Visiting Mount Rushmore in January

Are you planning a trip to South Dakota and thinking of visiting Mount Rushmore and wondering what it’s like in Mount Rushmore in January. Then find out here, the opening hours in January, what is open at Mt Rushmore in January and not and what to expect with the Mount Rushmore weather in January.

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Weather at Mount Rushmore in January

January is the coldest month at Mount Rushmore, with highs of 37°F (3°C) during the day and on an evening it getting as low as 19°F (-7°C). It is not the month with the largest amount of snow, with only 2 days of rain on average this month.

Is Mount Rushmore open in January

Yes Mount Rushmore is open all year round, the only day it is closed is the 25th December. The Presidential Trail may be closed due to snow and ice but the car park, visitors center and restaurant is open, with only the sculptors studio closed throughout winter.

Mount Rushmore is on highway 244, which is kept well maintained during winter, though if there is a lot of snow it can take a day or so to clear.

Enjoy a Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse & Black Hills Tour

If you don’t have a car, make sure to take a tour of Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park. It’s an area that you can’t miss. Click here to book your tour.

Is January a good time to visit Mount Rushmore?

If you want to visit Mount Rushmore when there are fewer visitors then January is a good month, as generally less than 25,000 people visit in January, though it may not be possible to hike the Presidential Trail and the sculptors studio is closed.

Opening Hours of Mt Rushmore in January

In January, Mount Rushmore is on its winter hours as the nights are long and the evenings are darker earlier. At the start of January sunrise is at 7.30am and by the end of the month it is rising at 7.12am. On an evening sunset is at 4.26pm at the start of the month and by the end of the month sunset is at 5.02pm. There is still plenty of time to see everything at Mount Rushmore during those hours.

The grounds of Mount Rushmore and the parking structure is open from 7am to 9pm daily.
The Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center is open from 8am to 5pm.
The Information center is open from 8am to 5pm.
The Gift Shop is open from 8am to 8pm.
Carver’s Cafe is open from 8am to 4.30pm.
Sculptor’s Studio is closed through winter.

The Mount Rushmore Mountain Sculpture is illuminated from sunset to 9pm. In January there is no evening lighting ceremony as it is just too cold, but you can stay to see the Monument lit up, though the only place inside open after 5pm is the gift shop.

How long do I need to visit Mount Rushmore in January?

Mount Rushmore National Memorial in winter, with the carved faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln partly covered in snow, surrounded by rugged granite cliffs. Evergreen trees dusted with snow fill the foreground beneath a clear blue sky.

This really depends on how much time you have, you could visit for as little as 30 minutes, just getting out of your car, walking along the avenue of flags until you reach the viewing platform, taking a few pictures and then back to your car.

You could also choose to stay for a few hours, visiting the visitors center, watching the movie about the history of Mount Rushmore, which is very interesting and well worth watching and then eating in the restaurant and trying the Thomas Jefferson’s ice cream.

Is the Presidential Trail open in January?

The opening of the Presidential Trail is weather dependent, if there is a lot of snow and ice, then the trail will be closed for safety. A lot of the time during the winter months the trail is closed.

Where to stay when visiting Mount Rushmore in January

There are many places to stay that are close to Mount Rushmore with the closest big city, Rapid City being a 30 minute drive away. If you are looking to stay somewhere close to Mount Rushmore then Keystone is the nearest town just 3.2 miles from Mt Rushmore.

Where you stay will depend on where you are planning to visit after Mount Rushmore and whether you plan on visiting Mount Rushmore earlier in the day and another attraction in the Blackhills, like Custer State park or Crazy Horse Memorial.

Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Black Hills

Enjoy a Hot Air Balloon Ride at sunrise over Custer State Park and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Click here to book today.

What to wear at Mount Rushmore in January

If you are planning on visiting in January, then you will need to make sure you wrap up warm, but take layers that you can remove when you go inside the visitors center and the restaurant. Make sure you have a warm fleece, hat and gloves to keep you warm.

If you have any questions about visiting Mount Rushmore in January, please ask me below.

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