Everyone should see this place at least once. There is not a whole lot to see but it is a pretty amazing place. There is a concert theater in front of the monument. The eating area is pretty basic. There is indoor and outdoor seating. The gift shop has all sorts of Rushmore items. There is a book store in the front of the attraction with national park themed items. read more

It is a National monument so I was glad to see it for that reason. It is easy to get to and easy to park. Facilities are updated and give good information. I have seen it and glad I did. read more

I had a blast here! Unfortunately parking is $11 but it lasts for an entire year! We parked in the handicapable lot, but the elevator was out - and there was no sign! We decided to take the audio tour ($5 each) to soak up all the history and fun of Mount Rushmore. You can take alamost the entire audio tour if you are handicapable. I was kind of glad we could. It complete the last part of the loop because we spent about three hours there. Mount Rushmore has a very large, very nice shop and a cafeteria. We opted for some ice cream on the nice 44F degree day. read more

Well Impressive is an understatement. What a project, what a vision, what follow through to get this monster carving done. The project and the vision are explained in the movie in the visitor center. The monument itself is free, but the parking concession charges 11 bucks. Oh well, I can stand it and for nice parking, even covered parking if you use the lower levels is very nice. As one takes the flights of stairs to approach the monument, a very tasteful display from all states in posted on the columns. As you pass all the columns and get to what, to some, may appear as the main view point, be sure to know that you are on top of the main visitor center and the movie theatre. Be sure to see the movie and the museum / presentation down stairs. This monument and the skilled labor that produced it are to be complimented forever. Thank you! read more

This place is awesome! Everyone should visit at some point. We went in the daytime and the nighttime ceremony. The night ceremony was pretty special. Parking is $10 for all day, it may be all year. They have a decent cafeteria. Presidential trail was nice but parts of it were closed so we couldn't go all the way under bUt it was still nice. read more

Mount Rushmore National Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Keystone, South Dakota

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I have been here a couple of times before and I still enjoy seeing "The Heads". Other than that the park and nearby tourist village is underwhelming at best. Just not my type of place overall including many of the participants. Spent most of my time traveling and stopping along 16A which allows for some excellent views of the monument and is a fairly scenic road. Pretty much the park itself is a tourist trap. This area of South Dakota has a lot more to offer than what is here. In my opinion. read more

Mount Rushmore National Memorial - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Keystone, South Dakota

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The drive out here from any direction is a long one. Those that love the outdoors, trails, finding life in trees, hills, bird watching, etc, will love the drive up and tours. A young person that's into the college scene of drinking and having fun may not find this trip that very exciting and like some of the other reviews have mentioned at the end of their trip; "I was done from the moment we saw it in the window driving up". You have to have a serious liking to hike and an interest to go through the tours to enjoy it. I like the peacefulness of the surroundings, the information about the site and the fact that people here aren't as obnoxious as those found at other attractions in bigger cities. Also for a city person that's used to concrete, high rises, rats and cockroaches it's a pleasant surprise to see different kinds of birds in the skies and cute animals frolicking about the walk paths. It's also freaking awesome at night, (on a bright night) to see the moonlight over the statues. I always wished I could see the firework celebration here on Independence Day. I wonder if it's anymore spectacular than the one back home in Chicago. Parents please don't drag your kids out here for the sake of the experience. If so, at least come for Independence Day. Sixteen hours plus of complaining during your road trip is not worth it. Not a trip you'd make out year after year but something an American should see at least once in life. One of America's biggest accomplishments. Might be a great idea to road trip here first and then if you have time, trip down to the Hoover Dam. read more

Magnificent and a must-see for everyone!! Free entrance with only $10 for parking. We weren't able to take the Presidential trail as it was pouring, but you can still get awesome pictures at the overlook platform. One star is lost as we trudged back for the lightning of the memorial as we were told it was incredible. I kept waiting for red white and blue lights or a projection of the flag, or fireworks, something! I mean, the music and armed forces tribute was nice, but I was hoping for more. .. :-( read more

First time here. $11 for parking, which is good for the rest of the year--doubt I'll be back this year, but quite the deal if you're in the area Great people. Amazing monument. Very clean. Informative. Lighting ceremony at 8PM (but time varies according to season so check online or call). There's a museum for all you history buff. A presidential trail for all you nature buff. Nothing is too extreme so it is accessible to all. Great selection of documentary to explain the history of Mount Rushmore and national parks during the lighting ceremony. Moved me to tears a few times, but then I'm probably all hormonal so I tear up easily anyways. P.S. Pokemon Go stops and gyms are available! ^^ read more

