Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Rapid City, SD

Rapid City, SD is in USDA zones 5a to 5b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 8.

Rapid City on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zones5a–5b−20 to −10 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostMay 3
First frostOct 8
Growing season157 days

5a 2 ZIPs   5b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rapid City, SD…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Rapid City, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season157 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 22 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Rapid City WFO, SD, elevation 3,379 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Rapid City

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 13 – Aug 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 8) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 57709 came on Mar 12 — 29 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 5a in South Dakota

452 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South Dakota, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 23

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack maple100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °Fblack walnut100 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Shrubs 70

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked hazelnut15 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 202

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 144

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 5

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Fwestern white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Rapid City, SD.

Soil in Rapid City, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57709 is Sawdust — gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Sawdust-Vanocker, dry-Rockerville complex, 10 to 40 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 57709; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rapid City, SD

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights170nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,317base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation23.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 13 °F 37°13° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 15 °F 38°15° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 23 °F 47°23° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 58 °F 84°58° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 56 °F 83°56° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 35 °F 59°35° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 24 °F 47°24° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 15 °F 39°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 1.24 in precipitation 1.2 MarApril: 2.79 in precipitation 2.8 AprMay: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 2.25 in precipitation 2.3 AugSeptember: 1.76 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 OctNovember: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.71 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rapid City 4nw, SD (4 mi away); precipitation: Rapid City 3.4 Wnw, SD (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Rapid City

577015b
−15 to −10 °F
577025a
−20 to −15 °F
577035a
−20 to −15 °F
577095b
−15 to −10 °F

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about Rapid City

What planting zone is Rapid City, SD?

Rapid City, SD is in USDA hardiness zones 5a to 5b on the 2023 map (5a: −20 to −15 °F; 5b: −15 to −10 °F).

When is the last frost in Rapid City, SD?

The median last spring frost is May 3 and the median first fall frost is October 8 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rapid City WFO station).

When can I plant a garden in Rapid City, SD?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 22 – Apr 12; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 10, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Rapid City, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Rapid City, SD get?

About 23.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).