Visiting Mount Rushmore in May

Thinking of visiting Mount Rushmore and wanting to know what Mount Rushmore in May is like, is it a good time to visit, what are the opening hours, what can you do there in May, then this post will answer all of your questions.

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Mt Rushmore Weather in May

May can be a good month to visit Mount Rushmore as the weather in May is really starting to improve, though it is the wettest month of the year with 10 days of rain on average throughout the month and the most amount of rainfall is expected this month too.

The temperature during the day has started to increase to make it pleasant enough, that you don’t have to wrap up with lots of layers, with an average during the day of 60°F (16°C), which increases to 64°F (18°C) by the end of the month, the average lowest temperature for the month is 43°F (6°C).

The highest temperature ever recorded in May was 95°F (35°C), but it has also see the lowest recorded temperature in May of 23°F (-5°C) during the night.

Is Mount Rushmore open in May?

Mount Rushmore is open in May, though the sculptors studio and the evening lighting ceremony will only be open from May 24th. You will also find longer opening hours at the gift shop and cafe from the beginning of May.

Opening hours of Mount Rushmore in May

In May we start to see the opening of everything in Mount Rushmore for the summer months, we can enjoy talks at the sculptors studio and attend the evening lighting ceremony.

In May there is no change in opening hours to the opening hours of the grounds and parking structure, with it being possible to visit from 5am to 11pm.

The Lincoln Borglum visitor center is open from 8am to 5pm until the 23rd May and on the 24th May, it’s summer hours start with it open from 8am to 10pm. Here you watch a 14 minute film about the construction of Mount Rushmore and look at some exhibits.

From the 24th May you will be able to visit the Sculptors Studio and listen to a short talk by one of the rangers and learn about Gutzon Borglum and the process of carving the presidents into the mountain. The sculptors studio is open from 8am to 8pm.

From the 2nd of May the Gift Shop is open from 8am to 9pm, from the 10th May it closes at 10pm and from the 23rd May it closes at 10.30pm.

Carvers Cafe is also starting its summer hours in May and from the 2nd May it is open from 8am to 7pm, from 10th May it is open from 8am to 9pm and from 23rd May it is open from 9am to 9pm.

In May we see the start up for the summer season of the evening lighting ceremony, with the ceremony starting from May 24th, at 9pm with the mountain lit up from 9.30pm to 11pm.

Is May a good time to visit Mount Rushmore?

The end of May is a good time to visit Mount Rushmore as at this point all the buildings are open and the evening lighting ceremony has started, though Memorial Weekend is at the end of May, meaning that the park is more crowded with visitors.

If you don’t intend on being there in the evening and are not bothered about missing the sculptor studio and the rangers talk and seeing the scale model that Gutzon Borglum used to create the carving on the mountain, then earlier in the month is a good time to visit.

How many people visit Mount Rushmore in May

In May we see nearly three times the number of visitors to Mount Rushmore than in April, but still a lot smaller number than we see in the months of June, July and August.

In May 2023, there were 293,484 visitors to the park, which is an increase from 247,871 in May 2022. If you want to see everything there is to offer in the park, then the end of May is a good time to visit, as there are fewer visitors than in June.

TIP – If you don’t like crowds then avoid visiting on Memorial Day weekend and visit a few days after.

How long do I need to visit Mount Rushmore in May

If you are planning on visiting Mount Rushmore in May, then the amount of time you need depends on what you want to do, if you are visiting after May 24th, then you may want more time, to explore the sculptors studio and to see the evening lighting ceremony.

If you visit Mount Rushmore before May 24th, then I would recommend that you need 2- 3 hours, so that you can walk the Presidential Trail, see the exhibits and film in the visitors center and enjoy finding your state in the avenue of flags. You may also want to spend some time visiting the large gift shop and eating at carvers cafe in the park.

If you are visiting after May 24th, then I would recommend spending at least half a day there and if you visit in the morning, I would recommend returning just before 9pm to watch the evening lighting ceremony.

Is the Presidential Trail open in May

The Presidential Trail is open in May, though as May can be one of the wettest months of the year with 10 days of rain, expect the trail to be a little wet and slippery on the wooden stairs.

Where to stay when visiting Mount Rushmore in May

If you are planning to visit the Blackhills of South Dakota and Mount Rushmore is one of your stops, then I would recommend staying in one of the towns around the Blackhills, as they cater for tourists with many hotels and restaurants and you can find some unique places to stay.

If you want to stay somewhere bigger, then the closest city is Rapid City and is just a short 30 minute drive from Mount Rushmore.

What to wear to visit Mount Rushmore in May

The temperatures in May are now starting to warm up, but it can still be a little chilly in the mornings, evenings and if you are in the shade. Make sure to either wear a few layers you can take off and put back on or a light jacket you can slip on if you get cold.

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