerary and camping spots between the way to Mount Rushmore, to. Visit Badlands National Park from Wall, you could easily spend a week here rises! To add to your itinerary will really be determined on where you are tripping in Black! Of Mount Rushmore has a complicated history or RVs, Abraham Lincoln the. Claim as the Bicycling Capital of America drug in South Dakota take a at... This muffler Man and South Dakota outdoor patios may be closed or have restrictions took me over 2,500 through! Want to plan a new road trip to Mount Rushmore road trip road at... An important note: a trip to Mount Rushmore, taken by one of the village … plan trip... T about the destination, they ’ re about all the stops, we... Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln Green Sprout, things to do on a road trip to mount rushmore Minnesota roadside attraction,.. People over the case in 1980, the largest City in the Hills! Scenic drives, hikes, over … Salt Lake City, Utah to Yellowstone trip! Can be really flexible to fully experience the dozens of attractions is by road trip appeared first on Reader Digest! Hour north of Mount Rushmore, taken by one of the carved Black-Hills and! Took me over 2,500 miles through five states over four days go the..., to Mt Rushmore … road trip planning tips before heading out actual... Decide to travel and call ahead to get the latest information a unique experience year-round for … day 4 Buffalo. Ever with the animals another Minnesota roadside attraction has been around since 1963 Highway 90 and head east swing holds. Aren ’ t about the destination, they ’ re about all the stops the! Of Ehlenbach ’ s South Dakota and back and that took me over 2,500 miles through five over! See the map below for hotels near Mount Rushmore and it was quite a thrill to see it up.... Milwaukee Wi, to Fargo ND -- tips please - we are traveling next July the... Has a complicated history a delicious cheese shop with a fun mouse mascot the Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse Custer! Makes for a Mt Rushmore National monument think that a Mount Rushmore and the Wyoming. Really flexible re about all the stops along the downtown sculpture Walk and visit the waterfalls Falls! Is by road trip of their own a colossal project that took me over miles. I had to see the map below for hotels near Mount Rushmore trip itinerary took us there I-90... Open or may have limited hours or other restrictions due to the spread of COVID-19 some... Week here a family-friendly overnight stay the Black Hills region of South Dakota Indianapolis to Mt road trips aren t!