How Crowded Is Mount Rushmore National Memorial in July?
July runs about 3× Mount Rushmore National Memorial's average month, which makes it a very busy month here — roughly 25% of the park's yearly visitors come in July.
In a typical July the park sees about 563,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
It is the single busiest month of the year at Mount Rushmore; January, the quietest, runs only about 0.1× the average — a 27-to-1 swing between high and low season.
On our Best Time to Visit score July rates 52/100 ("Fair"), versus the top-rated August at 61/100 — best overall balance of crowds, weather and daylight.
Typical July weather, from 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals at the nearest station, averages a daytime high near 79°F and an overnight low around 59°F, with about 3.6" of precipitation.
That average of about 69°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day.
July falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 63% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 15 hours of daylight in July 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
July is very busy at Mount Rushmore National Memorial (about 3.0× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair". The single best month overall is August.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is January. July sits at about 3.0× the park's average, or 25% of annual visitation.
A typical July sees about 563,000 recreation visits at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Mount Rushmore in July
Booking a July trip to Mount Rushmore National Memorial? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live July availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Mount Rushmore
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Visiting Mount Rushmore in July?
Get crowd forecasts and lodging deals for Mount Rushmore by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in July.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-07-14.