Sunset & Sunrise Today in Rapid City, South Dakota
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Rapid City: sunrise 7:08 AM, sunset 6:08 PM.
On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the sun sets over Rapid City at 6:10 PM, having risen at 7:06 AM. That works out to 11h 03m of daylight today. Solar noon, when the sun is highest over Rapid City, is at 12:39 PM.
Rapid City lies at latitude 44.08°, in the mid-latitudes, where daylight swings noticeably between the long days of summer and the short days of winter. Each day is currently getting about 2 minutes shorter and 57 seconds. As autumn progresses, sunrise and sunset in Rapid City move a little each day rather than staying fixed.
Golden hour in Rapid City this evening is roughly 5:32 PM–6:28 PM, the best window for warm, soft photos. The blue hour follows, roughly 6:28 PM to 6:39 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Rapid City is at 6:08 PM and sunrise at 7:08 AM — about 2m 57s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Rapid City drift across the whole year.
Autumn has arrived in Rapid City, and the days are drawing in. Over the course of the year, sunset in Rapid City ranges from as early as 4:14 PM (around December 3) to as late as 8:39 PM (around June 19). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 15h 29m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 8h 52m.
Moon in Rapid City today
Rapid City sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 15h 29m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 8h 52m
- Latest sunset 8:39 PM (June 19)
- Earliest sunset 4:14 PM (December 3)
- Earliest sunrise 5:09 AM (June 10)
- Latest sunrise 7:28 AM (January 1)
Solstices & equinoxes in Rapid City (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 6:56 AM | 7:05 PM | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 5:10 AM | 8:39 PM | 15h 29m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 6:40 AM | 6:49 PM | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:25 AM | 4:17 PM | 8h 52m |
Rapid City sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Oct 14 | 7:06 AM | 6:10 PM | 11h 03m | — |
| Thu Oct 15 | 7:08 AM | 6:08 PM | 11h 00m | −2m 57s |
| Fri Oct 16 | 7:09 AM | 6:06 PM | 10h 57m | −2m 55s |
| Sat Oct 17 | 7:10 AM | 6:05 PM | 10h 54m | −2m 56s |
| Sun Oct 18 | 7:11 AM | 6:03 PM | 10h 51m | −2m 54s |
| Mon Oct 19 | 7:13 AM | 6:01 PM | 10h 48m | −2m 54s |
| Tue Oct 20 | 7:14 AM | 6:00 PM | 10h 45m | −2m 54s |
| Wed Oct 21 | 7:15 AM | 5:58 PM | 10h 43m | −2m 52s |
| Thu Oct 22 | 7:16 AM | 5:57 PM | 10h 40m | −2m 52s |
| Fri Oct 23 | 7:18 AM | 5:55 PM | 10h 37m | −2m 51s |
| Sat Oct 24 | 7:19 AM | 5:53 PM | 10h 34m | −2m 51s |
| Sun Oct 25 | 7:20 AM | 5:52 PM | 10h 31m | −2m 49s |
| Mon Oct 26 | 7:22 AM | 5:50 PM | 10h 28m | −2m 49s |
| Tue Oct 27 | 7:23 AM | 5:49 PM | 10h 26m | −2m 47s |
Twilight times in Rapid City today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 5:30 AM | 7:46 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 6:03 AM | 7:13 PM |
| Civil twilight | 6:37 AM | 6:39 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 6:48 AM | 7:45 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 5:32 PM | 6:28 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon.
Sunrise & sunset in Rapid City by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:28 AM | 4:25 PM | 8h 56m |
| February | 7:10 AM | 5:03 PM | 9h 52m |
| March | 6:29 AM | 5:41 PM | 11h 11m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 7:19 PM | 12h 45m |
| May | 5:44 AM | 7:56 PM | 14h 11m |
| June | 5:13 AM | 8:29 PM | 15h 16m |
| July | 5:14 AM | 8:39 PM | 15h 25m |
| August | 5:41 AM | 8:16 PM | 14h 35m |
| September | 6:16 AM | 7:28 PM | 13h 11m |
| October | 6:51 AM | 6:33 PM | 11h 42m |
| November | 6:29 AM | 4:42 PM | 10h 12m |
| December | 7:08 AM | 4:15 PM | 9h 07m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Rapid City
What time is sunset in Rapid City today?
Sunset in Rapid City, South Dakota is at 6:10 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Rapid City today?
Sunrise in Rapid City is at 7:06 AM today, with 11h 03m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Rapid City tomorrow?
Sunrise in Rapid City tomorrow is at 7:08 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 6:08 PM.
What time is sunset in Rapid City tomorrow?
Sunset in Rapid City tomorrow is at 6:08 PM.
How long is the day in Rapid City today?
Rapid City gets 11h 03m of daylight today, between sunrise at 7:06 AM and sunset at 6:10 PM.
When is golden hour in Rapid City?
The evening golden hour in Rapid City is about 5:32 PM to 6:28 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Rapid City?
The evening blue hour in Rapid City runs from about 6:28 PM to 6:39 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Rapid City?
After sunset at 6:10 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Rapid City at around 6:39 PM today.
When is solar noon in Rapid City?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Rapid City — is at 12:39 PM today.
More cities in South Dakota
Learn more about the sunset
- 🌇 What is golden hour?Golden hour is the warm, soft light just after sunrise and before sunset. Learn what it is, when it happens, how long it lasts, and how to use it.
- 🌆 What is blue hour?Discover what blue hour is, when it happens, how it differs from golden hour, and expert tips for photographing the soft blue twilight. Check exact blue.
- 🌌 Twilight explained: civil, nautical & astronomicalLearn the three phases of twilight—civil, nautical, astronomical—and what they mean for photographers, stargazers, and sunset lovers.
- 🌅 Why are sunsets red and orange?Discover the science behind red and orange sunsets, from Rayleigh scattering to air quality. Learn when and where to see the most vivid colors.
- 📸 The best time to photograph a sunsetDiscover the best time to photograph a sunset, from golden hour to blue hour. Learn exact timing, camera settings, and composition tips for stunning shots.
- ☀️ What is solar noon?Solar noon is when the sun reaches its highest point. Learn why it rarely matches 12:00 PM and how to find your exact solar noon.
- 📈 Why days get longer and shorter through the yearEarth's axial tilt drives seasonal day-length changes. Learn how solstices, equinoxes, and latitude affect daylight where you live.
- 🌞 The summer solstice explainedWhat causes the summer solstice, when it happens, and how it affects sunset times. Discover the science and beauty of the year's longest day.