Mount Rushmore Tickets, Hours & Fees
Free to enter, no ticket required, and the only cost is $10 vehicle parking
Updated: July 10, 2026
There is no entrance fee and no ticket to visit Mount Rushmore. The memorial is free to enter, and the only charge is $10 for vehicle parking, $5 for seniors. Below are the exact fees, the 2026 grounds hours, and the evening lighting ceremony schedule.
Book a Mount Rushmore Tour
Want the history and logistics handled for you? Guided tours skip the parking scramble, top-rated with free cancellation through Viator.
Twilight Tour: Custer State Park & Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony
Experience the stunning beauty of the Black Hills on this unforgettable private afternoon & evening tour, designed to highlight the region’s most scenic drives & end with the Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony. First, we visit the tranquil Sylvan Lake, nestled among pine-covered hills & dramatic rock formations. We continue with a picturesque journey along the legendary Needles Hwy, where towering granite spires, narrow tunnels, & sweeping views create an unforgettable drive. You’ll have plenty of time for photo stops, short walks, and commentary from your knowledgeable local guide. Then, travel the engineering marvel of Iron Mt Rd, known for its pigtail bridges, scenic switchbacks, & tunnels that perfectly frame Mt Rushmore in the distance. We arrive at Mt Rushmore with time to explore, then as night falls, gather at the amphitheater for the Lighting Ceremony, a patriotic & heartfelt experience that includes a short film, tribute to veterans, & the illumination of the iconic carvings.
Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Tour
What makes this tour unique is the combination of three of Western South Dakota's most iconic destinations – Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park Wildlife Loop – into a single, comprehensive, and fully narrated experience. Over 8-9 hours, you'll not just see these landmarks, but gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for their history, cultural significance, and natural beauty. We always give the guest time to buy their lunch during the tour.
Private Mount Rushmore and Flume Trail Hike
This tour gives you incredible in-depth knowledge of the Flume Trail, the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. There is a two person minimum to book this tour.
Mount Rushmore Memorial Shared Tour from Rapid City, South Dakota
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a massive sculpture carved into Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Completed in 1941 under the direction of Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln, the sculpture’s roughly 60-ft.-high granite faces depict U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The site also features a museum with interactive exhibits.
Stars & Stripes: Mount Rushmore Night Ceremony
Discover the best of the Black Hills on this unforgettable evening adventure. Your tour begins with a scenic drive along the world-famous Iron Mountain Road, a winding masterpiece with pigtail bridges, mountain vistas, and tunnels leading to Mt. Rushmore. Along the way, your guide shares insightful stories of the region’s history, people, and natural beauty. Arriving at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, we’ll stroll the Avenue of the Flags for a first close-up view of the monument. Your guide will bring the story of its creation to life with engaging details about the vision, artistry, and challenges behind this American landmark. As night falls, you’ll take part in the moving Evening Illumination Ceremony, where patriotic music and storytelling culminate in the dramatic lighting of the monument. This tour blends breathtaking scenery with cultural heritage and national pride, making it one of the most memorable ways to experience Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills.
Shared Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse Tour
This tour is unique because it offers a convenient and efficient way to experience two iconic South Dakota landmarks in a single day. Instead of having to drive yourself and navigate parking at both Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, this tour provides shared transportation from Rapid City, maximizing your time to explore and learn about these impressive monuments. By dedicating 2 hours to each site, you'll have ample time to take photos, soak in the history, and appreciate the artistry of these incredible sculptures. This is a great option for travelers seeking a hassle-free and time-optimized introduction to these popular South Dakota attractions.
Prices and availability provided by Viator. We earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Do You Need a Ticket to Visit Mount Rushmore?
No. Mount Rushmore has no entrance fee and requires no ticket for a general visit; it is free to enter. The only charge is $10 for vehicle parking ($5 for seniors age 62 and older). There is no gate, no admission line, and no ticket to buy to see the carving. You pay once for parking, and that ticket is good for a full year.
Admission
Free
Parking
$10 per vehicle
Hours
5 a.m. to 11 p.m. (summer)
Is There an Entrance Fee for Mount Rushmore?
No. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a free memorial with no entrance fee and no admission ticket for general visits. Unlike many national parks, there is no gate where you pay to get in and no per-person charge to walk the grounds, view the carving from the Grand View Terrace, or hike the Presidential Trail.
This is the single most common point of confusion for first-time visitors. People often search for Mount Rushmore tickets or an entrance fee expecting a checkout step, but there is nothing to buy in advance to enter. The only money you will spend on arrival is the parking charge, covered in the next section.
Bottom line: entry is free for everyone, every day of the year. Budget only for parking, and optionally for a guided tour, food, or a souvenir once you are there.
Mount Rushmore Parking Fees
Parking is the only cost of a Mount Rushmore visit, and it is charged per vehicle rather than per person. Here is what you will pay in 2026.
$10 per private vehicle
The standard rate for a car covers the whole vehicle, no matter how many passengers are inside.
$5 for seniors (age 62+)
Seniors age 62 and older pay a reduced rate of $5 per vehicle.
