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Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour

1 Review 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Rapid City, USA
Book online or call us

from $275 per person

Lowest Price Guarantee
Mount Rushmore is awe inspiring!
The Avenue of Flags on the way to the viewing plaza at Mount Rushmore. Find your state flag!
Heddy Draw in Custer State Park from the Mount Coolidge pull out.
Mount Rushmore from the summit of Iron Mountain in the Norbeck Wilderness Area. Mount Rushmore is 1.5 miles away!
Buffalo galore in Custer State Park on the Wildlife Loop Road.
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 18 (0) days in advance.
8 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

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

  • Binoculars for viewing buffalo
  • Rain Umbrella's
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Lunch Lunch is on your own. We stop at the Legion Lake diner at 12:00 noon for lunch.
  • Gratuity
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Meeting Location

Meeting point
End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free

Black Hills National Forest (pass by)

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.
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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.
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1 hour Admission Ticket Free

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.
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2 hours Admission Ticket 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.
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10 minutes Admission Ticket Free

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.
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1 hour Admission Ticket Free

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.
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15 minutes Admission Ticket 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.
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1 hour 15 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Keystone (pass by)

You drive through this little historic mining town before heading back to the pickup locations at the Heartland RV & Campground and Rapid City.
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Rapid City

The tour ends back in Rapid City at your pickup locations.
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1 minute Admission Ticket Free

Show 8 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 9 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions (8)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-368596P7

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.00
1 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
1
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 18 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (8)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MST).
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • Binoculars for viewing buffalo.
  • Rain Umbrella's.
  • All Fees and Taxes.
  • Bottled water and light snacks.
The following is NOT included:
  • Lunch. Lunch is on your own. We stop at the Legion Lake diner at 12:00 noon for lunch.
  • Gratuity.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the weather cancellation policy?
A:

This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour is as follows:

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024
Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
A:

Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

Oct 2026

What's Included

Activity name

  • Binoculars for viewing buffalo
  • Rain Umbrella's
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Bottled water and light snacks.
  • LunchLunch is on your own. We stop at the Legion Lake diner at 12:00 noon for lunch.
  • Gratuity

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 9 travelers

Report Product Issue

Activity name