Mount Rushmore Helicopter Flight: Is It Worth the Cost for Families?

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One of the most memorable experiences we had during our visit to the Black Hills was taking a helicopter flight over Mount Rushmore. Seeing the monument from the air gives a completely different perspective compared with the viewing terrace, and for many families it can become a highlight of the trip.

If you're already visiting the monument, a helicopter flight can be an exciting addition to the day and a unique way to experience the surrounding landscape.

Who We Flew With

We flew with Black Hills Helicopter Tours, one of the main operators based close to Mount Rushmore. One thing we liked was how straightforward the process was. We didn’t pre-book the flight. Instead, we simply turned up at the airfield and were able to get on a flight almost immediately. During busy periods you may want to book ahead, but during our visit the turnaround was very quick.

If you're planning your visit to the monument itself, our guide Mount Rushmore with Kids: Planning a Family Road Trip from Denver explains how the monument fits into a wider family road trip.

How Much Does the Helicopter Flight Cost?

At the time of writing, Black Hills Helicopter Tours offer two main flight options:

• $80 per person – 10 minute flight (15 mile loop)

• $130 per person – 15 minute flight (360° Mount Rushmore loop)

We chose the shorter $80 flight, which lasted around ten minutes in the air. For families who simply want to experience flying over the monument and the surrounding landscape, this option felt more than enough. Compared with many other US attractions, it’s actually a fairly reasonable price for a helicopter experience.

What the Flight Route Looks Like

Even the shorter flight covers quite a lot of scenery. Our route followed Buckeye Gulch down toward the historic mining town of Keystone, before passing old mining areas and heading toward Iron Mountain Road, famous for its dramatic curves and “pigtail bridges”. From there the helicopter flies past Mount Rushmore itself, giving you an incredible aerial view of the monument before looping back toward the airfield. Seeing the monument from above makes you appreciate the scale of the sculpture and the surrounding Black Hills landscape in a way that’s impossible from the ground.

Safety and Briefing

Before boarding the helicopter, we received a full safety briefing from the pilot.

This included:

• how to approach the aircraft safely

• where to sit and how the seatbelts worked

• how to use the headset and microphone

Each passenger is given headphones with a microphone, which allows you to hear the pilot and speak to them during the flight.

Age Suitability for Kids

A child under 24 months of age can sit on an adults lap at no additional charge. Children 24 months and older require an individual full-fare seat.

From our experience, helicopter flights like this are best suited for school-aged children. Kids at this age usually find the experience exciting and memorable, particularly if it’s their first time flying in a helicopter. Our son Joshua absolutely loved it. He spent most of the flight chatting to the pilot and asking questions about how the helicopter worked. Because everyone wears headsets, we could hear the conversation through the headphones, which made it quite fun.

If you’re planning a wider family trip through the region, our guide South Dakota with Kids: A Family Road Trip Guide Beyond Mount Rushmore covers other activities nearby that work well with children.

How Long the Flight Actually Feels

Although the shorter flight only lasts around 10 minutes in the air, it feels longer once you're taking in the views. That said, helicopters move differently from planes. By the end of the flight we could start to feel a slight motion sickness feeling, particularly with the turns and changes in direction. It wasn’t severe and we never felt like we would actually be sick, but we were definitely happy to be back on the ground by the end. The boys were starting to feel it slightly as well, which made us feel the shorter flight was probably the right choice.

Is the Mount Rushmore Helicopter Flight Worth It?

For us, the answer was yes.

The flight only takes around ten minutes, but it offers a completely different perspective on Mount Rushmore and the surrounding Black Hills. For children, the excitement of flying in a helicopter often becomes just as memorable as the monument itself.

If you’re already visiting Mount Rushmore and want to add something a little more adventurous to the day, a helicopter flight can be a great experience for families.

If you're still deciding whether the journey to this part of the US is worthwhile, our guide Why Visit Mount Rushmore from the UK? A Real Family Perspective explains why this region can become one of the most memorable parts of a wider US trip.

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.