Mount Rushmore To Denver Road Trip: Top 18 Tips

Traveling from Mount Rushmore to Denver is one of the best journeys you can experience in the USA. The 366 miles of road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver takes around 5 hours and 53 mins of driving without stops.

This article includes 18 top tips that turn your Mount Rushmore to Denver drive into an unforgettable journey. So if you’re looking for the best hotels, restaurants, and places to visit on the road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver, take your coffee and keep reading!

5 Best Hotels On The Road Trip From Mount Rushmore To Denver

On the way from Mount Rushmore to Denver, you may want to stay at some points on the way. Here are the top five hotels on the Mount Rushmore – Denver route!

1. Hilton Garden Inn Rapid City: Hilton Garden Inn Rapid City is one of the best hotels where you can stay on the road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver. Driving from Mount Rushmore to Hilton Garden Inn Rapid City might take around 43 mins. The Hilton Garden Inn-Rapid City is conveniently located right off of I-90, in the middle of shopping, and minutes away from many Black Hill attractions, such as Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse monument. The hotel offers a country ambiance with friendly service. The staff provided great tips to maximize our vacation to the black hills. The hotel has everything you need, with mid-west views out your window included. Check the Hilton Garden Inn Rapid City, one of the best hotels in Rapid City, South Dakota, on TripAdvisor and Booking.com for recent reviews, prices, and availability.
2. Super 8 by Wyndham Custer: Another top hotel where you can choose the stay on the road trip to Denver from Mount Rushmore is Super 8 by Wyndham Custer. Located in Custer, South Dakota, the hotel is 21.0 miles away from Mount Rushmore, and it would take 34 mins to drive. We enjoyed our stay at this hotel while visiting Custer. The staff was accommodating, and the location was convenient to Crazy Horse and Custer National Park. If you want to learn more about the Super 8 by Wyndham Custer, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
3. Fairfield Inn & Suites Cheyenne: Didn’t our first two hotel suggestions interest you? So we would like to introduce you to the Fairfield Inn & Suites Cheyenne. Fairfield Inn & Suites Cheyenne is located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and it’s 266 miles away from Mount Rushmore. You can arrive there in 4 hours and 25 mins of non-stop driving. The Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Cheyenne Southwest/Downtown Area offers a convenient location in the heart of Downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming. The hotel’s Western charm blends seamlessly with modern amenities, providing you with enjoyable and inspiring public spaces and accommodations. The room was spotless, and the lobby was also very nice. The breakfast could be better, though. Lothar gave us outstanding service when it came to getting towels and breakfast. Check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of Fairfield Inn & Suites Cheyenne for more information.
4. The Elizabeth Hotel, Autograph Collection: If you are taking the road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado, it is must have a place you should visit. The Elizabeth Hotel Autograph Collection is one of the best hotels in town. It is The Elizabeth Hotel, Autograph Collection, 311 miles from Mount Rushmore, and it would take 5 hours to drive. We stayed at the Elizabeth Hotel for three nights. The front desk staff was fantastic, with musical instruments to borrow and a great collection of vinyl records. Each room has a record player, and the decor is astounding, interspersing traditional spiral staircases with modern art hangings, metal decalage, and fabric on-wall motifs. The mosaic floors in the foyer and elevators play on Classical Roman patterns crossed with modern geometric design. If you need more info about the price and availability of The Elizabeth Hotel and Autograph Collection, check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages.
5. The Oxford Hotel: Our next hotel is The Oxford Hotel, Denver, Colorado. It will take 5 hours, and 50 mins of car ride o reach this hotel from Mount Rushmore. The Oxford Hotel is a historic Denver hotel located in Lower Downtown LoDo. The hotel opened in 1891 and is one of the first hotels in downtown Denver. It is located near restaurants, shops, and businesses in LoDo. The room was clean and comfortable, with friendly staff. The Cruise Bar was great for cocktails, and breakfast was tasty and healthy. Housekeeping was excellent. Check The Oxford Hotel on TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of The Oxford Hotel for reviews, prices, and availability.

