Updated October 2026
Mount Rushmore National Memorial Weather by Month
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 79°F and a low of 59°F, and coldest in February, with an average high of 36°F and an average low of 18°F. May is the wettest month, with about 4.8 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in April, at about 13 inches.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 0.4 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Mount Rushmore National Memorial can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
79°F avg high
Coldest month
Feb
18°F avg low
Wettest month
May
4.8 in avg
Snowiest month
Apr
13.1 in avg
Longest days
Jun
15.3 h of daylight
Average weather at Mount Rushmore by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37°F | 19°F | 0.5 in | 7.2 in | 9.1 h |
| February | 36°F | 18°F | 0.8 in | 8.9 in | 10.2 h |
| March | 44°F | 25°F | 1.4 in | 9.6 in | 11.6 h |
| April | 50°F | 32°F | 2.6 in | 13.1 in | 13.2 h |
| May | 60°F | 42°F | 4.8 in | 1.5 in | 14.5 h |
| June | 71°F | 52°F | 3.6 in | 0.2 in | 15.3 h |
| July | 79°F | 59°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in | 15.0 h |
| August | 78°F | 58°F | 2.3 in | 0.0 in | 13.8 h |
| September | 69°F | 50°F | 1.8 in | 0.9 in | 12.3 h |
| October | 55°F | 37°F | 1.8 in | 4.9 in | 10.8 h |
| November | 44°F | 27°F | 0.6 in | 6.4 in | 9.4 h |
| December | 37°F | 20°F | 0.5 in | 6.6 in | 8.7 h |
| Year total | 24.3 in | 59.3 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00395870, 0.4 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Mount Rushmore is at that time of year.
Mount Rushmore weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs hold near 37°F in all three months, with average lows near 19°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 1.8 inches of precipitation, about 7% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 23 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 8.7 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 44°F in March to 60°F in May, with average lows between 25°F and 42°F. The average low is at or below freezing in March and April. Together the three months average 8.8 inches of precipitation, about 36% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 24 inches for the season. Daylight lengthens from about 11.6 hours in March to 14.5 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 79°F in July, between 71°F in June and 78°F in August, with average lows between 52°F and 59°F. Together the three months average 9.5 inches of precipitation, about 39% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 0.2 inches for the season. Daylight is at its longest, about 15.3 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 69°F in September to 44°F in November, with average lows between 27°F and 50°F. The average low is at or below freezing in November. Together the three months average 4.2 inches of precipitation, about 17% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 12 inches for the season. Daylight shortens from about 12.3 hours in September to 9.4 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Weather at Mount Rushmore can be highly variable in any season. Summer high temperatures range from 70 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Fall high temperatures range from 45 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter high temperatures range from 20 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring high temperatures range from 30 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, July and August are the warmest months and January and February are the coldest. March and April receive the most snow, while May and June receive the most rain.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Mount Rushmore
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 43.88°N, 103.45°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Mount Rushmore National Memorial →
Weather and crowds together
July is both the warmest month and the busiest, with about 3.0× the visitors of the park's average month. January is the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Mount Rushmore.
Where to stay near Mount Rushmore
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Top-rated places to stay near Mount Rushmore
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, with an average high of 79°F and an average low of 59°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 0.4 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
February is the coldest month at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, with an average low of 18°F and an average high of 36°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
May is the wettest month, with about 4.8 inches of precipitation. January and December are the driest, at about 0.5 inches each. The station records about 24.3 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 0.4 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 59 inches of snow a year. April is the snowiest month, at about 13 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 10 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
21 mi away · warmest in July (85°F)
21 mi away · warmest in July (85°F)
50 mi away · warmest in July (88°F)
71 mi away · warmest in July (88°F)
79 mi away · warmest in July (85°F)
102 mi away · warmest in July (87°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00395870), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.