I went there on. Monday, arrived at 2:00 pm parking lot is easy to pay at the kiosk near the…read moreentrance. There is also an audio tour available. There is a long stairway upwards first to see the Sculpture Station before they closed at 4:00. Inside the station is very nice. Up towards there are four separate small biography of those Presidents. After going around, we went to the building with a gift shop, exhibit and theater with a short informative video. Then to the food court which the one in middle was only one open tried the bison burger and fries. Not worth $20.00 but was decent. They close all at 8:00pm The lighting ceremony was very interesting and amazing. Wishing everyone around would be quiet. It was overall great and very informative!

This was an awesome trip! Even though we drove far, it was well worth it!…read more Make sure you do the presidential trail to get up closer to the monument and see the studio where they have a replica of how the monument should be. Easy parking and you will have in and out privilege so you can come back night time to see the lighting of the monument which is highly recommended. Lots of mosquitoes though so be prepared and wear some mosquito repellent.

Fascinating highlight of Needles HIghway. If you're going through this Custer area, whether to…read morevisit Mt Rushmore, Custer SP, etc, it's an enthralling experience to traverse this fun tunnel (or funnel) once. Just make sure you're driving like a sedan/SUV to clear it, cuz boy it sure is narrow!

Had spent the morning in the southern area of Custer State Park, and the afternoon was going to be…read morethe Needles Highway, followed by Mount Rushmore. It was a little bit drizzly, but the sites were still amazing as we drove the ever winding path. The tunnels were pretty crazy, one in particular being extra narrow! We were in a big SUV, but we were following a big SUV, so I figured if the car in front of us made it, we would! This is a great drive to make if you're in the Rapid City area.

As long as I can remember, I have been wanting to go see Mount Rushmore since I was a teenager…read more Never had the opportunity, or time or the money to do so. I'm happy to check this off my travel bucket list! It is exactly what I imagined and more. We arrived at around 6 pm towards the end of the day on Thursday, September 17, 2026. It's off peak season and it wasn't busy. I was disappointed that they ran out of the Thomas Jefferson vanilla ice-cream that is supposed to be amazing and popular. Hence, they were out! We did the Presidential Trail which is a scenic walking loop that brings visitors directly beneath the carved granite faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. It's about 0.90 miles. It's not a long or difficult walk but there are steps going down and eventually steps going up. I wouldn't recommended for anyone with a heart condition or elderly folks. It is a nice and paved trail. I wish I knew ahead of time that they have a light show at 9:00 pm each evening. I would have timed that better. Go get dinner and come visit the monument. The gift shop is nice with a lot of cool souvenirs. There is an ice-cream shop and a cafe.

It was a beautiful experience. Highly recommend. Explore the…read morehistory and development. Take the time to do the scenic walk!

There's a lot of history and culture that you can learn in the visitor center but that's as far as…read moreyou can go. You can see the monument from the visitor center inside only unless you pay extra to ride the "tour bus" ($5 per person) on top of the admission price being per person. The eatery closed at 4pm which we had planned to grab a snack so that was disappointing. There was plenty of parking and the visitor center was beautifully well done. I was also very happy to support the center and pay admission, but I don't feel like it was clear how far away you'd be. It felt more like just going to a museum. The clarity on what your experience would be was not explained or labeled clearly at the entrance which is why I gave the experience a 4.

Hint - pull over on the shoulder before you get to the pull off. The pull off is surrounded by…read moretrees and you can't see the memorial. From the pull off you have to get out of your car. I swear if I was Gates/Bezos/Kardashian rich, I would donate however many millions was required to finish this sculpture. It's a shame we have 4 presidents carved into stolen tribal land and there is no money to finish this.

You can see a Mount Rushmore tunnel view as you are driving through CC Gideon Tunnel when you drive…read moreIron Mountain Road AWAY FROM Mount Rushmore. It loops around so that you will get a tunnel view of Mount Rushmore as you are driving through at least one tunnel no matter which direction you drive! Driving through the Iron Mountain Road tunnels also means that you'll be driving through Black Hills National Forest.

We stopped here to check out the information center but unfortunately it was closed for the season…read more There is still a train car and this jail to check out and both are pretty neat. My husband really wanted a photo in front of the jail and I actually screamed out loud because as I approached to take his photo I thought I saw someone inside. They have a mannequin and displays set up in the interior but unfortunately again it was padlocked most likely because of the season being over. It's definitely a cute and informative quick stop if you are in the area.

The 1888 Jail in Hot Springs is believed to be the oldest wooden jail in existence in South Dakota…read more- and possibly in all 50 states. Constructed around 1888, this unique building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a must-see for anyone visiting the area. It is located on the 600 block of North River Street, next to the Hot Springs Visitors Center. The jail is built entirely of pine 2×4 lumber that were laid flat and nailed together on top of each other. Approximately 500 2x4s were used to construct the jail - including all four walls, the floor, and the roof. Cedar shingles were likely used to cover the pitched roof. In order to discourage anyone from sawing through the wood to make an escape, #9-gauge wire was placed between the layers of wood for added security. Metal bars were used to cover the windows.

Ooh boy, yet another highlight of Needles HIghway. Of course if you're going through the area,…read morewhether to visit Mt Rushmore, Custer SP, etc, it's an enthralling experience to traverse this fun tunnel (or funnel) once. Just make sure you're manning like a sedan/SUV to clear it, cuz boy it sure is narrow!

Iron Creek Tunnel is one of three amazing tunnels that you will find along the Needles Highway in…read moreCuster State Park in South Dakota. This tunnel is along a scenic route known for its tunnels, incredible rock formations, and views of the Black Hills. The two other tunnels that you will find along Needles Highway are Needles Eye Tunnel and Hood Tunnel. Iron Creek Tunnel is one lane, like the other tunnels so be mindful and drive carefully. It's easy to pull over along this highway and take in the views. There are also trails that start from some of the small parking lots along Needles Highway. This is a popular scenic drive so I would recommend going earlier in the day to avoid the crowds. I would also recommend taking your time along Needles Highway to really soak in the views and all that this scenic drive has to offer because the views are incredible.

You can see a Mount Rushmore tunnel view as you are driving through Scovel Johnson Tunnel when you…read moredrive Iron Mountain Road TO Mount Rushmore. it is a one-way tunnel from south to north and fascinating to see Mt Rushmore from here. Driving through the Iron Mountain Road tunnels also means that you'll be driving through Black Hills National Forest. The tunnels -- are carved from granite to create roads through the Black Hills while doing as little harm as possible to the scenic landscape Fact from the web: was named for the man who built the Needles Highway. He also did survey work on the Iron Mountain Road and contributed to the layout of Sylvan Lake.