Pros: Entrance is free, although there is an $11 fee for parking per car. Museum, gift shop, sculpture's studio, Presidential Trail and cafe all give ample information about local history, how the monument was built, Native American culture, and flora and fauna in the area, Presidential trail is not a terribly long walk (less than a mile) but it should be noted that there are a lot of stairs. I was planning on walking it but decided I didn't want to get drenched in the rain. But for those who are interested in walking the trail, evidently if you start by taking a left turn at the amphitheater, you will only have to go down stairs, whereas if you start by taking a right turn, you will only be going up stairs. You have been warned. Con: According to the information given, the monument was built in order to attract visitors to the area. So, honestly, it's kind of a tourist trap. Granted that it's a lot more impressive than, say, Jim Bob's Dino-rama next door (come see real plastic imitation fossils of dinosaurs that didn't even live in this area!) but once you've seen it, it's not something where you're likely to spend hours appreciating its beauty. Most people come, take pictures in front of it, get some ice cream at the cafe and then leave. read more

Beautiful area and beautiful drive up to see the monument. We went in early June and it was a great time of the year to be there (except busy of course). Like a lot of others have said, there isn't much to do in the little towns nearby but the area is still beautiful and the wildlife is amazing. There is a helicopter ride that flies in front of the monument that we were about to take but my husband is too large for the helicopter (there is a weight limit). read more

Mount Rushmore National Memorial - Stunning... best to go early before it gets busy. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Keystone, South Dakota

It would be worth 5 stars even if all they had was the carving itself. But they have the trails, the viewing platform, the museum, the night show... there is just so much to do. Don't think you are just going to drop in and take a few pictures. This is a full day experience. read more

A road-trippin' must-visit destination. Make absolutely sure to take the Presidential Trail to get much closer to the faces - it starts near the amphitheatre at the end of the paved main area. Only 5-10% of the visitors do this trail, and you will not regret it if you do. Hike Harney Peak nearby before or afterwards. Wind Cave National Park is also awesome. Heck, you could easily spend a full week exploring this whole area (the "Black Hills"). read more

Ahh, Mount Rushmore...one of those iconic American monuments. It's way out there in South Dakota, so I'd say it's definitely a bit out of the way for most people. Heck, I doubt I would have ever visited if my sister hadn't moved to Colorado and ended up being five hours away from it. With her that close I insisted we make the pilgrimage up that way to check out the monument. Let me get one thing out of the way...Mount Rushmore is not as big as you think. Yes, there are four faces carved into the rock, but they are pretty small, compared to other monuments. Don't get me wrong...this doesn't take anything away from them, and it is still awe-inspiring to see what a sculptor did on the mountainside. It doesn't matter how big it is...it is still awesome to experience personally. You do have to pay for parking ($10 or so) and it's worth every penny. Once you park you walk up the stairs, walk down an aisle, and boom, there's the monument. There is a short looping trail that takes you slightly closer so you can get a better look at the monument. The sculptor's studio is also there so you can check that out. Mount Rushmore also has a cafe to grab a bite (since there is little else around the area) and two gift shops that sell cha-chis with the president's faces plastered on them. I can't see you spending over two hours at the monument, but it's still worth the trip to take the sight in. read more

My family takes a road trip to South Dakota every year and Mt. Rushmore is always on our "things to see" list. We take the short hike up to the viewing platform and then make a bee line for the ice cream shop. The Memorial as a whole is in great shape. Nice bathrooms, a gift shop, cafeteria, ice cream shop, easy parking situation, etc. The cost to get in is $10 a car. Can't wait to go back next summer! read more

FACE MOUNTAIN! YAY! Seriously, though. It's an American Landmark. It's on a freaking quarter. If you're here, you gotta see it. We've actually been back numerous times. The sunset lighting of the mountain is not to be missed. (You can grab a beer inside and take it out to sit and watch the sunset and the mountain lights up!) I seem to remember patriotic music... or was that just the Moose Drool beers that I had? The trails around the mountain are easy but fun, and the views are spectacular. Don't skip it. read more

