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Trip from Box Elder, SD to Eagle Butte, SD

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 53m

Distance

182.7 mi

294 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 41m ★
6 AM
3h 53m
8 AM
4h 19m
10 AM
4h 2m
12 PM
4h 0m
3 PM
4h 4m
5 PM
4h 18m
8 PM
3h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States

Box Elder, SD

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Eagle Butte, SD, SD

Eagle Butte, SD

Frank Cone

Trip Overview

The drive from Box Elder, SD to Eagle Butte, SD covers 182.7 miles and takes about 3h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Ellsworth Road, Highway 1416, I 90 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.56 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

91.4 miles from Box Elder, SD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 53m. Total distance: 182.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 53m drive with frequent turns across 182.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Ellsworth Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Box Elder, SD to Eagle Butte, SD is easy. At 3h 53m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Box Elder, SD to Eagle Butte, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Ellsworth Road
Highway 1416
I 90
Lazelle Street
Highway 34
Highway 73
5th Avenue
Faith B

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South Ellsworth Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Box Elder, SD and Eagle Butte, SD.

1

Start on Front Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Front Street
2

At the end of the 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 straight

0.8 mi · 1 min
5

Merge slight left

31 mi · 32 min
6

Take the exit slight right toward I 90 Business

0.4 mi · 49 sec · I 90 Business
7

Keep slight right

1.4 mi · 2 min
8

Turn right onto Lazelle Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · Lazelle Street
9

Continue on SD Highway 34

76 mi · 1 hr 26 min · SD Highway 34
10

Turn left onto State Highway 73

27 mi · 40 min · State Highway 73
11

Continue on 5th Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · 5th Avenue
12

Turn right onto Faith B

0.3 mi · 23 sec · Faith B
13

Continue on 1st Street East

41 mi · 1 hr · 1st Street East
14

Turn right onto Main Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Main Street
15

Turn left

0.1 mi · 28 sec
16

Arrive at your destination

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 91.4 miles from Box Elder, SD, or about 1h 56m into the drive.

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 40 miles or 51m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 91.4 miles or 1h 56m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eagle Butte, 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 182.7 miles and 3h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 91.4 mi from Box Elder, SD · 1h 56m into the drive

Downtown Sturgis, SD, SD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sturgis, SD

91 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

Rapid City, SD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sturgis, SD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 91.4 miles from Box Elder, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Eagle Butte, SD

The final approach into Eagle Butte, 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 Eagle Butte, SD.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.56 one way

$57.13 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 64 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $31.36 $62.72
premium $4.89 $35.16 $70.32
diesel $5.61 $40.34 $80.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 63.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 54.8 0 $19.18 $8.77
Efficient EV 45.7 0 $15.99 $7.31
EV Truck/SUV 73.1 0 $25.58 $11.69

Gas CO2

64 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Box Elder, SD

Morning in Box Elder on Thursday

Local time

9:05 AM

MDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Eagle Butte, SD

Morning in Eagle Butte on Thursday

Local time

9:05 AM

MDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

Sturgis, SD

91 mi in

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

2 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 53m 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 Eagle Butte, SD covers 182.7 miles and takes about 3h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Ellsworth Road, Highway 1416, I 90. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 91.4 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 $28.56 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Box Elder, SD to Eagle Butte, SD is easy. At 3h 53m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Box Elder, SD to Eagle Butte, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Box Elder, SD to Eagle Butte, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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