Visiting Mount Rushmore in Winter

If you planning to visit Mount Rushmore in Winter, then find out all the information you need to know for visiting Mount Rushmore, to make it easy to visit this popular attraction in South Dakota.

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Is Mount Rushmore Open in the Winter

Mount Rushmore is open every day of the year, though on Christmas Day, the 25th December the car park is open but all the buildings including the visitor center, restaurant and toilets are closed.

Visiting in Winter between December and March can be a good time to visit Mt Rushmore as only around 5% of the number of visitors in July/August come to visit during winter.

Only the sculptor’s studio in Mount Rushmore is closed during Winter with all of the other buildings open except Christmas Day, when only the car park and grounds are open for access to the memorial.

The highway from Keystone to Mount Rushmore is very well maintained and if there are winter storms the highway is normally kept open and is well maintained.

Mount Rushmore Winter Hours

If you are planning on visiting Mount Rushmore, then these are the exact Mount Rushmore Winter Hours, make sure to read to make sure you plan your trip with enough time to see everything you want to see.

Remember that only the grounds and parking structure are open on the 25th December.

Grounds and parking structure is open from 7am to 9pm, though from the 10th March it is open from 5am to 11pm.

Information center is open from 8am to 5pm.

Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center is open from 8am to 5pm.

Sculptor’s Studio is closed through winter.

The Mount Rushmore Sculpture is illuminated from sunset to 9pm, though from the 10th March it is illuminated until 11pm. During winter there is no evening lighting ceremony as it is just too cold for everyone to be sat outside for 30-45 minutes to watch it.

The Gift Shop is open from 8am to 8pm throughout winter.

Carver’s Cafe is open from 8am to 4.30pm and if you want to try the ice cream, you can try it in the cafe during winter.

Can you visit Mount Rushmore in the Winter?

Yes, you can visit Mount Rushmore in the Winter and it can be a great time to visit with only around 65,000 visitors during the winter months.

Weather in Mount Rushmore in Winter

The weather in Mount Rushmore during winter is quite cold with highs during the day from 37 to 44 degrees and lows of 19 degrees, with December and January being the coldest months. In December you can expect around 4-5 days of snow, with more days of snow expected in January and February.

Mount Rushmore Winter Tours

If you aren’t travelling with a car or you don’t want to drive the roads in winter yourself then there is the option of doing a tour and seeing Mount Rushmore, along with Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park. You can arrange to be picked up in either Rapid City, Hill City, Keystone or Custer.

Does Mount Rushmore Close in Snow?

Mount Rushmore is open all year 365 days a year, though on the 25th December none of the buildings are open. If there is snow at Mount Rushmore then the National Park Rangers will work to make sure that the paths and car parks are clear and safe to way on.

The road to Mount Rushmore is also a well maintained road as it is one of the main highways through that area of the Black Hills and if there is snow it is usually removed fast to allow access. This area though is quite temperate compared to other areas of South Dakota and it can have less snow that other areas.

Does Mt Rushmore get covered in snow?

During Winter there are days when it will snow and that snow can stick around for a few days, so you may be lucky enough to see Mount Rushmore covered in a little snow if you visit in winter.

Is the Presidential Trail open in Winter?

Whether the trail is open or not is dependent on the weather, if there is a lot of snow and ice then the trail will be closed for safety reasons and it is frequently closed during winter.

Where to stay when visiting Mt Rushmore in Winter

There are many towns close to Mount Rushmore with Keystone being the closest at 3.2 miles and Hill City at just 12 miles from Mount Rushmore. There are many great hotels near Mount Rushmore for all budgets.

What to wear at Mount Rushmore in Winter

In Winter in Mount Rushmore the temperature can be very cold, especially first thing on a morning and in the evening as the sun begins to set. Make sure to wear warm clothes and layers that you can remove during the day as the temperatures rise.

You will need a warm hat and gloves too.

Do you have any other questions about visiting Mount Rushmore in Winter, if so ask me below.

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