Visiting Mount Rushmore in March
Are you wanting to visit Mount Rushmore in March, then find, everything you need to know about visiting Mount Rushmore, from the weather, opening hours, the things to do at Mount Rushmore, where to stay and what to wear.
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Weather at Mount Rushmore in March
Temperatures in March can fluctuate dramatically it can be as high as 66°F (19°C) during the day and as low as 7°F (-14°C), so make sure that you are prepared for all temperatures.
The clocks go forward in March so you will see the sun setting later meaning that you can spend longer at the National Memorial.
In March you can expect 4 days of snow and around 10 inches of snow, which means that the Presidential Trail could be closed at some point. Also as it is freezing a lot of nights in March, you can expect that the trail could be closed due to ice.
Is Mount Rushmore open in March?
Yes, Mount Rushmore is open in March. The only day Mount Rushmore is closed is the 25th December, though the car park and grounds are open, it is just all the buildings that are closed.
Opening Hours of Mount Rushmore in March
The opening hours of Mount Rushmore start to change in March, with it being open for longer from the second week in March after the clocks have gone forward.
March starts with sunrise at 6.30am, though with the change of the clocks on the 10th March 2024 you will find that sunrise will not happen until 7.15am and the month will finish with sunrise at 6.35am.
With the clocks moving forward you will see the sunset by the end of March at 7.20pm, giving you plenty of time to explore the National Memorial.
The Memorial Grounds and Parking Structure is open from 7am to 9pm, though this changes on the 10th March 2024 and it will be open from 5am to 11pm.
The Information Center and Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center are both open from 8am to 5pm.
The gift shop is open in March from 8am to 8pm and Carver’s Cafe is open from 8am to 4.30pm.
The sculptors studio is still closed in March and there is no Evening Lighting Ceremony, but you can still see the memorial lit up at night. From 1 March to 9 March it is lit from sunset to 9pm and from the 10 March it is lit until 11pm.
Is March a good time to go to Mount Rushmore?
March can be a good time to visit Mount Rushmore as there are fewer visitors in March than in the summer months. You will find though that the sculptors studio is closed, there is no evening lighting ceremony and the presidential trail may be closed due to snow or ice.
How long do I need to visit Mount Rushmore in March?
How long you need at Mount Rushmore really depends on what you want to do while you are there. If you plan to do everything, see the museum, watch the film, hike the presidential trail and visit Carver’s cafe, then you will probably need to allocate around 4 hours.
If you just intend on coming to the park, looking at the memorial and visiting the Lincoln Borglum visitor centre then you would only need around an hour.
Is the Presidential Trail open in March?
The Presidential Trail is open in March, though it is dependent on the weather. It make be closed due to snowfall or ice. If you do visit in March be prepared that it might be closed.
Where to stay when visiting Mount Rushmore in March
As the nearest airport to the Blackhills and Mount Rushmore is Rapid City, a lot of people decide to base themselves there to see all the sites in the area close to it. Rapid City is just a 30 minute drive from Mount Rushmore.
If you do have a car for your trip, then you can choose to stay at one of the many quaint towns in the Blackhills, with Keystone being one of the best places to stay near Mount Rushmore, as it is only 3 miles from the entrance of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
What to wear when visiting Mount Rushmore in March
If you are visiting Mount Rushmore in March, then you need to make sure that you have plenty of layers, a big winter jacket, gloves and a warm hat. As you read above the temperatures fluctuate greatly in March and you could have amazing weather, though it will still drop very cold on an evening.
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