Super 8 by Wyndham Keystone/Mt. Rushmore Keystone, South Dakota, US (2023)

FAQs

How far is keystone from rushmore? ›

Keystone is the Black Hills' closest city to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, located just three miles from these famous faces.

Keystone is the home of Mount Rushmore and a visitor magnet in its own right. Located two miles from the monument, it features dozens of shopping boutiques, restaurants and treats, and family fun attractions. There are many motels, inns and campgrounds in the area for overnight guests.

However, for over 20 years, visitors were greeted by Ben Black Elk, unofficially called the fifth face of Mount Rushmore.

The busiest months are June, July and August. May, September and October are less busy and popular months to visit as well. Use the links below to plan your visit to Mount Rushmore and the surrounding Black Hills.

I'll save you the time for research – the closest town to stay near Mt Rushmore is Keystone, SD. If you don't mind driving just a little bit further, then consider Hill City or Custer – both excellent options for a longer stay visiting Mt Rushmore as well as the Black Hills.

The direct drive from Keystone to Badlands National Park is 92.6 mi (149 km), and should have a drive time of 1 hr 58 mins in normal traffic.

"The purpose of the memorial is to communicate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States with colossal statues of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt."

Keystone is located in the Black Hills region of Pennington County at the base of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The elevation of 4331' and being nestled in a valley accounts for exceptional weather; the glories of all four seasons can be experienced in Keystone.

But many Americans might not know the secret behind one of the country's most iconic political monuments. Enter: The Hall of Records at Mount Rushmore. Where the frontal lobe of Abraham Lincoln's brain would be, there is a secret room that contains the text of America's most important documents.

Whose head has a hidden room on Mt Rushmore? ›

A little-known chamber concealed behind the head of Abraham Lincoln was intended to contain a shrine to America. Mount Rushmore as carving began with conceptual drawing of Borglum's idea for a the never-built entablature inserted.

No evening lighting ceremony, sculpture illuminated nightly at sunset.

There is no entrance fee for Mount Rushmore National Memorial. However, fees are required to park at the memorial. Parking fee is for private passenger vehicles, valid for one year from date of purchase. Parking fee for Seniors, 62 and older, is $5 and Active Duty Military parking is free.

Rapid City Regional Airport is located 35 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial on South Dakota Highway 44.

About a 30 minute walk.

How Long Should I Plan to Stay at Mount Rushmore? Most people spend one to two hours at Mount Rushmore, but you could easily spend more time there if you took it slow.

Discover this 0.9-mile loop trail near Keystone, South Dakota. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 23 min to complete. This is a very popular area for walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

Daytime is best to enjoy the whole area....

But there's so much more to see and do when you visit the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The site itself is home to the Sculptor's Studio, the Lincoln Borglum Museum, the Avenue of Flags, hiking trails, Junior Ranger Programs for kids, interpretive ranger-led activities and the Evening Sculpture Lighting Ceremony.

Is Mt Rushmore worth it? ›

Yes! As you can see, Mount Rushmore is just one of the many amazing things to do in the Black Hills. The Black Hills can be confusing because it's a HUGE area and there are so many things to do! Most travelers want to visit the most popular sites, yet still avoid crowds.

Unfortunately the freshies don't last long because Keystone is a very very popular ski resort. The world class facilities, the proximity to Denver, and a cheap season pass all contribute to the crowds that flock to Keystone, particularly on the weekends.

This unique terrain is full of surprises that keeps visitors wanting more. And yet, it is still probably one of the most underrated National Parks in the United States. Being only a 60-minute drive from Rapid City, I am always shocked when people ask if it's worth the visit. Because the answer is a thousand times YES.

Action Packed Series! Into the Badlands is a very underrated show that didn't get the recognition it deserved when it was on. It's an action packed thriller that keeps you entertained throughout the entire series and one of the better martial arts series I've ever seen!

No one died during the carving of the memorial. Rate of erosion of the sculpture is estimated to be one inch every 10,000 years. The top of Mount Rushmore is 5,725 feet above sea level. Mount Rushmore was named in 1885 for New York attorney Charles E.

At the Crazy Horse Memorial they are hoping that by the year 2035 the arm, hairline, hand, shoulder and the top part of the horse's head will be finished, though this could be a bit unrealistic as in the last 24 years since the face has finished, not even the finger of Crazy Horse pointing towards his tribal land has ...

Badlands National Park can get a good number of summer storms, and with that rain can come massive mosquito problems, as Matt and I experienced in 2019.

All the scorpions living in South Dakota are nocturnal carnivores, so they are most easily seen at night. But did you know that all scorpions glow a bright blueish color under ultraviolet light? So many times, people take blacklights to help them find and observe scorpions!

The Lakota people dubbed this region “mako sica,” or “bad lands,” long ago because its rocky terrain, lack of water and extreme temperatures made it difficult to traverse. Today, the Badlands are a great place for hiking, fossil hunting, taking a scenic drive and spotting wildlife.

