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Lookout · Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway

Mount Rushmore Viewpoint

OpenStreetMap
Looking south-east from Mount Rushmore Viewpoint. Terrain and imagery at true elevation.
Overview · Assembled from verified data

This overlook on the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway sits at 5,021 feet, facing 120 degrees, a direction that looks generally toward sunrise. The terrain drops 400 feet within 600 meters of the viewpoint. Doane Robinson Tunnel is visible to the southeast, 1.0 mile away at 4,941 feet. Iron Mountain rises to the south-southeast, 1.6 miles distant at 5,446 feet, and Lakota Peak is visible to the east at a distance of 9.4 miles, with an elevation of 4,158 feet. Because the view faces toward the sunrise side, morning light reaches this spot directly; sunrise times range from 05:12 at the June solstice to 07:26 at the December solstice. Rapid City lies 17.7 miles to the northeast, with Box Elder further out at 25.9 miles and Sturgis at 37.1 miles to the north. Norbeck Overlook precedes this stop along the byway, and Borglum View Terrace follows it.

Access
On the byway
Elevation
5,021 ft
View
Southeast · 120°
Light
Best at sunrise
Relief
400 ft drop
In view
3 named features
Photos · Real imagery only
Profile view of Washington bust The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always had dreams of something bigger, first in the words of the D
NPS staff · Public domain · source
Full view from front The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always had dreams of something bigger, first in the words of the Declaration
NPS staff · Public domain · source
Another view of Abraham Lincoln The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always had dreams of something bigger, first in the words of the D
NPS staff · Public domain · source
Another view of all four from front The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always had dreams of something bigger, first in the words of t
NPS staff · Public domain · source
Another view of all four presidents The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always had dreams of something bigger, first in the words of t
NPS staff · Public domain · source
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 3 miles west of Keystone off U.S. Route 16A Keystone
Wolfendogfather · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
In view · Named features

What you’re looking at

Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.

  • Doane Robinson Tunnel4,941 ftsoutheast · 1.0 mi
  • Iron Mountain5,446 ftsouth-southeast · 1.6 mi
  • Lakota Peak4,158 fteast · 9.4 mi
When to look · Sun at this latitude

Light

This overlook faces sunrise — 30° off square to it.

DateSunriseSunsetGolden hour
March equinox06:5819:0618:28
June solstice05:1220:4019:56
September equinox06:4218:5318:15
December solstice07:2616:2015:32

Local time (America/Denver). Computed for this exact position.

Getting there · Position and access

Where it is

  • Rapid City17.7 mi northeast
  • Box Elder25.9 mi northeast
  • Sturgis37.1 mi north
← Before it: Norbeck OverlookAfter it: Borglum View Terrace →
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Common questions

How high is Mount Rushmore Viewpoint?

Mount Rushmore Viewpoint sits at about 5,021 feet (1,530 m).

What can you see from Mount Rushmore Viewpoint?

From Mount Rushmore Viewpoint: Doane Robinson Tunnel (SE, 1.0 mi); Iron Mountain (SSE, 1.6 mi); Lakota Peak (E, 9.4 mi).

Is Mount Rushmore Viewpoint better at sunrise or sunset?

Sunrise. The land falls away from Mount Rushmore Viewpoint toward the sunrise, so at sunset the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.

What is the nearest town to Mount Rushmore Viewpoint?

Rapid City, 18 miles NE of Mount Rushmore Viewpoint.

What is the next lookout after Mount Rushmore Viewpoint?

Borglum View Terrace is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Mount Rushmore Viewpoint.

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Mount Rushmore Viewpoint — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.

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