In this part, we explained five different hotels you can stay at on the road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver. You can pick one of them that suits your taste. Don’t forget to share your experience by writing a comment to this post. It will help people who will take the same Mount Rushmore to Denver route.

Now, it’s time to discover the best restaurants from Mount Rushmore to Denver. We have six restaurant recommendations worth your attention.

6 Best Restaurants On The Mount Rushmore To Denver Road Trip

If dining is a pleasure, some restaurants will please you on your Mount Rushmore to Denver road trip. In this section, we list the six different restaurants to dine at on the road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver. Stay hungry and enjoy!

1. Colonial House Restaurant & Bar: We would like to start our restaurant recommendation list on the road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver with Colonial House Restaurant & Bar. Colonial House Restaurant & Bar is located in Custer, South Dakota, 22.3 miles from Mount Rushmore. It would take 32 mins of driving. This restaurant offers excellent burgers, fries, and fried shrimp. The cheese curds were also good. We loved the menu selections, food, value, and service. The location is also convenient. For more information about Colonial House Restaurant & Bar, visit the TripAdvisor or Google Maps pages of Colonial House Restaurant & Bar.
2. Black Hills Burger and Bun Co.: Another top restaurant you can choose to eat at on the road trip to Denver from Mount Rushmore is Black Hills Burger and Bun Co. Located in Rapid City, South Dakota, Black Hills Burger and Bun Co. is 20.0 miles from Mount Rushmore and would take 31 mins of driving. The food was delicious, the buffalo burger was cooked and seasoned perfectly, the fries were great, we had a chocolate shake that was delicious and huge, the employees were kind and helpful, and the bathrooms were clean. This would be an excellent place for lunch! If you want to learn more about Black Hills Burger and Bun Co., you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
3. Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, Cheyenne: Another restaurant that can be preferred by those who are fond of food is Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, Cheyenne. It will take 4 hours and 24 mins of car drive to take 267 miles from Mount Rushmore to Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, Cheyenne, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Although the service was a little slow, the fresh chips with salsa and beans were appreciated. In addition, the carne asada was cooked well, and the slopes were ok. For more information, you can check Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, Cheyenne, on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
4. The Silver Grill Cafe: The Silver Grill Cafe deserves to be on our list. It is one of the most recommended restaurants in Fort Collins, Colorado. I had a great experience at this restaurant. The food was delicious, and the service was beautiful. The staff were all very professional and courteous, which made dining here a pleasure. The Silver Grill Cafe is 311 miles from Mount Rushmore and would take 5 hours of non-stop car driving. If you want to learn more about The Silver Grill Cafe, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
5. Donut Haus, Colorado: If you enjoy dining, Donut Haus, Colorado, would be an excellent choice in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado. It’s 323 miles from Mount Rushmore and would take 5 hours and 14 mins of car driving. The donuts at this establishment are both fresh and delicious. In addition, the two young men working were professional and courteous to all customers. If you want to learn more about Donut Haus, Colorado, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
6. Corinne Restaurant: Another restaurant we recommend you visit on the road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver is Corinne Restaurant, Denver, Colorado. It will take 5 hours and 53 mins of driving to reach Corinne Restaurant from Mount Rushmore. The dining experience at this restaurant was excellent. The service was terrific, and the decor was beautiful. The bucatini was light buttery, and my partner said his filet mignon was the best he’s ever had. I would recommend this restaurant for a special occasion. For more information about Corinne Restaurant, you can check TripAdvisor or Google Maps pages of the restaurant.

This section lists our six restaurant recommendations for you to eat on your road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver. We hope these suggestions will help you turn your 366 miles journey into a feast of taste. Of course, you can choose a suitable restaurant from the list according to your preference. Remember, like you, people planning a Denver road trip need your opinion. Therefore, we kindly ask you to share your experience with us in the comment field at the end of the blog post.

In the next section, we list the destinations worth seeing along the route from Mount Rushmore to Denver. Keep reading.

7 Places To Visit On The Mount Rushmore To Denver Drive

A unique experience awaits you in Denver. However, some unique destinations, like Rapid City, South Dakota, are on your road trip. We want to explain the top seven destinations we recommend on the Denver route.

• Black Hills National Forest: Black Hills National Forest will be the first destination we recommend you stop by on your Mount Rushmore to Denver road trip. Located in Custer, South Dakota, Black Hills National Forest is 17.9 miles away from Mount Rushmore, and it would take 39 mins to drive. The Black Hills National Forest consists of 1.2 million acres in South Dakota and Wyoming. It includes not only forests but also mountains. There are scenic drives and hikes, lakes, streams, campgrounds, and picnic areas. A visit is highly recommended. If you want to learn more about the Black Hills National Forest, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website.
• Custer State Park: Custer State Park, Custer, South Dakota, is one of the destinations we recommend you stop on the Mount Rushmore to Denver route. It’s 19.8 miles from Mount Rushmore, and it’ll take about 45 mins of driving. A 73,000-acre wilderness was comparable to Yellowstone National Park in spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife. An exceptional place to visit, with many great hikes if you’re so inclined and not overly populated. The drive through the park was beautiful. If you want to learn more about Custer State Park, you can check it on TripAdvisor or their website.
• Keystone, South Dakota: One of the stops you should not neglect to stop by when you take the road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver is Rapid City, South Dakota. And if you visit Rapid City, South Dakota, we suggest you visit Keystone, South Dakota. You can arrive in Keystone, South Dakota, after 11 mins of driving. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created the famous mountainside carving of the visages of four great American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.
  You can visit TripAdvisor and the official site of Keystone, South Dakota, for more information.
• Wyoming State Museum: Do you also like to travel and experience new things? Then, it would be best to visit Wyoming State Museum, Cheyenne, Wyoming, on the Mount Rushmore to Denver road trip. Wyoming State Museum is 268 miles from Mount Rushmore, and you can arrive there after the 4 hours and 23 mins of drive. The Wyoming State Museum is a great place to learn about the history of Wyoming. They are currently in the process of updating some exhibits, but there is still plenty to see. The museum is very close to the Wyoming State Capitol, so if you visit the Capitol, this is a great place to go without traveling a long way. In addition, you should check TripAdvisor and the official website of the Wyoming State Museum before going there.
• New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins: Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins ranks fifth in our list of tourist destinations on the road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver. You must take 5 hours of driving to arrive at New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins. The brewery tour was informative, and I enjoyed trying the different beers afterward. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a brewery tour in the area. If you want to learn more about New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website.
• Trail Ridge Road: Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, is another attraction you can visit on the road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver. Trail Ridge Road is 370 miles from Mount Rushmore, and it would take 6 hours and 33 mins to drive. This drive is fantastic! The pictures in the reviews do a great job of showing the pure majesty of the park and the views from the drive. I’m writing this review primarily for those who are afraid of heights. I’ve been up Pikes Peak and driven along the Northern Pacific Coast Highway. For more information about Trail Ridge Road, you can check their TripAdvisor page or official website.
• Denver Botanic Gardens: You can visit many destinations on your Mount Rushmore to Denver journey. One of these destinations is Denver Botanic Gardens, located in Denver, Colorado. You can arrive at Denver Botanic Gardens after 5 hours and 58 mins of driving. At 24 acres, Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street is one of the world’s most diverse collections of plants. This botanic garden is a must-see for any nature lover, featuring beautiful gardens with local and tropical plant selection. There’s something for everyone to enjoy with many water features, ponds, and a cactus house. Plus, it’s reasonably priced with free parking. If you want to read the reviews of previous visitors about Denver Botanic Gardens, you can visit Denver Botanic Gardens’ TripAdvisor page or their website.

FAQ of the Road Trip From Mount Rushmore to Denver

Here we are answering the frequently asked questions about the Mount Rushmore to Denver drive.

How Long Is The Road Trip From Mount Rushmore To Denver?

• With ideal traffic and weather conditions, the Mount Rushmore to Denver road trip takes approximately 5 hours and 53 mins to drive. The distance between Mount Rushmore to Denver is 366 miles.
• If you want to make the Mount Rushmore to Denver road trip by bike, the time you spend on the road will be one day and 6 hours.
• If you are crazy enough and plan to walk the Mount Rushmore-Denver route, you will have to walk for four days and 18 hours.

