Mt Rushmore Night Ceremony and Tour - with Tunnels and Stargazing
Overview
Available languages
4 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
*July 2-3-4*
Only 600 parking spots are available, est. 10 to 20K cars per day trying to park. Peak from 12pm to 5pm and narrow roads jammed or closed. Chances of getting into monument are terrible after 6pm.
Message from Highway Patrol. "Pack extra water, food, and a full tank of gas traffic as Mt Rushmore will be highly congested "
Best days that week to tour are July 1st or 5th. Or any other day than July 2, 3, 4.
Black Hills Open-Top-Tours offers a Mt Rushmore tour that also includes the Night Lighting Ceremony, a tour of the Iron Mtn Tunnels and night stargazing (depending on weather).
We tour in a variety of unique vehicles. All are comfortable and safe convertible top vehicles.
This 4.5 hour tour departs from Rapid City between 5:00pm and 6:00pm. Call for exact pickup times.
Private Group and Limo Tours Available.
*The Night Ceremony at Mt Rushmore is available from MAY 22nd to AUGUST 10th: ceremony starts 9 PM
*August 11th to SEPT 30th: ceremony starts 8PM.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Other rates apply only when sharing with 2 paying adults
A minimum of 2 Adults per booking is required
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Layered clothing, comfortable shoes, and a hat are recommended
What To Expect
Iron Mountain Road
After the stargaing on our return home, we drive Iron Mountain Road and its pigtail bridges, magnificent views through the one-way tunnels that frame the lighted national monument. We pause for photos.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
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. At sunset the rangers provide a progam that honors our veterans, including a patriotic movie and the lighting of the mountain.
Options
Mt Rushmore Nite/Starz/Tunnels
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Driver/guide
Fees
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
70 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great fun
CATHLEEN W,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great time and would do again for sure! You do need to be prepared for cool weather and you may or may not have some clouds.... but the tour guides are fantastic, they know a lot of interesting information about the area and the monument.
Great company who hires great people
btlbtr,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The drive through the pigtails before and after the lighting ceremony greatly enhanced the experience. Monica made this experience even better with the many native stories explaining how spiritual/holy the Black Hills are to many different tribal nation. Her stories covered the immediate area and Devils Tower. Add to that Rich the owner provided us a couple of self guided tours, one to the Bad Lands, and one for the Devils Tower.
Nicole was fabulous!
JennieJ918,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My sister and I did the nighttime tour of Mt. Rushmore. It is a fabulous private tour and worth the money. Nicole was our guide. She was knowledgeable: accommodating and it was a pleasure to spend the evening with her. She is a local and had a wealth of information. She catered the tour to our requests and made the evening so enjoyable. This tour is all encompassing and I couldn’t recommend it more. Book it and be sure to get ice cream. I took a risk and tried the Midnight Express flavor. It was fabulous!!
Worth every penny!
saracP7836NK,Jun 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I have had visiting Mt Rushmore on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and my husband & I decided this was the year to do it! When we were planning the trip, the lighting ceremony and star gazing seemed perfect for us, but it ended up being so much more. My husband, teen son, and I spent the early afternoon exploring on our own because I wanted to see all the things at our own pace. Then, when we were picked up at our hotel by Nicole and taken through Rapid City & Keystone, we learned a TON about the local area's history and about the monument itself. Before the ceremony. We learned about and saw pigtail bridges, viewed the monument from amazing angles, and had a unique opportunity to ask all of our questions to an incredibly knowledgeable personal guide. The ceremony itself was surprisingly emotional and the monument is stunning at sunset & when lit up. Did it rain?! Yes, it did! That wasn't enough to stop us though, we had umbrellas and blankets. It did, however, make the stargazing impossible. That's okay though because we had a spectacular lightning show (from a safe distance) instead. We were safe, dry, and made it back to our hotel with great experiences and full hearts. On top of everything that evening, we also got a terrific restaurant recommendation for the next day, a map to help us with additional adventures, and what I know will be a lifelong memory. Please go, keep an open mind, prepare well, and enjoy this truly special one-of-a-kind experience
It was all encompassing -...
Mary P,May 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was all encompassing - a scenic drive up to a view of Mt. Rushmore from across the valley while getting the history of the area, then the closeups of the monument itself, before and after dark. The stargazing stop was a wonderful way to end the evening. Our guide Scott, from Black Hills Open Top Tours was friendly, knowledgeable, and considerate of our wishes and needs! It was a great experience!
Not worth the money if weather is bad so try to predict this
sunandbeach03,Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00Unfortunately, there were thunderstorms the night we did this. The lighting ceremony took place but then the rest of the tour which was tunnels and stargazing were a waste of time as could not see anything that we wanted to as it was raining. Also, I was in the back and the roof was leaking on me. Luckily, the van was not full so I could move to try to avoid getting that wet. I was very disappointed and the price was high. They do tell you they go rain or shine so not really company's fault but I would have just done the night on my own and saved the money. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and gave good information. He was also very friendly. Just realize that if it rains, it is a waste of money.
It was an excellent tour...
Margery V,Sep 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was an excellent tour and the guide shared many interesting facts, pointed out numerous beautiful sites ,and was very professional and friendly. He is truly an asset to the company.
A wonderful night at Mt Rushmore
Helen C,Sep 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We really enjoyed the tour. The guide was great. Mt Rushmore was so fantastic at night. I would recommend this tour to all that visit Mt Rushmore area.
Historical trip down 🇺🇸’s beginnings.
John G,Sep 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Noel is super knowledgeable and a good historian and storyteller. You will not be disappointed and he is always looking out for a memory you will remember
Tour guide TJ was great....
Roby B,Sep 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Tour guide TJ was great. Seeing Rushmore at dark under the lights was amazing. The preprogram was very well done
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