Keystone is the Black Hills gateway town just three miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial, packed with more than 20 attractions from zip lines to gold-mine tours.
The Rushmore Borglum Story Museum tells the tale of the sculptor who began carving the mountain at age 60, and a restored 1880s steam train runs excursions to nearby Hill City.
Scenic drives along Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway wind through the surrounding Black Hills, and Jewel Cave offers guided tours less than an hour away. Peak season runs June through August when the monument draws its largest crowds, but May and September offer nearly the same warm weather with noticeably thinner crowds; plan at least three to four days to also explore nearby Badlands National Park.