Trip to Mt Rushmore

Tweeter wrote:
Traveling to Mt Rushmore from Woodland Park Co. sometime in August would appreciate your suggestions on sites to see & places to stay on the way, as well as around the park itself. We don't mind traveling a few miles in our tow to site see. We travel in a 42ft pusher. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

I agree with the prior posts: Custer State Park, Black Hills, Norbeck Scenic Highway, Needles Highway, Wind Cave NP, all are worth doing. We were there last summer for 3 days and felt like that was barely enough time. We're definitely going back. We didn't do the Crazy Horse things (we're just not interested) but others go there and like it. YMMV.

We stayed at the KOA, which is almost adjacent to Mt. Rushmore. I don't know if I'd recommend it or not. It's an amazing campground, with more facilities and activities than you can imagine, but to me it was a bit like Panama City Beach, with putt-putt miniature golf, trampolines, water slides, ATV rentals, and even tie-dye t-shirt crafts. In some cases, things like that might add to the enjoyment, but here, amidst everything else there is to see and do, such things somehow subtract from the experience. I would hate for anyone to leave this area with memories of putt-putt golf.

One more point. I'd definitely stay for the "illumination ceremony" at Mt. Rushmore. Right after dark, in the stark blackness of the night, while “American the Beautiful” plays in the background, a light shines suddenly on Mt. Rushmore, illuminating the carvings of the men who created, preserved, and assured the success of the American ideals. It's a powerful symbol of American exceptionalism literally carved into stone. Then, all members of the military, active and veterans, are invited to come down to the stage for the lowering of the flag. When we were there, the NPS ranger, a former Marine, announced to the audience, “Ladies and Gentlemen, these men and women were willing to put their lives on the line for the sake of American ideals expressed by these presidents, and we should honor them for that now.” The entire audience applauded, really, as a few dozen veterans made their way to the stage, and after the colors were retired, each veteran was introduced to the audience by name, branch, and rank.

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