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

Planting zone for 57703 — Rapid City, SD

ZIP code 57703 (Rapid City, Pennington County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 57703 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 12
First frostOct 1
2012 zone5a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5a means →

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 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season139 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Rapid City Regional Airport, SD — 2 miles away, elevation 3,160 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 57703

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 57703 came on Mar 12 — 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6).

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 57703 is Owanka — clay loam, well drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Owanka clay loam.

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 57703; 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 high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights174nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,482base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 29 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)
Precipitation17.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall49 inper year; 48 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 13 °F 36°13° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 14 °F 38°14° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 23 °F 48°23° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 31 °F 57°31° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 52 °F 78°52° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 59 °F 86°59° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 56 °F 85°56° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 46 °F 76°46° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 34 °F 60°34° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 22 °F 47°22° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 14 °F 37°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.31 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 0.3❄5 JanFebruary: 0.50 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 0.5❄8 FebMarch: 0.91 in precipitation, 8.4 in snowfall 0.9❄8 MarApril: 2.08 in precipitation, 10.1 in snowfall 2.1❄10 AprMay: 3.45 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 3.5❄2 MayJune: 2.87 in precipitation 2.9 JunJuly: 2.28 in precipitation 2.3 JulAugust: 1.59 in precipitation 1.6 AugSeptember: 1.22 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.2 SepOctober: 1.41 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 1.4❄3 OctNovember: 0.47 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 0.5❄6 NovDecember: 0.35 in precipitation, 6.7 in snowfall 0.3❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rapid City Regional Airport, SD (2 mi away); precipitation: Rapid City Regional Airport, SD (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

577065b
Ellsworth Afb, SD · 11 mi
577015b
Rapid City, SD · 11 mi
577255a
Caputa, SD · 13 mi
577095b
Rapid City, SD · 15 mi
577445a
Hermosa, SD · 15 mi
577195a
Box Elder, SD · 16 mi
577025a
Rapid City, SD · 19 mi
577185a
Black Hawk, SD · 20 mi

All 4 ZIP codes in Rapid City → · South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57703

What planting zone is ZIP code 57703?

ZIP code 57703 (Rapid City, SD) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Rapid City, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57703 is May 12; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rapid City Regional Airport station.

When is the first frost in Rapid City, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57703 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 139 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57703?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57703 get?

About 17.4 inches of precipitation a year and 49 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rapid City Regional Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Rapid City, SD?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 32 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57703 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Owanka at the center of ZIP 57703: clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Rapid City, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57703 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Rapid City, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57703 is 15 h 29 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).