Visiting Mount Rushmore in June

Planning on visiting Mount Rushmore and want to visit Mount Rushmore in June, then make sure to read on, to find the opening hours, what weather to expect in June and what there is to do at this national memorial in June

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Mt Rushmore Weather in June

In June the weather is starting to warm up throughout the month, though the beginning of the month is cooler. At the start of June you can expect temperatures at night of 52°F (11°C), though during the day it can get as high as 73°F (23°C).

By the end of June the night time temperatures are much more pleasant, with the need for less layers on a morning and late evening at 57°F (14°C), during the day you can expect temperatures of 79°F (26°C), which is much more pleasant to explore the memorial.

The only downside is that June is the second wettest month of the year, with an expected rainfall in 10 days of the month, with May being the wettest month in the park.

Is Mount Rushmore open in June?

Everything in Mount Rushmore in June, all the buildings are open and summer hours have started, so you can stay at the national monument for longer.

Enjoy spending time walking the presidential trail with a stop at the sculptors studio and listen to one of the talks from a ranger about the history of Mount Rushmore. Then enjoy a bite to eat in the cafe, before watching the evening lighting ceremony.

Mount Rushmore hours of Operation in June

In June the parking structure and grounds are open from 5am to 11pm, it costs $10 to park, though if you want to return the ticket allows unlimited entry for 1 year.

The visitor center and information center is open from 8am to 10pm and the sculptors studio from 8am to 8pm. To watch a rangers talk at the sculptors studio check out the scheduled times at the visitor center.

If you are hungry and want something to eat, then make sure to stop at Carvers Cafe which is open from 9am to 9pm and make sure to visit the large gift shop that is open from 8am to 10.30pm.

In June, the evening lighting ceremony begins at 9pm, with the memorial lit up from 9.30pm to 11pm when the grounds close.

Is June a good time to visit Mount Rushmore?

June can be a good time to visit Mount Rushmore, as the temperatures are warmer, but it is the month with the second highest amount of rainfall and the second highest number of visitors.

If you plan to visit, come first thing in the morning before other visitors arrive or early evening before the lighting ceremony to avoid the crowds.

How many people visit Mount Rushmore in June?

June is the second highest month for visitors with only more visitors in July to the memorial. In 2023 there were 662,940 visitors to the park and in June 2022 there were even more visitors with 692,238 people choosing to visit the park.

Surprisingly August has fewer visitors to the park than in June, though only slightly.

If you can visit early morning then you will avoid the bigger crowds, and if you can then return in the evening to watch the lighting ceremony as it is certainly something to see the mountain lit up.

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

In June you will need more time to visit the national memorial than you would if you were visiting in Late Fall, Winter or Early Spring as everything is open and there is lots to see and do.

Make sure to take your time walking the presidential trail and getting up as close as you can to the memorial, make sure to take lots of pictures. Once you have finished the trail, make sure to stop at the Sculptors Studio and watch one of the talks with the rangers to learn more about the history of the site.

You will also want to watch the video at the visitors center which is about 20 mins long and where you can see how Mount Rushmore was carved by the men working on it.

You can also get something to eat at Carvers Cafe and try the Thomas Jefferson ice cream, created using a recipe written by Thomas Jefferson.

If you are there in the evening then you will want to make sure you have time to watch the evening lighting ceremony from 9pm and then see the mountain lit up.

Also leave time to visit the large gift shop that is there at the park and get yourself a souvenir before leaving.

In June, I would recommend that you will need at minimum 3 hours if you want to see everything that Mount Rushmore has to offer and longer if you are going to watch the evening ceremony.

Is the Presidential Trail open in June

The Presidential Trail is open in June, though you may find the wooden steps between the mountain and the sculptors studio quite slippery if there has been rain.

Even though the trail is only 1 mile long, you may find that you want to sit on one of the benches and enjoy the view and stop and take lots of pictures at this wonder.

Where to stay when visiting Mount Rushmore in June

If you are planning on visiting a few places in the Blackhills of South Dakota then I would recommend staying in some of the small towns you can found located throughout the Blackhills, rather than the closest city of Rapid City.

Closest to Mount Rushmore is Keystone, a small little town, but now set up for the tourists visiting Mount Rushmore, with a choice of hotels and restaurants.

If you are looking for a place more authentic to the wild west and cowboys then make sure to stop at the north of the Blackhills in Deadwood. It has been well preserved and at times you can keep see actors in the streets replicating the gun fights of the wild west.

What to wear when visiting Mt Rushmore in June

As June is starting to warm up, during the days it is possible to wear shorts and tshirts, though if you are out and about early morning or evening then it may be a bit cooler and you might need a light jumper or coat.

Make sure to bring a sunhat, but also waterproofs in case of rain, though if there is a downpour, there are many buildings to shelter in at the park.

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