Mt Rushmore seems to be a place that it is more interesting to tell people you've been there than to actually go there. I don't feel like this expensive tourist trap really has a place in the National Park System alongside such natural wonders as the Badlands, Yellowstone, or historical places like Independence Hall. First, their is the $11 parking fee, so that you can park and actually walk up fairly close to the carvings. The pass is good for one year, which is good not because you'll be itching to return on a monthly basis, but because their garage system is so confusing you might end up back outside again before you find the right place to park. There isn't really a reason to pay for the parking and stay awhile other than the gift shop and cafe (which serves a lot of bison products). You get a couple good photo opportunities on the road up to the entrance (there are pull outs for cars) and you can save your time and money for nearby Jewel Cave monument or the Badlands National Park, both of which are much more spectacular. read more

Extremely out of the way but beautiful. Day or night this is amazing sight to see. Worth the drive to see this in person after reading about in books from childhood. Theater is great it shows in 14 minutes movie every 20 minutes. Extremely windy so bring a jacket. read more

This monumental experience was extraordinary!! The evening retreat ceremony, with Ranger Dorothy, was also quite moving. Very patriotic. She did a stellar job on the recitation of The Star Spangled Banner. They also have a very nice military veterans acknowledgment ceremony after the flag is lowered. The monument itself is lit at night and is amazing! There is a short film highlighting each of the presidents and their role in our nation's history. Even though it was a bit crowded when you enter, once you are on the trails around the park, it's not so bad. The photographic opportunities are numerous and I just could not have asked for a better experience. People were very respectful of the area and each other. My husband, doing his duty as a preservationist, enjoyed Thomas Jefferson's 'original' ice cream recipe. The gift shop is enormous as opposed to the Book Store which is nicer and less crowded. One the day we went one of the last surviving stone drillers was in the gift shop selling some of his unbelievable photographs of many of the Native American chiefs of the day. Overall an excellent experience that we would recommend for anyone wishing to see an absolutely profound and mesmerizing piece of American history. Like the Smithsonian, the venue is free although they do charge a nominal $10 to park which is good for the weekend. *Plan ahead for some ridiculous exit traffic after the retreat ceremony. They should take a few tips from Disney on visitor exodus and figure out how to get a police officer, park ranger or city waiver to allow the light at the exit to let more than four cars leave at a time. We had some snacks in the car and just chilled out in the garage (for about 25 minutes) while almost everyone else was a bit frustrated.... Still a 5 star venue!! read more

You can see the President's face from the street. It's a really beautiful place except it's overly crowded and there are so many tourists during the summer months. If you're just looking to take a picture, stand on the side of the street for a picture. It doesn't look much different once you get through the gates. I think a lot of people come with high expectations without realizing that there's really nothing there but the presidents face on a rock. I can't remember exactly but there is a shop inside if you're interested in buying souvenirs. But everything else outside of the park is a must do, must-see and must try. read more

Yay! So, I think Mount Rushmore is on most people's bucket lists but it was never on mine. How did I end up out here? Well, I was in North Dakota for work so a few coworkers and I decided to take a road trip down on the weekend. It was about a 5 or 6 hour drive, but it was worth it. The view up towards the mountain is beautiful as well and there are a couple of pull-off points for your car where you can snap a few photos. I thought that was nice, because if you were to head there when the park was closed, you'd still get some decent pictures. You pay $11 (per vehicle) entrance into the park - and you're allowed to come back for a year in the same vehicle (they take a photo of your license plate) - and pull into one of 6 levels of parking. There's a lovely memorial area set up with all 50 states engraved onto tiles along with the flags. Then you walk up to Mount Rushmore for a really nice view, either from the top floor area or from the amphitheater. There's a walking trail, which isn't too difficult but because of the altitude can feel harder than it is. I was out of breath every time we had to climb stairs. There's a museum too, if you want a bit of the history behind the giant sculpted presidents' heads. I don't know why this wasn't on my bucket list, but I put it on there just so I could cross it off. It was a great experience so if you ever get the chance to go, I definitely recommend it. You can't spend more than a couple of hours here though, so I'd also recommend driving about an hour or two east and checking out the Badlands. read more

Such a great place to visit. You always see it in movies and online, but never realize just how in awe you will feel when you see it in person. I remember driving up on the highway and could see it from there. I was thinking, "That's it?" I jokingly said to my wife, "Okay, we've seen it. Let's go back now." However, I did not realize I was still quite a few minutes from the park. Slowly but surely, the monument kept getting larger and larger as I got closer lol. They offer a few levels of paid parking. It is free to get into the park. I went during COVID so all staff members were wearing masks and enforcing social distancing. They have a souvenir shop with quite a bit of merchandise to purchase. They limit the amount of people who can be in there at a time and require a mask to enter. Same thing with the café and ice cream shop they have next to it. They usually offer other activities for guests, however they were not available to us due to COVID. You are able to take the hiking path to get closer to the monument and they have information stations along the way to learn more about it. Their tour guides are very informative and friendly. Definitely something that you should go to at least once in your lifetime. read more

