Best time to visit South Dakota
September. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.
September
September (with early October) draws the most praise: fewer crowds, fall color and the Buffalo Roundup; May to September also gets the best weather.
- “September is the sweet spot.” exploroff.com
- “This is one of the best times to visit the Black Hills and Badlands.” myxoadventures.com
- “Late spring to early fall (May to September) showcases warm, pleasant weather” getdirecto.com
3 of the 6 travel guides we read name these months.
South Dakota month by month
Average high and low in Rapid City, and days with rain
JanuaryChecking fares…December to February is the slowest, coldest stretch with fewer visitors and heavy snow possible.January and February are the cheapest months because tourism is low.
FebruaryChecking fares…December to February is the slowest, coldest stretch with fewer visitors and heavy snow possible.January and February are the cheapest months because tourism is low.
MarchChecking fares…November to March is winter in the Black Hills: cold, short days, occasional road closures.November to April is low season.
AprilChecking fares…Late snow is common into April, and snowmelt feeds waterfalls.April and May are best for waterfalls during snowmelt.November to April is low season.
MayChecking fares…The first bison calves appear in May and crowds are minimal.May is a less busy, popular month at Mount Rushmore.May is a shoulder month with moderate weather and fewer crowds.
JuneChecking fares…June to August is the busiest time at Mount Rushmore.Daylight lasts more than 15 hours in June and July.
JulyChecking fares…Busiest months for crowds are July and August.Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant is held in July.
AugustChecking fares…The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally fills lodging across the region in early August.The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally takes place in the first two weeks of August.Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Best timeSeptemberChecking fares…September is called the sweet spot: warm days, cool nights, thinner crowds and fall color.The Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup is in late September.September is a shoulder month, less busy at Mount Rushmore.
OctoberChecking fares…Early October still counts among the best times, with crowds thinned and aspen gold.October is a less busy, popular month at Mount Rushmore.
NovemberChecking fares…November to April is low season.
DecemberChecking fares…December to February is the slowest, coldest stretch with fewer visitors and heavy snow possible.Winter in the Black Hills brings snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and a quiet Mount Rushmore.
Weather: Rapid City averages (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.
Every date to Rapid City from your city
Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.
What's on in South Dakota
Festivals and seasons through the year
Busy, quiet and what to watch for
Busiest
- June to AugustWarm weather, everything open, peak crowds and higher prices.
- Early AugustSturgis Rally sells out lodging months ahead.
Quietest
- November to AprilCold, snow and ice, and low demand.
Watch for
- Early AugustSturgis Motorcycle Rally brings hundreds of thousands of riders and full lodging.
- December to FebruaryHarsh winters with heavy snow that can limit outdoor activities.
- Winter and AprilNeedles Highway can be closed; check road status.
Questions people ask
- What is summer like in South Dakota?
- Warm, sunny days with Black Hills highs in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit, cool nights, everything open, and crowds.
- Is October a good time to visit Mount Rushmore?
- The National Park Service lists October among the less busy, popular months to visit.
More about South Dakota
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