---
title: "Rushmore & Crazy Horse Loop — 95 mi ride from Sturgis"
description: "The greatest hits — Iron Mountain Road, Mount Rushmore, Needles Highway and Crazy Horse Memorial in one big day."
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●  Sturgis Ride Guide

# Rushmore & Crazy Horse Loop

The greatest hits — Iron Mountain Road, Mount Rushmore, Needles Highway and Crazy Horse Memorial in one big day.

Miles

95

Time

4 – 5 hrs

Difficulty

Moderate

Starts at

Sturgis, SD

[Directions to Start](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Sturgis%2C%20SD%2057785&travelmode=driving) [Open Full Route in Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=Sturgis%2C+SD&destination=Sturgis%2C+SD&travelmode=driving&waypoints=Mount+Rushmore+National+Memorial%2C+Keystone%2C+SD%7CSylvan+Lake%2C+Custer%2C+SD%7CCrazy+Horse+Memorial%2C+Custer%2C+SD%7CHill+City%2C+SD)

## The Route

Sturgis, SD → Sturgis, SD

## What to Expect

Combine Iron Mountain Rd, the Needles, and a stop at Crazy Horse Memorial. Full day in the saddle. Two park fees. Start early, gas up in Keystone or Custer mid-loop.

## Ride Brief

### Skill Level

Intermediate to advanced. You're stringing Iron Mountain and the Needles together — hours of tight, technical riding. Not a first-day-off-the-lot loop.

### Fuel

Fuel in Sturgis, again in Keystone or Custer mid-loop, one more before Sturgis if you push it. Two park entry fees.

### Food Along the Way

Alpine Inn in Hill City for their famous filet mignon dinner; Powder House Lodge in Keystone for lunch.

### Best Time to Ride

Full-day ride. Roll out at 7am, back by dinner. Avoid Sundays in August — traffic peaks.

## Watch Out For

-   ! Fatigue by hour four — pace yourself 
-   ! Tunnel and switchback traffic on Iron Mountain and Needles 
-   ! Afternoon thunderstorms roll off the hills fast 

## Eat · Gas · See

4 Stops 

[

See 

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Mount%20Rushmore%20National%20Memorial%20Sturgis%2C%20SD)[

See 

Crazy Horse Memorial

Massive in-progress mountain carving

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Crazy%20Horse%20Memorial%20Sturgis%2C%20SD)[

Eat 

Alpine Inn (Hill City)

Famous filet mignon dinner

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Alpine%20Inn%20\(Hill%20City\)%20Sturgis%2C%20SD)[

Gas 

Keystone Conoco

](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Keystone%20Conoco%20Sturgis%2C%20SD)

## More Rides

[

14 mi · 1 – 1.5 hrs

Needles Highway

](/rides/needles-highway)[

17 mi · 1 hr

Iron Mountain Road

](/rides/iron-mountain-road)[

22 mi · 45 min – 1 hr

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

](/rides/spearfish-canyon)

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