Mount Rushmore - RVing with Rex

Mount Rushmore and Beyond: Discovering the Hidden Stories of the Black Hills

Mount Rushmore is only the beginning. Discover the Black Hills’ iconic landmarks, scenic drives, wildlife, and hidden stories in this comprehensive RV travel guide.

Every great American road trip has places that become milestones—destinations travelers have dreamed about, photographed, and remembered for generations. In the Black Hills of South Dakota, few places carry that distinction more than Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

For many visitors, standing beneath the towering granite faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln is a moment they will never forget. The Avenue of Flags, the sweeping mountain backdrop, and the story behind the monument combine to create one of America’s most recognizable landmarks.

More than just a stop along the road, Mount Rushmore represents ambition, history, and the enduring stories that have shaped the nation. For generations of travelers, it has been a destination that inspires curiosity and invites exploration.

**For many travelers, the first glimpse of Mount Rushmore is a road trip moment that stays with them long after they leave the Black Hills.** *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Mount Rushmore: An American story carved in stone

The vision, ambition, and determination behind one of America’s greatest monuments

Few landmarks capture the imagination quite like Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Rising from the granite peaks of the Black Hills of South Dakota, the four presidential faces have become one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States.

For millions of visitors, the first sight of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln carved into the mountainside is unforgettable. But behind those massive granite faces is a story just as remarkable as the monument itself—a story of vision, engineering, perseverance, and the people who transformed an idea into reality.

A vision born in the Black Hills

The idea for Mount Rushmore began with South Dakota historian Doane Robinson who wanted to create a monument that would attract visitors to the Black Hills and celebrate the history of the region. His original concept focused on carving figures from the Old West into the landscape.

Robinson eventually turned to sculptor Gutzon Borglum whose ambition transformed the project into something far larger. Rather than focusing only on regional history, Borglum envisioned a monument that would represent the story of the United States itself.

He selected four presidents whose lives reflected important chapters in the nation’s development. George Washington represented the founding of the country. Thomas Jefferson symbolized expansion and the vision of a growing nation. Theodore Roosevelt represented America’s emergence as a world power and his role in conservation. Abraham Lincoln represented the preservation of the Union during the nation’s greatest internal crisis.

Together, the four figures were intended to tell a story of America’s beginnings, growth, challenges, and continuing aspirations.

Standing beneath the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln is an unforgettable highlight of any visit to the Black Hills. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Carving a mountain

Construction began on October 4, 1927, and continued for 14 years. Creating the monument required moving more than 450,000 tons of granite from the mountainside using dynamite, drills, and careful finishing work.

Nearly 400 workers participated in the project, many of whom spent their days suspended high above the ground as they removed rock and shaped the massive faces. Despite the dangers involved, the construction was completed without a worker losing their life.

The project was far from simple. Weather, funding challenges, and the sheer difficulty of carving a mountain created constant obstacles. Borglum continued refining his vision throughout the process but he died in 1941 before seeing the official completion of the memorial. His son, Lincoln Borglum, helped oversee the final work, and the monument was dedicated later that year.

What emerged from the granite was more than a sculpture. It became a place where visitors could reflect on the people and events that shaped the nation.

Understanding the Monument

Standing before Mount Rushmore today, it is easy to focus on the size of the faces—each one measuring approximately 60 feet tall. But the true story of the memorial is found in the combination of human imagination, technical skill, and determination that brought it to life.

Mount Rushmore is not simply a mountain carving. It is a snapshot of how Americans at a particular time chose to tell their national story. Like many historic places, it carries layers of meaning, inviting visitors to learn, reflect, and consider the many stories that make up the country’s past.

For RV travelers exploring the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore is more than a stop on the itinerary. It is a destination worth slowing down for—a place where understanding the story behind the stone makes the experience far more meaningful.

**Lined with the flags of the 50 states, the Avenue of Flags provides a dramatic approach to** Mount Rushmore National Memorial. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Experiencing Mount Rushmore: Beyond the first view

Walking the trails, exploring the exhibits, and seeing the monument from a new perspective

For many visitors, the first glimpse of Mount Rushmore is the moment they have imagined for years. Walking through the Avenue of Flags and arriving at the Grand View Terrace, the four granite faces appear above the Black Hills in a way that is both impressive and almost difficult to comprehend.

But Mount Rushmore is not a place to simply arrive, take a photograph, and leave. The monument rewards visitors who slow down, explore the grounds, and take time to understand the details behind this extraordinary achievement.

Walking among the Presidents

One of the best ways to experience the memorial is the Presidential Trail, a 0.6-mile walking loop that provides changing perspectives of Mount Rushmore. The trail brings visitors closer to the base of the mountain and offers a different appreciation for the scale and craftsmanship of the carving.

The first section of the trail is paved and accessible from the Grand View Terrace to viewing areas near the mountain. The remaining portion continues toward the Sculptor’s Studio and includes 422 stairs, making it a more challenging walk for some visitors. Those who take their time are rewarded with closer views of the monument and a better understanding of the landscape surrounding it.

The trail is not simply about reaching another viewpoint. Along the way, interpretive signs explain the carving process, the four presidents represented, and the people who turned Borglum’s vision into reality.

**The Avenue of Flags leads visitors toward the towering granite faces of** Mount Rushmore National Memorial, creating an unforgettable first impression. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Understanding the story behind the stone

The Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center and Museum provide another layer to the experience. Exhibits explain the tools, techniques, and challenges involved in carving the mountain while displays introduce visitors to the workers who spent years transforming granite into a national symbol.

The Sculptor’s Studio offers additional insight into Gutzon Borglum’s work including the models and plans that guided the creation of the monument. Seeing the planning behind Mount Rushmore helps visitors appreciate that this was not simply a sculpture—it was an enormous engineering and artistic undertaking.

A different view at the end of the day

The evening lighting ceremony offers another way to experience Mount Rushmore. As the faces are illuminated against the darkness of the Black Hills, the monument takes on a different feeling. The ceremony provides a moment to reflect on the history represented by the four presidents and the generations of visitors who have stood in this same place.

For RV travelers, Mount Rushmore deserves more than a quick stop between destinations. Leave the motorhome at the campground, explore at your own pace, walk the trail, visit the exhibits, and take time to understand the story behind the stone.

The more you learn about Mount Rushmore, the more it becomes clear that the monument is not just something to see—it is something to experience.

The rugged beauty of the Black Hills extends far beyond Mount Rushmore inviting travelers to slow down and discover one remarkable landscape after another. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Beyond Mount Rushmore: The larger story of the Black Hills

One monument opens the door to a landscape filled with many stories

Mount Rushmore is often the reason travelers make the journey to South Dakota’s Black Hills. It is the landmark that appears on postcards, inspires road trips, and creates memories that last a lifetime.

But the Black Hills have always been more than a backdrop for one monument. This landscape holds stories that reach far beyond the granite faces—stories of Native American heritage, wildlife and conservation, exploration, geology, and the people who have shaped this remarkable region.

For travelers willing to slow down, the Black Hills reveal a deeper experience. The roads beyond Mount Rushmore lead to places where history comes alive, wildlife still roams freely, and every turn offers another reason to stop and explore.

Mount Rushmore tells an important story of America. The places beyond it help complete the picture.

Crazy Horse Memorial: Another story of the Black Hills

Exploring the heritage and history beyond Mount Rushmore

Just 30 minutes from Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial offers visitors another perspective on the history and heritage of the Black Hills.

Begun in 1948 by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski at the invitation of Lakota elder Henry Standing Bear, the mountain carving honors Crazy Horse, the respected Oglala Lakota leader who resisted the loss of his people’s lands and way of life. More than seven decades later, the massive sculpture remains a work in progress.

