Origin
Brandon, SD
Morning in Brandon on Thursday
Local time
11:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brandon, SD to Porcupine, SD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 32m
Distance
365.8 mi
589 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 20m
★
6 AM
6h 32m
8 AM
6h 56m
10 AM
6h 41m
12 PM
6h 38m
3 PM
6h 42m
5 PM
6h 55m
8 PM
6h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brandon, SD
Patrick
Porcupine, SD
Magda Ehlers
Trip Overview
The drive from Brandon, SD to Porcupine, SD covers 365.8 miles and takes about 6h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, US 18, State Highway 73 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 255.7 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $57.19 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
182.9 miles from Brandon, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 54m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 32m. Total distance: 365.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 32m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 32m highway drive covering 365.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and US 18. The longest continuous stretch is about 255.7 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 13 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 255.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 18. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Sylvan Circle.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 32m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Sylvan Circle): Navigation decision point; near the start (SD 11 / North Splitrock Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Sylvan Circle
Turn right onto East Sylvan Circle
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SD 11 / North Splitrock Boulevard
Turn right onto SD 11 / North Splitrock Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
257 mi into trip
|
~4h 4m in
Take the exit toward SD 73 North: Kadoka
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SD 73 North: Kadoka
4
257.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 5m in
|
I 90 Business; SD 73 / SD Highway 73
Turn left onto I 90 Business; SD 73 / SD Highway 73
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 255.7 mi | 4h 1m |
| US 18 | 48.1 mi | 57m |
| State Highway 73 | 44.6 mi | 51m |
| Big Foot Trail | 14.6 mi | 35m |
| SD Highway 73 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Splitrock Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Sylvan Circle | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 255.7 mi, about 4h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brandon, SD and Porcupine, SD.
1
Start on North Pipestone Street
44 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Pipestone Street
2
Turn right onto East Sylvan Circle
107 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Sylvan Circle
3
Turn right onto SD 11
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Splitrock Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
5
Merge onto I 90
256 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Toward SD 73 North: Kadoka
7
Turn left onto I 90 Business; SD 73
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
SD Highway 73
8
Continue on SD 73
45 mi
·
51 min
·
State Highway 73
9
Turn right onto US 18; SD 73
48 mi
·
57 min
·
US 18; SD 73
10
Turn right onto BIA 27
15 mi
·
35 min
·
Big Foot Trail
11
Turn right onto Main Street
124 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
12
Turn left onto Eagle Drive
29 ft
·
1 sec
·
Eagle Drive
13
Arrive at destination
Eagle Drive
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 182.9 miles from Brandon, SD, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 255.7 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 80 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 182.9 miles or 2h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Porcupine, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brandon, 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 Brandon, SD
This is one driving day of about 365.8 miles and 6h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Brandon, 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 255.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 182.9 mi from Brandon, SD · 2h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
183 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 182.9 miles from Brandon, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 255.7 miles.
Arriving in Porcupine, SD
The final approach into Porcupine, 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 Porcupine, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.19 one way
$114.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
128 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $62.79 | $125.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $70.39 | $140.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $80.76 | $161.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 109.7 | 1 | $38.41 | $17.56 |
| Efficient EV | 91.5 | 1 | $32.01 | $14.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 146.3 | 1 | $51.21 | $23.41 |
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Porcupine, SD
Morning in Porcupine on Thursday
Local time
10:59 AM
MDT
Current temp
26°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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
21 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
6h 32m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Brandon, SD to Porcupine, SD covers 365.8 miles and takes about 6h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, US 18, State Highway 73. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 182.9 miles from Brandon, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $57.19 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 32m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Sylvan Circle): Navigation decision point; near the start (SD 11 / North Splitrock Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Brandon, SD to Porcupine, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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