The TL;DR on 2026 Pricing
- Entrance fee: $0. The memorial is free; you only pay $10 to park (Xanterra, valid 1 year).
- Lighting ceremony: Free. It’s a public NPS program (May 23–Sep 30). You pay tours for transportation and daytime stops, not the ceremony itself.
- Cheapest paid tour: $15 for a self-guided audio tour (per group, not per person).
- Most popular price tier: Shared group bus tours from Rapid City at $100–$165 per person.
- Where private beats shared: Once you’re 3+ travelers, private tours ($280–$445 per group) are often cheaper per person and you get the itinerary control.
Hidden Costs Most Booking Pages Don’t Mention
Self-Guided Audio
$15–$505 tours availableApp-based GPS-triggered audio tours you drive yourself. Per-group pricing (everyone in the car listens for one fee). Cheapest legitimate way to tour the Black Hills.
| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Rapid City SDFree cancellation | $15 | 2h 30m | 3.5(2) | Book |
| Black Hills Self Guided Driving Audio TourFree cancellation | $20 | 3h | 4.4(17) | Book |
| Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt RushmoreFree cancellation | $30 | 12h | 4.3(163) | Book |
| Mount Rushmore Theodore Roosevelt and Badlands Self-Guided TourFree cancellation | $33 | 72h | — | Book |
| Dakota Highlights: Black Hills, Mt Rushmore & Badlands Audio TourFree cancellation | $40 | 48h | — | Book |
Bundle Audio
$50–$1002 tours availableMulti-state or multi-park audio bundles. Same format as the cheaper audio tours, but with broader coverage — useful for road trippers crossing more than one state.
Shared Group Tours
$100–$2007 tours availablePer-person pricing on a shared vehicle. Includes Mt Rushmore parking, guide narration, and pickup from Rapid City hotels. The standard option for solo travelers and couples.
| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony Shared TourFree cancellation | $100 | 3h | — | Book |
| Mt Rushmore 8pm Lighting Ceremony Shared TourFree cancellation | $100 | 3h | — | Book |
| Pinnacle Zipline Tour in KeystoneFree cancellation | $125 | 2h | 4.9(443) | Book |
| Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black HillsFree cancellation | $133 | 9h | 4.8(394) | Book |
| Mount Rushmore Memorial Shared Tour from Rapid City, South DakotaFree cancellation | $164 | 5h | 5.0(9) | Book |
| Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety ShowFree cancellation | $164 | 9h | 4.8(926) | Book |
| Private Mount Rushmore Lighting Tour w/ Former Park RangerFree cancellation | $185 | 4h 30m | — | Book |
Private Tours
$200–$50011 tours availablePer-GROUP pricing (not per person) for a private vehicle and guide. Math flips in favor of private once you’re 4+ travelers — $325 split among 4 is $81 each.
| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Rushmore Night Ceremony and Tour - with Tunnels and StargazingFree cancellation | $249 | 4h 30m | 4.6(65) | Book |
| Mount Rushmore Discovery TourFree cancellation | $275 | 8h | — | Book |
| Shared Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse TourFree cancellation | $280 | 7h | 5.0(6) | Book |
| Mount Rushmore Extended Expedition TourFree cancellation | $295 | 10h | 4.9(72) | Book |
| Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park Wildlife Loop TourFree cancellation | $312 | 9h | 5.0(34) | Book |
| Private Mount Rushmore and Flume Trail Hike | $325 | 8h | 5.0(16) | Book |
| Private Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park Monument Tour | $325 | 8h | 5.0(127) | Book |
| Private Half Day Mt Rushmore & Black Hills TourFree cancellation | $325 | 4h | 5.0(37) | Book |
| BUNDLE Mt Rushmore & Crazy Horse w/ Iron Mtn Rd & Sylvan LakeFree cancellation | $349 | 6h | 4.5(37) | Book |
| Private Tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State ParkFree cancellation | $425 | 9h | 5.0(197) | Book |
| PREMIER PRIVATE Tour: Mt Rushmore, CrazyHorse & Custer State ParkFree cancellation | $445 | 9h | 5.0(200) | Book |
When Private Beats Shared (the math)
Shared bus tours price per person. Private tours price per group. The break-even is usually 3–4 travelers.
Couple of 2
Shared bus tour: ~$130×2 = $260
Private tour: ~$325 (1 group) = $163/person
Verdict: Shared is cheaper.
Group of 4
Shared bus tour: ~$130×4 = $520
Private tour: ~$325 (1 group) = $81/person
Verdict: Private wins by $200+, and you get itinerary control.
Group of 6
Shared bus tour: ~$130×6 = $780
Private tour: ~$445 (1 group) = $74/person
Verdict: Private is half the cost.
Just driving yourself?
Audio tour: $30 per group
+ $10 Rushmore parking + $32×adult Crazy Horse + $25 Custer SP
Verdict: Cheapest by far, but you drive Iron Mountain Road.
Compare by Tour Type
Best Private Mount Rushmore Tours →
Detailed comparison of the $185–$700 private tour bracket.
Best Mount Rushmore Combo Tours →
Pairing Rushmore with Crazy Horse, Custer SP, and Badlands.
Best Self-Guided Audio Tours →
The $20–$30 budget tier in full.
Best Lighting Ceremony Tours →
Evening tours timed for the 9 PM ceremony.
Mount Rushmore Tour Pricing FAQ
How much is a Mount Rushmore tour in 2026?
Live Viator prices range from $15 (self-guided audio tour, per group) up to $1781 (premium private full-day combo). The most popular middle bracket — shared group bus tours from Rapid City — runs $100–$165 per person.
Is there an entrance fee for Mount Rushmore?
No. Mount Rushmore National Memorial does not charge an entrance fee. The only cost to visit on your own is the $10 parking fee, operated by the Xanterra concession contract and valid for one year from purchase. The Annual National Park Pass does NOT cover this fee — it’s a concession charge, not an NPS entrance fee.
Is the lighting ceremony included in tour prices?
The ceremony itself is always free — it’s a public NPS program running May 23 through September 30, 9 PM start (8 PM from August 10). What you pay for in an “evening lighting tour” is the transportation from Rapid City, the daytime stop (usually Custer SP or Keystone), and the guide. You can attend the ceremony for free by driving yourself; the $10 parking fee still applies.
Why do private tours show one price for a whole group?
Most private Viator tours price per vehicle, not per person. A $425 listing means $425 total regardless of whether 2 or 6 of you are in the van. That’s why the math flips in favor of private once you’re 3–4 travelers. A handful of premium private tours do price per person — the listing will say so explicitly.
Are Mount Rushmore tour prices going up in 2026?
Yes, modestly. Most Black Hills operators raise prices 5–8% year-over-year to cover fuel, wages, and Crazy Horse admission increases. The lighting ceremony Twilight Tour, helicopter flights, and premium private tours have seen the biggest jumps. Audio tours and shared bus tours are roughly flat from 2025.
What’s the cheapest legitimate Mount Rushmore tour?
$15 for an audio driving tour, per group. The most-reviewed option is the $29.99 Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour with 163 reviews at 4.3 stars. The free NPS audio guide covers the memorial itself for $0 — pair that with the $10 parking and you can “tour” Rushmore for $10 total.