Frost dates by state › South Dakota
South Dakota frost dates
Average last spring and first fall frost dates for South Dakota’s largest cities, with each city’s USDA hardiness zone.
Reviewed October 2026
Among South Dakota’s 20 largest cities, the average last spring frost ranges from Apr 26 in Sioux Falls to May 24 in Sturgis. Elevation, distance from the coast and city heat all shift the date, so use your own ZIP code below for the closest match.
| City | Average last spring frost | Average first fall frost | Frost-free days | Hardiness zone | Weather station used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | Apr 26 | Oct 13 | 170 | 5a | Sioux Falls Wfo Airport, SD, 3 mi |
| Rapid City | May 3 | Oct 8 | 158 | 5b | Rapid City Wfo, SD |
| Aberdeen | May 8 | Sep 29 | 144 | 4a | Aberdeen 3 E, SD, 3 mi |
| Brookings | May 6 | Oct 1 | 148 | 4b | Brookings 2 Ne, SD, 2 mi |
| Watertown | May 7 | Sep 30 | 146 | 4b | Watertown Rgnl Airport, SD |
| Yankton | Apr 27 | Oct 11 | 167 | 5a | Yankton 2 E, SD, 2 mi |
| Mitchell | May 2 | Oct 6 | 157 | 5a | Mitchell 2 N, SD |
| Huron | May 6 | Oct 2 | 149 | 4b | Huron Rgnl Airport, SD, 3 mi |
| Box Elder | May 12 | Oct 1 | 142 | 5b | Rapid City Rgnl Airport, SD, 5 mi |
| Spearfish | May 12 | Oct 2 | 143 | 5b | Spearfish, SD, 3 mi |
| Pierre | May 6 | Oct 3 | 150 | 4b | Pierre Rgnl Airport, SD, 2 mi |
| Vermillion | May 3 | Oct 3 | 153 | 5a | Vermillion 2 Se, SD |
| Brandon | May 1 | Oct 6 | 158 | 5a | Sioux Falls, SD, 7 mi |
| Harrisburg | May 2 | Oct 2 | 153 | 5a | Canton, SD, 11 mi |
| Tea | Apr 26 | Oct 13 | 170 | 5a | Sioux Falls Wfo Airport, SD, 10 mi |
| Sturgis | May 24 | Sep 25 | 124 | 5a | Deadwood, SD, 12 mi |
| Madison | May 5 | Sep 30 | 148 | 4b | Madison 2Se, SD |
| Belle Fourche | May 10 | Sep 30 | 143 | 5b | Belle Fourche, SD |
| Dell Rapids | May 1 | Oct 4 | 156 | 4b–5a | Sioux Falls 14 Nne, SD, 8 mi |
| Hot Springs | May 16 | Sep 27 | 134 | 5a | Hot Springs, SD |
Frost dates are the dates after (spring) or before (fall) which the chance of a 32°F freeze is below 50%, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the weather station nearest each city’s center. Zones are from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the ZIP codes around each city; a range means nearby ZIP codes differ. Cities are the 20 largest by Census Bureau 2024 population estimates.
An average is not a guarantee. There’s still about a 1 in 2 chance of frost after the average last spring date. Many gardeners wait an extra week or two before setting out tomatoes, peppers and basil, and keep covers handy.
Planting dates for Sioux Falls
Timed from Sioux Falls’s average last frost of Apr 26, using University of New Hampshire Extension’s planting guidance. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP code in the calendar below.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 8 to Mar 22 | May 3 to May 10 |
| Peppers | Mar 1 to Mar 15 | May 10 |
| Lettuce | Feb 22 to Mar 1 | Mar 29 to Apr 5 |
| Broccoli | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 5 to Apr 12 | May 3 to May 10 |
| Basil | Mar 15 to Mar 29 | May 10 |
When to plant, for your garden
Your seed-starting and planting dates, timed from your last spring frost. Full calendar, 12 crops.
Enter your ZIP code to look up your average last frost date and hardiness zone, or type the date in yourself.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023, ZIP code data from PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed Oct. 20, 2026.
More about frost dates
How to find your last frost date, and what your zone means · Full planting calendar · How to start seeds indoors
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