Iron Mountain Road

Iron Mountain Road snakes through 17 miles of engineering marvel between Hill City and Mount Rushmore, featuring three pigtail bridges that spiral around themselves and four single-lane tunnels blasted through solid granite. The road was designed in the 1930s to frame Mount Rushmore perfectly through tunnel openings, creating some of the most photographed highway views in America. You’ll climb over 1,200 feet through dense ponderosa pine forests, granite outcroppings, and past the famous Needles formations that inspired the route’s dramatic engineering.

This is a moderate scenic drive suitable for any vehicle with decent brakes and patient nerves. The tunnels are narrow—RVs over 8 feet wide or 11 feet tall won’t make it through. Best driven May through October when snow doesn’t block the higher elevations. No permits required, but expect heavy tourist traffic in summer months. Fuel up in Hill City or Keystone. The payoff is some of the most spectacular mountain driving in the Midwest, with granite cathedrals rising on both sides and views that’ll make you forget you’re in South Dakota.