South Dakota Highway 244: Hill City to Mount Rushmore Memorial

Let’s take a scenic journey together for about 9 miles along South Dakota Highway 244, connecting the charming town of Hill City to one of America’s most iconic landmarks — the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This stretch is more than just a drive; it’s a classic Black Hills experience that wraps you in pine forests, granite outcrops, and glimpses of history at every bend.

We kick things off just south of downtown Hill City, where SD-244 branches eastward from the junction with U.S. Highway 385 and U.S. Highway 16. Right away, you’ll notice how the road climbs gently into dense ponderosa pine woodlands. It’s the kind of stretch where you want to roll your windows down and let the crisp mountain air fill the cabin. The Black Hills National Forest envelops this entire corridor, so keep your eyes peeled for deer, wild turkeys, and the occasional eagle overhead.

About halfway through, the route flirts with the shores of Horsethief Lake — a favorite stop for locals and travelers alike. There’s a cozy day-use area here where you can pull over for a picnic, snap a few photos, or take a quick hike along the short trails that wrap around the water’s edge. It’s not unusual to see kayakers or families casting lines for rainbow trout in the summer months. Beyond the lake, SD-244 tightens its curves and gains a bit more elevation, carving through rocky cuts and opening up to the occasional vista point where glimpses of Mount Rushmore’s granite faces peek through the pines — a teaser for what’s just ahead.

As we approach the eastern end of this drive, the sense of anticipation grows. You’ll spot pull-offs and overlooks that offer some of the best angles for photographs before you even reach the memorial gates. The official entrance to Mount Rushmore appears almost suddenly — framed perfectly by the forest you’ve just driven through. Here, the journey along Highway 244 concludes, but the adventure is far from over: park the car, grab your camera, and take in the monumental faces of four U.S. presidents carved into solid granite — an unforgettable tribute nestled right in the heart of South Dakota’s Black Hills.