Hi there!
If you will be driving west along SD-244 through Mount Rushmore National Memorial, then be sure that you are looking UP as you are driving!
You will see the face of George Washington!
Well *asterisk.
If there’s good enough weather, then you will see the George Washington of Mount Rushmore.
It was a cloudy and rainy day during my first visit to Mount Rushmore.
This meant that sometimes you could see George Washington.
And sometimes you couldn’t.
👆 Now you see him…
👆 Now you don’t. 😜
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Watch the George Washington Mount Rushmore video on youtube!
There is no entry fee or cost to drive through Mount Rushmore National Memorial, so this is one of the FREE things that you can do to see the Mount Rushmore presidents!
There is a cost for Mount Rushmore parking however. This means that there’s a fee to see Mount Rushmore up close.
According to the National Park Service, it was actually an accident that George Washington could be seen in such an iconic way:
Mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum intended to put Thomas Jefferson on Washington’s right, but the poor quality rock here forced him to change his design.
The Jefferson carving was blasted away by dynamite and the rock smoothed, allowing for a clear view of Washington’s profile from this spot.
And by the way, if you find this sculpting process interesting, then you will want to be sure to stop by the Sculptor’s Studio when you visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial!
From May to October, there is a park ranger who talks about the process of carving the faces of George Washington and the other presidents into Mount Rushmore.
More below about the spot to see George Washington!
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How to see George Washington driving along SD-244
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So again, you will see the face of George Washington straight on if you are driving west along SD-244.
This is the main road (basically the only road) in Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
This is about a 2 minute drive from the regular Mount Rushmore parking lot. Driving from the parking lot to the George Washington profile viewing spot, you will be driving west.
Even if you aren’t driving in the direction of west, that’s okay. It just means that you won’t see it as you are driving, and instead you will need to stop to see it.
No matter which direction you’re driving you may want to stop anyway!
There is a parking lot that gives convenient access to be able to see George Washington. The parking lot will also be your reminder to look up!
If you want to be extra sure not to miss it, then your destination for google maps can be Mount Rushmore profile site.
And then you can walk around for a more careful look of the George Washington face on Mount Rushmore!
And that’s a bit about seeing the George Washington carving as you drive through Mount Rushmore!
See more about things to do in Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
And more things to do in the Black Hills.
Driving further along on SD-244 west will take you into Black Hills National Forest a few minutes past the George Washington profile view.
You can make a short stop at Breezy Point for a trail that will take you to an overlook with scenic views of the Black Hills!
HAPPY SEEING THE FACE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON!
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