Mount Rushmore in September

Thinking of visiting Mount Rushmore and wondering if Mount Rushmore in September is a good time to visit, then keep reading to find out, what weather to expect in September, whether it will be crowded with visitors in September and what there is to do there in September and the opening times.

Distant view of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, with the carved faces of four U.S. presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, set against rugged granite cliffs. The monument is framed by green pine trees in the foreground under a bright blue sky with scattered white clouds.

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Mt Rushmore Weather in September

In September the weather at Mount Rushmore is lower than the hot temperatures we saw in July and August, making it an enjoyable month to visit. The month starts with temperatures during the day of 70°F (21°C), with it only dropping slightly during the month.

The record high temperature for September is 95°F (35°C) which it hit in 2021 and the lowest was 23°F (-5°C) during the night. September also only has 4 days of rain on average, another reason to visit in September.

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.

Mount Rushmore Opening Hours in September

In September the memorial grounds and parking structure is still open the same hours as throughout summer from 5am to 11pm, with the visitors center and information center open from 8am to 9pm.

This is the last month of the year for the evening lighting ceremony and to be able to visit the sculptors studio as from 1st October they will be closed until next year.

The evening lighting ceremony is at 8pm for 30 minutes, with the mountain lit up from 8.30pm to 11pm. The sculptors studio is open from 8am to 4pm and make sure to visit and listen to one of the rangers talks on the carving of the mountain.

In September the gift shop is open from 8am to 9.30pm so you have plenty of time to browse and buy some souvenirs from your trip.

The opening hours of carvers cafe change on the 2nd of September from 9am to 8pm in August to 8am to 8pm, so you can enjoy food or a hot beverage a little earlier.

Is September a good time to visit Mount Rushmore?

September is a great month to visit Mount Rushmore, as the temperatures are cooler than the Summer months of June, July & August, there is less rain making it a much more pleasant time to walk around the site.

September also has fewer visitors than in the Summer months as the children have now returned to school and most people’s holidays are over.

Everything is still open in September, with the sculptors studio and the evening lighting ceremony finishing for the season at the end of September.

Is Mt Rushmore crowded in September?

In September 2023 there were 386,000 visitors to Mount Rushmore, which is more than half the number as the busiest month in July.

It is still much busier than some of the winter months, when there are around 30,000 visitors to the memorial, but everything is still open and the weather is pleasant still.

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

As there are fewer visitors to Mount Rushmore in September, it can be quicker to see everything, you may not need to wait to see Ranger talks, to see the park video or to be waiting to get around the Presidential Trail.

I would still recommend that you allow 2-3 hours to see the park and longer if you are wanting to watch the evening lighting ceremony or eat in the cafe.

Can I walk the Presidential Trail in September?

A scenic view of a forest along the Presidential Trail at Mount Rushmore, with tall pine trees rising under a clear blue sky. Sunlight filters through the branches, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor, which is covered with rocks, grass, and patches of earth. The trees stand closely together, creating a peaceful woodland atmosphere.

The Presidential Trail is open in September and it can be much nicer to walk around in September with fewer people in the park.

Make sure to allow time to stop and take close-up photos of the Presidents while you are walking the trail and to stop at the photo op points to get some photos of you with the Presidents in the background.

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.

Where is the Best Place to stay when visiting Mt Rushmore in September?

If you want to stay somewhere close to Mount Rushmore, then I recommend staying in Keystone which is just a few miles from Mt Rushmore. It is set up for tourists coming to visit the Blackhills, with lots of hotels and restaurants to choose from.

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