Getting there: Several airlines fly into Rapid City, S.D., the largest city in the region, about 25 miles northeast of Mount Rushmore. A car is a necessity for touring the region. Closest town to the mountain sculpture is Keystone, two miles away.
Dimensions: Washington's head from forehead to chin is 60 feet, the length of his nose is 20 feet and the width of his mouth 18 feet.
Admission: Free.
Parking: A fee of $8 is charged for parking in the memorial's garages.
Hours: The information center and visitor center are open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. in summer, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in winter; hours vary in spring and fall. The heads are illuminated every evening at 9 p.m. in summer.
WHERE TO STAY
Dozens of lodgings are available in the Black Hills, from dude ranches to mom-and-pop motels, and from the town of Spearfish in the north to Hot Springs in the south. Many are listed by the Black Hills/Badlands Association, 605-355-3600 or www.blackhillsbadlandscom, and in the South Dakota Vacation Guide, 800-S-DAKOTA or www.travelsd.com. Some hotels/motels close in winter.
Lodgings closest to Mount Rushmore are in the town of Keystone. Choices include:
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel, $129-$179 in summer, $59-$109 in off-season, open year-round. 605-666-4925; www.hiexpress.com/mtrushmoresd.
• Econo Express Motel, $109-$139 in summer, $49.95-$89 Sept.-Nov., closed Dec.-March. 605-666-5070; www.mtrushmoreresorts.com.
• Presidents View Resort, $109.95-$154.95 depending on season, open April-October. 605-666-4212; www.mtrushmoreresorts.com.
DINING
• In Keystone, Creekside Dining offers Angus beef, seafood and pasta as well as bar drinks in pleasant surroundings, 605-666-4904. $16-$27.
• At the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the cafeteria serves a big-eater's breakfast, the Monumental Special, which consists of scrambled eggs, country steak, biscuit, sausage gravy and hash browns for $3.95. Warning: On busy days, take lunch at the cafeteria early -- 11 a.m. for lunch, 4 p.m. for dinner -- or else resign yourself to long, long lines.
INFORMATION
• Mount Rushmore information: 605-574-2523, www.nps.gov/moru.
• Regional information: Black Hills/Badlands Association, 605-355-3600, www.blackhillsbadlands.com.