The unfinished mountain carving is the centerpiece but the memorial offers more than a view of the mountain. The Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational & Cultural Center provide opportunities to learn about Indigenous art, history, and culture, adding another dimension to understanding the Black Hills.

A visit to Crazy Horse adds an important chapter to the story of this region. Mount Rushmore tells the story of four presidents and the nation they helped shape; Crazy Horse provides insight into the Native peoples, traditions, and history that were part of this landscape long before Mount Rushmore was carved into the mountain.

Driving the Wildlife Loop Road offers one of the Black Hills’ most memorable experiences with herds of bison roaming freely across the prairie. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Custer State Park: Where the Black Hills come alive

Wildlife, bison, and the landscapes beyond Mount Rushmore

Just a short drive from Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park reveals a different side of the Black Hills. Here, the story is no longer carved into granite. It moves across the landscape in the form of roaming bison, grazing pronghorn, towering granite formations, and forests of ponderosa pine.

Covering more than 71,000 acres, Custer State Park is one of South Dakota’s signature destinations and one of the finest wildlife parks in America. It is a place where visitors are encouraged to slow down, put away the schedule, and experience the landscape at its own pace.

The Wildlife Loop Road: A drive with no guarantees

The 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road is one of the park’s most memorable experiences. Unlike a traditional wildlife viewing area, there are no guarantees about what you will see or when you will see it. Each drive is different which is part of the adventure.

The park is home to one of the largest publicly owned bison herds in North America, numbering around 1,400 animals. Seeing a herd of these massive animals moving across the prairie is one of the unforgettable moments of a visit to the Black Hills.

Along the loop, visitors may also encounter pronghorn, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, prairie dogs, and the park’s famous burros that often approach vehicles looking for a friendly handout. The combination of wildlife and scenery makes the Wildlife Loop Road one of the best ways to experience the natural character of the Black Hills.

Watching a herd of bison move across the prairie is one of the signature experiences of a visit to Custer State Park. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The Bison herd: A conservation success story

The bison are more than a popular attraction. They represent a remarkable conservation story.

When Custer State Park was established in 1912, efforts began to protect and restore a healthy bison population. Today, the herd serves as an important example of wildlife management and conservation while also preserving a connection to the animals that once moved across the Great Plains in enormous numbers.

Each September, the annual Buffalo Roundup becomes one of South Dakota’s most celebrated events. Cowboys and cowgirls on horseback gather the herd for health checks, sorting, and management decisions that help maintain the long-term health of the animals and the park ecosystem.

For visitors, it is a rare opportunity to see a tradition that connects modern conservation with the historic role of the American bison in the West.

A park worth exploring slowly

Custer State Park is not a place to hurry through. The best experiences often come from unexpected moments — stopping to watch wildlife, taking a quiet turn along a scenic road, or simply sitting beneath the towering ponderosa pines and appreciating the landscape.

For RV travelers, the park is especially rewarding as a base for exploring the Black Hills. Several campgrounds are located throughout the park, allowing visitors to experience the area early in the morning and later in the day when wildlife is often most active.

Leave the motorhome or trailer at the campground and explore the park with your tow vehicle or passenger vehicle. The Wildlife Loop Road is best enjoyed without the stress of navigating a large rig.

Custer State Park reminds visitors that some of the greatest treasures in the Black Hills are not carved into stone. They are alive around you—moving across the prairie, standing among the forests, and waiting around the next bend in the road.

More than just a road, Needles Highway is an adventure through the heart of the Black Hills where the journey becomes part of the destination. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Custer State Park: A scenic drive through Granite Country

Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake, and one of America’s unforgettable mountain roads

If the Wildlife Loop Road reveals the living side of Custer State Park, Needles Highway reveals its dramatic side. Winding through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Black Hills, this 14-mile scenic road is one of South Dakota’s most memorable drives and a reminder that sometimes the journey itself is the destination.

Completed in 1922, Needles Highway was considered an engineering achievement of its time. The narrow road follows a route through towering granite formations, forests of ponderosa pine, and dramatic mountain landscapes that seem to change around every curve.

The highway gets its name from the towering granite spires that rise from the landscape like giant needles pointing toward the sky. Among the most famous formations is the Needles Eye, a narrow granite pillar that has become one of the most photographed locations in the Black Hills.

A road built for exploration

The drive along Needles Highway is memorable not because of speed or distance but because of what appears around each bend. The road winds through several narrow tunnels carved through solid granite, creating moments where visitors suddenly emerge into sweeping views of the surrounding mountains.

The most famous is Needles Eye Tunnel which measures approximately 8 feet wide and less than 10 feet high. Other tunnels along the route are similarly narrow, creating a unique driving experience that feels unlike most scenic roads in America.

For RV travelers, this is an important road to experience—but not in your motorhome. The narrow tunnels, tight curves, and limited maneuvering space make Needles Highway unsuitable for many larger vehicles. The best approach is to leave the RV at the campground and explore with a tow vehicle or smaller passenger vehicle.

**Whether you’re hiking, relaxing by the shore, or simply taking in the view,** Sylvan Lake **invites visitors to slow down and savor the beauty of the Black Hills.** *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Sylvan Lake: The crown jewel of Custer State Park

At the northern end of Needles Highway lies Sylvan Lake, often called the “Crown Jewel” of Custer State Park. Surrounded by massive granite boulders and forested hills, the lake is one of the most beautiful settings in the Black Hills.

Visitors can walk the shoreline, enjoy a picnic, rent a paddle boat, fish, swim, or simply sit among the rocks and take in the scenery. The lake also serves as a gateway for several hiking opportunities, including trails toward Black Elk Peak and the surrounding granite landscapes.

For those who have traveled the winding curves of Needles Highway, arriving at Sylvan Lake feels like a reward at the end of the journey.

Taking time to explore

The beauty of Custer State Park is that it cannot be experienced from behind the windshield alone. The Wildlife Loop reveals the animals that call this place home. Needles Highway reveals the forces of nature that shaped the landscape.

Together, they tell the story of a place where granite mountains, forests, wildlife, and winding roads come together in one unforgettable destination.

For RV travelers exploring the Black Hills, Custer State Park is more than a stop near Mount Rushmore. It is a reminder that some of the best discoveries happen when you slow down, take the scenic route, and allow the road to become part of the adventure.

The slender granite formations known as “the Needles” have been sculpted by millions of years of weathering into one of the Black Hills’ most iconic landscapes. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

More stories waiting in the Black Hills

The journey does not end with Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park

The Black Hills are a region that rewards repeat visits and slow exploration. While Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park may be the places that first bring travelers here, they represent only part of what this remarkable landscape has to offer.

History comes alive in Deadwood where the legends of the Old West still echo through its streets. Beneath the surface, Wind Cave and Jewel Cave reveal a hidden world of underground passages and geological wonders. Along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, towering limestone cliffs, waterfalls, and forested landscapes create one of the most beautiful drives in the Black Hills.

These destinations deserve more time than a passing mention. For travelers with additional days, they provide even more opportunities to understand the history, geology, and natural beauty of this region.

The Black Hills are not a destination to rush through. They are a place to return to, explore slowly, and discover one story at a time.

The journey continues

The Black Hills reward those who stay a little longer

Mount Rushmore has earned its place among America’s most iconic landmarks. Standing beneath the towering granite faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln is an experience that stays with visitors long after they leave.

But the true gift of the Black Hills is discovering that one remarkable place leads naturally to another.

