Pine Ridge, South Dakota · field elev 3,333 ft
Density Altitude at Pine Ridge (KIEN)
From a field elevation of 3,333 ft, a typical July afternoon at Pine Ridge (89 °F) raises density altitude to about 5,983 ft — solidly into the range where performance charts deserve a close read.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24.2 | 1,799 ft | 36.6 | 2,650 ft |
| February | 27.2 | 2,008 ft | 40.1 | 2,886 ft |
| March | 37.4 | 2,704 ft | 51.0 | 3,606 ft |
| April | 45.9 | 3,272 ft | 59.3 | 4,143 ft |
| May | 55.7 | 3,911 ft | 69.0 | 4,756 ft |
| June | 66.7 | 4,612 ft | 80.6 | 5,471 ft ▲ |
| July | 74.5 | 5,097 ft | 89.1 | 5,983 ft ▲ |
| August | 72.4 | 4,967 ft | 87.8 | 5,906 ft ▲ |
| September | 62.6 | 4,353 ft | 78.6 | 5,349 ft ▲ |
| October | 47.6 | 3,384 ft | 62.5 | 4,346 ft |
| November | 34.5 | 2,508 ft | 48.5 | 3,443 ft |
| December | 25.3 | 1,876 ft | 37.9 | 2,738 ft |
▲ above 5,000 ft · ⚠ above 8,000 ft. These are planning references at standard pressure and dry air — afternoon humidity and low pressure both push the real number higher. Run today's values below.
Run today’s numbers for KIEN
DENSITY ALTITUDE caution
Field elevation 3,333 ft — the air behaves like 5,977 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 3,335 ft
- ISA DEVIATION
- —
- RULE-OF-THUMB DA
- —
- AIR DENSITY INDEX
- —
- AIR DENSITY
- —
- WATER · GRAINS/LB
- —
For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment
Nearby South Dakota fields
- 9V6 — Martin Municipal
Martin · elev 3,295 ft
- KHSR — Hot Springs Municipal
Hot Springs · elev 3,150 ft
- 6V4 — Wall Municipal
Wall · elev 2,813 ft
- 6V0 — Edgemont Municipal
Edgemont · elev 3,594 ft
- KCUT — Custer County
Custer · elev 5,620 ft
- 5V8 — Kadoka Municipal
Kadoka · elev 2,466 ft
- KRAP — Rapid City Regional
Rapid City · elev 3,204 ft
- KPHP — Philip
Philip · elev 2,209 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KIEN in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 89 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Pine Ridge reaches roughly 5,983 ft at standard pressure. Hotter-than-normal days, low pressure, and humidity all push it higher, so run the day's actual numbers before flying.
What is the density altitude at KIEN on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 1,799 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 5,097 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 3,333 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Pine Ridge?
3,333 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KIEN (ICAO) / IEN (FAA), in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.