Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Quick answer
Is Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour worth booking?
Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour is a 8-hour experience in Rapid City, United States, from $275 per person. It scores 57 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 57 / 100
- Rating
- Not yet rated
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $275 per person
You visit Mount Rushmore, one of our nation's national treasures, and Custer State Park, one of our nation's largest and most diverse state parks. This is the perfect tour for families looking to combine sightseeing with
What you get
About this experience
You visit Mount Rushmore, one of our nation's national treasures, and Custer State Park, one of our nation's largest and most diverse state parks. This is the perfect tour for families looking to combine sightseeing with a history of the area. You'll be provided with the history of the Black Hills in the context of the western expansion across North America. Custer State Park is home to an abundance of wildlife and a free roaming 1,500 herd of bison. You'll also be provided with the historical background for how the faces of four important founding fathers came to be carved on Mount Rushmore.
What's included
Included
- Binoculars for viewing buffalo
- Rain Umbrella's
- All Fees and Taxes
- Bottled water and light snacks.
Not included
- Lunch
- Gratuity
What you'll see and do
Black Hills National Forest
The entire day trip is within the Black Hills National Forest that covers an area 125 miles long and 65 miles wide, a 1.25-million-acre forest! You spend about 2 hours driving time that is interspersed between the sites you visit as outlined below. Along the way, you take in the beauty of the Black Hills that encompasses rugged rock formations, canyons, gulches, open grassland, and mountain lakes, including learning about the rich history of the area, including Custer's expedition to the area in 1874.
Pass by without stopping
Custer State Park Visitor Center
You will stop here for a short break to stretch the legs, watch a film on the history of Custer State Park, then head out to find the buffalo and other wildlife on the Wildlife Loop Road.
60 minutes here
Custer State Park
Next stop is Custer State Park, a 72,000 acre state park and wildlife refuge. The park is home to a herd of 1,500 bison and a variety of other wildlife that roam free over the varied terrain that includes rolling prairie grasslands and rugged mountains.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Heddy Draw Overlook
This is an overlook of one of the more beautiful overlooks in Custer State Park. The Mount Coolidge Fire Lookout Tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corp's in the late 1930's is in view.
10 minutes here
Legion Lake
You stop for about an hour at the Legion Lake Restaurant for lunch. There is a sit down restaurant, a snack bar, and a coffee shop to choose from. Eat inside or enjoy a short stroll around the lake.
60 minutes here
Iron Mountain Road
You drive the Iron Mountain Road, one of the most scenic and beautiful drives in the Black Hills! It winds through the countryside, traversing through three tunnels, navigating up and down switch-backs and pig-tail-bridges with views of Mount Rushmore along the way. The summit, also called the Peter Norbeck Scenic Overlook, provides a wonderful view of Mount Rushmore about a mile away. A breathtaking view! You can also see Black Elk Peak, the highest point in South Dakota at 7,200 feet above sea level. It is also the highest peak east of the Rockies.
15 minutes here · Admission included
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The last stop is Mount Rushmore National Memorial where the rich history of the United States is told through the lives of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham enshrined on Mount Rushmore. Through their lives we learn about the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country. The memorial is surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills.
75 minutes here · Admission included
Keystone
You drive through this little historic mining town before heading back to the pickup locations at the Heartland RV & Campground and Rapid City.
Pass by without stopping
Rapid City
The tour ends back in Rapid City at your pickup locations.
1 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Rapid City
The Heartland RV Park & Cabins is located 1.8 miles south of Hermosa on SD-79 S. We pick up in front of the office to the RV Park at 9:25 am to 9:30 am, departing at 9:30 am.
Meeting point
Rapid City
The DoubleTree by Hilton is located at 505 N 5th Street, near downtown Rapid City. We load at the entrance to the hotel under the drive through canopy / portico from 8:40 am to 8:45 am, departing at 8:45 am. Plenty of parking in the hotel convention center parking lot.
Meeting point
Rapid City
We load at the entrance to the hotel under the drive through canopy / portico. We load from 8:20 am to 8:30 am, departing at 8:30 am. There is plenty of parking in the hotel convention center parking lot.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The Heartland RV Park & Cabins is located 1.8 miles south of Hermosa on SD-79 S. We pick up in front of the office to the RV Park at 9:25 am to 9:30 am, departing at 9:30 am.
Ends at
The DoubleTree by Hilton is located at 505 N 5th Street, near downtown Rapid City. We load at the entrance to the hotel under the drive through canopy / portico from 8:40 am to 8:45 am, departing at 8:45 am. Plenty of parking in the hotel convention center parking lot.
Ends at
We load at the entrance to the hotel under the drive through canopy / portico. We load from 8:20 am to 8:30 am, departing at 8:30 am. There is plenty of parking in the hotel convention center parking lot.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
- Group size
- Up to 9 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Black Hills Day Trips
Know before you go
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 57
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Rapid City.
How much does Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour cost?
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Prices start at $275 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Rapid City usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour take?
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Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Rapid City is not rushed.
Is Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 57 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (0/5 across 0 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Rapid City, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour?
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Around 0 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Rapid City can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Rapid City and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Rapid City within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Rapid City?
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Rapid City is the base for Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse tours, Badlands National Park loops, Custer State Park wildlife drives and Black Hills cave visits. On Outty we rank every Rapid City experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show, Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills, PREMIER PRIVATE Tour: Mt Rushmore, CrazyHorse & Custer State Park. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Rapid City?
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May to September, with Sturgis crowding early August. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Rapid City?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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