This national monument is well maintained and organized. The parking lot is separated into several lots to avoid traffic and overcrowding. Visited Mt. Rushmore on the fourth of July and although it was crowded, there were ample parking spaces available and I was able to see the monuments and listen to the history lecture in the museum with ease. Well worth the price of admission! read more

Very impressive. I am glad I came, drove 3000 miles... parking was $10 which was reasonable. took the president's hike. it snowed so they closed off part of it, but my friend and i snuck it, and it was worth it! how could they close it off? but yes, it was magnificent, i wish you could get closer, but it's understandable. i think it's a must go for everyone. but i wish it wasn't so out of the way! i do wish there's more trail too. i also missed the night lights! tip: take the trail! favourites: nice paved trail, very easy to follow do not want: parking is only good till the end of the year...we went in november, so it expires next month last words: breathtaking! very patriotic. read more

4 stars, for 4 amazing presidents. I don't know why more people I know haven't been to see Mount Rushmore. My brother and I were both told that it is was smaller in person than you could ever imagine, but we actually thought it was pretty spectacular. And after seeing this in person, it will make you feel more American, and it will make you feel more American in a positive way. There is something about seeing something this majestic carved into rock--something that was so thought out and planned. And we still couldn't believe how detailed it actually was in person. There are videos in the visitor center you can watch which explain how it was made--dynamite. So phenomenal to have been made with dynamite! The whole park is free minus the parking fee, but the parking pass will last a year, but it is only linked your specific car and license plate frame, just a little FYI. And if you get a chance, you should definitely go to their nighttime lighting ceremony. This is what really moved me and my brother. They play a video about all 4 presidents and America and then they even called up all of the veterans and active members of the military on stage, and one man introduced himself as an ex-prisoner of war where we has held for 6 years. Just so incredible to see, with 4 amazing presidents light up in their glory behind him. read more

It's a beautiful memorial. Truly remarkable. But do know that once you're there not much else is going on. I parked my car, walked to the monument, relaxed, took some pictures, went in the gift shop and was back in my car in about 45 minutes. Sort of an expensive 45 minutes for the eleven dollar parking. Still, you must see it at least once. It's really impressive (though a bit smaller than I imagined). To think that someone sculpted this out of a mountain is really amazing. And also, sort of random. But seriously, amazing. You should go, but you should definitely carpool. read more

It's okay. I was taken back by the lack of access to the monument. This is not too dreadful because it's easy to see how a kid would want to fall off the face of the monument. Anyway it's just a strange place. South Dakota is beautiful as is the town built around the park. The monument itself is a little strange because it is unfinished and I'm not quite sure of why those presidents, if they will keep working on it, or if they ever plan on cleaning up the rubble. It really feels like some guys (expertly) blew some dynamite up then left for lunch and never came back. You're in the area and probably American - GO SEE IT! Then find something else to do with the rest of your day like visit the Indian monument down the road that is also partially finished. Confusing America! Very confusing.... read more

Me and Dad drove 3600 miles (round trip) from San Francisco to Mount Rushmore to see our founding fathers carved in rock. Much to our dismay, the entire Custer / Mount Rushmore area was rainy and foggy! Damnit! We cursed the heavens, but decided to pay the fee and go into the park anyway. There's a surprising amount of things to do in the park even if you can't see the actual monument when it's covered in fog. There's several gift shops which have a lot tacky crap in them, BUT the money goes to the park. There's some cafes. There's a terrific museum which explains in great detail how they used TNT to carve the faces. There's a beautiful walk through a tribute to all 50 flags. It's an incredibly peaceful area and the mountain air is refreshing. Anyway... When we got there, the monument wasn't visible due to fog and there was a steady drizzle of rain. There weren't too many people at the park and the people who did show up, walked up to the viewing area, complained, and then turned around and left. Me and Dad had visited the Crazy Horse memorial the previous day under similar conditions and our patience had been rewarded when the fog cleared for a few minutes, SO we decided to stick it out at Rushmore as well. After about an hour, the fog cleared! We got a wonderful view of the memorial which was was truly stunning and worth the wait. After about 5 minutes, the fog reappeared and the memorial disappeared again. I feel blessed that our patience was rewarded. The majesty and history of the memorial made our trip complete and it's a memory I'll have with me for the rest of my life. read more

