Olympic Torch Relay Will Visit South Dakota in 2028

The 2028 Olympic Torch Relay will travel to all 50 U.S. states, including a planned stop in South Dakota.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Olympics

Expressive editorial sports illustration showing a gestural runner holding a torch against an abstract, stylized mountain landscape. — The 2028 Olympic Torch Relay will visit South Dakota as part of a cross-country tour spanning all 50 U.S. states before the Los Angeles Summer Games. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The 2028 Olympic Torch Relay will traverse all 50 states during the spring of 2028 ahead of the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The relay is expected to include a notable stop at Mount Rushmore as part of its cross-country journey.

Why it matters

Including every state in the relay route serves to build national engagement for the 34th Summer Olympic Games. This marks a significant expansion, as only five Olympic torch relays have previously occurred on American soil.

The relay covers all 50 U.S. states for the 34th Summer Olympic Games. This scale far exceeds the five previous instances where Olympic torch relays have taken place on American soil.

The players

Los Angeles

This city is the official host for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games and has previously hosted the event in 1932 and 1984.

Mount Rushmore

This national memorial in South Dakota is currently identified as an expected location for a stop during the Olympic Torch Relay.

The details

The Olympic flame will originate in Olympia, Greece, before beginning its journey through the United States in the spring of 2028. The route will feature festival celebrations in select cities and stops at major national landmarks.

1936 marked the first occurrence of an Olympic Torch Relay.
The full relay route will be announced in 2027.
The relay will travel through all 50 states in the spring of 2028.
The Los Angeles Summer Olympics occur from July 14-30, 2028.

Season Trajectory

This relay expansion signals a massive effort to heighten national interest in the Los Angeles Summer Olympics. It follows the tradition set by the 1936 Berlin Summer Games Olympic Torch Relay, which established the relay as a foundational part of the lead-up to the Games.

Residents in South Dakota can expect localized events and potential road impacts near the planned stop at Mount Rushmore. The relay schedule will dictate specific community engagement opportunities leading up to the July 14 start of the Games.

The takeaway

The massive scale of the 2028 relay ensures that communities across the entire country will participate in the build-up to the Los Angeles Games. Residents should monitor local news in 2027 for specific arrival times and route details in their region.