The monument introduces travelers to the history and ideals represented by four presidents. Beyond it, the Black Hills reveal additional stories—the heritage celebrated at Crazy Horse Memorial, the wildlife and landscapes of Custer State Park, the winding roads through granite spires, and the many hidden places still waiting to be explored.

That is what makes this region such a rewarding road trip destination. Mount Rushmore is not diminished by everything that surrounds it. Instead, the surrounding landscapes and stories add depth and meaning to the experience.

For RV travelers especially, the Black Hills are a reminder that the best journeys are rarely measured by how quickly we arrive or how many attractions we check off a list. They are measured by the moments that encourage us to slow down, look closer, and understand the places we visit.

Mount Rushmore may be what brings travelers to the Black Hills but the stories beyond the monument are what make them want to return.

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Editor’s note

This article was originally published in August 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. Conditions, access, and amenities may change over time, so please verify current details before planning your trip.

To maintain transparency and editorial independence, this website contains no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just firsthand RV travel experiences and practical information for fellow travelers.

Black Hills Adventure: A Summer RV Journey

A summer road trip through South Dakota’s Black Hills offers a mix of stunning landscapes, iconic landmarks, and outdoor adventures. Here’s a concise plan to hit the highlights, tailored for an RV-friendly road trip.

From afar, South Dakota’s pine-laden Black Hills really do appear black, especially once the sun begins to dip behind their peaks. That’s what the Lakota Sioux also noticed about this sacred territory when they appropriately named it Paha Sapa which literally translates to Black Hills.

It’s not hard to understand how this land’s lucrative appeal both due to its natural beauty and the discovery of gold in the area in 1874 led to numerous brawls between the U.S. military and the Lakota who were ultimately forced to relinquish the land to the U.S. government in 1977.

Even still, a road trip through these hills today is one laced together with Lakota culture, complex history, otherworldly landscapes, and all the bison a carnivore could ever want. And with Badlands National Park conveniently close by, a detour there is a hog-killin’ time (that’s Wild West slang for a lot of fun). Here’s one great way of doing it.

Trip length: 4 days; 178+ miles, depending on stops and detours
Where to start and finish: Begin your trip in Rapid City which will wrap up in a few days at Badlands National Park.
Things to know: Driving around the region consists of lengthy interstate stretches—especially around Badlands—and winding, take-it-easy cruises—notably around Custer State Park—to do the scenery justice.
Weather: Summer temps range from 60-85°F but afternoons can hit 90°F. Pack layers and sunscreen. Badlands can be hotter; bring ample water. Shade is virtually nonexistent on the trails.

Black Hills *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Stop 1: Rapid City

Rapid City, often called the “Gateway to the Black Hills,” is a vibrant hub for exploring the region’s natural wonders, historic sites, and cultural attractions.

Location: Centrally located at the edge of the Black Hills, Rapid City is within an hour’s drive of Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and Badlands National Park, making it ideal for day trips.
Population: 78,000, second-largest city in South Dakota
Getting around: Downtown is walkable but an RV or car is needed for attractions like Dinosaur Park. Parking lots are generally RV-friendly; confirm size limits.
Vibes: The urban hub of western South Dakota, Rapid City is more than a gateway to the state’s natural beauties. Be sure to linger in its creative, historic downtown.
Do: Perhaps the city’s most famous attraction is the statues of all 45 US presidents lining the downtown streets (allegedly 9/10 the size of their real-life counterparts). Grab a free walking tour map at the visitor center (529 Main St.). It’s fun for history buffs; takes about 1-2 hours to stroll.
See: You could spend hours browsing Prairie Edge & Sioux Trading Post’s three stories of galleries and goods made by Northern Plains tribes before walking over to admire traditional buffalo hide drums at Dakota Drum Company. Top the day off (literally) by driving up to Dinosaur Park for panoramic views of Rapid City, accompanied by life-size dinosaur sculptures.
Eat: Go for your daily bread (or pastry) at the Sour. For laid-back Mexican fare on an outdoor patio, it’s Qué Pasa Mexican Cantina.
Stay: Even if you don’t stay a night at the Hotel Alex Johnson, do pop into its lodge-like lobby and learn about their star-studded roster of past guests like Alfred Hitchcock and Jane Goodall—and some spooky guests rumored to have never left.
Camp: Camping options include Rapid City RV Park & Campground (4110 S Hwy 16), Lazy J RV Park (4111 Jackson Blvd), Rushmore Shadows Resort (23680 Busted Five Ct., ~10 miles south), and dispersed camping in Black Hills National Forest.

Stop 2: Deadwood

The drive (41 miles, 45 minutes): Take US I-90 W and get off at Exit 30. Follow US-14A to Deadwood.

Deadwood is a historic gold rush town in the Black Hills about 40 miles northwest of Rapid City (~45-minute drive via I-90 and US-14A) making it a perfect stop on your summer road trip. Known for its Wild West legacy, vibrant Main Street, and modern casino scene, Deadwood blends history, entertainment, and outdoor adventure.

History: Founded during the 1876 Black Hills Gold Rush, Deadwood was home to legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Its entire downtown is a National Historic Landmark.
Parking: Downtown Deadwood has limited RV parking; use lots at the Deadwood Welcome Center (501 Main St.) or Tin Lizzie (555 Main St.). Avoid narrow side streets with large RVs.
Vibes: The stage of many a wild Western legend, Deadwood is where the gold rush (so much gold, it was sticking in the horses’ hooves, one observer reported) peaked in the Black Hills in the late 1800s. Architecturally, very little has changed since. Step inside any hotel today, however and you’ll come face-to-face with one of Deadwood’s over 20 casinos.
Do: Book a tour at Deadwood’s brothel museum which is housed in one of the town’s former brothels and covers the complex stories of the women who lived and worked in the town’s 104-year-long brothel scene.
See: Then catch daily reenactments starring the town’s most famous gold rush characters like Wild Bill Hickok and Jack McCall such as main street shootouts (sounds gruesome but it’s oddly a family-friendly experience). Or dive even further into the town’s history at the Days of ‘76 Museum (ample RV parking).
Eat: Sit outside for breakfast or lunch at Pump House at Mind Blown Studio, a former Texaco station that’s now a glass-blowing studio with an attached cafe. Then don your fanciest jeans for a fine steak dinner at Legends Steakhouse inside the Franklin Hotel. Saloon No. 10, a historic bar where Wild Bill was shot serves bison burgers and craft beers with live music nightly in summer.
Stay: If walkability is a priority, spend the night at Holiday Inn Resort Deadwood Mountain Grand, formerly a plant that extracted gold from slime in its earliest days, recently renovated with all the modern hotel amenities. For an elegant, better-than-glamping respite, book a night in one of the bungalows at Shortgrass Resort.
Camp: Deadwood offers RV-friendly campgrounds but book early for summer (June-August). Most are within 5-10 miles due to limited space in town: Deadwood KOA (11484 US-14A, 2 miles north), Elkhorn Ridge RV Resort (20189 US-85, 10 miles north near Spearfish), Whistler Gulch Campground (235 Cliff St., in Deadwood), and dispersed camping in the Black Hills National Forest.

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Custer State Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Stop 3: Custer State Park

The drive (70 miles, 1 hour and 20 minutes): Take US-385 S to SD-87 S in West Pennington. Drive to SD-87 S in West Custer. Optional detours include Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial.

Custer State Park is a 71,000-acre gem about 40 miles south of Rapid City (~1-hour drive via SD-79 and US-16A) and 25 miles from Mount Rushmore (~40 minutes via US-16A). A highlight of your summer Black Hills road trip, it’s renowned for its stunning landscapes, abundant wildlife, and RV-friendly amenities.

