South Dakota
National parks in South Dakota
South Dakota has 2 national parks and 4 other busy National Park System sites in this guide. The best months below balance mild weather and crowds.
| Park | Best months | Busiest | July high / January low °F | Visitors a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badlands National Park | Sep | Jul | 89° / 9° | 1,093,000 |
| Wind Cave National Park | Sep | Jul | 85° / 15° | 563,000 |
| Mount Rushmore National Memorial | Sep | Jul | 79° / 19° | 2,062,000 |
| Missouri National Recreational River | Oct | Jul | 86° / 10° | 145,000 |
| Jewel Cave National Monument | Sep | Jul | 85° / 15° | 126,000 |
| Minuteman Missile National Historic Site | Apr, May and Oct | Jul | 91° / 14° | 112,000 |
South Dakota parks by month
| Month | Visitors, all 6 sites | Sites with mild weather |
|---|---|---|
| January | 45,000 | none |
| February | 47,000 | none |
| March | 97,000 | none |
| April | 149,000 | none |
| May | 399,000 | none |
| June | 758,000 | none |
| July | 933,000 | none |
| August | 763,000 | none |
| September | 548,000 | Badlands, Wind Cave, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Jewel Cave National Monument |
| October | 228,000 | Missouri National Recreational River |
| November | 79,000 | none |
| December | 56,000 | none |
Weather 1991–2020 NOAA normals at each park's nearest station. Visitors National Park Service recreation visits, 2023–2025 average. Mild means an average high of 55–80°F without above-normal rain.