TourTruth score 7.7 out of 10
Rapid City Mount Rushmore Lighting Ceremony Shared Tour 3 hr
Top 40% · 3 hrs · 11 reviews
from $100
1 provider
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Rapid City Mount Rushmore Lighting Ceremony Tour 3 hr
TourTruth score 7.1 out of 10
Average
15 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score
- Rapid City
- 3 hrs
- Updated November 2, 2026
See Mount Rushmore glow at night on a shared evening tour from Rapid City, with a ranger talk, film, anthem, and flag ceremony.
About this tour
As evening settles over the Black Hills, watch Mount Rushmore’s famous faces light up during a shared tour from Rapid City. Your ride takes about 45 minutes, leaving time to reach the amphitheater and find a seat before the 8:00 pm program.
A ranger talk introduces stories about the four presidents, followed by a 20-minute film about the nation’s growth. At 8:30 pm, the audience sings the national anthem as lights illuminate the monument. Veterans and military members are invited to the stage for the flag-retirement ceremony and recognition. The program lasts about 45 minutes, and the return trip brings you back to Rapid City around 9:45 pm.
Travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide, and enjoy bottled water and snacks along the way. Blankets are available in the vans, but bring a jacket for the cooler evening air. Optional dinner is not included. Choose this Mount Rushmore lighting ceremony tour for a memorable night of history, music, and tribute beneath the South Dakota sky.
Highlights
- Watch Mount Rushmore’s faces glow beneath the evening sky
- Hear a ranger talk about the four presidents
- See a film tracing the nation’s growth
- Join the audience for the national anthem and flag ceremony
What's included
Included
- Bottled water
- Admission fee
- Snacks
- English-speaking guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
- Optional dinner at Mount Rushmore
- Gratuities
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
-
View on ViatorViator
4.80 / 5 · 15 reviews
Important information
- Pickup from Rapid City hotels is around 6:30–6:45 pm
- The drive to Mount Rushmore takes about 45 minutes
- Bring a jacket for cooler evening temperatures; blankets are available in the vans
- Infant seats are available
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Frequently asked questions
How long is the tour?
The tour lasts about 180 minutes, with return to Rapid City around 9:45 pm.
When is hotel pickup?
Pickup from Rapid City hotels is around 6:30–6:45 pm.
What happens at the ceremony?
The program includes a ranger talk, a 20-minute film, the national anthem, and a flag-retirement ceremony honoring veterans and military members.
Is dinner included?
No. Optional dinner at Mount Rushmore is on your own.
What should I bring?
Bring a jacket because temperatures cool after sunset. Blankets are available in the vans.
How this score is calculated
This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 4.80 from 15 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.
How the score works and rating distribution in Rapid City
- Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
- Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
- Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
- The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 7.1.
Provider rating distribution in Rapid City
How many tours in Rapid City have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.
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- GetYourGuide
- Viator
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