Crazy Horse Memorial: Is It Worth Visiting with Kids?

Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission — at no additional cost to you. We only recommend hotels, tours, and experiences we’ve personally used and loved.

Mount Rushmore is one of the most famous landmarks in the United States, yet for many British travellers it’s not always at the top of the itinerary. The biggest reason is simple: it isn’t particularly easy to reach from the UK. Unlike other destinations we’ve visited in the US, such as New York, Florida or California, reaching Mount Rushmore involves a long-haul flight followed by a substantial road trip. Because of that, many UK families question whether the journey is really worth the effort. Having done the trip ourselves, the answer might surprise you. Despite the extra travel involved, it turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of our US trips, thanks to the combination of road trip adventure, outdoor scenery and the unique experience of seeing the monument in person.

If you're planning a trip to visit Mount Rushmore, our guide to Mount Rushmore with Kids: Planning a Family Road Trip from Denver explains how families can structure the journey and our guide to How Much Does 2 Weeks in the USA Cost from the UK? can help you understand what to budget for flights, car hire and accommodation

What Is the Crazy Horse Memorial?

The Crazy Horse Memorial is a mountain carving dedicated to the Native American leader Crazy Horse, a Lakota warrior who fought to preserve his people's land and culture during the expansion of the United States. Unlike Mount Rushmore, which was completed in the 1940s, the Crazy Horse Memorial is still being carved today. When finished, it will be the largest mountain carving in the world, showing Crazy Horse on horseback pointing into the distance. The project began in 1948 and continues today, funded primarily through private donations and visitor admission rather than government funding. For families visiting the region, it provides a very different historical perspective to Mount Rushmore.

The Cultural Importance of the Memorial

One of the most important aspects of the Crazy Horse Memorial is its cultural significance.

The site was created to honour Native American history and heritage, something that is often underrepresented in traditional US monuments.

The complex includes:

• a Native American museum

• cultural exhibits

• educational displays about Lakota history

• information about the carving process itself

For parents travelling with school-age children, this gives the visit an educational dimension that goes beyond simply seeing a monument.

Educational Value for Families

For families, the memorial offers more than just a viewing platform. Inside the visitor centre there are exhibits explaining the history of Native American tribes, the story of Crazy Horse, and how the enormous carving is being created. Children who enjoy learning about history or engineering may find the construction process particularly interesting. The fact that the monument is still unfinished also helps spark curiosity. It’s fascinating to see such a large project actively progressing and to imagine what the finished sculpture will eventually look like.

How Long Do Kids Stay Engaged?

In terms of attention span, most families will probably spend around 60 to 90 minutes at the Crazy Horse Memorial. The main viewing area gives you a clear view of the carving in the mountainside, and the visitor centre provides enough exhibits to keep older children interested for a while. Younger children may be more interested in the open space and the experience of seeing the enormous carving rather than reading the displays. Compared with Mount Rushmore, which can be explored quite quickly, the museum and cultural centre here give families a bit more to look around.

How Much Does It Cost to Visit the Crazy Horse Memorial?

Unlike Mount Rushmore, which is free to enter (although there is a parking fee), the Crazy Horse Memorial charges an admission fee.

At the time of writing, entry costs roughly:

• Around $35 per car for a standard vehicle

• Individual ticket prices are also available for walk-ins or motorbikes

The admission fee helps fund the continued carving of the monument, as the project is privately funded rather than supported by the US government. For families travelling through the area, this means the stop is relatively affordable compared with many US attractions, especially if you are visiting as a group in one car.

How Far Is Crazy Horse from Mount Rushmore?

The Crazy Horse Memorial is located about 17 miles (27 km) from Mount Rushmore.

The drive takes roughly 25–30 minutes, depending on traffic and the route you take through the Black Hills. Because the two monuments are so close together, many visitors choose to see both on the same day. In our experience, this works well for families. You can visit Mount Rushmore in the morning — especially if you arrive early to avoid the crowds — and then continue on to Crazy Horse later in the day.

If you’re planning the trip from the UK, you can read more about how we structured our visit in Why Visit Mount Rushmore from the UK? A Real Family Perspective.

How It Compares to Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial are very different experiences.

Mount Rushmore is:

• more iconic and immediately recognisable

• completed and highly polished as a monument

• quicker to visit

Crazy Horse is:

• larger in scale once completed

• still under construction

• more focused on cultural and historical education

During our trip, we found that Mount Rushmore felt more visually dramatic, while Crazy Horse offered more context and learning. If you are already visiting Mount Rushmore, seeing both monuments helps create a broader understanding of the region’s history.

Is It Worth Visiting with Kids?

In our experience, yes — it is worth stopping, particularly if you are already in the Black Hills area. The memorial adds variety to the day and offers a different perspective on American history. It also works well as a short additional stop when travelling between other attractions.

However, if you are limited on time and visiting the region primarily for Mount Rushmore, it may not feel like an essential destination on its own. For families combining it with a road trip through the region, though, it makes an interesting and worthwhile addition.

Final Thoughts For Parents

The Crazy Horse Memorial is not just another monument — it represents an ongoing project that highlights an important part of American history. For families travelling through South Dakota, pairing it with a visit to Mount Rushmore adds depth and context to the trip. Children may not engage with every exhibit, but the scale of the carving and the story behind it make the stop both interesting and educational. If you are already exploring the Black Hills region, it is certainly worth allowing time to visit both sites.

Advice for US Road Trips

Our South Dakota with Kids: A Family Road Trip Guide Beyond Mount Rushmore shows how Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse fit into a broader Black Hills itinerary.

Road trips are often the best way to explore this part of the United States. Our guide Driving in the USA: What European Families Should Know Before a Road Trip explains what parents should expect when hiring a car.

Packing the right items for longer driving days can also make a big difference when travelling with children. Our guide What to Pack for a Family Road Trip in America (From a UK Perspective) shares the essentials we bring on US road trips.

Planning a Family Trip to the USA

If you’re planning a family trip to the United States, we’ve created a collection of practical guides based on our own experiences travelling there with a child. In our USA Travel Hub, you’ll find advice on everything from ESTA requirements and travel insurance to driving, healthcare and managing jet lag with kids, alongside destination guides for places we’ve explored including New York, Colorado, South Dakota and Florida. It’s a useful starting point for parents researching how to plan a smooth and enjoyable family trip to the USA.