Mount Rushmore with Kids: Planning a Family Road Trip from Denver

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For many UK families visiting the United States, Mount Rushmore isn’t the easiest landmark to include in an itinerary. Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, it sits far from the typical tourist routes of New York, Florida or California. However, if you are already travelling in the western United States, Denver makes an excellent starting point for a family road trip to Mount Rushmore.

We followed this route ourselves as part of a wider US adventure, flying from London into Denver before driving north to South Dakota. While the drive is fairly long, it offers a classic American road trip experience and works well when combined with time in the surrounding region.

If you're planning a similar trip, our guide How Much Does 2 Weeks in the USA Cost from the UK? explains what families should realistically budget for flights, car hire and accommodation.

Why Denver Is a Good Starting Point

Denver is one of the most convenient gateway cities for visiting Mount Rushmore from the UK. Direct flights operate from London, and the city is well set up for car hire and road trips. It also sits close to the Colorado Rockies, making it easy to combine Mount Rushmore with outdoor adventures such as hiking, rafting or zip lining. On our trip we flew from London Heathrow to Denver, a journey of around 10 hours, and started the drive north the following day.

If you're planning your first US road trip, our guide Driving in the USA: What Europeans Need to Know Before a Road Trip explains the key differences British drivers should expect.

How to Plan a Mount Rushmore Road Trip from the UK

Because Mount Rushmore sits in a more remote part of the United States, the key is to plan the trip as part of a wider road trip rather than a single destination.

A typical planning process looks like this:

1. Book flights to Denver: Denver is one of the easiest US cities to reach from the UK, with direct flights taking around 9–10 hours.

2. Reserve a rental car in advance: Hiring a car is essential for reaching Mount Rushmore. We booked ours through Holiday Autos so we could compare prices across multiple rental companies.

3. Stay near Denver Airport the first night: After a long flight, staying near the airport allows everyone to recover before beginning the road trip the next day.

4. Book accommodation in the Black Hills: Most families stay in Keystone or Rapid City when visiting Mount Rushmore. Cabin-style lodges are particularly popular because they offer more space and a relaxed setting.

If you want to understand typical travel costs, our guide How Much Does It Cost to Visit Mount Rushmore from the UK? breaks down the flights, fuel, accommodation and attraction prices.

How Long Is the Drive from Denver to Mount Rushmore?

The drive from Denver to Mount Rushmore is roughly 380 miles (610 km) and takes around five to six hours. Much of the journey passes through wide open landscapes and long straight highways. Compared with European road trips, there are relatively few towns or major attractions along the route. While this is part of the classic American road trip experience, it does mean planning rest stops and entertainment for kids is important.

For ideas on what to bring, see What to Pack for a Family Road Trip in America (From a UK Perspective).

Suggested Stop Along the Route: Cheyenne, Wyoming

Cheyenne sits about 90 minutes north of Denver and makes a convenient place to break up the drive. As the capital of Wyoming, it has a relaxed small-town feel and offers a chance to stretch your legs after the first part of the journey. Families can stop for lunch, fuel or a short walk around the historic downtown area, which includes western-style buildings, cafés and small shops. If you have time, the Wyoming State Capitol building and nearby park provide space for children to run around before continuing north toward South Dakota. There are not a lot of other worth while stops on route.

Example Family Road Trip Itinerary

To show how this trip works in practice, here is how we structured our 7-day family road trip combining Mount Rushmore and the Colorado Rockies.

Day 1 – Fly from London to Denver

We flew from London Heathrow to Denver, arriving in the afternoon local time due to the seven-hour time difference. After collecting our rental car we stayed overnight at a hotel near Denver Airport.

Day 2 – Drive to South Dakota

The following morning we began the drive north toward Mount Rushmore. The journey took around five to six hours, with time for lunch and rest stops. We stayed in cabin-style accommodation near Mount Rushmore, which worked well for families as it provided space to relax after a travel day.

Day 3 – Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills

We visited Mount Rushmore early in the morning, before the crowds arrived.

The monument itself can be explored in 1–2 hours, which works well for children. After exploring the viewing areas and trails, we spent the rest of the day driving through the Black Hills and visiting nearby attractions such as Rushmore Tramway. Mount Rushmore also hosts an evening lighting ceremony in summer. We had planned to return, but jet lag caught up with us and we never made it back — something many long-haul travellers will recognise.

Day 4 – Return to Colorado

The next morning we drove back toward Colorado, another six-hour journey, arriving in the Rocky Mountains near Estes Park.

Day 5 – Explore the Rockies

We spent the day exploring scenic mountain roads and completing an easy hiking trail suitable for children.

Day 6 – Adventure Day

One of the highlights of the trip was an adventure day in the Rockies, which included white-water rafting on Clear Creek followed by zip lining.

Day 7 – Fly to next location or stay longer!

We actually flew on to Costa Rica from here but the this can be tailored to where ever your family want to explore next before returning home, or spend longer exploring these wonderful American states.

Why This Structure Works Well for Families

This itinerary works well because it balances:

• longer driving days

• short sightseeing stops

• outdoor adventure activities

• relaxed accommodation such as cabins or lodges

Mount Rushmore itself is a relatively quick visit, so pairing it with outdoor adventure in Colorado helps turn the journey into a much more varied family trip.

When the Drive Gets Boring for Kids

Large sections of this drive pass through open countryside, so children may start to feel the distance after a few hours.

Things that helped during our journey included:

• downloading films onto a tablet

• audiobooks or road-trip playlists

• regular snack stops

• short breaks to stretch legs

Road trip entertainment makes a big difference on routes like this.

Visiting Mount Rushmore with Kids

The good news is that Mount Rushmore is very easy to visit with children.

Families can:

• walk the viewing terraces

• follow the Presidential Trail

• visit the museum and exhibitions

• watch short films explaining the monument’s history

Most families spend one to two hours exploring, which suits shorter attention spans well. If you're wondering whether the journey is worth it, we explain more in Why Visit Mount Rushmore from the UK? A Real Family Perspective.

What Else Is There to Do Near Mount Rushmore?

Families visiting the monument often combine it with nearby attractions such as:

• Crazy Horse Memorial

• Custer State Park

• scenic drives through the Black Hills

• hiking and wildlife spotting

Combine Mount Rushmore with Crazy Horse Memorial

Located about 30 minutes away, the Crazy Horse Memorial honours the Native American leader Crazy Horse and is still being carved into the mountainside. We cover this in more detail in Crazy Horse Memorial: Is It Worth Visiting with Kids?, and you can also see how it fits into a wider itinerary in South Dakota with Kids: A Family Road Trip Guide Beyond Mount Rushmore.

Final Planning Insight for Parents

From a UK perspective, visiting Mount Rushmore requires more effort than many US destinations. The long flight to Denver followed by a five-to-six-hour drive means it rarely appears on a quick itinerary. However, when combined with a wider road trip through Colorado and South Dakota, the journey becomes part of the adventure. For families who enjoy road trips, outdoor landscapes and exploring places that feel very different from Europe, the route from Denver to Mount Rushmore can easily become one of the most memorable parts of a US trip.

Planning the wider trip carefully can make a big difference. Our guide What to Pack for a Family Road Trip in America (From a UK Perspective) shares the practical items that make long US drives easier with children.

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.