Mt Rushmore Night Tour: Stargazing & Ceremony

Embark on a thrilling 6-hour Jeep Bison Safari Tour with Black Hills Open-Top-Tours in Custer State Park. Explore stunning attractions like Mt. Coolidge Lookout, Iron Mountain Road, Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake, Stockade Lakes, and the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop. Enjoy comfortable and safe safari vehicles, complimentary snacks and water, and the refreshing South Dakota sunshine and fresh air.

Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Iron Mountain Road - Following a stargazing session on the way back home, the journey continues along Iron Mountain Road, featuring its unique pigtail bridges and breathtaking views through the one-way tunnels that perfectly frame the illuminated national monument. There is a stop for taking photos.
  • Mount Rushmore National Memorial - The…
What's Included
  • Bottled water included
  • Complimentary snacks
  • Professional driver/guide
  • All fees covered
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Please be aware - This tour is NOT the one described on TripAdvisor. THIS TOUR is a Night Tour to Mt Rushmore, including stargazing after the Ceremony. It is NOT a day tour to Custer State Park. TripAdvisor contains several inaccuracies. Please reach out to us to verify details.
Black Hills Open-Top-Tours is the sole tour company offering a Mt Rushmore…

Location
The National Presidential Wax Museum
U.S. 16A
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(68 Ratings)
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Jenniej918
Jun 7, 2026
Nicole was fabulous! - My sister and I did the nighttime tour of Mt. Rushmore. It is a fabulous private tour and worth the money. Nicole was our guide. She was knowledgeable: accommodating and it was a pleasure to spend the evening with her. She is a local and had a wealth of information. She catered the tour to our requests and made the evening so enjoyable. This tour is all encompassing and I couldn’t recommend it more. Book it and be sure to get ice cream. I took a risk and tried the Midnight Express flavor. It was fabulous!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Saracp7836nk
Jun 4, 2026
Worth every penny! - I have had visiting Mt Rushmore on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and my husband & I decided this was the year to do it! When we were planning the trip, the lighting ceremony and star gazing seemed perfect for us, but it ended up being so much more. My husband, teen son, and I spent the early afternoon exploring on our own because I wanted to see all the things at our own pace. Then, when we were picked up at our hotel by Nicole and taken through Rapid City & Keystone, we learned a TON about the local area's history and about the monument itself. Before the ceremony. We learned about and saw pigtail bridges, viewed the monument from amazing angles, and had a unique opportunity to ask all of our questions to an incredibly knowledgeable personal guide. The ceremony itself was surprisingly emotional and the monument is stunning at sunset & when lit up. Did it rain?! Yes, it did! That wasn't enough to stop us though, we had umbrellas and blankets. It did, however, make the stargazing impossible. That's okay though because we had a spectacular lightning show (from a safe distance) instead. We were safe, dry, and made it back to our hotel with great experiences and full hearts. On top of everything that evening, we also got a terrific restaurant recommendation for the next day, a map to help us with additional adventures, and what I know will be a lifelong memory. Please go, keep an open mind, prepare well, and enjoy this truly special one-of-a-kind experience
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mary_p
May 26, 2026
It was all encompassing -... - It was all encompassing - a scenic drive up to a view of Mt. Rushmore from across the valley while getting the history of the area, then the closeups of the monument itself, before and after dark. The stargazing stop was a wonderful way to end the evening. Our guide Scott, from Black Hills Open Top Tours was friendly, knowledgeable, and considerate of our wishes and needs! It was a great experience!
Review provided by Viator
Margery_v
Sep 24, 2025
It was an excellent tour... - It was an excellent tour and the guide shared many interesting facts, pointed out numerous beautiful sites ,and was very professional and friendly. He is truly an asset to the company.
Review provided by Viator
Helen_c
Sep 18, 2025
A wonderful night at Mt Rushmore - We really enjoyed the tour. The guide was great. Mt Rushmore was so fantastic at night. I would recommend this tour to all that visit Mt Rushmore area.
Review provided by Viator
John_g
Sep 14, 2025
Historical trip down 🇺🇸’s beginnings. - Noel is super knowledgeable and a good historian and storyteller. You will not be disappointed and he is always looking out for a memory you will remember
Review provided by Viator
Roby_b
Sep 8, 2025
Tour guide TJ was great.... - Tour guide TJ was great. Seeing Rushmore at dark under the lights was amazing. The preprogram was very well done
Review provided by Viator
Anthony_w
Sep 6, 2025
Lighting Ceremony - The lighting ceremony for Mt. Rushmore was profoundly moving. Made us feel grateful and proud to be Americans. We wish more people could experience this.
Review provided by Viator
James_c
Sep 5, 2025
Great trip. Good time. - Watch weather and dress in layers. A flashlight is handy. Enjoyed the park drive, very special at night.
Review provided by Viator
Sunandbeach03
Nov 12, 2025
Not worth the money if weather is bad so try to predict this - Unfortunately, there were thunderstorms the night we did this. The lighting ceremony took place but then the rest of the tour which was tunnels and stargazing were a waste of time as could not see anything that we wanted to as it was raining. Also, I was in the back and the roof was leaking on me. Luckily, the van was not full so I could move to try to avoid getting that wet. I was very disappointed and the price was high. They do tell you they go rain or shine so not really company's fault but I would have just done the night on my own and saved the money. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and gave good information. He was also very friendly. Just realize that if it rains, it is a waste of money.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $179
up to 14 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).