A Road Trip To Mount Rushmore 🇺🇸

Mount Rushmore

A Wild Weekend in South Dakota: Our Family Trip to Mount Rushmore 🇺🇸⛰️

Let me tell you about the weekend I finally checked Mount Rushmore off my childhood bucket list. As a kid, it was always promised. “Next summer,” they said. “Someday,” they said. Well—someday finally came. And it showed up in the form of a spontaneous family road trip with our two pre-teen boys and a car full of snacks.

We made our basecamp in Rapid City, South Dakota. It’s got solid hotel options, plenty of dining, and it puts you close to all the big attractions without camping next to a souvenir shop. (Not that I’m against souvenir shops—I’ll get to that.)

First Stop: Wall Drug 🤠

If you’ve ever driven through South Dakota, then you know Wall Drug is unavoidable. As in, they have signs for hundreds of miles that basically hypnotize you into visiting. And honestly? It didn’t disappoint.

Wall Drug is equal parts kitsch and chaos. Picture a wild west fever dream with free ice water, taxidermy, and giant dinosaur statues for no good reason. The boys were obsessed. I, on the other hand, was just trying to keep them from knocking over 1,000 ceramic cowboy boot mugs.

Detour Through Deadwood 🌒

From there, we swung through Deadwood—a historic gold rush town turned tourist stop. During the day, it was pretty cool! Lots of old western buildings, quirky shops, and history everywhere you turn.

But once the sun went down? Yeah… it turned into a ghost town real quick. A little spooky. Probably fun for a date night, but not exactly a party for the pre-teen crowd. We didn’t stay long.

Mount Rushmore Badlands Black Hills

The Black Hills & Badlands: Jaw-Dropping Views 🏜️

On the way back, we took the scenic route through Badlands National Park, and WOW. It’s like the moon and Mars had a baby and dropped it in South Dakota. Sharp ridges, deep canyons, and golden grasslands that stretch forever. The boys were stoked to spot prairie dogs darting around, and I was just vibing in awe.

Next, we rolled into Custer State Park, and that’s where the wildlife show really kicked off. Bison, pronghorns, even a scrappy little coyote made an appearance. We were basically on safari—but in the Midwest. Pro tip: crack the windows, but keep your snacks sealed. Those bison? They’re bold.

The Most Random Highlight: Backwoods Trout Fishing 🎣

In true road trip fashion, we also veered wildly off-plan and went trout fishing. My partner remembered doing it as a kid, and next thing I knew, we were 60 minutes down a gravel road toward what can only be described as the sketchiest fish pond in the Midwest. Was it slightly backwoods? Yes. Did we have the best time ever? Also yes. We caught dinner and a core memory.

Mount Rushmore

Finally… Mount Rushmore 🗿✨

Now for the moment that made my inner child cry: Mount Rushmore.

We woke up at the crack of dawn to beat the crowds (and because children don’t understand the concept of sleeping in on vacation). Watching the sun rise over the Black Hills was already magical, but as we walked up to the monument, my boys literally started bouncing with excitement.

Then—BOOM—there they were. Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Lincoln. Right there in the rock, larger than life. It hit me harder than I expected. Seeing those giant presidential faces staring back at you, knowing you made it happen for your kids and your younger self? Unreal. Cue the slow-mo emotional montage.

What to Pack for Mount Rushmore & the Black Hills 🚗🧳

If you’re planning your own trip, here are a few must-haves:

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