Planning a trip to Mount Rushmore National Memorial?
Here are a few helpful tips to make the most of your visit!
• Parking: There’s no entrance fee to the Memorial, but there is a parking fee. (Heads up: National Park Service passes don’t cover parking.)
• Hours: The Memorial is open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. The sculpture lights up around sunset each evening, and the first Evening Lighting Ceremony of the 2026 season is Friday, May 22nd!
• Visitor Center: You’ll find the Visitor Center just below the Grand View Terrace—take the stairs or elevator down. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., it includes the Exhibit Hall and the theater showing the park film.
• Junior Ranger Program: Kids (and adults!) can pick up Junior Ranger activity booklets for ages 5 & under, 6–12, and 13+ at the Information Center or Visitor Center.
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NPS Photo
Headed to Mount Rushmore?
Your trip through the Black Hills is part of the adventure. Follow SD‑244 for a scenic drive into the Memorial, watch for wildlife, and give yourself time to enjoy the overlooks along the way. Your visit starts before you even arrive!
See you soon!
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NPS Photo/ A. Rimstidt
Earth Day spotlight: the yellow‑bellied marmot! Granite‑loving sun‑soaker, vigilant lookout, and expert burrow‑builder, this sturdy herbivore thrives on clean water, native plants, and undisturbed open space.
Give wildlife room and leave no trace: protecting wild places today ensures these little mountain dwellers remain part of our landscape tomorrow.
#EarthDay #FindYourPark #RecreateResponsibly #EncuentraTuParque #MidwestNPS
NPS Photo/ A. Rimstidt
Happy Birthday, Thomas Jefferson!
Jefferson’s place on Mount Rushmore comes with a fascinating chapter of trial and adaptation. Workers began carving his image on Washington’s right side in 1931, but the granite proved too weak to hold the design. After more than a year of work, that first attempt was removed, and the team started again on the opposite side. The second effort created the Jefferson we see today, symbolizing the nation’s growth through the Louisiana Purchase.
A good reminder that sometimes a fresh start leads to the best outcome!
NPS Photo
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UPDATE: The Lottery application period is now closed.
Today’s the day! The ticket lottery to attend the patriotic festivities and fireworks display at Mount Rushmore National Memorial on July 3, 2026, is officially OPEN. But hurry, it closes April 12!
Tickets are required to join the celebration and will be distributed through an online lottery. Each applicant may request up to four tickets and choice of parking at Mount Rushmore or shuttle service from Rapid City. Lottery results will be shared on April 14.
Protection of the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore National Memorial remains central to event planning for July 3. The National Park Service is coordinating closely with partner agencies to support a safe and memorable celebration for all attendees while continuing its commitment to caring for the landscape and cultural resources of the Memorial.
Please visit recreation.gov to access the lottery application.
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🐦 Spot the moving patch of bark- it’s a Brown Creeper!
This small, bark‑mottled bird blends in so well you’ll miss it unless you watch for a tiny climber spiraling up the trunk, probing insects from every little crack with its curved bill. When it finishes one tree, it glides down to the next and starts the climb all over again.
Where you can find it: Brown Creepers live across much of North America- from Alaska and Canada through forests across the U.S., including right here in the Black Hills. Many stick around all winter, only shifting to slightly lower elevations when temps really drop.
Try this next time you’re out: Start at the base of a tree and look upward.
If the “bark” suddenly starts moving, you’ve officially found a Brown Creeper!
#Birding #FindYourPark #RecreateResponsibly #EncuentraTuParque #MidwestNPS
NPS Photo/ A. Rimstidt
Spring in the Black Hills of South Dakota reveals itself in so many ways: the vibrant pasqueflower (Anemone patens) breaking through the soil, the distant gobbling of Merriam’s turkeys, the sweet song of the Western meadowlark, and the sunsets that linger just a bit longer each day.
Every year, these small moments signal the steady rhythm of nature carrying us into a new season. What are some of the signs of spring that catch your eye?
Photo Credit: A. Rimstidt
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A fireworks display will once again light up the sky above Mount Rushmore National Memorial on July 3, 2026, as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.
Tickets are required to attend the July 3 festivities and fireworks viewing and will be allocated through a lottery on Recreation.gov. Applications can be submitted from April 8-12. Each applicant may request up to four tickets, along with either a parking space or shuttle service option. Lottery results will be announced on April 14.
For full details, please visit nps.gov/moru or recreation.gov.
Photo Credit: Travel South Dakota
@National Park Service
@U.S . Department of the Interior
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Mount Rushmore in winter is a whole different experience!
What is your favorite season to visit?
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NPS Photo/ A. Rimstidt
⚠️Safety Alert ⚠️
The National Park Service plans to conduct prescribed fire operations over the next several days, if conditions are favorable. The approximate 95 acre unit known as Starling Basin is located west and south of Highway 244 within the Mount Rushmore National Memorial boundary.
For safety, some areas of the park may be temporarily closed during the operation. Smoke will be visible in the area, and short-term smoke impacts are possible along Highway 244 and in nearby communities.
Alt Text: Map showing the location of the Starling Basin Prescribed Fire area within Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota. The map includes a black labeled boundary for Mount Rushmore and highlights the Starling Basin RX area in red, which covers 95 acres. The prescribed burn area in red is south of Highway 244. A scale bar indicates distances of 0, 0.38, 0.75, and 1.5 miles.
During the federal government shutdown, this account will continue to share critical information about park access, safety, and resources. Some services may be limited. For more details, visit: doi.gov/shutdown
As the days get shorter, so do our hours!
Starting tomorrow, Oct. 1, our Visitor Center and Information Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Today is the last day of the season the Sculptor's Studio will be open and tonight marks our last evening program for 2025. Though we're saying goodbye to the stage and Studio, there's still so much to learn at the Memorial. Come check out our park film, exhibit hall, and ranger talks.
There's always plenty to discover at Mount Rushmore!
#FindYourPark #RecreateResponsibly #EncuentraTuParque #MidwestNPS
NPS Photo/ A. Rimstidt
Alt-text: The sculpture known as Mount Rushmore sits at the center of the image. The sculpture is softly lit by golden light. At the base of the sculpture is a hill dotted with deep green ponderosa pine trees.
