Last Updated on December 2, 2022 by Usama
Mount Rushmore Parking
Established in 1925, Mount Rushmore National Memorial is one of America’s most iconic and enduring symbols. These colossal 60-foot sculptures of four U.S. Presidents attract over two million visitors each year, but parking is manageable despite its popularity. Before your visit, read our guide to learn more about entrance fees, tips on parking in the main garage, and ADA parking availability.
The National Memorial sits at the following address: 13000 Highway 244, Bldg. 8, Keystone, SD 57751.
Mount Rushmore Tickets & Hours
Mount Rushmore National Memorial and its facilities are open every day year-round, weather permitting. On December 25, all facilities are closed except the memorial grounds and parking structure. Operating hours for each facility vary every month. Click the link on any link to view the U.S. National Park Service hours for the entire year.
- Memorial grounds and parking structure
- Information Center
- Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center
- Sculpture Illumination
- Carvers’ Café
- Gift Shop
Admission is free, and reservations are not required.
Parking at Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Parking is conveniently available at the memorial’s parking complex located directly in front of the monument. Non-commercial vehicles that purchase a parking pass get unlimited access for a year from the date of purchase. If you intend to revisit the monument within the year, remember to keep your parking ticket to waive future parking charges. These passes cover entrance fees.
The Mount Rushmore parking fees for cars, motorcycles, and RVs are in the list below.
| Visitor | Rate |
| Regular | $10 |
| Seniors (62 and older) | $5 |
| Active-Duty Military | Free |
Commercial tour buses pay $50 for parking, while verified, nonprofit educational buses pay $25. All bus parking tickets are valid for 24 hours from the time of entry. Overnight parking is not allowed in the short-term parking structure.
The Mount Rushmore parking facility offers several services, including electric vehicle chargers (Level 2), a tire inflation station (Level 4), and bike lockers (Level 1).
How to Park and Pay for Visitor Parking
Once visitors reach the entrance gates, they’ll be directed to one of four lanes: lanes one, two, and three are specifically for non-commercial vehicles, while lane four is for trailers, commercial vehicles, RVs, and buses.
- Upon entering any of the lanes, visitors must take a parking ticket from the parking ticket machine for the gate to open. Those who already have a valid and paid parking ticket may scan their tickets on the machine to enter.
- Upon receiving their ticket, visitors can pay for them at four locations:
- Pay-on-foot stations: Located near the stairs on parking levels one, two, four, and five
- Carver’s Cafe checkout
- Gift Shop checkout
- Exit gate machines: Located by the exit gates. These machines only accept credit cards and do not issue discounts for active-duty military and seniors.
- Upon exiting, paid tickets must be validated by inserting them into the exit gate machine. Once inserted, the exit gates will open. Unvalidated tickets cannot be reused for entry within the year.
Mount Rushmore RV parking is limited, and so are parking spaces for other oversized vehicles. We recommend arriving early in the day during the peak summer season.
ADA Parking and Accessibility
Accessible parking is available in the Mount Rushmore parking facility and may be accessed via Lane Four. Before entering a level, check the signs near the entrance to see if accessible parking spaces are available on that level. The most accessible parking spots are located on Level 3 and Level 6. Directions to drop-off zones for those with mobility impairment are posted all over Lane Four.
The National Memorial offers free standard and wide-sized wheelchairs inside the Information Center. These are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Is There Public Transit to the National Memorial?
There are no public transportation options available to get to the site. If you don’t have a vehicle, we suggest enlisting the help of private tour companies or rental cars, which can bring you to Mount Rushmore Memorial from Rapid City, South Dakota. Traffic is usually not an issue when traveling to this national monument, as traffic flows smoothly on area highways.
Park Effortlessly Near Popular Attractions with Parking Access
With our expert parking guides on hundreds of points of interest across the United States, you can trust us to make your parking experience effortless and affordable. Aside from our Mount Rushmore parking guide, we developed several in-depth articles on the most popular attractions nationwide, including national parks. Visit our blog page and use the search bar to look for a specific destination.
Additionally, if you’re flying out of South Dakota, read our Rapid City Regional Airport Parking guide to compare and reserve parking spaces in the airport lots.