It's off limits to the public, intended instead to serve as a repository of records to ensure the history of the monument isn't lost to people thousands of years in the future. The Hall of Records was conceived by Mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum even before he began work on the monument in 1927.

Can you go in the cave behind Mount Rushmore? ›

This repository is not accessible to visitors but is left as a record for people thousands of years from now who may wonder how and why Mount Rushmore was carved.

The Presidential Trail is 0.6 miles long and has 422 stairs. The trail goes right under Mount Rushmore and gets you a lot closer than just staying at the visitor's center. The trail is open only when weather permits and is usually closed in the winter.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets is a 2004 film starring Nicholas Cage, where scenes were filmed at both Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Sylvan Lake. The Mount Rushmore scene features a hidden chamber behind the head of former Pres. Abraham Lincoln.

In March, 1941, as a final dedication was being planned, Gutzon Borglum died. This fact, along with the impending American involvement in World War II, led to the end of the work on the mountain.

Every year, the many visitors to Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota draw inspiration from the colossal portraits of four outstanding presidents of the United States: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

To accommodate increasing tourist traffic, AMD and DHM Design developed a five-year masterplan and facilities for the 1,278-acre park at Mount Rushmore, culminating in a presidential trail, visitor contact station, interpretive center and museum, concessions, restroom facilities, a 2,000-seat amphitheater, and ...

The best month to visit Mount Rushmore is October for peak fall foliage but May & September are also great. Summer in Mount Rushmore brings massive crowds (especially for the 4th of July) and major heat (sometimes over 90 degrees).

Fireworks at the National Memorial is not an annually occurring event. As they will not be happening this year, you can still celebrate Independence Day, and the days surrounding it, in the Black Hills and Badlands with some of the best Fourth of July celebrations found anywhere in America.

Crazy Horse Memorial is only sustained by admission and private contributions. Your admission dollars support Crazy Horse Memorial's mission to protect and preserve the culture, tradition, and living heritage of the indigenous people of North America. Your admission ticket includes access to: Three Museums.

Wondering how far Yellowstone is from Mount Rushmore? The approximate distance from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone is 500 miles, depending on the route you take (more on that below).

What do I need to know before going to Mount Rushmore? ›

The busiest months are June, July and August. May, September and October are less busy and popular months to visit as well. Use the links below to plan your visit to Mount Rushmore and the surrounding Black Hills.

How far is Badlands from Mount Rushmore? The Badlands National Park is about 100 miles from Mount Rushmore.

The closest our BELOVED Southwest comes is Denver & Mt Rushmore is 5hr 45min car trip (or $500 one-way plane ride).

Discovery Tours offers The Monumental Tour which includes stops at Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Our Shuttle service includes transportation between the Rapid City Airport and the towns in the Northern Hills. We can accommodate up to 10 passengers.

Mount-Rushmore Shuttle & Tours is a locally owned and operated business. Our family has lived in the Black Hills for 20+ years! We know the hills and places, and we hope to take you on our adventure! We specialize in tours based on the (local spots) so, climb aboard.

Keystone

Just three miles from Mount Rushmore, the closest town in the Black Hills to the iconic sculptures, Keystone is a former gold-mining town that offers a ton of activities and 32 restaurants.

The approximate distance from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone is 500 miles, depending on the route you take (more on that below).

The direct drive from Keystone to Badlands National Park is 92.6 mi (149 km), and should have a drive time of 1 hr 58 mins in normal traffic.

What is the best month to visit South Dakota? ›

The sun is shining and seasonal businesses are open in the summer, making late May to early September the most popular time to visit South Dakota.

We recommend three days, which gives you time to explore all three driving loops, as well as tour downtown Rapid City. But if you only have one or two days, you can still make it work. In two days, we recommend visiting the Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills on day one, and the Badlands on day two.

Here are the best places to stop and drive between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone: Deadwood, Spearfish Canyon and Spearfish, South Dakota.

If you want to learn about the history of Mount Rushmore and to see the Presidents lit up at night, then it is worth staying for. A lot of veterans also like to be at this service, so it can be moving to watch.

What You Can Do in 2-3 Hours at Mount Rushmore. Most people spend an average of 2-3 hours touring the monument. You'll start with the Avenue of Flags, which is a spine-tingling walkway of all 50 state flags, and U.S. territories, in alphabetical order. These flags frame your view of the monument.

Badlands National Park charges an entrance fee. You may purchase a 7-day pass valid at only Badlands National Park by selecting from the choices (Private Vehicle, Motorcycle, or Individual).

This unique terrain is full of surprises that keeps visitors wanting more. And yet, it is still probably one of the most underrated National Parks in the United States. Being only a 60-minute drive from Rapid City, I am always shocked when people ask if it's worth the visit. Because the answer is a thousand times YES.

The best time of year to visit Badlands National Park is either in the spring or fall. These time frames are going to offer the best options for outdoor recreation activities. We especially recommend visiting anytime in April or May or later in the season during September or October for the best weather and experience.