Mount Rushmore National Memorial in January
January at Mount Rushmore National Memorial averages a daytime high near 37°F and an overnight low around 19°F, with about 0.5" of precipitation and roughly 7" of snow. Visitation runs about 0.1× the park's average month, which makes January a very quiet month here.
- Average low
- 19°F
- Average high
- 37°F
Range across the year: 18°F to 79°F
- Precipitation
- 0.5 in
- Snowfall
- 7 in
- Daylight
- 9.1 hours
Roughly 1% of the park's yearly visitors come in January: about 20,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
It is the quietest month of the year at Mount Rushmore; by contrast July, the busiest, runs about 3× the average.
On our Best Time to Visit score January rates 2/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 28°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 0.4 miles from the park.
Because June, July and August together draw about 63% of annual visitors, choosing January instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.
You'll have about 9.1 hours of daylight in January to explore — between the 8.7-hour midwinter low and the 15.3-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 1,905,649 recreation visits, up 3% from 1,850,329 in 2024.
How January compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | 37°F / 20°F | 0.1× Very quiet | 1 Poor |
| January | 37°F / 19°F | 0.1× Very quiet | 2 Poor |
| February | 36°F / 18°F | 0.1× Very quiet | 4 Poor |
All twelve months at Mount Rushmore, with the best time to visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
January averages a daytime high near 37°F and an overnight low around 19°F at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, with about 0.5 inches of precipitation and roughly 7 inches of snow. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 0.4 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
January is very quiet at Mount Rushmore National Memorial (about 0.1× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 2/100. Our recommended month is September. January draws about 11% of the visits Mount Rushmore sees in an average month. Numbers that low usually mean limited access: closed roads, closed facilities or deep-winter conditions. The count alone does not say which, so check the park's current conditions before planning around January.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. January sits at about 0.1× the park's average, or 1% of annual visitation.
A typical January sees about 20,000 recreation visits at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Mount Rushmore in January
Booking a January trip to Mount Rushmore National Memorial? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live January availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Mount Rushmore
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in January.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.