TSA security lines · Rapid City

RAP TSA Wait Times

How long the security line at Rapid City Regional Airport is right now, how busy it gets today hour by hour, the best time to go and how early to arrive. Refreshed every 15 minutes.

Estimated TSA wait nowShort
5–20 min
Standard lane · RAP ·
Quietest today
12 PM–2 PM
5–15 min
Busiest today
7 AM–9 AM
10–30 min
Arrive
2 h / 3 h
domestic / international

Modeled from FAA passenger volumes, TSA's daily screening numbers, time of day and current airport conditions; refreshed every 15 minutes, not a checkpoint sensor. How we estimate

Right now

How busy is RAP security right now?

Right now the standard security line at Rapid City Regional Airport is short: about 5–20 min (updated 2:33 PM MDT). In the next 12 hours it should peak around 4 PM (10–25 min) and be lightest around 12 AM (5–10 min).

  • Airport operationsMinor
  • DelaysNo FAA delay programs
  • Weather nowMostly Cloudy, 51°F

Next 12 hours

0102030minNOW4PM6PM8PM10PM12AM
Show as table
HourEstimated waitLine
2 PM5–20 minShort
3 PM10–20 minShort
4 PM10–25 minShort
5 PM10–25 minShort
6 PM10–20 minShort
7 PM5–20 minShort
8 PM5–15 minShort
9 PM5–15 minShort
10 PM5–15 minShort
11 PM5–15 minShort
12 AM5–10 minShort
1 AM5–10 minShort
Today

RAP TSA wait times today, hour by hour

Estimated standard-lane wait for each hour of a typical Monday at Rapid City, with the quietest and busiest windows marked. The RAP TSA lines usually build before the first departure bank and again in the late afternoon.

0102030minQuietest 12 PM–2 PMBusiest 7 AM–9 AM4a7a10aNOW4p7p10p
Show as table
HourEstimated waitLine
4 AM5–15 minShort
5 AM5–15 minShort
6 AM5–20 minShort
7 AM10–25 minShort
8 AM10–30 minShort
9 AM10–25 minShort
10 AM5–20 minShort
11 AM5–20 minShort
12 PM5–15 minShort
1 PM5–15 minShort
2 PM5–20 minShort
3 PM10–20 minShort
4 PM10–25 minShort
5 PM10–25 minShort
6 PM10–20 minShort
7 PM5–20 minShort
8 PM5–15 minShort
9 PM5–15 minShort
10 PM5–15 minShort
11 PM5–15 minShort

TSA screened 2,781,103 travelers nationwide on October 22, 3% above a typical Thursday. National volume is one of the inputs to every estimate on this page.

Plan ahead

Best time to go through TSA at RAP

The quickest time to get through security at RAP on a typical Friday is 12 PM–2 PM (5–15 min). Lines are longest 7 AM–9 AM (10–30 min), when the first departure bank and business travelers hit the checkpoints. Across the week, Friday is usually the busiest day at RAP security and Saturday the quietest.

Holiday periods (Thanksgiving, Christmas–New Year, July 4th, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends) push every hour higher; the estimate above already includes that when it applies.

Typical standard-lane wait (minutes) by day and time
Day5a7a9a11a1p3p5p7p9p
Mon10181411111515119
Tue9161310101314108
Wed9161310101314108
Thu10171411101414108
Fri · today11191512111516119
Sat91612109131397
Sun11191512111516119

≤20 short21–30 moderate31+ long · each column covers two hours

Faster lanes

TSA PreCheck at RAP

TSA PreCheck lanes at Rapid City Regional Airport are usually much shorter than the standard line: TSA reports that the large majority of PreCheck travelers wait under 10 minutes, and you keep shoes, belts, light jackets and laptops in place. Lanes can open later and close earlier than the main checkpoint, so if you fly very early or late, plan for the standard wait above.

CLEAR and Global Entry

CLEAR speeds up the ID check and walks you to the front of the screening line where it operates; you still go through screening. Global Entry includes PreCheck for eligible members and speeds up re-entry from international trips.

Is TSA PreCheck worth it?

Calculator

How early to get to RAP

Enter your flight time to see when to be at Rapid City and when to leave home, using today's estimated security wait for the hour you will be in line.

How early to arrive at RAP
TripArrive before departure
Domestic, carry-on only1 h 30 min – 2 h
Domestic, checked bag2 h
International3 h
Flying 7 AM–9 AMadd 15–30 min
Arrive at RAP by —Enter your flight time to calculate.

Uses today's estimated security wait at the hour you will be in line, the walk to your gate, bag-drop time and boarding (30 min domestic, 45 min international). Airlines still recommend 2 h / 3 h.

RAP TSA wait times: FAQ

How long is the TSA line at RAP right now?

The current estimate for the standard security lane at Rapid City Regional Airport is 5–20 min (updated 2:33 PM MDT). It refreshes every 15 minutes; follow airport signs and staff if the line in front of you looks different.

How busy is RAP airport today?

Today (Friday) RAP security is expected to be busiest 7 AM–9 AM (10–30 min) and quietest 12 PM–2 PM (5–15 min).

What time does TSA open at RAP?

Security checkpoints at Rapid City Regional Airport open before the first morning departures, which at most U.S. airports means around 4–5 AM (earlier at some large hubs). Hours differ by checkpoint and terminal, so for a very early flight confirm on the official RAP website.

Is TSA PreCheck open at RAP?

PreCheck lanes usually run during the main morning-to-evening operating hours but can open later and close earlier than standard lanes, and not every checkpoint has one. Outside those hours PreCheck travelers are screened in the standard lane, so plan for the standard wait.

How early should I get to RAP?

Airlines and TSA recommend 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one. At the busiest hour today the RAP security line alone can reach 30 minutes; use the calculator on this page for your flight time.

Are these live RAP TSA wait times?

They are modeled estimates refreshed every 15 minutes, not a camera or sensor count at the checkpoint. They combine FAA passenger volume, TSA's daily national screening numbers, the hour, weekday, holiday periods and current FAA and weather conditions.