The drive from Box Elder, SD to Garretson, SD covers 351.7 miles and takes about 5h 38m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, 482nd Avenue, 254th Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 338.9 miles on I 90.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.98 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
175.9 miles from Box Elder, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 351.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 5h 38m highway drive covering 351.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and 482nd Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 338.9 miles on I 90.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 338.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and 482nd Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Oak Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 38m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Highway 1416): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 90; US 14): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Highway 1416
Turn right onto Highway 1416
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|I 90; US 14
Merge onto I 90; US 14
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
340.6 mi into trip|~5h 23m in
Take the exit toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
5
340.8 mi into trip|~5h 23m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
338.9 mi
5h 19m
482nd Avenue
6.4 mi
8m
254th Street
2.8 mi
3m
Highway 1416
0.9 mi
1m
River Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
5th Street
0.4 mi
1m
485th Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Liberty Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 338.9 mi, about 5h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Box Elder, SD and Garretson, SD.
1
Start on Front Street
94 ft·9 sec·Front Street
2
Turn left onto Oak Street
365 ft·18 sec·Oak Street
3
Turn right onto Highway 1416
0.9 mi·1 min·Highway 1416
4
Turn left onto Liberty Boulevard
0.2 mi·25 sec·Liberty Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 90; US 14
339 mi·5 hr 19 min·I 90; US 14
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
8
Keep slight left at fork
193 ft·4 sec
9
Turn straight onto SD 11
475 ft·11 sec·North Splitrock Boulevard
10
Continue on SD 11
6.4 mi·8 min·482nd Avenue
11
Continue on SD 11
2.8 mi·3 min·254th Street
12
Continue on SD 11
0.4 mi·43 sec·485th Avenue
13
Continue on SD 11
0.6 mi·1 min·River Avenue
14
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·5th Street
15
Turn right onto North Main Avenue
292 ft·7 sec·North Main Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
North Main Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 175.9 miles from Box Elder, SD, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 338.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 77 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.9 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Garretson, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Box Elder, SD so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Box Elder, SD
This is one driving day of about 351.7 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Box Elder, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 338.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 175.9 mi from Box Elder, SD
· 2h 47m into the drive
The midpoint is around 175.9 miles from Box Elder, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Garretson, SD
The final approach into Garretson, SD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Garretson, SD.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Badlands National Park
National Park
The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The...
25 mi from route
~61 min detour
$30
near mile 48.5
Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, tell the story of the birth, growth, devel...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.98 one way
$109.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$60.37
$120.74
premium
$4.89
$67.68
$135.36
diesel
$5.61
$77.65
$155.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.5
1
$36.93
$16.88
Efficient EV
87.9
1
$30.77
$14.07
EV Truck/SUV
140.7
1
$49.24
$22.51
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Box Elder, SD
Late night
in Box Elder on Saturday
Local time
4:26 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Garretson, SD
Late night
in Garretson on Saturday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 38m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Box Elder, SD to Garretson, SD covers 351.7 miles and takes about 5h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, 482nd Avenue, 254th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 175.9 miles from Box Elder, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 38m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Highway 1416): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 90; US 14): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Box Elder, SD to Garretson, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