Where Do You Stop On Driving From Mount Rushmore To Denver?

There are many beautiful pit stops along the way to Denver. Here we list seven of them. For more information about the best places on the Mount Rushmore to Denver journey, you can check the 7 Best Places To Visit On The Way From Mount Rushmore To Denver.

1. Black Hills National Forest: 17.9 miles / 39 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 365 miles / 5 hours and 55 mins of driving to Denver.
2. Custer State Park: 19.8 miles / 45 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 360 miles / 5 hours and 47 mins of driving to Denver.
3. Keystone, South Dakota: 3.7 miles / 11 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 369 miles / 5 hours and 58 mins of driving to Denver.
4. Wyoming State Museum: 268 miles / 4 hours and 23 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 101 miles / 1 hour and 39 mins of driving to Denver.
5. New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins: 312 miles / 5 hours to drive from Mount Rushmore | 63.3 miles / 1 hour and 10 mins of driving to Denver.
6. Trail Ridge Road: 370 miles / 6 hours and 33 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 81.2 miles / 1 hour and 59 mins of driving to Denver.
7. Denver Botanic Gardens: 368 miles / 5 hours and 58 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 2.6 miles / 9 mins of driving to Denver.

Where Should You Stay On The Road Trip From Mount Rushmore To Denver?

There are many excellent hotels during your road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver. We have selected five hotels for you. These hotels are listed below. Remember, you can find detailed information about these hotels in the 5 Best Hotels On The Way To Denver From Mount Rushmore section.

• Hilton Garden Inn Rapid City: 27.4 miles / 43 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 389 miles / 6 hours of driving to Denver.
• Super 8 by Wyndham Custer: 21.0 miles / 34 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 346 miles / 5 hours and 23 mins of driving to Denver.
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Cheyenne: 266 miles / 4 hours and 25 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 103 miles / 1 hour and 42 mins of driving to Denver.
• The Elizabeth Hotel, Autograph Collection: 311 miles / 5 hours to drive from Mount Rushmore | 62.5 miles / 1 hour of driving to Denver.
• The Oxford Hotel: 365 miles / 5 hours and 50 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 1.1 miles / 8 mins of driving to Denver.

Where To Eat Between Mount Rushmore to Denver?

If you are thinking of taking a break and having a nice meal on your Mount Rushmore to Denver drive, you can consider the six restaurants we have chosen. In addition, you can read detailed information about the restaurants in the section titled 6 Best Restaurants On The Way From Mount Rushmore To Denver.

1. Colonial House Restaurant & Bar: 22.3 miles / 32 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 386 miles / 6 hours of driving to Denver.
2. Black Hills Burger and Bun Co.: 20.0 miles / 31 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 346 miles / 5 hours and 22 mins of driving to Denver.
3. Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, Cheyenne: 267 miles / 4 hours and 24 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 104 miles / 1 hour and 41 mins of driving to Denver.
4. The Silver Grill Cafe: 311 miles / 5 hours to drive from Mount Rushmore | 62.8 miles / 1 hour of driving to Denver.
5. Donut Haus, Colorado: 323 miles / 5 hours and 14 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 52.0 miles / 1 hour of driving to Denver.
6. Corinne Restaurant: 366 miles / 5 hours and 53 mins to drive from Mount Rushmore | 0.6 miles / 5 mins of driving to Denver.

Conclusion

So, there you have it- a complete guide to planning a road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver. We have listed five hotels, six restaurants, and seven places to visit on the Mount Rushmore to Denver drive. We have also given you detailed information about each place so that you can make an informed choice about where to stay, eat, and what to see. We hope this guide has helped make your road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver as enjoyable as possible.

Share Your Thoughts

Have you ever taken a road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver? So, it would be perfect if you shared your experience with other travelers who want the same experience. You can share your thoughts about the road trip from Mount Rushmore to Denver and your recommendations about this route by using the comment field below.