When to visit Mount Rushmore (Black Hills) without the crowds
Mount Rushmore (Black Hills) (South Dakota, United States) is calmest in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December: fewer people and better prices. It gets busiest in July and August. Below is every month with crowds, temperatures and festivals.
Best months
Jun & Sep
When everyone heads home
The first week of September.
Tip
During the Sturgis rally half a million bikers fill the region: avoid those two weeks.
Month by month
| Month | Crowds | Avg. high | Festivals & holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2/5 · calm | 3 °C (37 °F) | New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| February | 1/5 · calm | 3 °C (37 °F) | Presidents Day |
| March | 1/5 · calm | 8 °C (47 °F) | |
| April | 1/5 · calm | 12 °C (53 °F) | |
| May | 2/5 · calm | 17 °C (63 °F) | Memorial Day |
| June | 3/5 · moderate | 25 °C (77 °F) | Juneteenth National Independence Day |
| July | 5/5 · busy | 28 °C (82 °F) | Independence Day |
| August | 4/5 · busy | 27 °C (80 °F) | Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (August) |
| September | 3/5 · moderate | 23 °C (74 °F) | Labour Day |
| October | 2/5 · calm | 14 °C (58 °F) | |
| November | 2/5 · calm | 9 °C (48 °F) | Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day |
| December | 1/5 · calm | 4 °C (40 °F) | Christmas Day |
Crowds are a relative index for each place: 1 is its calmest month and 5 its busiest. Temperatures: Copernicus ERA5, 2016–2025 average. Includes official tourism statistics (National Park Service, Mount Rushmore, 2023-2025). How it works
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Mount Rushmore (Black Hills) without the crowds?
The calmest month is usually February, March, April and December (crowds 1/5). In April the average high is 12 °C (53 °F). All the calm months: January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December.
When is Mount Rushmore (Black Hills) most crowded?
The busiest season is July and August. The first week of September.
What is the weather like in Mount Rushmore (Black Hills)?
Average highs range from 3 °C (37 °F) in February to 28 °C (82 °F) in July, from Copernicus ERA5 (2016–2025).
What festivals are there in Mount Rushmore (Black Hills)?
The main ones: Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (August) (August).
More places in South Dakota
- Badlands calm in January, February, March, April, October, November and December; busiest in June, July and August