Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The 60-foot granite sculptures of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln carved 1927–1941 at 5,725 ft elevation in the Black Hills. Administered by the National Park Service; the Avenue of Flags walkway and Grand View Terrace provide the classic face-on perspective. Motorcycle parking is a flat $10 valid for the calendar year.
The four granite faces — Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln — were carved between 1927 and 1941 and sit high in the Black Hills of South Dakota, administered by the National Park Service. The Avenue of Flags walkway and the Grand View Terrace give you the classic straight-on perspective of the 60-foot sculptures. The memorial is open year-round, and the grounds are lit at night, so a late arrival still works.
What makes this stop different for riders is how Iron Mountain Road (US-16A) delivers you here. The road was designed specifically so its one-lane stone tunnels frame the memorial in the distance as you approach — the destination appears before you arrive at it. Riders coming from the south get that framed view; those leaving north see it in the mirror. The road's pigtail bridges and tight layout keep traffic slow and deliberate, so wildlife crossings and oncoming vehicles in the tunnels are real considerations worth keeping in mind.
Parking is straightforward: there is a dedicated motorcycle section, and the flat $10 fee covers the full calendar year. No entry fee beyond that. Heavy summer traffic — especially during rally season — can mean congestion both on Iron Mountain Road and in the parking facility, so an early start pays off.
An anchor stop on every Black Hills motorcycle loop — Iron Mountain Road (US-16A) terminates here with Rushmore framed in its tunnel exits, making the ride and the destination inseparable. Paved, lit overnight, and open year-round with a dedicated motorcycle parking section.
Shot by the riders who've run it.
Riders upload photos to their profile and tag the road or stop — tagged shots show up here automatically.