The United States has 29 National Memorials spanning 14 states. These national landmarks have been a part of our nation since the first one (Washington Monument) was designated in 1884; they range in structure from statues to buildings to natural settings. All are spectacular in their own right, but few are as breathtaking as Mount Rushmore.
I have been dreaming about a trip to Mount Rushmore for longer than I can remember. Before I had kids, I would envision the whole family road tripping to this iconic landmark. Finally, this summer, my dream became a reality. Our Mount Rushmore vacation was everything I dreamed it would be, and more!
Little did I know the Black Hills area around the monument was so packed full of wonderful family activities. If you have ever considered a Mount Rushmore vacation, plan to stay a while and check out the beauty and family-friendliness of South Dakota.
Here are my Mount Rushmore vacation travel tips.
Where to Stay
First off, if you plan a Mount Rushmore vacation, you’re going to camp, right? If there is no camping in your future, you may consider checking out this site for a long list of hotel-ish lodging options.
For a camping family like ours, I cannot recommend highly enough Custer State Park. There are more than a dozen campgrounds to choose from: from group to waterside to wooded sites, there are a variety of campsite choices for every style family. Our campground was nestled in the woods. The kids enjoyed running through the trees with other kids at the campground.
Another great campground, which is a bit further from Mount Rushmore (about 1.5 hours), is at Angostura State Recreation Area. We loved our waterfront campsite and the kids thoroughly enjoyed riding bikes on paths next to the reservoir.
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What to Do
Learn the history of Mount Rushmore. An awe-inspiring, larger-than-life sculpture, Mount Rushmore is a sight to behold. You cannot help but to feel your national pride as you approach these four stone faces whittled into the mountainside. The history of how it came to be, why these particular presidents were chosen and the lives of the men who helped create it, helps to connect us to the rich heritage we share. Take time to enjoy the presentation offering once you are there.
Watch a guy wrestle a gator. Reptile Gardens recently won the Guinness Book of World Records as being the World’s Largest Reptile Zoo, and boy, do they have a TON of reptiles! If you’re not squeamish (and some of us in this family are), you can enjoy a sneak peak into the lives of thousands of lizards, bugs, tortoises, crocodiles, alligators…the list goes on and on. Needless to say, for two certain boys, this was the coolest thing EVER! Oh, and gator wresting shows are scheduled five times a day. Those guys are crazy.
Visit the city of presidents. The bronze presidential statues in historic Rapid City are hidden gems of South Dakota. Take a stroll through downtown and challenge your kids to guess the president and era they were in office. Good educational fun!
See a live paleontological dig. The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs is an undeniably unique experience. More than 26,000 years ago a spring-fed pond claimed hundreds of mammoths and other animals of the era. The earth shifted and bones were buried. To date, more than 61 mammoths have been identified. If you think these enormous animals are the product of a movie writer’s imagination, think again! This live dig is a spectacular treat into prehistoric times.
Get your hat blown off. Wind Cave National Park, about 45 minutes from Mount Rushmore, is spelunker heaven. Tucked beneath rolling, Bison filled prairies, lie hundreds of miles of underground passageways, rooms, and geological gems – with more being discovered daily. Wind Cave gets the name from the wind pressure that comes from the caves only natural opening. Stick your head in the hole and your hat blows right off.
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Make it Fun
We love, love, loved the Jr. Ranger Program offered at all National Parks, as well as Mount Rushmore. Custer State Park also had a similar program called Junior Naturalist Program. The Jr. Ranger Program is activity-based and jam-packed with fun facts and info that is easily digestible for short attention spans. Our kids loved the activity books, the trivia questions, and fact-finding on-site activities.
Our favorite activity was during the Junior Naturalist Program of Custer State Park which included an 18-mile Wildlife Loop drive with a State Park Ranger. We learned all about Bison, were able to feed wild burros and enjoy a wild-raspberry lined hike.
A trip to Mount Rushmore is so much more than a trip to Mount Rushmore! Dive into the culture, the history, and the beauty that South Dakota has to offer.
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