Rapid City Sunrise & Sunset in October 2026

CST43.0750°N, 103.2020°W

Northern Hemisphere • mid-latitude latitude band

Last updated: February 23, 2026

This page shows daily sunrise and sunset times for Rapid City, South Dakota throughout October 2026, displayed in local time. You can view how sunrise and sunset times change day by day across the entire month. The daylight characteristics of October in Rapid City reflect seasonal transitions. The golden hour occurs twice daily—shortly after sunrise and before sunset—providing ideal lighting conditions for photography. During October, these periods shift gradually, offering different timing opportunities throughout the month. Outdoor enthusiasts in Rapid City benefit from accurate October sun times when planning activities like hiking, running, cycling, and beach visits. Understanding when daylight begins and ends helps ensure safety and maximizes enjoyment. Whether you're a long-time resident or a first-time visitor, understanding October's sun time patterns in Rapid City, South Dakota enhances your ability to plan and enjoy activities. The month's daylight characteristics are part of what makes the location unique. The daily variations in sun times during October may seem minor, but they reflect the Earth's continuous motion around the sun. These changes affect everything from energy consumption to mood and daily routines. Understanding these patterns helps residents and visitors make the most of each day's available daylight.

October is a seasonal transition month for Rapid City in the Northern Hemisphere. Daylight length changes more noticeably now, with sunrise and sunset shifting week by week as the sun moves between solstice extremes.

October daylight summary

  • Sunrise shifts 36m later from the start to the end of the month.
  • Sunset shifts 48m earlier from the start to the end of the month.
  • Total daylight changes by 1h 25m shorter by month end.

Key October Statistics

  • Earliest sunrise: October 1 at 7:50 AM
  • Latest sunrise: October 31 at 8:26 AM
  • Earliest sunset: October 1 at 7:37 PM
  • Latest sunset: October 31 at 6:49 PM
  • Day length change: -2h 25m from start to end of month

October averages

  • Average sunrise: 8:07 AM
  • Average sunset: 7:12 PM
  • Average day length: 11h 5m

Monthly Sun Trend Charts

Sunrise Trend
Sunset Trend
Day Length Trend

Daily Sun Times for October 2026

DateSunriseSunsetDay LengthMorning Golden HourEvening Golden Hour
Oct 17:50 AM7:37 PM11h 48m7:50 AM - 8:27 AM7:00 PM - 7:37 PM
Oct 27:51 AM7:36 PM11h 45m7:51 AM - 8:28 AM6:58 PM - 7:36 PM
Oct 37:52 AM7:34 PM11h 42m7:52 AM - 8:30 AM6:56 PM - 7:34 PM
Oct 47:53 AM7:32 PM11h 39m7:53 AM - 8:31 AM6:54 PM - 7:32 PM
Oct 57:54 AM7:30 PM11h 36m7:54 AM - 8:32 AM6:52 PM - 7:30 PM
Oct 67:55 AM7:29 PM11h 33m7:55 AM - 8:33 AM6:51 PM - 7:29 PM
Oct 77:56 AM7:27 PM11h 30m7:56 AM - 8:34 AM6:49 PM - 7:27 PM
Oct 87:58 AM7:25 PM11h 28m7:58 AM - 8:36 AM6:47 PM - 7:25 PM
Oct 97:59 AM7:23 PM11h 25m7:59 AM - 8:37 AM6:45 PM - 7:23 PM
Oct 108:00 AM7:22 PM11h 22m8:00 AM - 8:38 AM6:43 PM - 7:22 PM
Oct 118:01 AM7:20 PM11h 19m8:01 AM - 8:39 AM6:42 PM - 7:20 PM
Oct 128:02 AM7:18 PM11h 16m8:02 AM - 8:40 AM6:40 PM - 7:18 PM
Oct 138:03 AM7:16 PM11h 13m8:03 AM - 8:42 AM6:38 PM - 7:16 PM
Oct 148:05 AM7:15 PM11h 10m8:05 AM - 8:43 AM6:36 PM - 7:15 PM
Oct 158:06 AM7:13 PM11h 7m8:06 AM - 8:44 AM6:35 PM - 7:13 PM
Oct 168:07 AM7:12 PM11h 5m8:07 AM - 8:46 AM6:33 PM - 7:12 PM
Oct 178:08 AM7:10 PM11h 2m8:08 AM - 8:47 AM6:31 PM - 7:10 PM
Oct 188:09 AM7:08 PM10h 59m8:09 AM - 8:48 AM6:29 PM - 7:08 PM
Oct 198:11 AM7:07 PM10h 56m8:11 AM - 8:49 AM6:28 PM - 7:07 PM
Oct 208:12 AM7:05 PM10h 53m8:12 AM - 8:51 AM6:26 PM - 7:05 PM
Oct 218:13 AM7:03 PM10h 50m8:13 AM - 8:52 AM6:24 PM - 7:03 PM
Oct 228:14 AM7:02 PM10h 48m8:14 AM - 8:53 AM6:23 PM - 7:02 PM
Oct 238:15 AM7:00 PM10h 45m8:15 AM - 8:55 AM6:21 PM - 7:00 PM
Oct 248:17 AM6:59 PM10h 42m8:17 AM - 8:56 AM6:19 PM - 6:59 PM
Oct 258:18 AM6:57 PM10h 39m8:18 AM - 8:58 AM6:18 PM - 6:57 PM
Oct 268:19 AM6:56 PM10h 37m8:19 AM - 8:59 AM6:16 PM - 6:56 PM
Oct 278:20 AM6:54 PM10h 34m8:20 AM - 9:00 AM6:15 PM - 6:54 PM
Oct 288:22 AM6:53 PM10h 31m8:22 AM - 9:02 AM6:13 PM - 6:53 PM
Oct 298:23 AM6:52 PM10h 29m8:23 AM - 9:03 AM6:12 PM - 6:52 PM
Oct 308:24 AM6:50 PM10h 26m8:24 AM - 9:04 AM6:10 PM - 6:50 PM
Oct 318:26 AM6:49 PM10h 23m8:26 AM - 9:06 AM6:09 PM - 6:49 PM

