Today in South Dakota, USA, the sun rises at 6:04 AM and sets at 9:29 PM, giving the city exactly 15h 25m of daylight. That is 1 minutes shorter than yesterday—just past its peak, losing daylight slowly. With 167 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, South Dakota is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in South Dakota
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in South Dakota runs from N/A to 6:49 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 8:45 PM and lasts until 9:29 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. South Dakota sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in South Dakota falls exactly at 1:47 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 7.91 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for South Dakota, typical of its Summer season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in South Dakota?
At South Dakota's latitude of 44.6471761°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 245.91° (WSW). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for South Dakota are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 44.6471761, -100.348761. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in South Dakota (Past Years)
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Here is a comparison of today's sunrise and sunset times in South Dakota versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 6:04 AM | 9:29 PM | 15h 25m |
| 2025 | 6:05 AM | 9:29 PM | 15h 24m |
| 2021 | 6:05 AM | 9:29 PM | 15h 24m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in South Dakota today?
In South Dakota, the sun rises at exactly 6:04 AM and sets at 9:29 PM today. This gives the city a total of 15h 25m of daylight.
When is golden hour in South Dakota today?
Today, morning golden hour in South Dakota runs from N/A to 6:49 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 8:45 PM and lasts until 9:26 PM.
Why does sunrise in South Dakota shift every day?
At South Dakota's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 245.91° (WSW). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is just past its peak, losing daylight slowly until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in South Dakota at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 1:47 PM when the sun reaches 7.91. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for South Dakota, typical of its Summer season.
Has the sunrise time in South Dakota changed compared to previous years?
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Exactly one year ago in 2025, sunrise was at 6:05 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 6:05 AM.