Entrance fee: $20/vehicle for a 7-day pass
Activities: Offers hiking, biking, fishing, and cultural experiences, perfect for RV travelers seeking adventure and relaxation.
Vibes: A state park with the grandeur of a national park, Custer is bison country though it’s also roamed by elk, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorns, wild donkeys, and an exploding population of chirping prairie dogs. I like to think Windows drew inspiration from Custer’s landscape when deciding on its default computer background.
Do: You can self-drive the park’s 18-mile Wildlife Loop Rosd but a buffalo Jeep safari grants you off-road access and fascinating background about the park’s wildlife. Book a 7 pm tour to catch the sunset behind the hills.
See: Needles Highway (SD-87, 14 miles, ~45 minutes) is a winding drive through granite spires and tunnels including the narrow Needles Eye Tunnel (8’4” wide, check RV clearance). Enjoy stunning views of Cathedral Spires. Not suitable for large RVs due to tight turns and low tunnels; use a tow vehicle or rent a car if needed.
Drive: Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway combines Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and parts of US-16A (67 miles total) and features pigtail bridges and views of Mount Rushmore. Allow 3-4 hours for the full loop. Note that Iron Mountain Road has low tunnels (e.g., 10’9” high); stick to smaller vehicles.
Hike: For a manageable hike, head to Sylvan Lake for a uniquely rocky descent on Sunday Gulch Trail. Just remember: however far you go, you’ll have to come back up to return to your car. Or take a leisurely 1-mile walk around the lake pausing to admire the view from its colossal surrounding boulders (one of which has a cameo in National Treasure: Book of Secrets). Then saddle up for a guided trail ride with Blue Bell Lodge. Then impulsively switch career paths after buying a cowboy hat at a gift shop.
Eat: Over in the town of Custer, Skogen Kitchen is anything but traditional where fried chicken steamed buns, beef tartar tacos and duck confit all feature on the innovative menu.
Stay: There’s something undeniably American about staying in a national park lodge. State Game Lodge is known as former US President Calvin Coolidge’s 1927 “Summer White House,” and today, guests can book its historic rooms as well as newer, regular hotel rooms attached to the original structure. Or you can stay in a cozy, woodsy room at Creekside Lodge right next door, which is also where the buffalo safari tours meet.
Camp: Custer State Park has seven campgrounds, four with RV sites. No full hookups but most offer electric and dump stations nearby.

Custer State Park camping *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

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Badlands National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Stop 4: Badlands National Park

The drive (86 miles, 1 hour and 20 minutes, including a stop in Wall): Take SD-79 N back toward Rapid City and merge onto I-90E. Pull off in Wall for a pit stop at the infamous Wall Drug before entering the park’s north entrance.

Badlands National Park, located about 80 miles east of Rapid City (~1.5-hour drive via I-90), is a must-visit on your summer Black Hills road trip. Spanning 244,000 acres, its dramatic landscape of eroded buttes, pinnacles, and colorful rock layers combined with vast prairies makes it a striking contrast to the lush Black Hills. Known for its fossil-rich geology, abundant wildlife, and epic stargazing, it’s a perfect stop for RV travelers seeking adventure and natural beauty.

Entrance fee: $30/vehicle for a 7-day pass or use an America the Beautiful Pass ($80/year)
RV restrictions: Badlands Loop Road is RV-friendly (no low tunnels), but Sage Creek Road is gravel and may be rough after rain. Max RV length for Cedar Pass is 50 ft; confirm site size when booking.
Vibes: Shade and grass are elusive at Badlands whose striking rock formations are millions of years old, eroded over time by the elements. The result is a craggy skyline of painterly layers in varying hues of red, orange, brown, gray and, in the right lighting, purple.
Do: Badlands Loop Road (Hwy 240, ~40 miles, 1-2 hours), the main scenic drive through the park, connects overlooks like Pinnacles, Yellow Mounds, and Panorama Point. It’s ideal for RVs with pullouts for photos and short walks.
Hike: A hike is a must for any visitor in Badlands. With only a day to spare, four fabulous options sit beside each other: Window, Door, Notch, and Castle. Window and Door are brief, accessible ¼-mile boardwalks with the option to continue onto the bedrock. Notch is the most popular trek in the park at 1.5 miles round-trip and a portion of the trail climbs a log ladder. If you have more time, challenge yourself to the 10-mile round-trip Castle with the hopes of catching sight of bighorn sheep and pronghorn.
Note: Trails are exposed; summer heat (80-95°F) can be intense. Carry water (1L/person) and start hikes before 10 am.
Do: Take shelter in your car’s AC and drive the entire loop around the park. Then watch the sunset turn the rocks a vivid orange from Pinnacles Overlook.
Stargazing: Badlands’ dark skies are ideal for astronomy. Join ranger-led night sky programs (summer evenings) or view stars from Pinnacles Overlook. Bring binoculars or a telescope.
Eat: Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant near the visitor center is the only dining option in the park serving bison burgers, Indian tacos, and salads. Or drive 10 minutes from Badlands’ northern entrance to the town of Wall which literally sits on the 20-mile wall of the park. Stop into Wall Drug—you’ve likely spotted many of its almost 300 bold signs miles before you arrive. Try one of their legendary donuts, free ice water (which put this formerly tiny pharmacy on the map in the 1930s) and peruse over 76,000 sq ft of gift shops, an arcade, photo ops like a giant jackalope, and mini Mt Rushmore, a restaurant—and yes, there is still a pharmacy inside that mimics its original structure. Some say tourist trap; I say iconic roadside attraction.
Stay: Spend your final sleep in a private log cabin at Badlands Frontier Cabins in Wall.
Camp: Badlands has two campgrounds plus nearby options for RVs. Book early for summer. No full hookups in the park but dump stations are available. Buffalo Gap National Grassland surrounding the park offers free boondocking (e.g., near Nomad View Dispersed Camping area off Sage Creek Rd.)

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Worth Pondering…

In the Black Hills, nature has carved a masterpiece of stone and sky.

—John Muir

Custer State Park: A Majestic Corner of South Dakota’s Black Hills

Custer State Park is one of the most beloved and diverse parks in the U. S. featuring breathtaking natural scenery, diverse wildlife, and a wide range of outdoor activities

An ever growing one of a kind event is putting South Dakota’s Custer State Park ever more on the map. Those who experience the thrill of the park’s annual late-September Buffalo Roundup quickly discover that nearby Mount Rushmore is not the only dramatic site in this southeast corner of the Black Hills region. Some two million guests a year who now make the trek here are on to something, after all.

Composed of one of the oldest and most diverse geologic foundations in America that makes for hairpin curves and tunnels that you can follow for fourteen miles along Needles Highway, Custer State Park is as much a natural treasure as any lands that make up America’s national parks. And you will no doubt eventually wonder why this spectacular landscape hasn’t been declared one.

Don’t worry about it: South Dakotans are perfectly content to manage it themselves and a great job they do indeed with fine roads and an excellent tourism infrastructure. No matter the park’s official status a few days or a week in and around these 71,000 acres promise to reveal one adventure after another.

Within the southern part of the Black Hills National Forest the mile-high town of Custer serves as a gateway to the state park that lies just a few miles to the east. As your base, book yourself straight into the cute family-run Bavarian Inn in the hills just outside of town. Another of all things named for the notorious commander around here, The Custer Wolf is a locally popular casual pub restaurant.

Strolling Mt. Rushmore Road—effectively Custer’s main street whose broad width was designed to allow oxen freight carts to turn around—you’ll delight in many of the town’s fun and quirky brightly painted buffalo statues.

