Sunset & Sunrise Today in Rapid City, South Dakota
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Rapid City: sunrise 6:14 AM, sunset 7:31 PM.
On Saturday, August 29, 2026, the sun sets over Rapid City at 7:33 PM, having risen at 6:13 AM. That works out to 13h 20m of daylight today. Solar noon, when the sun is highest over Rapid City, is at 12:54 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 53 seconds. As summer 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 6:56 PM–7:52 PM, the best window for warm, soft photos. The blue hour follows, roughly 7:52 PM to 8:04 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Rapid City is at 7:31 PM and sunrise at 6:14 AM — about 2m 54s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Rapid City drift across the whole year.
It's summer in Rapid City right now, when daylight is at its most generous. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Aug 29 | 6:13 AM | 7:33 PM | 13h 20m | — |
| Sun Aug 30 | 6:14 AM | 7:31 PM | 13h 17m | −2m 54s |
| Mon Aug 31 | 6:15 AM | 7:30 PM | 13h 14m | −2m 54s |
| Tue Sep 1 | 6:16 AM | 7:28 PM | 13h 11m | −2m 55s |
| Wed Sep 2 | 6:17 AM | 7:26 PM | 13h 08m | −2m 56s |
| Thu Sep 3 | 6:18 AM | 7:24 PM | 13h 06m | −2m 56s |
| Fri Sep 4 | 6:19 AM | 7:23 PM | 13h 03m | −2m 56s |
| Sat Sep 5 | 6:21 AM | 7:21 PM | 13h 00m | −2m 57s |
| Sun Sep 6 | 6:22 AM | 7:19 PM | 12h 57m | −2m 57s |
| Mon Sep 7 | 6:23 AM | 7:17 PM | 12h 54m | −2m 58s |
| Tue Sep 8 | 6:24 AM | 7:15 PM | 12h 51m | −2m 58s |
| Wed Sep 9 | 6:25 AM | 7:13 PM | 12h 48m | −2m 58s |
| Thu Sep 10 | 6:26 AM | 7:12 PM | 12h 45m | −2m 59s |
| Fri Sep 11 | 6:27 AM | 7:10 PM | 12h 42m | −2m 59s |
Twilight times in Rapid City today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 4:28 AM | 9:18 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 5:06 AM | 8:40 PM |
| Civil twilight | 5:42 AM | 8:04 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 5:54 AM | 6:50 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 6:56 PM | 7:52 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 7:33 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 6:13 AM today, with 13h 20m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Rapid City tomorrow?
Sunrise in Rapid City tomorrow is at 6:14 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 7:31 PM.
What time is sunset in Rapid City tomorrow?
Sunset in Rapid City tomorrow is at 7:31 PM.
How long is the day in Rapid City today?
Rapid City gets 13h 20m of daylight today, between sunrise at 6:13 AM and sunset at 7:33 PM.
When is golden hour in Rapid City?
The evening golden hour in Rapid City is about 6:56 PM to 7:52 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 7:52 PM to 8:04 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Rapid City?
After sunset at 7:33 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Rapid City at around 8:04 PM today.
When is solar noon in Rapid City?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Rapid City — is at 12:54 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.