Last updated: February 23, 2026

About sunrise and sunset in Rapid City in October

Sunrise and sunset times shift slightly each day through October as we move through the solstice. The times shown are in local time for Rapid City, South Dakota, and are calculated based on the city's exact geographic coordinates.

You can come back daily to see updated values. This page shows you not just sunrise and sunset times, but also golden hour periods (ideal for photography), dawn and dusk times (civil twilight), and day length for every day of the month. All times are displayed in local time and update automatically based on the current date.

Whether you're planning outdoor activities, photography sessions, or simply want to know when daylight begins and ends, this calendar helps you make the most of each day in October.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is sunrise in Rapid City, South Dakota in October?

Today, the sun rises in Rapid City, South Dakota at 7:40 AM local time. Sunrise shifts slightly each day throughout October, so check this page for the latest times.

What time is sunset in Rapid City, South Dakota in October?

Today, the sun sets in Rapid City, South Dakota at 6:35 PM local time. Sunset shifts slightly each day throughout October, so check this page for the latest times.

How long is the day in Rapid City, South Dakota in October?

Today's daylight in Rapid City, South Dakota lasts about 10h 55m. As we move through October, day length changes gradually, and this page updates daily with new values.

What is golden hour in Rapid City, South Dakota?

Golden hour in Rapid City, South Dakota refers to the period shortly after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is low in the sky, creating warm, soft lighting ideal for photography. These periods occur twice daily and shift gradually throughout the month. For more information about planning photos during golden hour, see our guide on golden hour photography.

How often are these sunrise and sunset times updated?

Sunrise and sunset times are updated daily and are based on reliable astronomical calculations. The times account for your location's exact geographic coordinates, timezone, and the Earth's position in its orbit. You can check back each day to see the latest values.

How People Use This Information

People use sunrise and sunset times for planning outdoor activities, photography, travel, prayer times, fitness routines, gardening, and understanding seasonal daylight changes. SunTimesToday is designed as a quick, location-specific reference that updates daily to reflect accurate astronomical calculations.

Data Source & Accuracy

Sunrise, sunset, daylight length, and twilight times on SunTimesToday are calculated using standard astronomical algorithms based on your selected location and date. Data is updated daily to reflect seasonal and yearly changes. While times are accurate for most practical uses, small variations may occur due to atmospheric conditions and local geography.