8 Great Hotels Near Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills
Mount Rushmore is one of America’s most famous sites. The impossible carving and sculpting of the American presidents’ portraits in the Black Hills Range have become a must-see destination for anyone traveling in the Midwest and the Rocky Mountains. The location of the mountain is very remote, and effort is needed to reach it.
The entire area in southwest South Dakota is filled with reserves and natural sites, including the nearby Badlands National Park.
Near the mountain, there are rustic accommodations of various levels and motels on the highway.
A visit to Mount Rushmore isn't complete without finding a place to stay, so we've scoped out the local hotels and motels and compiled a list of 8 you should know about near the mountain.
So before you rush to book your flight to Chicago or Rapid City, want to learn a bit about the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore?
Click here for the complete guide to visiting Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills in South Dakota…
Already eager to book a place to stay for your Mount Rushmore trip? Click here to check availability and prices for hotels and motels near Mount Rushmore…
Lodges and Hotels in Keystone
Roosevelt Inn Mount Rushmore
The Roosevelt Inn is one of the largest accommodations near Mount Rushmore. It's a big 3-star roadside hotel located right at the turn from Keystone toward the visitor center of the mountain, less than a five-minute drive away. This is a large and well-kept mountain roadside hotel, with spacious rooms (featuring 2 queen beds, an excellent solution for families), a lobby, a restaurant, gardens, and even a small indoor pool.
Click here to book a spot at the Roosevelt Inn Mount Rushmore…
Comfort Inn & Suites Mt Rushmore
The standard branch of the large motel chain, Comfort Inn, is one of the best value accommodations in Keystone, less than a ten-minute drive from the visitor center of Mount Rushmore. It's an organized and very comfortable motel for families, with relatively large rooms, a breakfast restaurant, a surprisingly nice indoor pool, and some outdoor spaces to catch a breath.
Click here to book a spot at the Comfort Inn & Suites Mt Rushmore…
Lodges and Hotels in Custer, the Black Hills Range, and Rapid City
Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Rapid City – Rushmore South (Rapid City)
The Holiday Inn in Rapid City is an ideal lodging option, especially for those stopping at Mount Rushmore on their way to Yellowstone National Park and not planning to explore the Black Hills Range. The hotel is located on the southern outskirts of the area's largest city, at the beginning of the range's elevation. The drive from the hotel to Mount Rushmore takes half an hour and it is only ten minutes to the I-90 highway. The IHG network hotel is large and organized, with new rooms, a large breakfast restaurant, and additional facilities for guest convenience.
Click here to book your stay at Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Rapid City…
Bavarian Inn, Black Hills (Custer)
The Bavarian Inn truly delivers on the cabin experience it promises. This is a wonderful three-star country hotel on the outskirts of the tourist town (and former Wild West) of Custer, nestled in the heart of the range. The lodge is situated half an hour's drive from Mount Rushmore. It features an indoor pool, jacuzzi, a great restaurant with a country flair, and a fun, well-organized natural atmosphere.
Click here to book a place at the Bavarian Inn…
EO Bungalows, Black Hills (Custer)
EO Bungalows is a lodging option that lies somewhere between a motel and a hotel, rated three stars. It's located in the center of Custer on Mount Rushmore Road, close to restaurants, shops, and everything you need for a trip to the Black Hills. It's a well-maintained and spotless roadside hotel, offering high-level hospitality, a small garden, and rooms with meticulous design.
Click here to book a place at EO Bungalows…
Comfort Inn & Suites Near Mt. Rushmore (Hill City)
The Comfort Inn chain branch in Hill City is also a great solution for those wanting to visit Mount Rushmore and explore the natural beauty of the Black Hills. This motel is rated three stars (a higher rating than the Keystone branch, but not as convenient location), with large and modern rooms, an indoor pool, and a breakfast restaurant. The motel also features a small shop and a public laundry room, making it a very convenient base for exploring the area, just a twenty-five-minute drive from Mount Rushmore.
Click here to book a room at Comfort Inn & Suites Near Mt. Rushmore…
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Custer-Mt Rushmore (Custer)
The Holiday Inn Express, the wonderful motel brand of the hotel giant IHG, is one of the most popular places to stay in the Black Hills range. The hotel is located right on the outskirts of Custer, a half-hour drive from Mount Rushmore. Enjoy all the perks of the large chain – spacious rooms for families, high level of service, good breakfast, a small gym, indoor pool with a jacuzzi, and more.
Click here to book a spot at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Custer-Mt Rushmore…
Rocket Motel (Custer)
The Rocket Motel is the best basic accommodation you can find in the Black Hills. This small motel is located on the main street of Custer, Mount Rushmore Road (Highway 16), just a half-hour drive from the presidential carvings at Mount Rushmore. It’s a basic accommodation with a double bed, shower, and a bit of outdoor seating. Despite its simplicity, everything is spotless and the service is top-notch.
Click here to book a spot at Rocket Motel…
4 Guy's Tips for Perfect Accommodation Near Mount Rushmore
Staying in the Black Hills mostly revolves around the quintessential American concept of motels. Near Mount Rushmore, you'll find an abundance of motels from major American chains like Motel 6, Super 8, Holiday Inn Express, and brands from the large hotel chains. Accommodations in motels in the area are mostly rustic but exceptionally convenient for both couples and families. The motels offer large rooms, two queen or king beds, breakfast, and adjacent parking.
- Where to Stay Near Mount Rushmore – The main hotel clusters in the Black Hills and surroundings are found in three locations: Rapid City near the I-90 route, along the charming streets of Deadwood, and on the main street of Custer town. Staying in Rapid City is the most urban option (don’t expect a city, it's still quite a rural area). The prices in Rapid City are also the most affordable at motels, and the proximity to Mount Rushmore is especially convenient. Accommodation in Deadwood is essentially touristy, with a vibe similar to that of inns. Custer is also a small, pleasant town with a mountain atmosphere and beautiful views.
- Staying in Rapid City or in the nature reserves? – Staying in Rapid City is more suitable for those planning to stop at Mount Rushmore on a road trip and not visit the other nature sites of the Black Hills. The access from Rapid City, in the Great Plains, to the site at the first elevation of the Rocky Range is just a half-hour drive. Rapid City has a regional airport and highway number 90, the main transportation route in the God-forsaken expanse of South Dakota. The towns up the range, like Custer, Hill City, and others, offer more of a mountain vacation popular with Americans, but also a fun rural experience for those just visiting for a single night.
- When is the best time to visit Mount Rushmore? – Mount Rushmore is stunning and beautiful year-round, but winters in the Black Hills are very harsh and summers are hot and dry. It's an area with a pretty tough continental climate featuring desert-like summers and white winters (there isn't much snow, but when it falls, it doesn't melt because it's frozen all winter). The ideal seasons to visit are, of course, spring and fall.
- Travel route to Mount Rushmore – Mount Rushmore is stuck in the middle of nowhere, and reaching it requires special effort, either by domestic flights to Rapid City or a very long drive from Chicago, Yellowstone Park, or Salt Lake City. Most visitors arrive as part of a road trip starting from Chicago or Salt Lake City, combining the national parks of Yellowstone and Grand Teton in western Wyoming.
Map of where to stay near Mount Rushmore
