Sunrise & Sunset Times in Rapid City, SD
Today's exact sunrise, sunset, and daylight hours for Rapid City, South Dakota. Plus solar noon, civil twilight, and golden hour times — calculated from Rapid City's coordinates (44.08° N, 103.23° W).
About sunrise and sunset in Rapid City
Rapid City, SD sits at 44.08° N latitude in the temperate zone. The longest day of the year here lasts about 15h 18m (around the summer solstice in June), while the shortest day shrinks to 8h 42m — a year-round swing of 6h 36m. Because Rapid City is in the central part of the Denver time zone, solar noon arrives roughly 7 minutes before clock noon.
Mid-latitude temperate — pronounced summer/winter day-length difference. The sun rises roughly east, swinging northeast in summer and southeast in winter, and sets roughly west, swinging northwest in summer and southwest in winter. Civil twilight (the period when the sun is between 0° and 6° below the horizon) lasts approximately 36 minutes around the equinoxes — a noticeable extended dawn and dusk window.
Quick facts for Rapid City
Solar noon offset reflects Rapid City's position in its time zone — the further from the time zone's standard meridian, the further the actual midday drifts from 12:00 on the clock.
Sunrise & Sunset in Rapid City
Today's sunrise and sunset times in Rapid City, SD. See exact sunrise, sunset, and daylight hours for Rapid City. Updated daily.
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Sunrise and sunset FAQ for Rapid City
How accurate are the Rapid City sunrise and sunset times?
Times are calculated using NOAA-grade astronomical algorithms based on Rapid City's exact coordinates (44.0805, -103.2310) and time zone (America/Denver). Accuracy is typically within 1 minute. Local horizon obstructions (mountains, tall buildings) can shift the visible sunrise/sunset by a few minutes compared to the calculated value.
How long is the longest day of the year in Rapid City?
At Rapid City's latitude of 44.08° N, the longest day stretches to about 15h 18m on the June solstice. The shortest day, on the December solstice, is around 8h 42m — a year-round swing of roughly 6h 36m.
When is golden hour in Rapid City?
Golden hour in Rapid City occurs in the ~60-minute window after sunrise and before sunset, when the sun is low (typically below 6° elevation) and light is softer and warmer. Photographers favour this window for portraits and landscapes. The exact start/end depends on the season — golden hour is shorter near the equinoxes and longer in winter when the sun travels at a shallower angle.
Do Rapid City sunrise times change with daylight saving time?
Yes. All times shown here use Rapid City's local clock, which switches between standard time and daylight saving time on the dates set by US federal law (second Sunday in March, first Sunday in November). The actual position of the sun does not change — only the clock face does. See our Daylight Saving Time guide for the next change date.
In which direction does the sun rise and set in Rapid City?
In Rapid City, the sun rises in the east, swinging northeast in summer and southeast in winter, and sets in the west, swinging northwest in summer and southwest in winter. On the equinoxes (around 20 March and 22 September), the sun rises due east and sets due west. Between those dates, the sunrise/sunset points shift along the horizon as Earth's axial tilt changes the sun's declination.
What is solar noon, and when does it happen in Rapid City?
Solar noon is the moment the sun is at its highest point in the sky for the day. In Rapid City, solar noon arrives roughly 7 minutes before clock noon, because Rapid City sits in the central partof its time zone. The exact offset shifts a few minutes through the year due to Earth's elliptical orbit (the "equation of time").