Going to Mount Rushmore: Vacations, Tourism, Hotels, Things to Do, and Airports

What to do in Mount Rushmore

South Dakota makes for an intriguing family vacation, offering a fun-filled combination of natural beauty, unusual geological features, and distinct Native American and Westward Expansion heritage.

A good starting point in Rapid City is the Journey Museum, which recounts two versions of Great Plains history: a scientific explanation based on fossils and geologic cross-sections as well as the mythological explanation from the Lakota Sioux. Check out the Native American exhibit with its hologram of a woman talking in a tepee for an especially revealing glimpse of regional folklore.

Nearby, the Black Hills region of South Dakota, approximately 65 miles wide and 125 miles long, includes five national parks and memorials. The most well-known is the...

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Traveler Reviews of Mount Rushmore

Lacy rates Mount Rushmore

It's really hard to get kids interested in historical attractions. And my experience at Mount Rushmore speaks directly to that. I was 12 and I certainly didn't want to be in the back of a pickup truck cruising the Black Hills with my parents. As much as I hate to admit it, I looked at the faces, ate some lunch, and was ready to head on out of there. Mount Rushmore is a fascinating place, though I think you need to work extra hard on your planning to get your little ones involved. Don't just stay cooped up in the car all day -- ??get out and hike, or plan activities that let them run free. Camping is a great option as well, though maybe give them their own little tent so they feel some independence.

Submitted on December 15, 2011

Pete rates Mount Rushmore

In Rapid City for a wedding, I thought Mount Rushmore might be an overcrowded, underwhelming, cheesy, tourist-trap experience. Boy, was I wrong. On an early October day that shifted from bright sun and blue sky, to gray, misting drizzle, to sunset and nightfall, the presidential monument was a majestic, inspiring, and ever-changing sight (particularly at sunset and when lit at night). Nearby, Hill City has a few interesting shops, restaurants, a winery tasting room (?!) and the rustically elegant Alpine Inn. There are some nearby hiking and biking trails we didn't have time to tackle, and the in-progress Crazy Horse monument and museum (beware the $27/car entry fee). Rapid City itself was a great weekend host, we especially enjoyed the Silver Spoon Cafe, Firehouse Brewery, and amazing Western and Native American galleries and shops.

Submitted on December 02, 2011

Lacy It's really hard to get kids interested in historical attractions. And my experience at Mount Rushmore speaks directly to that. I was 12 and I certainly didn't want to be in the back of a pickup truck cruising the Black Hills with my parents. As much as I hate to admit it, I looked at the faces, ate some lunch, and was ready to head on out of there. Mount Rushmore is a fascinating place, though I think you need to work extra hard on your planning to get your little ones involved. Don't just stay cooped up in the car all day -- ??get out and hike, or plan activities that let them run free. Camping is a great option as well, though maybe give them their own little tent so they feel some independence.

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Mount Rushmore Q&A

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We are thinking of going to see Mount rushmore.

What else near Rushmore should we go. Coming from Sacramento,CA
Asked on January 31, 2012 by Rick

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Where are some good places to stay for families near Mount Rushmore?

Traveling to Black Hills at end of July. Looking for some hotel recommendations. All I can seem to find are Super 8s and Motel 6s. Want something a bit more unique, interesting!
Asked on June 22, 2011 by MomOfFour

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Do you have a 4th of July celebration

Do you have a 4th of July celebration
Asked on May 18, 2011 by an anonymous user

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is there snowboarding nearby? which airport do you fly into?

is there snowboarding nearby? which airport do you fly into?
Asked on December 28, 2010 by an anonymous user

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