Also there, Keely and Damien Mahony operate the Black Hills Balloons adventure outfit. The American wife and Irish husband’s crew will take you on a short early morning drive to a forest clearing while you watch the balloons get filled in anticipation of the launch of your hour-long flight. Below you, Black Hills ridges and valleys are filled with ponderosa pine, while fog swirls around rock spires and rises from the surface of forest ponds below.

After your flight, you’ll be ready for a hearty breakfast at Baker’s Bakery & Café hash house whose tagline You’ll Love Our Buns is placed under a cheeky logo of a waitress with baked buns peeking out from her skirt.

For lunch or dinner the Pounding Fathers Restaurant/Mt. Rushmore Brewing Company is the place to sample some of dozens of Dakota state beers on draft. So massive is the complex that you could get lost there after knocking back a few (opened seasonally from May through October).

Just north of the Custer State Park boundaries book ahead for the super popular 1880 Train that runs between the towns of Hill City and Keystone. You’d think you’re in an Old West movie when at one point the vintage train will create a steamy scene by blasting sand through the flues to clear soot and whenever the tracks curve over the hour journey and you spot the engine chugging along. Conductors with old-timey facial hair help set the mood.

Anyone whose route ends in Keystone certainly needs no introduction to Mount Rushmore National Memorial which lies minutes away.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Seemingly content as they are with the superb vantage point from the Grand View Terrace and to take in the extensive displays in its visitor’s center the vast majority of park goers don’t follow the half-mile-long looping Presidential Trail whose wooden stairs drop and rise again and get you right below the talus slope. You’ll have a close up of the presidents all to yourself at various viewing platforms to suss out just where Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint dangled from and scampered down those granite faces.

Headed west back to the town of Hill City, stop and sample what at Prairie Berry Winery will surely be your most unusual wine tasting ever—that is, unless you have already tasted rhubarb wine or their raspberry-inflected Red Ass Rhubarb blend. They have a brew pub as well for that mango IPA you never knew you wanted.

Taking up a huge house that you wish you could live in, Hill City’s Alpine Inn restaurant was built in 1884 as a hotel serving the mining and railroad companies. The lunch menu is ample but for dinner it’s just two sizes of filet mignon or spaetzle primavera followed by a massive homemade dessert selection. It’s cash-only and it’s wildly popular.

Keystone *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

A massive site off the highway between Hill City and Custer, The Crazy Horse Memorial mountain carving is a truly odd slice of Americana. Still far from completion since sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski began blasting rock away in 1948 the work depicts the warrior whose Oglala Lakota people knew as Tasunke Witko, famous for his role in the defeat of Custer at Little Bighorn. Funded by donations and entry fees and finally advancing quickly with newer rock carving technologies, the memorial now includes the chief’s hand pointing in the distance to go along with his long-ago finished head.

The memorial museum is filled with artifacts and art from many Indian nations across the continent. One wall display you might not have expected is made up of small early 20th-century advertising illustrations of romanticized Indian and Western figures and scenes that were made for a gum company by Winfried Reiss, a German born artist recently rediscovered for his murals in the Empire State Building and Harlem Renaissance portraits.

Buffalo Roundup *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Back in Custer, you might think you’ve stumbled upon a slice of Brooklyn in the Black Hills. Were Skogen Kitchen actually in Brooklyn, the restaurant with the Norwegian name would be a hit there too for its urban vibe and dishes like hiramasa sashimi and duck leg.

Rapid City is now well-known for its nearly-life-sized bronze statues of presidents around town. Back in the 1930s, the WPA erected a truly delightful curiosity on a hill outside of town, where the life-size concrete creatures in Dinosaur Park have fared remarkably well in the near century of their existence. You can expect the unexpected in this southwest corner of South Dakota.

Custer Park offers a unique and unforgettable experience. I hope this guide helps you plan your adventure and that you’ll soon discover the magic of this park.

Pronghorns in Custer State Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Here are a few more articles to help you do just that:

Worth Pondering…

Oh, give me a home where the Buffalo roam
Where the Deer and the Antelope play;
Where never is heard a discouraging word,
And the sky is not clouded all day.

—Dr. Brewster Higley (1876)

President’s Day: 46 Surprising Facts about 46 Presidents

Below are 46 strange and fascinating facts about all of America’s Presidents

Today is President’s Day! In addition to indicating a day off work or school for many, President’s Day is among the oldest federal holidays and it was the first to celebrate the life of an individual American. It was originally signed into law in 1879 in honor of George Washington’s birthday (February 22) but eventually moved to the third Monday of the month in a bid to create more three-day weekends for workers. Today, the holiday also recognizes the presidents past and present who have served since Washington.

From a 19^th-century president who killed a man in a duel to a 20^th-century leader who once worked as a lifeguard, learn surprising facts about each U.S. president. In some ways, all 46 U.S. presidents have been very much alike. Not lacking in ambition or charisma, each had a certain knack for self-promotion and networking.

At the same time, each commander in chief is unique. Read facts about every president in order of their service from a 19th-century hotshot with a taste for dueling to a 20th-century veteran who nearly died after being hit by anti-aircraft fire in World War II.

George Washington carved in stone at Mount Rushmore National Memorial © *Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

1. George Washington (1789-1797): The first U.S. president and Revolutionary War hero was an enthusiastic dog breeder, particularly of hunting hounds to which he gave names like Sweet Lips and Drunkard.

2. John Adams (1797-1801): Adams and his wife, Abigail, exchanged more than 1,100 letters throughout their lengthy relationship.

3. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809): Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, died on July 4, in 1826 within hours of John Adams.

4. James Madison (1809-1817): Madison was the shortest president at 5 feet 4 inches and weighed barely over 100 pounds. James Madison and his wife, Dolley, helped popularize ice cream in America. Tastes in the treat, however, would be considered questionable today: chestnut, asparagus, and parmesan were all on the menu. Dolley’s favorite flavor was oyster.

5. James Monroe (1817-1825): Other than Washington, Monroe was the only president to ever run essentially unopposed, coasting to re-election in the 1820 race.

6. John Quincy Adams (1825-1829): Years after leaving the White House, Quincy Adams argued a famous Supreme Court case that freed the captive Africans who had rebelled aboard the Amistad slave ship. The election of 1824 saw four viable candidates, none of whom won an outright majority of electoral votes. Andrew Jackson nabbed 99, John Quincy Adams won 84, William H. Crawford earned 41, and Henry Clay claimed 37. Despite having neither the highest number of electoral or total popular votes, Adams was chosen as President by the U.S. House of Representatives.

7. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837): Jackson once killed a man in a duel.

8. Martin Van Buren (1837-1841): Van Buren was the first president to be born an American. All previous presidents were originally British subjects, having been born prior to 1776.

9. William Henry Harrison (1841): Harrison died just 31 days after his inauguration in 1841, the shortest presidency in United States history.

10. John Tyler (1841-1845): Tyler fathered 15 children, the most of any president.

11. James K. Polk (1845-1849): During his term, Polk secretly purchased a number of enslaved children for his Mississippi cotton plantation.

12. Zachary Taylor (1849-1850): Old Rough and Ready never voted in an election prior to being on the ballot himself.

13. Millard Fillmore (1850-1853): Fillmore was the last Whig president; the party imploded soon after he left office.

14. Franklin Pierce (1853-1857): The only president from New Hampshire also attended college in New England—Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.

15. James Buchanan (1857-1861): In 1853, while serving as minister to Great Britain, Buchanan helped draft the 1854 Ostend Manifesto which advocated for an American invasion of Cuba.

16. Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865): Honest Abe, the tallest president at 6 feet 4 inches may have had Marfan Syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes people to be very tall, thin, and long limbed.

