Last Updated: June 2026
Are you planning a trip to South Dakota? There are so many amazing things to do in this beautiful state, way more than most people realize!
If you’re heading to Mount Rushmore, you probably don’t know how many incredible things are in the same general area. The Black Hills region is absolutely packed with national parks, scenic drives, quirky roadside stops, and genuine Wild West history. You could easily spend a week here and not see everything.
I’ve put together this guide to help you plan your trip with 15 awesome things to do near Mount Rushmore, from bucket-list national parks to a memorial that will eventually be larger than Rushmore itself.
I’ve put together 15 of the best things to do near Mount Rushmore, from bucket-list national parks to a memorial that will eventually dwarf Rushmore itself. Let’s get into it.
📌 Want even more? Check out my South Dakota Bucket List for the full rundown on this gloriously underrated state.
You May Also Like:
- Is Mount Rushmore Worth The Trip? My Honest Guide
- One Day In Badlands National Park
- Is Badlands National Park Dog-Friendly?
- 14 Fun Things To Do In Deadwood, South Dakota
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First, the Mount Rushmore Quick Hits
I’m not going to rehash the whole Mount Rushmore rundown here, because I wrote a full, honest guide to visiting the memorial, parking, the dog situation, the evening lighting ceremony, and the big America 250 fireworks news for 2026, over here: Is Mount Rushmore Worth The Trip? Go read that for the nitty-gritty.
But if you just need the cheat-sheet version before we get to the good stuff nearby:
- Address: 13000 SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751 (heart of the Black Hills)
- Cost: No entrance fee — you just pay $10 to park ($5 seniors, free active-duty military), and the receipt is good for a full year
- Dogs: Limited to the parking-garage areas and pet exercise zones — pups can’t go to the viewing terraces. (More on that, plus all the dog-friendly stops on this list, below.) 🐾
- Time needed: Honestly, 2–3 hours is plenty for the memorial itself. The surrounding Black Hills are what deserve your days.
That last part is the whole point of this post. Mount Rushmore is the headliner, but the supporting cast steals the show. On with the list.
The Big National Parks & Memorials
1. Badlands National Park
Drive time from Mt. Rushmore: 1 hr 20 min
If you’re coming from the east like I was, you’ll hit Badlands before Rushmore, and honestly? It might out-Rushmore Rushmore. The landscape is straight-up otherworldly: striped rock formations, endless prairie, and some of the most ridiculous sunrises and sunsets you’ll ever stand in front of. It looks like you parked on another planet.
What to do: drive the 30-mile Badlands Loop Road, hike the Notch Trail or Door Trail, and watch for bison, bighorn sheep, and the world’s most dramatic prairie dogs.
🐾 Dog-friendly: More than most national parks! Dogs are allowed on the Badlands Loop Road, in parking areas, and on the Castle Trail.
📖 Read more: One Day In Badlands · Is Badlands Dog-Friendly? · 10 Things To Do At Badlands
2. Custer State Park
Drive time: 35–45 min · Cost: $20/vehicle (good for 7 days)
Custer is so close to Rushmore it’s basically a two-for-one, but don’t treat it that way, give it 2 or 3 days if you can. It’s one of the largest state parks in the country, and it is stunning. The headliners: the scenic drives, the famous ~1,300-head bison herd, and gorgeous lakes.
Must-do drives: the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road (bison, pronghorn, prairie dogs, and the infamous “begging burros,” wild donkeys who will absolutely stick their head in your car; do not feed them, no matter how cute), plus Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road (both on this list).
🐾 Dog-friendly: Yes! Leashed dogs are welcome on the scenic drives, at picnic areas, in campgrounds, and on some trails. This is where I take the pups to make up for the Rushmore snub.
3. Crazy Horse Memorial
Drive time: 25–30 min · Cost: ~$15/person or $30–40 per carload
When it’s finished, Crazy Horse will be the world’s largest mountain carving, and yes, much bigger than Rushmore. The completed face alone is 87 feet high (Washington’s entire face on Rushmore is 60). It was begun in 1948 by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski at the request of Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear, and it’s still going, funded entirely by private donations.
What’s there: the in-progress sculpture, the Indian Museum of North America, the Native American Educational & Cultural Center, the sculptor’s studio, plus a restaurant and gift shop. When complete, it’ll be 641 feet long and 563 feet high, with an outstretched arm measuring 263 feet. Massive doesn’t cover it.
4. Wind Cave National Park
Drive time: 45–50 min · Cost: Free entry; cave tours $8–15/person
One of the most underrated parks in the country. Wind Cave is one of the longest, most complex caves on Earth, with over 150 miles of explored passages and counting, famous for its rare “boxwork” calcite formations. But it’s not just a cave: above ground, the park protects a mixed-grass prairie full of bison, elk, pronghorn, and prairie dogs.
Tour options range from the easy 1-hour Garden of Eden Tour to the most-popular Natural Entrance Tour (300+ stairs) to the 4-hour Wild Cave Tour for people who enjoy crawling through tight spaces (no thank you, but you go ahead).
