By Landolfo Mancini 
Mount Rushmore is one of the most famous landmarks in the USA and is worth a short visit if you are traveling through the Black Hills of South Dakota.
This national monument depicts the colossal faces of four US presidents carved into the rock. In addition to being visually impressive, it also has a decent history behind it.
Here are 11 tips for your first visit to Mount Rushmore!
1. The Morning Is A Good Time To Visit
The best time to visit Mount Rushmore is in the morning. It is less crowded, less hot (in summer), and the lighting is ideal for photos.
This is a great time to take pictures of the monument. In the middle of the day, the lighting is more shallow, and at sunset the faces are covered with shadows.
We arrived there at 8 o’clock in the morning and it was perfect. We had a lot of time to walk around the site almost alone and take pictures without people in it. At 10 o’clock in the morning the monument was already crowded.
2. The Entrance Fee Is A Bit Confusing
Although Mount Rushmore is managed by the United States National Park Service, its functioning is slightly different from the rest of the national parks and monuments.
There is no entrance fee for Mount Rushmore, but there is a parking fee. This fee is not covered by annual or lifetime tickets for US parks, which seems a bit unusual.
The current parking fees can be found here on the NPS website. It’s worth it and you only need one ticket per vehicle. You can pay at the door with cash or credit card.
3. There is a Night Lighting ceremony
If you want to have a unique view of Mount Rushmore, the faces are illuminated every evening of the year at nightfall.
During the summer months there is also an ignition ceremony that includes a Ranger conference on presidents and the history of the United States.
You can check the seasonal times for this on the NPS website here.
Note: Your Mount Rushmore parking fee is valid for one year from the date of purchase, so remember to keep it if you plan to return after.
4. It Is An Impressive Technical Achievement
The Mount Rushmore sculpture is an enormous and impressive technical achievement.
Each of the heads is 6 floors high. The noses are about 20 feet high and the eyes about 10 feet wide.
The sculpture of the granite monument lasted 14 years, from 1927 to 1941. Almost 400 workers were involved, and 90% of the mountain was carved with dynamite.
Although the work was often peril, they managed to finish it without one of the men dying in the process.
5. There Is A Beautiful Story Behind It
Mount Rushmore was carved by Gutzon Borglum, who dedicated it to four important presidents of the United States: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
6. Getting There Is Quite Easy
Mount Rushmore is a 30-minute drive from Rapid City, South Dakota, where there are many hotel options and a regional airport.
There is enough parking at the monument, as most people decide to go there.
There is no public transportation to get to Mount Rushmore, but some companies offer guided tours if you want a live tour guide to handle the transportation, navigation, and itinerary for you.
7. It Does Not Take Long To Visit
If you’re in a hurry, it really doesn’t take long to visit Mount Rushmore. You can do this in just 30 minutes.
Start your tour with a walk through the Avenue of Flags with 56 flags representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three territories (Guam, American Samoa and the Virgin Islands) and two republics (Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands).
Then enjoy the iconic view of the presidents’ faces from the main terrace, take some photos and hit the road again. Even a quick tour like this is much better than nothing!
If you have 1 or 2 hours, do all of the above steps, then hike the Presidential Trail and finish your tour by spending some time at the visitor center to learn more about the making of the monument.
8. Ranger Programs Are Available
There are ranger programs at the memorial throughout the day, and you don’t need a reservation to join them.
These include ranger discussions explaining a little history and information about the monument, a Lakota hoop dance show on the main terrace, and other activities.
9. There is a Hiking Trail
Yes, that’s right. There is a short hike to Mount Rushmore called the Presidential Trail that gives you a close look at the monument from below.
This trail is a 1/2 mile loop that starts and ends at the main observation deck and can be completed in 20 to 40 minutes.
When walking clockwise, the first 0.2 kilometers are flat and accessible to the disabled. The last 0.4 miles have 422 steps, so it’s a little more difficult, but it’s not as bad as it sounds.
10. There Is A Museum And A Gift Shop
The Mount Rushmore Visitor Center has a small museum where you can learn more about the manufacture of the monument.
There is an educational video that is spinning, and a room full of other interesting exhibits.
Then there is a nice gift shop near the entrance where you can buy shirts, hats, coffee mugs, magnets and other souvenirs on the Rushmore theme.