17. Andrew Johnson (1865-1869): Though one of the few presidents without a pet, Johnson apparently cared for a family of White House mice which he called the little fellows.

18. Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877): Civil War General Grant was invited to join Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre on the fateful evening of April 14, 1865 but was forced to decline after he and his wife made plans to visit their children in New Jersey.

19. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881): Hayes was the first president to have a telephone in the White House.

20. James A. Garfield (1881): Garfield (who was the first known left-handed president) was elected to the U.S. Senate but never served as Ohio senator because he then won the Republican nomination for president. In 1880, Garfield attended the Republican National Convention with no intention of running for President. But when the convention stalled, a delegate nominated Garfield as a compromise candidate, and a stream of unexpected votes flooded in. “This honor comes to me unsought,” Garfield said. “I have never had the presidential fever, not even for a day … I have no feeling of elation given the position I am called upon to fill.”

21. Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885): Arthur was named in honor of Chester Abell, the doctor who delivered him.

22. and 24. Grover Cleveland (1885-1889, 1893-1897): No president except Cleveland has ever served non-consecutive terms: He defeated James G. Blaine in 1884, lost to Benjamin Harrison in 1888 (despite winning the popular vote), and then came back to defeat Harrison in 1892.

23. Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893): Harrison was the first president to hire a female White House staffer. Under Harrison’s watch, electricity was installed at the White House in 1891. The newfangled invention utterly terrified him. Harrison and his wife, Caroline, refused to operate the light switches. He was so afraid of pressing the knobs that, sometimes, he’d sleep with the lights on.

25. William McKinley (1897-1901): McKinley’s likeness appears on the $500 bill which was discontinued in 1969.

26. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909): Roosevelt was the youngest president, taking office at age 42.

27. William Howard Taft (1909-1913): Famous for his corpulence, Taft was the first president to hurl the ceremonial first pitch at a Major League Baseball game.

28. Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921): In a 1914 proclamation, Wilson officially established the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

29. Warren G. Harding (1921-1923): Prior to taking office, Harding wrote a series of lurid love letters to his mistress, the wife of one of his best friends.

30. Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929): A quiet man, Coolidge purportedly replied, “You lose,” to a visitor who bet she could get at least three words out of him.

31. Herbert Hoover (1929-1933): An Iowa native who spent part of his boyhood in Oregon, Hoover was the first president to hail from west of the Mississippi River. Despite humble origins, Hoover was a self-made multimillionaire. He was orphaned at the age of 9 and was raised by various relatives, eventually graduating from Stanford’s inaugural class with a degree in geology. Working for a British mine, he traveled the world looking for pricey mineral deposits and made millions doing

32. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945): The longest-serving commander-in-chief claimed to be distantly related to 11 other presidents including his fifth cousin Theodore Roosevelt.

33. Harry S. Truman (1945-1953): The “S” in Harry S. Truman was just an initial; it didn’t stand for any name. (The “S” in Ulysses S. Grant didn’t stand for anything either.)

34. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961): World War II hero Ike was the first president to ride in a helicopter.

35. John F. Kennedy (1961-1963): After being injured and honorably discharged in World War II, Kennedy was briefly employed as a journalist during the waning weeks of the war.

36. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969): Johnson’s first career was as a teacher. He worked at a school near the U.S.-Mexico border for four years before launching a career in politics.

37. Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974): Nixon became such a skillful poker player while stationed in the Solomon Islands during World War II that his winnings helped launch his political career upon his return to the U.S.

38: Gerald Ford (1974-1977): A star football player at the University of Michigan, Ford turned down offers from both the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.

39. Jimmy Carter (1977-1981): When his father died in 1953, Carter gave up his successful military career to move back to Georgia and work on their family’s peanut farm.

40. Ronald Reagan (1981-1989): Reagan worked as a lifeguard and sportscaster before becoming an actor and, later, a politician.

41. George H. Bush (1989-1993): As a student at Yale, Bush was captain of the baseball team and a member of Skull and Bones, an elite secret student society.

42. Bill Clinton (1993-2001): Clinton played the saxophone and performed on the Arsenio Hall Show when he was a candidate for president.

43. George W. Bush (2001-2009): Post-presidency, Bush took up oil painting, exhibiting his work at the Museum of the Southwest in Texas.

44. Barack Obama (2009-2017): Prior to becoming the first African American president, Obama won two Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word Album.

45. Donald J. Trump (2017-2021): Before becoming president, Trump was a real estate developer, entrepreneur, and host of the NBC reality show, The Apprentice.

46: Joe Biden (2021-present): Biden overcame a debilitating childhood stutter after enduring bullying over the condition in grade school.

Worth Pondering…

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.

—John F. Kennedy

Creation of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Began 96 Years Ago TODAY

American landmark took 14 years to complete, meant to commemorate the nation ‘until the end of time’

A monument’s dimensions should be determined by the importance to civilization of the events commemorated.

— Gutzon Borglum

The creation of Mount Rushmore which set the images of four American presidents in towering monumental relief in the Black Hills of South Dakota began on this day in history, October 4, 1927.

“Mount Rushmore is a project of colossal proportion, colossal ambition and colossal achievement,” writes the National Park Service (NPS) which assumed management of the landmark by order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.

Mount Rushmore National Monument *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The monument immortalizes presidents George Washington (1789-97), Thomas Jefferson (1801-09), Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09), and Abraham Lincoln (1861-65).

Danish-American sculptor Gutzon Borglum led the effort which employed about 400 men and women before it was completed on October 31, 1941.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is open year-round, seven days a week, and is located 23 miles from Rapid City. The memorial offers a variety of activities so plan to spend at least four to five hours there. Visitors can leave and return to the memorial the same day for the evening lighting ceremony. Mount Rushmore also features a gift shop, an information center, and an award-winning audio tour.

“A monument’s dimensions should be determined by the importance to civilization of the events commemorated,” Borghlum said of his majestic relief in which the face of each president stands about 60 feet in height.

“Let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what matter of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and the rain alone shall wear them away.”

When Texas Sen. Tom Connolly questioned the project, Borglum responded fiercely, “Mount Rushmore is eternal. It will stand until the end of time.”

The artist never saw his vision to completion.

He died of a heart attack in March 1941. His son Lincoln Borglum oversaw the project in its final months.

The face of each president was slowly revealed over years of work: first Washington (1930), then Jefferson (1936), then Lincoln (1937), and finally Roosevelt (1939).

Washington’s faith in the new republic in its darkest hours earned him the title Father of His Country.

Jefferson gave humanity the belief that “all men are created equal.”

Roosevelt was one of the world’s leading reformers and environmentalists and won the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize.

And Lincoln emancipated from slavery nearly 4 million Americans and inspired the nation through the tragedy of the Civil War.

Yet those achievements are not good enough for some Americans today—as Mount Rushmore has come under attack in recent years by “woke” pundits.

“Can we retire using Mount Rushmore? That should be offensive to all of us especially Native Americans—indigenous people who were the first people here before Christopher Columbus,” former NBA star and basketball analyst Jalen Rose said in a video tweet. “That land was stolen from them when it was discovered that it contained gold,” he also said.

Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., responded days later by introducing the Mount Rushmore Protection Act.

The act prohibits the use of federal funds “to alter, change, destroy, or remove the likeness, the name of or any of the faces on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial,” Johnson’s office said in a press release.

The process for carving the monument from a mountain face of granite and sandstone was ambitious, daring, and dangerous.

Rock was first blown off the mountain with the use of targeted explosives before the process got increasingly more precise.

