The area around Mount Rushmore National Memorial, known for the four gigantic faces of past presidents carved into a granite cliff, offers a variety of outdoor adventure. While no camping facilities exist within the park, plenty of RV and tent campgrounds operate in the nearby area and local towns surrounding Mount Rushmore.
Location
Mount Rushmore is located 35 miles from the Rapid City Regional Airport with rental cars available nearby. Visitors arriving by car usually take I-90 to Rapid City, then follow Highway 16 to Keystone, then take Highway 244 to Mount Rushmore. No public transportation exists, but private tour companies take groups to Mount Rushmore.
Tent and RV Camping
Custer State Park offers several different campgrounds located close to Mount Rushmore. Choose from sites consisting of gravel or paved pads set among the trees, along the stream or near the lake. The sites offer electric hookups, a picnic table and a fire grate. Flush toilets and showers are offered at all the campgrounds except for Center Lake, which has vault toilets. The campground also includes a horse camp designated for campers who bring horses. Several private campgrounds offering all amenities exist in Custer City, located 21 miles from Mount Rushmore.
Backcountry Camping
The French Creek Natural Area, accessible near Custer State Park, offers primitive camping perfect for hikers and backpackers. Hikers cross French Creek about 42 times on the 12-mile trail, but still need to carry all drinking water. Low-impact camping is allowed along the canyon bottom at least 50 feet from the stream. Open files are prohibited, and all garbage must be packed out.
Preparation
Firewood is available at grocery stores, Custer State Park and other locations in the area. Custer City, located 21 miles from Mount Rushmore, offers grocery stores, restaurants and camping good supplies. Sunscreen, hats and light coats for cooler evenings come in handy in the summer. If you plan to visit Mount Rushmore, plan to pay a parking fee. The fee is not covered by National Park or Golden Eagle passes.
Activities
While off-trail hiking is not allowed at Mount Rushmore, a 30-minute ranger walk gives visitors an in-depth view of the natural and cultural history of the area. Campgrounds near Mount Rushmore make great base camps for visits to nearby Badlands National Park, a 1.5-hour drive from Mount Rushmore. Wind Cave National Park is located 61 miles from Mount Rushmore and offers challenging trails in rugged terrain. The trails include 50 mapped cave passages to explore.
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