You're sitting in a coffee shop in Rapid City, or maybe you're staring at a paper map on your kitchen table, trying to figure out if you can "swing by" both of these icons in a single trip. It looks close. On a map of the entire United States, they're practically neighbors. But the reality of how far is Yellowstone from Mount Rushmore is a bit of a wake-up call for anyone used to East Coast distances.
It's a haul.
Most people see the distance as a simple number. It’s roughly 460 to 490 miles depending on which park entrance you’re aiming for. That’s about eight or nine hours of pure driving. But here’s the thing: you aren't driving across a flat, featureless void. You are crossing the Black Hills, the Bighorn Mountains, and the high plains of Wyoming.
I've done this drive in a rental car that smelled like old fries and in a rig that barely made it over the passes. The distance is manageable, but if you don't respect the geography, you'll spend your entire vacation staring at the taillights of a semi-truck on I-180.
The Raw Math: Miles vs. Reality
Let's talk numbers. If you take the most direct route—essentially hitting US-14 or I-90—you’re looking at about 470 miles from the stone faces of Mount Rushmore to the East Entrance of Yellowstone near Cody, Wyoming.
If you’re heading to the North Entrance (Gardiner) or the West Entrance (West Yellowstone), add another 60 to 100 miles.
Nine hours. That’s the "Google Maps" time.
Honestly? Google is an optimist. Google doesn't account for the herd of bison standing in the middle of the road near the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway. It doesn't know you're going to want to stop at the Spotted Horse overpass because the light is hitting the peaks just right. In the real world, this is a 10-to-12-hour day if you try to do it in one go.
Why the Route Matters More Than the Distance
There are three main ways to tackle this. Most travelers just punch it into their GPS and follow the blue line, which usually drags them across I-90.
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That’s fine. It’s fast. But it's kinda boring until you hit the mountains.
The Bighorn Mountain Choice
If you want the "real" West, you have to cross the Bighorn Mountains. You have two main choices here: US-16 (The Cloud Peak Skyway) or US-14.
US-16 is generally considered the "easier" drive for RVs and nervous drivers. It’s less steep. It winds through Buffalo, Wyoming, and drops you into Ten Sleep. The name "Ten Sleep" comes from the Native American tradition of measuring distance by "sleeps"—it was ten sleeps between the main camps.
Then there’s US-14. It’s steeper. It’s narrower. It has switchbacks that will make your palms sweat if you’re hauling a 30-foot trailer. But the views? Unmatched. You’ll see the Shell Canyon and the Shell Falls. It's spectacular. If you have the nerves for it, take 14. If you have a massive motorhome, stick to 16 or stay on the interstate as long as possible.
Hidden Pitfalls of the Wyoming Stretch
Wyoming is the least populous state for a reason. It is empty.
When you're calculating how far is Yellowstone from Mount Rushmore, you need to factor in gas and cell service. There are stretches between Gillette and Buffalo, or between Ten Sleep and Worland, where your phone becomes a very expensive paperweight.
- Wind: People forget about the wind. Crosswinds on I-90 can be brutal enough to push a high-profile vehicle right out of its lane.
- Fuel: Don't let your tank drop below a quarter. "Next Gas 50 Miles" is a literal warning out here, not a suggestion.
- Wildlife: Dusk is beautiful. It’s also when the deer and elk decided to play chicken with your bumper. Driving this route at night is a gamble I usually try to avoid.
The "Middle" Stop: Buffalo and Cody
If you have the time, do not do this in one day. You'll arrive at Yellowstone too tired to actually enjoy the park.
Buffalo, Wyoming, is a great halfway point. It’s got that classic Western feel. You can stay at the Occidental Hotel, where they still have bullet holes in the woodwork from the 1800s. It’s a vibe.
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Then there’s Cody. Named after Buffalo Bill Cody, this is the gateway to the East Entrance. If you’re coming from Mount Rushmore, you must spend an evening in Cody. Go to the rodeo. Visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Honestly, that museum is world-class; you could spend two days there alone and still not see everything.
The drive from Cody into Yellowstone via the East Entrance (Sylvan Pass) is, in my opinion, the most dramatic way to enter the park. You rise up through charred forests (from the '88 fires and more recent ones) and suddenly, the Yellowstone Lake opens up in front of you.
Seasonal Realities and Road Closures
You cannot talk about the distance between these two landmarks without talking about the weather.
From late October to early May, this "nine-hour drive" can become impossible. The Beartooth Highway (US-212), which is a popular scenic detour between the two areas, closes entirely in the winter. Sylvan Pass into Yellowstone can close during heavy snow.
Even in June, I've seen snowstorms at the higher elevations of the Bighorns.
If you are traveling in the shoulder season, you need to check the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) website religiously. They have a great app called Wyoming 511. Download it. It uses real-time camera feeds so you can see if the mountain pass you’re about to climb is a sheet of ice or a dry ribbon of asphalt.
Is It Worth the Drive?
Some people get halfway through Wyoming and start to regret it. The landscape between Gillette and Buffalo is high-desert sagebrush. It’s repetitive.
But then the Bighorns rise up like a wall.
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The contrast is what makes the American West so staggering. You go from the carved granite of the Black Hills—which is essentially a mountain island in a sea of grass—to the volcanic, geothermic weirdness of Yellowstone.
It is worth every mile. Just don't rush it.
If you try to "do" Mount Rushmore in the morning and "do" Yellowstone in the evening, you’ll miss the soul of the trip. You’ll miss the small-town diners in Greybull. You’ll miss the sight of a lone golden eagle perched on a fence post in the middle of nowhere.
Practical Checklist for the Trek
Forget the fancy travel planners for a second. This is what you actually need to handle the distance between these two icons:
- Physical Maps: I’m serious. GPS fails. Download offline maps on Google, but have a paper backup.
- The "Big Fill": Fill your tank in Rapid City. Top it off in Buffalo. Fill it again in Cody. Prices inside Yellowstone are significantly higher.
- Cooler of Water: The air is dry. You’re at a high altitude. You will get a headache if you don't hydrate.
- Layers: It can be 85 degrees at Mount Rushmore and 40 degrees by the time you hit the mountain passes in the Bighorns.
Beyond the Keyword: The Route 16 Advantage
While the interstate is the obvious answer to "how far is it," the Route 16 path through the Ten Sleep Canyon is the insider's choice.
Ten Sleep Canyon is a hidden gem that many tourists skip because they’re in such a hurry to get to Old Faithful. The dolomite cliffs are massive. The creek runs right alongside the road. There are plenty of pull-offs where you can just sit and listen to the water.
This is the nuance of Western travel. The destination is great, but the empty spaces in between are where the memories actually happen. The 470 miles between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone isn't just a gap to be crossed; it's a transition from the Midwest into the true mountain West.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Park Entrances: Decide now if you want to enter Yellowstone via the East Entrance (Cody) or the North Entrance (Gardiner). This changes your route by nearly 100 miles.
- Book Your Halfway Point: If you're traveling between June and August, hotels in Buffalo and Cody fill up months in advance. Don't "wing it" or you'll end up sleeping in your car at a rest stop.
- Vehicle Check: Check your brakes. Crossing the Bighorns involves long, steep descents that can overheat old brake pads fast. Use your engine to brake (downshift) on the long downhill stretches.
- Timing: Aim to leave Mount Rushmore/Rapid City by 7:00 AM. This puts you through the mountain passes during peak daylight and gets you into Cody just in time for a steak dinner.