Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a National Memorial in South Dakota. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Mount Rushmore
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Mount Rushmore. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Mountain Peaks (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Mount Rushmore the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 70° in summer but only 23° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:26 AM | 8:11 AM | 3:57 PM | 4:42 PM | 241° | 9h 16m |
| February | 6:54 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:43 PM | 5:24 PM | 253° | 10h 30m |
| March | 7:07 AM | 7:45 AM | 6:22 PM | 7:00 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:11 AM | 6:50 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:37 PM | 285° | 13h 26m |
| May | 5:29 AM | 6:11 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:13 PM | 298° | 14h 44m |
| June | 5:12 AM | 5:56 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:39 PM | 304° | 15h 27m |
| July | 5:26 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:35 PM | 302° | 15h 09m |
| August | 5:59 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:20 PM | 8:00 PM | 291° | 14h 01m |
| September | 6:34 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:06 PM | 275° | 12h 32m |
| October | 7:09 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:12 PM | 259° | 11h 03m |
| November | 6:49 AM | 7:33 AM | 3:46 PM | 4:29 PM | 245° | 9h 40m |
| December | 7:22 AM | 8:09 AM | 3:30 PM | 4:18 PM | 238° | 8h 56m |
Computed for the park's reference point (43.8804, -103.4525); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Mount Rushmore, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:47 AM – 5:27 AM | 0.7 | 14° |
| April | 2:43 AM – 4:23 AM | 1.7 | 16° |
| May | 12:48 AM – 3:18 AM | 2.5 | 17° |
| June | 11:04 PM – 2:44 AM | 3.7 | 17° |
| July | 10:50 PM – 1:20 AM | 2.5 | 17° |
| August | 9:52 PM – 11:22 PM | 1.5 | 16° |
| September | 8:45 PM – 9:15 PM | 0.5 | 13° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
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 overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (64%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Visitors traveling by car from the East use Exit 61 off I-90 and follow the signs for Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Coming from the West use exit 57 exit at Rapid City and follow U.S. Highway 16 southwest to Keystone and then Highway 244 to Mount Rushmore. Visitors coming from the south should follow Highway 385 north to Highway 244, which is the road leading to the Memorial.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Food
- Dining
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
SD
SD
SD
SD
WY
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