🐾 Dog-friendly bonus: Two dog-friendly trails, the Prairie Vista Trail and the Elk Mountain Campground Trail.
5. Jewel Cave National Monument
Drive time: 35 min · Cost: Free entry; cave tours $8–12
Jewel Cave is the third-longest cave in the world, with over 215 miles mapped and still being explored, and it’s named for the sparkling calcite crystals coating its walls. If you only do one cave in the Black Hills, this is a strong contender. The crystals genuinely live up to the name.
Note: tour offerings shift with seasonal staffing and occasional renovations; check current availability before you drive out. Check tour availability here
The Scenic Drives (Where the Black Hills Show Off)
6. Iron Mountain Road
Drive time: Starts right at the memorial!
Highway 16A is regularly called one of the most spectacular drives in America, and I won’t argue. It was specifically engineered in the 1930s to show off Mount Rushmore, and the design is wild: 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, and 3 tunnels in just 17 miles. The “pigtail bridges” corkscrew over themselves to manage elevation, and the one-lane tunnels frame Rushmore in the distance like a viewfinder.
Senator Peter Norbeck dreamed it up and reportedly crawled through the forest on his hands and knees to plot the route. The speed limit is 35, but you’ll want to go slower.
⚠️ Not recommended for vehicles over 11 feet high; tunnel clearances are tight.
7. Needles Highway
Drive time: 45–50 min · Best: spring through fall (closed in winter)
A 14-mile stretch of pure drama through pine and spruce forest, aspen meadows, and rugged granite. The name comes from the needle-like spires piercing the skyline, some over 300 feet tall. Highlights include tunnels so narrow they barely fit a car, and the famous Needles Eye, a granite spire with a slit threaded right through it.
⚠️ Not suitable for large RVs or anything wider than 8 feet. Check size limits before you commit.
8. Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
Drive time: 1 hr 15 min
A 22-mile stunner, and that’s saying something in a region this loaded with scenic drives. In fall, the aspens, birches, and oaks explode into gold and red; in summer, the limestone cliffs and waterfalls carry the show. Don’t miss Bridal Veil Falls (right off the road), Roughlock Falls (a short walk, and a Dances with Wolves filming spot), and Spearfish Falls.
The Hikes & Lakes
9. Black Elk Peak
Trailhead: 35–40 min away · Distance: 7.4 mi round trip (Trail #9) · Difficulty: moderate–strenuous · Gain: 1,500 ft
At 7,242 feet, Black Elk Peak is the highest point in South Dakota, and the highest summit east of the Rockies. On a clear day from the historic CCC-built stone fire tower at the top, you can see into Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, and North Dakota.
🐾 Dog-friendly: Yes, and the pups love it. Bring plenty of water; we use this collapsible bowl plus my reservoir backpack, and I pack these treats for anything over a few miles.
10. Sylvan Lake
Drive time: 25–30 min
One of the most photographed spots in South Dakota, and the second you see it, you’ll get why, crystal-clear water ringed by dramatic granite, sitting at 6,200 feet in Custer State Park. Great for the easy 1.1-mile shore loop, swimming (cold but worth it), kayak and paddleboard rentals, and golden-hour photos. (Fun fact: scenes from National Treasure: Book of Secrets were filmed here.)
🐾 Dog-friendly: Leashed pups are welcome around the lake!
The Quirky, the Historic & the Unforgettable
11. Wall Drug
Drive time: 1 hr 15 min
You will see roughly a million billboards for this place driving across South Dakota, some funny, some gloriously cringey, all effective. What started as a tiny 1931 drugstore offering free ice water to dusty travelers is now a 76,000-square-foot roadside institution: a giant animatronic T-REX, a jackalope you can sit on, 5-cent coffee, and homemade donuts that are honestly good. Is it touristy? Deeply. Is it worth stopping? Yeah, it’s a quintessential American road-trip experience.
12. Mammoth Site
Drive time: 1 hr · Cost: $14 adults, $12 seniors (60+), $10 kids (4–12)
This one’s SO cool. In 1974, a guy leveling ground for a housing development in Hot Springs struck a 7-foot tusk. Turns out it was an ancient sinkhole that trapped Columbian mammoths, and 61 have been found here so far, along with other Ice Age animals. You can watch active excavations (they’re still digging!) and see the bones exactly where they fell. One of the most unique museum experiences I’ve ever had.
13. Tatanka: Story of the Bison
Drive time: 1 hr · Cost: $14 adults, $12 seniors, $6 kids (5–16)
A tribute to the millions of bison that once roamed here and to the Native cultures that thrived alongside them. Fun fact: it was founded and funded by Kevin Costner — yes, that Kevin Costner, the Dances with Wolves guy (suddenly makes sense). The centerpiece is a dramatic bronze sculpture of 14 bison being pursued by three Native American hunters on horseback. Educational, moving, and well worth the stop.
14. Deadwood
Drive time: 55 min – 1 hr
You’ve probably seen the HBO series, but the real town is a must in its own right. This rowdy former gold camp was home to gamblers and gunslingers, and the history is incredible.
