Mount Rushmore: four presidents in granite and how to plan a visit

Four US presidents look out from a granite cliff above the Black Hills in South Dakota.

Mount Rushmore is open to everyone: admission to the grounds is free, and you only pay for parking. More than two million visitors come here every year (according to the National Park Service).

Below, we explain who you will see on the cliff, how it was carved over more than ten years, and how to plan a visit without unnecessary expenses.

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What Mount Rushmore is and who is depicted on it

💡 In short:

• Where: the Black Hills, South Dakota, near the town of Keystone.
• Who: four presidents, Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln.
• How much: admission is free, parking is $10 per vehicle for a year.
• Prices and hours: 09/2026, verified on the official national memorial website

Mount Rushmore has the status of a US national memorial. The monument stands in the Black Hills mountain range in southwestern South Dakota, not far from the small town of Keystone. Each head is about 18 meters tall (according to the US National Park Service).

On the left you see George Washington, the first president and founder of the nation. Next to him is Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence. Further along is Theodore Roosevelt, a reformer and defender of workers' rights. On the right is Abraham Lincoln, who abolished slavery and preserved the union of states.

History of the memorial

The idea for the monument came not from a sculptor, but from a historian. In 1923, Doane Robinson conceived of carving a memorial into the cliffs of the Black Hills that would bring fame to South Dakota. He invited sculptor Gutzon Borglum to bring the idea to life.

In 1924, Borglum came to the Black Hills to choose a mountain for the work (according to the official memorial website). The choice fell on a granite peak that had been named in 1885 after explorer Charles Rushmore. At sunset, the cliff turned a deep crimson. That settled the matter.

The sculptor prepared a model with the figures of four presidents. Each symbolized a stage in US history. According to the plan, the figures were supposed to emerge from the cliff up to their chests, but the project remained unfinished.

Work began in 1927, when Borglum turned 60. Excess granite was removed with explosives. The charges were placed with precise calculations so as not to damage the future faces. Over the years of construction, about 400,000 tons of rock were hauled away from the mountain (according to the US park service).

Next, holes were drilled into the monolith, and the head began to resemble a honeycomb. At the final stage, the surface was polished with tools and the features were refined to completion. There were some surprises along the way. Jefferson's head was first carved to the right of Washington, but after two years of work, cracks appeared in it. It was destroyed and moved to the left of the first president.

Construction took about 14 years, but it was completed without any tragedies (according to the official Mount Rushmore website). About 400 workers climbed up and down 506 steps every day. The figures were unveiled one at a time, as each was completed.

Borglum led the work until his death in March 1941 (according to the U.S. national memorial). The work was declared complete in October 1941. In December 1941, the U.S. entered World War II. His son Lincoln Borglum finished the project. You will never see his father's full vision: only the faces are carved into the rock.

Secrets, myths, and film

Mount Rushmore is a favorite of filmmakers. It has appeared in dozens of movies and cartoons. The most famous scene awaits you in the finale of Hitchcock's thriller "North by Northwest," where the hero flees across the presidents' faces.

Borglum dreamed of carving a vault for important documents inside the mountain, but did not have time. In 1998, 16 porcelain panels with the text of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the history of the memorial were installed in a tunnel behind the faces (according to the Hall of Records description on the parks website). This Hall of Records is closed to visitors.

The "Book of Secrets" and the golden city in the rocks come from the film "National Treasure: Book of Secrets." That is a movie plot, not local legend.

For visitors: hours, parking, and tours

The memorial welcomes more than two million guests a year, and the peak season runs from June through August (according to the park service). You will be more comfortable before 9:00 a.m. or after 3:30 p.m. Admission is free; you only pay for parking.

Parking costs $10 per car, and $5 for seniors 62 and older (as of 09/2026, memorial parking rules). The ticket is valid for a full year and gives you unlimited entry, so one visit can easily become two. Leave your car in the multi-level garage.

The walk up to the viewing terrace follows the Avenue of Flags. That is the name of the walkway lined with state flags arranged alphabetically. The terrace offers the most convenient view of the carved faces, and from there the Presidential Trail leads to the base of the mountain.

The grounds are open year-round, seven days a week. There is one exception: December 25 (according to the memorial operating schedule). On that day all buildings close, but the parking area and terraces remain open if weather permits. You do not need to book anything in advance.

Free programs are offered for guests. With a ranger you will walk to the base of the mountain and hear its history, and in the Sculptor's Studio you will see the tools and learn how each face was created. In summer, these walks are held daily.

In the evening, a memorial staff member speaks in the amphitheater, then a film is shown and the faces are illuminated. Climbing on the sculptures is prohibited, but there are climbing routes on the neighboring slopes.

Want to add an organized tour of the Black Hills to your visit? Check out the options below.

How to get to Mount Rushmore

The closest city to the memorial is called Rapid City; the mountain is about 36 km away on the map. You can get here by plane or bus to Rapid City, and from there a rental car is the most convenient option.

© WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SAPhoto: WeaponizingArchitecture, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

From the west, take I-90, exit 57 at Rapid City, then follow US-16 southwest to Keystone and take Highway 244 to the memorial (according to the driving directions on the memorial website). From the east, use exit 61. From Rapid City Airport you can reach the mountain by taxi or shuttle.

Along the way, it is worth stopping for photos with the Black Hills mountains as a backdrop. The memorial is located at 13000 Highway 244, Keystone (according to the memorial website).

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to enter Mount Rushmore?

Visiting the memorial is free, you only need to pay for parking. It costs $10 per car (as of 09/2026, official parking page). You don't need to book anything in advance.

Who is depicted on Mount Rushmore?

Four US presidents are carved into the granite cliff. From left to right: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Each of them represents a different stage in the country's history, from the founding of the nation to the abolition of slavery. Each head is about 18 meters tall (according to the memorial description).

How much time do you need to see it?

Allow at least two or three hours. That's enough for the Avenue of Flags, the viewing terrace, the Sculptor's Studio, and a walk along the Presidential Trail to the base of the mountain. If you want to stay for the evening lighting, set aside another hour.

When is the best time to visit to avoid crowds?

The busiest months are June through August (according to the visiting page). May, September, and October are noticeably quieter, and in winter there are very few visitors.

Is the memorial open in winter?

Yes, the grounds and parking are open year-round (according to the hours of operation section). In winter, you should dress warmly, as it's windy at that elevation.

What is inside the mountain?

Behind the presidents' faces is the Hall of Records, a tunnel carved into the granite with porcelain panels (according to the Hall of Records page). Tourists are not allowed inside.

In short: what to book

Mount Rushmore is part of the classic South Dakota route. Parking is paid on site and is valid for a year, so one visit can easily turn into two. Arrive at opening time or closer to the evening and combine the memorial with a walk through the Black Hills.

• If you're driving: compare car rental prices in advance.
• If you need a place to stay: check out hotels in Rapid City on Trip.com.