12 Perfect Things to do at Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse for a Great Visit

Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore are located just 30 minutes apart and each can be visited in just a few hours, making these two destinations the perfect places to visit on the same day.

So what are the highlights and how do you make the most of your time? We’ve created a complete guide on how to enjoy both Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse on one awesome day.

We visited both the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore in the summer of 2021 as part of our Month-Long US Roadtrip and enjoyed visiting both. Since we were visiting with Dave’s mom, who had visited many years ago, it was interesting to see the progression on the Crazy Horse Memorial and comparing it to photos over time.

Quick Look at Things to do at Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse

Both Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore can be visited relatively quickly, or you can take your time and explore each site more in-depth. The list below includes lots of options for activities, but you can also pay the entrance fee to each site, walk to the main viewing area, read the overview information and head off on your next adventure. No matter how you choose to visit these sites, both Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore are worth the visit, although in our opinion, you don’t need more than an hour or two at each site.

We would suggest starting your morning early at Mount Rushmore to avoid the crowds, taking a break to grab some food or driving straight on to Crazy Horse to visit midday. This works well since Mount Rushmore gets more visitors and will likely be more crowded.

Map of Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse

Click on the map to explore the area around Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore.

Things to Know About Visiting Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore attracts more than 3 million people each year which means it will be crowded during your visit. Try to avoid the crowds by arriving early. Assuming you arrive by car, you will be directed to one of the many parking lots. While there is no fee to enter Mount Rushmore, but there is a parking fee that you can pay at one of the many kiosks as you enter.

Mount Rushmore itself is typically open 5 am to 11 am, and the visitor center is open 8 am to 10 pm. You should plan about 2-3 hours for your visit to Mount Rushmore. See the up to date hours for your visit on the Mount Rushmore page.

Things to Know About Visiting Crazy Horse

Crazy Horse is still a popular destination but receives far fewer visitors compared to Mount Rushmore. The Crazy Horse Monument is the world’s largest mountain carving and is designed to protect and preserve the culture, tradition, and living heritage of the North American Natives. There is also a large portion of the orientation and museum dedicated to the process of building Crazy Horse.

Since this large monument is still under construction, it is fascinating to see the photos and video of the construction over the years. It has not been a speedy process!

You can see more details on the history and current open hours/etc on the Crazy Horse Website.

Entrance fees to get into crazy horse are collected when you drive into the parking lot and are charged per person and change based on the time of year. The bus or van tour is an additional cost.

7 Things to do at Mount Rushmore

Stroll the Avenue of Flags

Once you enter Mount Rushmore, the first thing you come across is the Avenue of Flags. It’s fun to walk through this road of flags. You can find your home state or your favorite place to visit and snap a few photos. Follow the Avenue of Flags straight ahead to the Viewing Terrace.

View Mount Rushmore from Grand View Terrace

The best views of Mount Rushmore are from the Grand Viewing Platform. You can walk right to the end of the viewing area and go down a short trail to a seating area if you want to sit for a few minutes to take it in. We enjoyed this, but after a few minutes, the kids were ready to go on.

Explore the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center

When we first visited, the Visitor Center wasn’t on our list, but I’m so glad we took the time to look through the center. It gives context to the stone carvings and tells the story of how they carved these faces into the stone. I strongly recommend you take the time. My kids who were 12 and 9 at the time enjoyed looking through the different displays.

Walk the Presidential Trail

This 1/2 mile trail leads to the base of Mount Rushmore to the Observation Area. From here, you have a totally different perspective of Mount Rushmore. This trail is paved and is user friendly and great for families.

Take a Guided Tour

During most days in the summer, you can take a free guided tour in Mount Rushmore. These last about 30 minutes and are a great way to learn more about the area. You can also rent headphones and do an audio tour as a self-guided tour.

Do a Junior Ranger Programs

The Junior Ranger Program is free to participate in and is best for kids ages 3 and up. Kids learn the importance of nature and history. You can pick up the junior ranger program paperwork at the visitor center.

Watch the Evening Sculpture Lighting Ceremony

During the summer months (May-Sept) there is a nightly ceremony. There is a short talk, a playing of the National Anthem and a lighting of the Mountain Sculpture. The whole ceremony takes about 45 minutes.

5 Things to do at Crazy Horse

Start by Watching the Orientation Video

The orientation video at Crazy Horse is right inside the main building and is a great start to your visit. The video gives some perspective on the monument and the process of building this impressive mountain carving.

Explore the Museums

There are excellent exhibits is several museums to explore just as you come into the main buildings. You can easily spend an hour here exploring before heading out onto the terrace to view the mountain. The majority of the museum exhibits focus on Native American history and culture.

View the Crazy Horse from the Viewing Platform

The best place to view the Crazy Horse Memorial is from the large viewing platform. There is an excellent statue representation that shows what the final memorial will look like. It’s truly amazing to see the progression over time.

Take the Crazy Horse Bus Tour

The bus tour to the base of the Crazy Horse Memorial is just a few dollars and takes about 30 minutes. Because the site is actively under construction, you can’t get too close to the work zone, but taking the bus gives a fresh perspective of the sheer size of Crazy Horse.

Watch the Crazy Horse Laser Show

If you are visiting late in the day, make sure you make time for the nightly laser show (only during the summer months). This show gives some history of the Native Americans in the region and shows what the finished monument will look like.

Getting to Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse

The best way to visit Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse is by car. The closest airport is in Rapid City and it’s a short 40-minute drive from here to Mount Rushmore. If you are driving you can see some of the common driving distances below.

Badlands to Mount Rushmore: 1.5 hours

Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone: 8.5 hours

Mount Rushmore to Grand Tetons: 7.5 hours

Denver to Mount Rushmore: 6 hours

Other Excellent Things to do Around Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse

Visit Badlands National Park

Just an hour and a half away from Mount Rushmore, Badland National Park is a wonderful and under-rated park. With amazing colors, rock formation, and animal viewing, this is a great spot to add to your Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse trip.

Wind Cave National Park

This is the 6th largest cave in the world. This National Park is about 40 minutes from Mount Rushmore and you can pay to take a tour into the tunnel.

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

This gorgeous, narrow gorge was carved by water and the scenic drive follows the river as it winds through a 1,000-foot canyon. There are plenty of adventure activities here as well including hiking, climbing, and fishing.

If you’ve enjoyed this post about things to do at Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, make sure to check out our destinations page for more info.

Common Questions about Visiting Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse

Can I visit Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse in the same day? Yes, it is possible to visit both Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse in the same day as they are located relatively close to each other in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Are there any guided tours available at Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse? Yes, both Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse offer guided tours that provide informative insights about the history, significance, and construction processes of these iconic sculptures.

What is the best time of year to visit Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse? The summer months, particularly June to August, are popular for visiting Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse due to favorable weather conditions, but it’s also worth considering the shoulder seasons of spring and fall for fewer crowds and pleasant temperatures.