Not to downplay the achievements of the monument... but, it was really not that awesome. Seriously, you can only look at giant heads carved into the side of a mountain for so long. We drove across the country and through SD for this? read more

Coming back to Mount Rushmore 23 years after my first trip, not much has changed. From the road the monument looks small and insignificant. But walk to the trailhead and you get a better perspective. This is not the kind of attraction that you would spend all day at. A couple of hours will be all that is needed to see and do everything there. But please do take the time to do it all. You will learn so much of the history. Sure you could do a drive-by and just stop and snap a couple of pics but it's well worth the few bucks you have to pay to experience this bit of Americana. read more

Every year, I visit this beautiful place, but unfortunately I'm saddened to see the construction due to seepage. Construction until 2020!

Go after 8pm and it's free,lol. Tried three times to see this and each time it was foggy and we couldn't. But, after dark? Nice and clear!! Worth the view and time!! read more

Mount Rushmore National Memorial - Awesome. That's America!!!!! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Keystone, South Dakota

As an American, you want to love everything red white and blue you can find... I feel that this monument is a bit out-dated for todays "fun factor" Which is justified as we are living in fast paced society. The monument itself is fairly large, but in perspective it looks and feels smaller than what I had felt it to be after seeing pictures in my history books in school. On the bright side, they have a nice parking structure, ice cream shop and it's easy to drive to with easy freeway access. Also of course a giant gift shop containing jewelry, shot glasses, t-shirts, pocket knifes, bookmarks, salt & pepper shakers, stuffed animals, books, and we got to meet an older gentlemen who was an original driller on the crew that carved the mountain. He was doing a book signing. To get to the monument itself, you walk down a large corridor flanked with the gift shop and concessions. Approaching the end of the walk there is ample bleacher seating and a spacious wall to lean up against and take a roll of film of you and your companions. Downstairs is a great museum if you could call it. Explains the heritage of the designer of the mountain Gutzon Borglum and everything that went into the making and carving of the memorial. This was my favorite part of the entire thing, I loved the old photos and devices displayed that were part of the creation of this. This is something every person should see once, but after you've seen it, you probably won't want to see it again. They do a lighting ceremony at night, which I hear is neat, but I can imagine a traffic jam coming down the hill once the evening is over. I can see this being a decent thing to take kids to, but I wouldn't expect to spend an entire day here. I would like to see something allow us to get closer to the sculpture, it just felt so far away. read more

Spectacular!!! Every person in America should visit Mount Rushmore. The views, history and the amount of blood, sweat and tears that went into making this a beautiful place to visit is what makes this country special. Thank you to every person that great monument. read more

So I hear horror stories about being miles away from people who saw it 30 years ago. Let me assure you, it's worth it and the views area great. Also there is a pathway that goes behind the ampatheatre that goes close underneath the monument. If you looking for dynamic shots, this is where you go. read more

Lived up to my expectations! Make sure you get up close and personal with Mount Rushmore by taking the trail. If you start on the left, you'll have a lot less uphill walking versus if you start on the right. read more

First National Park we've been to as a family. Enjoyed hiking the Presidential Trail and seeing Mt. Rushmore National Monument. Even with the current construction project you can get some nice photos. read more

It's Mount Rushmore, I mean what's not to love! Hiked the Presidential Trail and thoroughly enjoyed it, 250+ stairs and all! Presentation at the Sculptor's Studio was great and very informative. Amphitheater was being renovated when we were there, so didn't get to see that. Thomas Jefferson Ice Cream was pretty steep at $5.75 for a small cone. Couldn't bring myself to do it. Great to see 20+ states represented in the parking lot. A place that draws everyone together. Loved it!!! read more

$10 for parking? Come on. The 'staff' closed the front restrooms, pushing everyone to the ones with the concessions. And those hadn't been cleaned in at least three hours. Rude NPS staff in info station. read more

When I first got there, I would give the monument 3 stars. I had it in my head that it was bigger and more impressive. BUT after walking around and taking the president's trail and watching the movie in the museum, I decided to give the place 4 stars. If you sit up and really think about what it took to sculpt the mountain like that, It's pretty awesome. BRING CASH! After the Devil's Tower let us pay with a CC for the entry fee, we assume MRNM would let us too, but they only take cash. The lady was nice in enough to let us in first, get cash from their ATM and we paid on the way out. We had a great experience taking the kids. read more