Your parking ticket is valid for one full year
A Mount Rushmore parking ticket is good for one full year of unlimited entry from the date of purchase. If you visit again within 12 months, keep your receipt and you will not pay parking a second time. That makes return trips, such as coming back for the evening lighting ceremony, effectively free.
National Parks passes do not cover parking
Because Mount Rushmore has no entrance fee, federal passes cannot be used to waive the parking charge. The America the Beautiful and National Parks annual passes, the Senior Pass, Military Pass, Access Pass, and Every Kid Outdoors pass are all fee-waiver passes for park entrance, and there is no entrance fee here to waive. You still pay the $10 parking charge with any of these passes.
Other vehicle types, such as motorcycles and commercial buses, have separate rates listed by the National Park Service on its official fees page.
Mount Rushmore Hours of Operation
The memorial grounds are open every day of the year, but the closing time shifts with the season. The grounds open early at 5:00 a.m. year-round, which makes a sunrise visit easy to plan.
| Season | Grounds Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| October 1 to March 11 | 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Winter grounds hours |
| March 12 to September 30 | 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. | Summer grounds hours |
Hours at a glance: the grounds open at 5:00 a.m. daily. They close at 9:00 p.m. from October 1 to March 11, and at 11:00 p.m. from March 12 to September 30.
The Evening Lighting Ceremony
The sculpture is illuminated nightly year-round, but the formal evening Lighting Ceremony is seasonal. The ceremony runs nightly at 9:00 p.m. from late May, around Memorial Day, through late September. It is included with your parking, so there is no separate ticket or charge to attend.
From October 1 to late May, the carving is still lit after dark, but there is no formal ceremony. If seeing the ranger-led program is important to you, plan a warm-season visit and arrive with time to find a seat in the amphitheater before 9:00 p.m.
Timing tip: because your parking ticket lasts a full year, you can visit the memorial during the day, leave, and return for the 9:00 p.m. ceremony the same evening without paying again. Staying in Keystone near Mount Rushmore makes the after-dark trip easy.
Best Time of Day to Visit
The grounds open at 5:00 a.m., and the early morning and evening are the least crowded times to visit. Arriving by around 8:00 a.m. means near-empty grounds and open parking. By 10:00 a.m. the memorial is crowded, and midday around lunch is the peak, when the parking structure can fill in July.
Busiest
- • Midday around lunch, the daily peak
- • Parking structure can fill in July
- • By 10 a.m. the grounds are crowded
Quietest
- • Early morning, by around 8 a.m.
- • Evening, as day-trippers head out
- • Off-season: late fall, winter, early spring
By season, the lightest crowds come in late fall, winter, early spring, and September after Labor Day. For a deeper look at which weeks to avoid, see our guide to the worst time to visit Mount Rushmore and the best time to visit the Black Hills.
July 3, 2026 Fireworks: What to Know
For America's 250th anniversary, a ticketed fireworks event is held on July 3, 2026. Access is by public lottery only. The lottery ran April 8 to 12, 2026, and is now closed, so tickets are no longer available to the general public.
If you do not hold a lottery ticket, plan around the closure. The memorial is closed to the general public the evening of July 2 and all of July 3, when only lottery ticket holders may enter. Regular hours resume on July 4, with the grounds opening at 5:00 a.m.
For full details on timing, access, and where to watch, see our Mount Rushmore fireworks 2026 guide.
“There is no entrance fee to visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial. However, there is a parking fee.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an entrance fee for Mount Rushmore?
No. Mount Rushmore National Memorial has no entrance fee and requires no ticket for a general visit. It is free to enter. The only cost is parking, which is $10 per private vehicle and $5 for seniors age 62 and older.
How much does it cost to visit Mount Rushmore?
The memorial itself is free to visit, so the only cost is parking. A private vehicle pays $10, and seniors age 62 and older pay $5. That parking ticket is valid for one full year of unlimited entry from the date of purchase, so a repeat visit within 12 months costs nothing extra.
How much is parking at Mount Rushmore?
Parking is $10 per private vehicle and $5 for seniors age 62 and older. The ticket is valid for one full year of unlimited entry from the date of purchase. Other vehicle types such as motorcycles and commercial buses have separate rates listed by the National Park Service.
Can I use my National Parks pass at Mount Rushmore?
No. Because there is no entrance fee, the America the Beautiful and National Parks annual passes, the Senior Pass, Military Pass, Access Pass, and Every Kid Outdoors pass cannot be used to waive the parking fee at Mount Rushmore. The $10 vehicle parking charge applies regardless of any pass you hold.
What time does the Mount Rushmore lighting ceremony start?
The evening Lighting Ceremony begins at 9:00 p.m. It runs nightly from late May, around Memorial Day, through late September. From October 1 to late May the sculpture is still illuminated after dark, but there is no formal ceremony. The ceremony is free with your parking.
Official Source Referenced
Plan Your Mount Rushmore Visit
- • Entry is free; budget only $10 for parking ($5 seniors)
- • Keep your parking ticket, it is valid for a full year
- • Grounds open 5 a.m. daily; arrive by 8 a.m. to beat crowds
- • Add a guided Mount Rushmore tour
- • Book a hotel near Mount Rushmore to catch the evening ceremony