Don’t miss: Mount Moriah Cemetery, where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried side by side (he was in town all of two weeks before he was shot holding the “dead man’s hand,”aces and eights; she reportedly loved him, he was married and very much did not return it, and the townsfolk buried them together anyway, the drama). Also: historic Main Street, the free Adams Museum, and the seasonal Trial of Jack McCall re-enactment.
📖 Read more: 14 Fun Things To Do In Deadwood · Deadwood History Nugget
The Worth-the-Drive Day Trip
15. Devils Tower National Monument (Wyoming)
Drive time: 1 hr 30 min · Cost: $25/vehicle (7 days) or free with America the Beautiful pass
Technically Wyoming, but 90 minutes and 1,000% worth it. America’s first national monument rises 867 feet out of nowhere and looks like nothing else on Earth — you’ve seen it in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and in person you’ll get why Spielberg picked it.
What to do: the 1.3-mile paved Tower Trail loops the base; the 3-mile Red Beds Trail circles wider; climbers come from all over (permit required); and the dark skies are excellent for stargazing.
Cultural note: Devils Tower is sacred to more than 20 Native American tribes — the Lakota call it Mato Tipila, “Bear Lodge.” Be respectful of the ceremonial prayer cloths and bundles you’ll see tied to trees near the base.
🐾 Dog-friendly: Leashed pups are welcome on the Tower Trail and Red Beds Trail — one of the rare national monuments your dog can actually experience with you.
Bonus: Interesting Facts About Mount Rushmore
A few nuggets to drop on your road-trip crew:
- It had another name first. The mountain was known to the Lakota as the Six Grandfathers (Tȟuŋkášila Šákpe) long before it was renamed in 1885 after New York attorney Charles Rushmore.
- No one died building it. Around 400 workers carved it over 14 years (1927–1941) and, remarkably, there were zero construction deaths given the conditions.
- Dynamite did 90% of the work – over 450,000 tons of rock removed.
- Each face is 60 feet tall – about a 6-story building.
- It was supposed to include torsos. The presidents were meant to be carved down to the waist, but funding ran out.
- The mountain goats are Canadian descendants of a herd gifted to Custer State Park by Canada in 1924 that wandered over and stayed.
- There’s a secret room. A “Hall of Records” sits behind Lincoln’s head, sealed with a repository of historic documents in 1998. Not open to the public.
Where to Stay Near Mount Rushmore
- Keystone – Closest to the memorial (~10 min). Touristy but convenient.
- Hill City – Artsy mountain town (~20 min) with a good restaurant scene.
- Custer – Cute main-street town (~25 min), close to Custer State Park.
- Rapid City – Largest hub (~35 min); most hotels and dining, plus downtown Art Alley.
- Deadwood – Wild West vibes and casinos (~1 hr).
Book early for 2026 – the America 250 crowds are coming for these rooms.
How Many Days Do You Need in the Black Hills?
My honest take:
- 1 day: Rushmore + one nearby stop (Crazy Horse or Custer State Park)
- 2–3 days: Rushmore + Custer State Park + Crazy Horse + a scenic drive
- 4–5 days: Add Badlands + Deadwood + a cave tour
- A week+: The full Black Hills — every scenic drive, multiple hikes, real time in Badlands and Deadwood
I wouldn’t build more than a few hours around Mount Rushmore itself, but the region? Give it 3 to 5 days, minimum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Rushmore worth visiting? Yes, but manage your expectations. The sculpture is smaller than many people expect, and it’s very crowded. That said, it’s genuinely impressive in person, especially during the evening lighting ceremony. The real value is combining it with the incredible Black Hills region.
How much time do you need at Mount Rushmore? 2-3 hours is plenty for most people to see the memorial, walk the Presidential Trail, visit the museum, and grab a bite.
Can you bring dogs to Mount Rushmore? Dogs are only allowed in the parking garage area and adjacent pet exercise areas; they can’t go to the viewing terraces. Service dogs are the exception.
Is Mount Rushmore free? There’s no entrance fee, but parking costs $10 per vehicle ($5 for seniors).
What’s the best time of day to visit Mount Rushmore? Early morning or late afternoon/evening. Midday is the most crowded. The evening lighting ceremony (sunset to 9 PM, May-September) is highly recommended.
What else is there to do near Mount Rushmore? So much! Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Badlands National Park, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Deadwood, Spearfish Canyon, and multiple scenic drives. You could easily spend a week in the area.
South Dakota is one of those states that will absolutely surprise you! There is so much to see and do in this beautiful part of the country, way more than most people realize. Mount Rushmore might be the headliner, but honestly? The supporting cast steals the show. Between Badlands, Custer State Park, the scenic drives, and the quirky roadside stops, you could spend a week in the Black Hills and still not see everything.
Do yourself a favor and plan a trip to South Dakota soon. You won’t regret it!
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Have a favorite Black Hills attraction I missed? Drop it in the comments, I’m always looking for new spots to explore!
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