Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony tour from Rapid City

See the monument illuminated during the nightly lighting ceremony

An evening tour from Rapid City to Mount Rushmore National Memorial for the 9 pm lighting ceremony, running May through early August. Hotel pickup at 7:30–7:45 pm, a 45-minute drive to the site, and return around 10:45 pm. The program itself lasts about 45 minutes and includes a ranger talk on the four presidents, a video on American growth, the Star Spangled Banner, and a flag retirement ceremony honoring veterans and military. Admission, an English-speaking guide, water and snacks are included. Bring a jacket as temperatures drop after sunset.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony Evening

• Pick up from Rapid City hotel
• Drive 45 minutes to Mt Rushmore
• Walk to amphitheater and get seat
• Attend 10-minute Ranger Talk
• Watch 20-minute video about presidents
• Listen to Star Spangled Banner
• Watch lighting of Mt Rushmore faces
• Veterans retire the flag on stage
• Return to Rapid City by van

The Experience

The tour picks you up from your Rapid City hotel in the early evening and drives 45 minutes to Mount Rushmore. You'll have half an hour to find your seat in the amphitheater before the 9 pm program starts. A ranger gives a 10-minute talk on one of the four presidents, followed by a 20-minute video tracing the growth of the country through their legacies. At 9:30 pm, the Star Spangled Banner plays and the lights illuminate the carved faces. The moment the ceremony centers on.

Veterans and active military are invited to the stage to help retire the flag and receive recognition. The full program runs about 45 minutes. Blankets are available in the van if the night turns cold, though you should bring a jacket since the air cools once the sun goes down. The return drive to Rapid City takes another 45 minutes, with arrival around 10:45 pm.

The tour includes admission to the monument, bottled water and snacks in the van, and a guide who speaks English. You travel in either a 7 or 12-passenger van depending on group size that evening.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Rapid City at 7:30–7:45 pm and return around 10:45 pm.
• admission to Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
• an English-speaking guide.
• bottled water and snacks.
• blankets in the van if the night is cool.

Days and timesNo departures until 23 May 2027

AgesAges 12+ · 4 to 11 years · Under 4 — Free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup50 pickup points to choose from.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Affordable Adventures

Is this one for you?The three-hour round trip (including the 45-minute drive each way and the 45-minute ceremony) fits into an evening without eating into the rest of your day in Rapid City. If you're arriving late or have plans the next morning, this timing works around both.

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Top questions

Can children come?

4 to 11 years; under 4, free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What time does the lighting ceremony actually happen?

The lights come on at 9:30 pm, after the ranger talk and video. The program starts at 9 pm and runs about 45 minutes total.

Do I need to bring anything for the evening?

Bring a jacket: temperatures drop noticeably after sunset. Blankets are available in the van if needed, and water and snacks are provided.

When does the tour run during the year?

The lighting ceremony operates from May 22nd through August 9th. Hotel pickup is at 7:30–7:45 pm each evening.

What happens during the 45-minute program at the amphitheater?

A ranger gives a 10-minute talk about one of the four presidents, followed by a 20-minute video on American growth and their role in it. At 9:30 pm, the Star Spangled Banner is sung and the monument lights up. Veterans and military are invited to the stage to help retire the flag and be honored.

Is this tour suitable if I'm visiting Rapid City for the first time?

Yes, the ranger talk and video provide context on the monument and the presidents. The evening ceremony is one of the main reasons visitors come to Mount Rushmore, and the tour handles all logistics from your hotel.