Custer State Park Climate and Average Weather
Climate of Custer State Park: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
Climate in Custer State Park month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33° | 15° | 0,4 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 39° | 19° | 0,8 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| March | 48° | 28° | 0,9 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 52° | 32° | 2,5 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 62° | 41° | 4,6 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| June | 73° | 51° | 2,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 81° | 59° | 3,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 78° | 57° | 1,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 73° | 52° | 1,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 58° | 39° | 2,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| November | 47° | 29° | 0,6 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 43° | 25° | 0,5 in | ★★★☆☆ |
Climate type: Continental. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Recent extremes in Custer State Park
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How Custer State Park compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Custer State Park.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rushmore | 8 mi | 46°F | 33°F cooler | 22 in |
| Wind Cave National Park | 12 mi | 49°F | +34°F warmer | 18 in |
| Badlands National Park | 54 mi | 51°F | +36°F warmer | 15 in |
| Wyoming | 195 mi | 49°F | +35°F warmer | 13 in |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 222 mi | 46°F | about the same | 16 in |
Best time to visit Custer State Park
Go in June, July, August and September. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What this means for Custer State Park
Today is about average for August. The forecast high of 78°F is in line with the 78°F typical for this month.
A 23% chance means most of the area stays dry; a passing shower is possible but short.
No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Northern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in June to August.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 78°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- A packable rain shell - 2 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Custer State Park is a state park in South Dakota. Custer State Park is known for a bison herd and the Needles Highway.
Right now it is 77°F (25°C) in Custer State Park with clear sky. It feels like 74°F. Today runs from 60°F to 78°F. Chance of precipitation is 23%. Sightseeing conditions score 8.8/10 - excellent - go now.
The best time to visit Custer State Park is June, July, August and September. The climate is continental. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 81°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 15°F.
The closest major airport is Denver International Airport (DEN), about 278 mi away. Nearby highlights include Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave National Park, Badlands National Park and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
In plain terms. Today is about average for August. The forecast high of 78°F is in line with the 78°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 7 AM to 10 AM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. stargazing is the strongest bet in Custer State Park today at 9.3/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Quick facts about Custer State Park
| Type | State park |
|---|---|
| State | South Dakota |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 43°46′0.1″N 103°25′0.1″W (43.7667, -103.4167) |
| Established | 1912 |
| Known for | a bison herd and the Needles Highway |
| Local time | 10:37 PM (UTC-06:00) |
| Best months | June, July, August and September |
| Climate | Continental |
Weather map for Custer State Park
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore Custer State Park
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Custer State Park?
Custer State Park is a state park in South Dakota. Its coordinates are 43.7667, -103.4167. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Custer State Park right now?
It is currently 77°F (25°C) with clear sky. Humidity is 46% and wind is 11 mph.
When is the best time to visit Custer State Park?
June, July, August and September offer the most comfortable conditions in Custer State Park, which has a continental climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Custer State Park in?
Custer State Park observes America/Denver (UTC-06:00). The local time is 10:37 PM.
What is the nearest airport to Custer State Park?
The closest airports are Denver International Airport (DEN), 278 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Custer State Park?
Popular options include Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave National Park, Badlands National Park and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (state-parks) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 22, 2026 at 10:37 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