“Dynamite was used until only three to six inches of rock was left to remove to get to the final carving surface,” writes the NPS.

At this point, the drillers and assistant carvers would drill holes into the granite very close together. This was called honeycombing. The closely drilled holes would weaken the granite so it could be removed often by hand.”

NPS also said, “After the honeycombing, the workers smoothed the surface of the faces with a hand facer or bumper tool. In this final step, the bumper tool would even up the granite, creating a surface as smooth as a sidewalk.”

The work “was exciting, but dangerous”—yet not one person died in the 14 years of construction despite the explosives, heights and daunting conditions, the NPS reports.

Worth Pondering…

The noble countenances emerge from Rushmore as though the spirit of the mountain heard a human plan and itself became a human countenance.

—Frank Lloyd Wright

The Ultimate South Dakota Road Trip Itinerary

Discover Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, Sioux Falls, and more on a road trip through South Dakota

South Dakota was made for road trips: There are scenic, paved roads that lead to national treasures, natural anomalies, perfectly preserved Wild West towns, and quirky attractions. Whether you’re a history buff, foodie, or nature lover, this Midwest state delivers. Read on for the ultimate South Dakota road trip itinerary including where to stop, what to do, and more.

Mitchell Corn Palace

Any drive through the Midwest will bring you face-to-face with cornstalks taller than you can imagine. The Mitchell Corn Palace in South Dakota celebrates all things corn—starting with this prairie town in the middle of nowhere. A pair of rounded turrets and two massive domes thrust into the sky capping off walls adorned in six different types of native grass and multi-story murals depicting famous South Dakota sights. A marquee reading “South Dakota Home Grown” stands over the main entrance. All of it is made from multi-colored ears of corn.

Wall Drug Store

Nestled in the town of Wall in the western part of the state, Wall Drug has grown from its humble beginnings in 1931 to a thriving oasis. Wall Drug offers dining, activities, gifts and souvenirs, visitor information and, of course, free ice water. Many road-worn travelers stop at Wall Drug and leave awake and refreshed just like they did more than 80 years ago.

But it wasn’t always a thriving business attracting 2 million visitors each year to the small town of Wall. Ted and Dorothy Hustead struggled to make Wall Drug successful in the early days. But the story of Wall Drug was a story of success because one simple idea took root: Offering travelers free ice water. Soon travelers would make a point to stop at Wall Drug to enjoy a refreshing break and they haven’t stopped coming to Wall Drug since. Stop at Wall Drug and see what the excitement is all about.

Badlands National Park

At first blush, it doesn’t sound like the best place to go. After all, it’s called Badlands! But it’s gorgeous with towering, striated red-and-gray rock formations. Not to mention all the wildlife visitors can see here—big-horned sheep, bison, pronghorns, burrowing owls, and whole towns of adorable prairie dogs. Native Lakota people named this 400-square-mile maze of buttes, canyons, pinnacles, and spires “Mako Sica” or “Bad Land.” Nowadays, it is usually tagged as “surreal” or “otherworldly.” State Route 240—also known as the Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway—leads visitors on a 38-mile odyssey through the center of the park. The route features 16 scenic overlooks and eight trails, ranging from handicapped-accessible quarter-mile boardwalks to a 10-mile-long trek.

Custer State Park

Nearly 1,300 magnificent bison wander the park’s 71,000 acres which they share with the swift pronghorn, shy elk, sure-footed mountain goats, and a band of curious burros. Visitors often enjoy close encounters with these permanent residents along the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road that winds around the southern edge of the park. Slender granite formations nicknamed “the needles” dominate the skyline, and grassy meadows fill the valleys. Visitors can explore the park via trail rides, scenic drives, mountain bikes, paddle-boats, hay rides, and even safari tours.

Needles Highway

The Needles Highway is more than a 14-mile road—it’s a spectacular drive through pine and spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen, and rugged granite mountains. The road’s name comes from the needlelike granite formations that seem to pierce the horizon along the highway. Visitors traveling the highway pass Sylvan Lake and a unique rock formation called the Needle’s Eye, so named for the opening created by wind, rain, freezing, and thawing.

Sylvan Lake *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Midway along this route, a turnout called The Cathedral Spires offers stunning views of the rocky outcroppings juxtaposed with Harney Peak, the highest point between the Rockies and the Alps.

Mount Rushmore

It’s finally time to see the Founding Fathers’ faces carved into the mountain—the enormity of the sculpture is truly a sight to see. Each year, approximately three million tourists from all over the world visit Mount Rushmore to experience this patriotic site. Today, the wonder of the mountain reverberates through every visitor. The four “great faces” of the Presidents tower 5,725 feet above sea level and are scaled to men who would stand 465 feet tall. The park includes a half-mile walking trail, museum, gift shop and dining room.

Worth Pondering…

Let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and rain alone shall wear them away.

—Gutzon Borglum, Mount Rushmore Sculptor, 1930

Your Next Adventure Is Set In Stone

There is more than gold in the Black Hills of South Dakota

Above dense forests and pristine streams, Mount Rushmore National Memorial represents a national treasure. Symbolizing the ideals of freedom and democracy, it is a tribute to four presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln and their invaluable contributions to the United States.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial represents not only the past, but also a promise for the future. It is a place surrounded by American history where the names of Gutzon Borglum and Crazy Horse are still heard, buffalo once again run free in Custer State Park, and the vision of the Keystone miners still cast a shadow on long deserted claims.

Freedom, justice, hope—South Dakota‘s beloved national memorial, Mount Rushmore, is a testament to these deeply cherished American values. The quartet of presidential busts carved into a granite peak in the Black Hills is one of the most iconic symbols of the United States.

In fact, the colossal, 60-foot profiles of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt are so instantly recognizable, they’ve been spoofed in commercials, used as film backdrops, and reproduced in all sizes and forms including a 3 million-piece construction at Legoland. But for all of Mount Rushmore’s widespread fame (and 3 million annual visitors), it’s also a place with a deep history and plenty of little-known facts.

Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, 30 minutes from Rapid City, this colossal monument was the brainchild of state historian Doane Robinson, who conceived of the mountain carving in 1924 as a way to draw people from all over America to his state.

Whether a lifelong destination or a stop on a road trip, your visit to Mount Rushmore will be one you will tuck in your memory book forever.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is located in Keystone, South Dakota. It is surrounded by the lands of the Black Hills National Forest. It offers a unique experience year-round for outdoor adventures, sightseeing, and opportunities to soak up the history that surrounds the area.

Get there early for the best lighting conditions, or exercise your low-light skills with photos of the nightly lighting ceremony. Regardless of your timing, make sure to explore the many photo opportunities from different vantage points along the half-mile-long Presidential Trail.

Chad Coppess, staff photographer for Travel South Dakota, recommends a spot right off the trail, which takes you down a little spur between two giant boulders. Look through a big crack between them to frame the Presidential faces from a vantage point often overlooked by most visitors.

Enjoy the works of genius by touring the various exhibits at the Sculptor’s Studio or Lincoln Borglum Museum. Both self- and ranger-guided tours are available.

Stroll the Avenue of Flags with flags representing 56 states and territories lining the walkway. View the memorial against the evening sky each night at the amphitheater (May through September) during the Evening Sculpture Lighting Ceremony. A sense of awe will come over you as the Memorial lights up the sky.

A short stroll along the Presidential Trail will provide close access to the sculpture. More intimate views of the artwork are available along the way as either a self- guided or ranger-guided walk.

Two other trails lead to Borglum View Terrace and the Sculptor’s Studio: One is a nature trail that starts from the main entryway; the other is a steep trail with uneven steps that starts from Grandview Terrace.

