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title: "Iron Mountain Road — 17 mi ride from Sturgis"
description: "The engineering marvel — three tunnels perfectly framing Mount Rushmore, plus pigtail bridges that loop over themselves."
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●  Sturgis Ride Guide

# Iron Mountain Road

The engineering marvel — three tunnels perfectly framing Mount Rushmore, plus pigtail bridges that loop over themselves.

Miles

17

Time

1 hr

Difficulty

Moderate

Starts at

Custer State Park (Peter Norbeck Visitor Center)

[Directions to Start](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=13329%20US-16A%2C%20Custer%2C%20SD%2057730&travelmode=driving) [Open Full Route in Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=Peter+Norbeck+Visitor+Center%2C+Custer%2C+SD&destination=Mount+Rushmore+National+Memorial%2C+Keystone%2C+SD&travelmode=driving)

## The Route

Peter Norbeck Visitor Center, Custer, SD → Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone, SD

## What to Expect

US-16A between Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore. Three narrow rock tunnels, three pigtail bridges, 314 curves, 14 switchbacks. Slow-speed sightseeing road — rev the engine in a tunnel, everybody does it.

## Ride Brief

### Skill Level

All levels comfortable at slow speeds. If you can handle a hairpin at 15 mph you'll love it. Sightseers everywhere — patience beats pace.

### Fuel

Fuel in Custer before you start or Keystone at the end. No gas on the road itself.

### Food Along the Way

Buglin' Bull and Skogen Kitchen in Custer to start, Powder House Lodge or Ruby House in Keystone at the end.

### Best Time to Ride

Sunrise. Tunnels perfectly frame Rushmore in morning light and traffic is nonexistent.

## Watch Out For

-   ! Blind pigtail bridges — expect oncoming trikes 
-   ! Deer and elk at dawn/dusk 
-   ! RVs on switchbacks 

## Eat · Gas · See

4 Stops 

[

See 

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Ride ends at the front door

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Mount%20Rushmore%20National%20Memorial%20Custer%20State%20Park%20\(Peter%20Norbeck%20Visitor%20Center\))[

Eat 

Buglin' Bull Restaurant (Custer)

Bison burgers and craft beer in Custer

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Buglin'%20Bull%20Restaurant%20\(Custer\)%20Custer%20State%20Park%20\(Peter%20Norbeck%20Visitor%20Center\))[

Gas 

Keystone Fuel Stop

Last gas before Rushmore

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Keystone%20Fuel%20Stop%20Custer%20State%20Park%20\(Peter%20Norbeck%20Visitor%20Center\))[

Eat 

Powder House Lodge

Elk and buffalo on the menu

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Powder%20House%20Lodge%20Custer%20State%20Park%20\(Peter%20Norbeck%20Visitor%20Center\))

## More Rides

[

14 mi · 1 – 1.5 hrs

Needles Highway

](/rides/needles-highway)[

22 mi · 45 min – 1 hr

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

](/rides/spearfish-canyon)[

68 mi · 2.5 – 3 hrs

Badlands Loop

](/rides/badlands-loop)

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