Rapid‐setting concretes are commonly used for pavement repairs due to their high early‐age strength and ability to expedite traffic resumption. However, the accelerated hydration that drives rapid strength gain can alter microstructural development, creating potential trade‐offs between early performance and long‐term durability. This study evaluates calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA), polymer‐modified, and prepackaged rapid‐strength systems under three curing regimes (10 °C, ambient temperature, and 35 °C). The internal temperature evolution was monitored in laboratory specimens using a temperature logger and a controlled environmental chamber for 24 h, and compressive strength was measured at multiple ages up to 28 days per ASTM standard. The results show that elevated curing temperatures (35 °C) accelerated hydration, achieving 20–25 MPa within 4 h, but reduced 28‐day strength by up to 15 % compared with ambient curing. Low‐temperature curing delayed strength development but increased 28‐day strength by 8–12 %. Several mixtures exhibited bimodal thermal profiles—an initial exotherm within 2 h followed by a secondary peak at 6–8 h—suggesting complex ettringite formation and secondary hydration reactions. These behaviors are crucial for understanding the compactibility of repair materials with existing soncrete or substrates. Linking thermal signatures to strength trajectories provides a practical framework for optimizing curing strategies across diverse climates. These findings inform material selection and specification practices for transportation agencies and contractors, enabling rapid‐set concrete repairs that balance early‐opening requirements with long‐term structural performance under varying environmental constraints.