Here’s the thing, visit South Dakota once and the place SELLS ITSELF. Much more than just the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, and the Badlands, SoDak is the most scenic places you knew nothing about. Until now.

You don’t carve the faces of presidents into a mountain unless you’re doing something right.

If you’re using Google Maps to locate this national landmark, be very, very specific. Apparently, general searches for Mount Rushmore often send travelers astray. If you find yourself at a Methodist campground called Storm Mountain Center, you’re about 12 miles away from the memorial.

Worth Pondering…

Great Faces, Great Places. Find your great place.

Explore the Black Hills

If you’re into camping, hiking, wildlife, or big adventure, the Black Hills is the place for you

The Black Hills of western South Dakota have long been a favorite of RVers. We came to this area to explore the natural side of the Black Hills—the plants and animals, geology, and natural history that existed before the trappers, miners, and homesteaders came—and we weren’t disappointed.

The Black Hills © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Driving an RV in the Black Hills is challenging. Most roads are curvy two laners with plenty of up-and-down elevation changes. Those driving larger rigs should plan routes carefully or better yet, locate yourself in a nearby campground or RV park and drive your toad. Also be aware of restrictions caused by tunnels on several roads.

Driving through the Black Hills takes you through some of the most rugged, distinctive, and beautiful land in America. It’s hard to stick to the main road in South Dakota’s rugged land of canyons, cliffs, and caves.

The Black Hills are home to some of the most majestic scenery you can imagine, from the winding Spearfish Canyon to the mountain lakes that surround Rushmore—rivers, mountains, caves, and more make it ideal for hikers and climbers and everybody in between.

Those in-betweeners include the bikers who throng the otherwise placid Sturgis every year, and gamblers who flock to Deadwood, a living museum of gold mining days. Small towns like Spearfish and Belle Fourche give you a chance for a little culture.

The Black Hills is basically a gigantic, serene cluster of small towns amid enough crazy geographical features to populate an entire planet, all scattered within an hour or two of one another. Not bad for a place most often associated with having a gigantic wall of presidential heads looking over it.

The Black Hills are home to the giant stone faces of Mount Rushmore National Monument and the Crazy Horse Memorial. This is the land of Deadwood and the final resting place of Wild Bill Hickok and hundreds of American Indians killed at Wounded Knee Creek in 1890. It’s also steeped in a rich gold-mining history.

Starting in the northwest, State Route 14A takes you through gorgeous Spearfish Canyon, a deep, narrow gorge carved by Spearfish Creek. The canyon has its own ecosystem of lush waterfalls, giant limestone cliffs, dozens of caves and, in the fall, a beautiful palette of colors.

Several scenic drives wind through the area, thanks to the efforts of Peter Norbeck, a conservationist who was South Dakota’s governor and a U.S. senator many decades ago. He helped establish Custer State Park and oversaw a tremendous undertaking in road construction.

Norbeck explored the park on foot and on horseback, savoring the beauty of the Black Hills. His first road was completed in 1922 and named Needles Highway, for the spiky granite formations that stud the horizon.

Needles Highway boasts more than 600 rock-climbing routes up granite spires that rise up out of the limestone. Harney Peak, the highest point east of the Rockies at 7,242 feet above sea level, stands in the distance. A leisurely hike to the top takes about two hours one way and is well worth the time.

Iron Mountain Road was Norbeck’s next road project, connecting the park with Mount Rushmore to the north. The drive takes visitors along a series of pigtail bridges, so named for a corkscrew configuration that allows for sudden changes in elevation without disturbing the natural landscape. The road is designed to make you slow down and enjoy the scenery.

One of the world’s largest known caves, Wind Cave National Parks has many unusual formations and a variety of minerals are found in the cave. The cave is best known for its outstanding display of boxwork, an unusual cave formation composed of thin calcite fins resembling honeycombs.

Northwest of Wind Cave, the even larger Jewel Cave National Monument ranks as the second longest cave in the U. S. and the third longest in the world, with 173 miles of explored passageways. Jewel Cave is distinctive for its sparkling crystals, and particularly for a long ribbon of crystal called cave bacon that hangs from the ceiling.

Worth Pondering…

This mountain, the arched back of the earth risen before us, it made me feel humble, like a beggar, just lucky to be here at all, even briefly.

—Bridget Asher

American History Alive In Stone: Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, tell the story of the birth, growth, development, and preservation of America

“If you build it, he will come.” That oft-quoted line from the film Field of Dreams has equal resonance as the motivating force behind the formation of America’s Shrine to Democracy—the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, this colossal monument was the brainchild of state historian Doane Robinson, who conceived of the mountain carving in 1924 as a way to draw people from all over America to his state.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial © Rex Vogel, all rights reserve

Mount Rushmore symbolizes the ideals of freedom, democracy, and the American dream in the four 60-foot granite faces. This mountain carving of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln draws over two million visitors a year (2,431,231 in 2016). It is both a spectacular site and a man-made wonder.

The first blast on the mountain occurred in 1927. Under the direction of sculptor Gutzon Borglum, 400 men and women worked through hot summers and cold winters to create the 60-foot faces, nearly 500 feet up the side of the mountain.

Over 90 percent of the mountain was carved using dynamite. The fine details of the faces were achieved, using jackhammers and hand chisels. Operators hung from the top of the mountain in bosun chairs held by steel cables. Despite the dangerous work, in the 14 years it took to carve the mountain, not a single person died. The memorial was officially declared complete on October 31, 1941.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is open year-round, seven days a week and is located 23 miles from Rapid City. The memorial offers a variety of activities so plan to spend at least four to five hours there. Visitors can leave and return to the memorial the same day for the evening lighting ceremony. Mount Rushmore also features a gift shop, information center, and an award-winning audio tour.

Begin at the information center where staff and displays will help you plan your visit to the memorial and the Black Hills region. From here, go up on the walkway toward the sculpture and other facilities. The Lincoln Borgham Visitor Center has exhibits on the carving of Mount Rushmore, a 14-minute film, “Mount Rushmore—The Shrine,” an information desk, restrooms, and a bookstore. The Sculpture’s Studio displays models and tools used in the carving process.

The Presidential Trail is a half-mile loop that provides various views of the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial that can’t be missed. This easy trail meanders through the pines and near the blasting rubble left from workers carved the mountain decades ago. Along the trail, each president is highlighted with history provided by plaques found along the way.

Follow the crowds, and you’ll end up at the Grand View Terrace, just beyond the Avenue of the Flags. True, the head-on views are spectacular and unobstructed. But you can do better. Walk the often-bypassed loop around the base of the mountain. Climbing up the steps though ponderosa pines, you can get a closer view of the faces at various twists and turns (and maybe catch a glimpse of a Rocky Mountain goat or a mule deer, too).

Just outside Mount Rushmore, the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway offers stunning views of the Presidential faces framed by the local landscape.

Heading southeast from the memorial, follow Highway 16A, a twisting route down Iron Mountain Road. You’ll find tunnels that were specifically carved to frame the faces, yet predate the monument itself. They knew the mountain was going to be carved, so they constructed the tunnels to show off the faces before they were ever there.

Keystone is the closest city in the Black Hills to Mount Rushmore, which is located only three miles away. Rich in gold mining history, the quaint town of Keystone was once a boomtown after the discovery of placer gold two miles east of its current location. Placer gold is still thought to exist in abundance but the great depth of the deposits makes it difficult and impractical to reach.

Worth Pondering…

The noble countenances emerge from Rushmore, as though the spirit of the mountain heard a human plan and itself became a human countenance.

—Frank Lloyd Wright