Origin
Box Elder, SD
Late night in Box Elder on Saturday
Local time
4:26 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Box Elder, SD to Oglala, SD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 55m
Distance
84 mi
135 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 47m
★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Box Elder, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Box Elder, SD to Oglala, SD covers 84 miles and takes about 1h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41, SD Highway 40, SD 79 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26 miles on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.13 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42 miles from Box Elder, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 84 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 55m highway drive covering 84 miles, with most of the trip on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41 and SD Highway 40. The longest continuous stretch is about 26 miles on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41 is the longest continuous segment at about 26 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41 and SD Highway 40. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Ellsworth Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 55m 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: at 0.1 miles (South Ellsworth Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Highway 1416): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Ellsworth Road
At end of road, turn right onto South Ellsworth Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Highway 1416
Turn left onto Highway 1416
Navigation decision point
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore...
5
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
82.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
US 18
At end of road, turn left onto US 18
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41 | 26 mi | 30m |
| SD Highway 40 | 20.9 mi | 36m |
| SD 79 | 14.2 mi | 17m |
| Loneman Day School Road | 6 mi | 6m |
| North Elk Vale Road | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Red Shirt Table Road | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Highway 1416 | 2 mi | 2m |
| US 18 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41
— 26 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Box Elder, SD and Oglala, SD.
1
Start on Front Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Front Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto South Ellsworth Road
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
South Ellsworth Road
3
Turn left onto Highway 1416
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 1416
4
Take the ramp
0.8 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge onto I 90; US 14
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90; US 14
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
8
Continue on US 16 Truck; SD 79
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
North Elk Vale Road
9
Take the exit onto SD 79
14 mi
·
17 min
·
SD 79
10
Turn left onto SD 40
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
11
Continue on SD 40
21 mi
·
36 min
·
SD Highway 40
12
Continue on BIA 41
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41
13
Continue on BIA 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Red Shirt Table Road
14
Continue on BIA 41
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Loneman Day School Road
15
Continue on BIA 41
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41
16
Continue on BIA 41
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lone Man Road
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 18
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
US 18
18
Turn left
188 ft
·
8 sec
19
Turn straight onto Oglada 3
143 ft
·
10 sec
·
Oglada 3
20
Arrive at destination
Oglada 3
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42 miles from Box Elder, SD, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oglala, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Box Elder, SD
This is one driving day of about 84 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Box Elder, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41 for about 26 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42 mi from Box Elder, SD · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42 miles from Box Elder, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Oglala, SD
The final approach into Oglala, SD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.13 one way
$26.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.42 | $28.84 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.17 | $32.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.55 | $37.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.82 | $4.03 |
| Efficient EV | 21 | 0 | $7.35 | $3.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.6 | 0 | $11.76 | $5.38 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Oglala, SD
Late night in Oglala on Saturday
Local time
4:26 AM
MDT
Current temp
82°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
36 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 55m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Oglala, SD covers 84 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41, SD Highway 40, SD 79. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42 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 $13.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 55m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Ellsworth Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Highway 1416): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Box Elder, SD to Oglala, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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