Jefferson City to Mount Rushmore: Road Trip Guide & Distance

690.5 miles 1111.3 km · straight line
828.7 miles estimated 1333.6 km · driving distance
16h 40min estimated drive time
$80 - $98 estimated fuel cost
~1h 53min flight time
306° NW bearing direction

How far is Jefferson City from Mount Rushmore?

The distance from Jefferson City to Mount Rushmore is 690.5 miles (1111.3 km) as the crow flies. Mount Rushmore is located NW of Jefferson City. By car, the driving distance is approximately 828.7 miles, taking about 16h 40min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 53min. Both are located in United States — Jefferson City in Missouri and Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Jefferson City and Mount Rushmore. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Jefferson City to Mount Rushmore

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 16h 40min $80 - $98 Flexible stops
Fly ~1h 53min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~20h 0min $66–$124* Budget
Train ~21h 40min $99–$290* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Jefferson City & Mount Rushmore

Quick Facts

Jefferson City
38.58°N, 92.17°W
America/Chicago
192m elevation
Mount Rushmore
43.88°N, 103.46°W
America/Chicago
1745m elevation
Explore more routes from Mount Rushmore

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 230 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 58 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 36.1 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients