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Trip from Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Mitchell, SD

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 8m

Distance

284.5 mi

458 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 56m ★
6 AM
4h 9m
8 AM
4h 35m
10 AM
4h 18m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 19m
5 PM
4h 34m
8 PM
4h 1m

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

Downtown Mitchell, SD, SD

Mitchell, SD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Mitchell, SD covers 284.5 miles and takes about 4h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Clarkson Road, Sheridan Lake Road, Catron Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.48 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

142.2 miles from Colonial Pine Hills, SD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 8m. Total distance: 284.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 8m 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 4h 8m drive with frequent turns across 284.5 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.
Clarkson 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 8m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Mitchell, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Clarkson Road
Sheridan Lake Road
Catron Boulevard
Elk Vale Road
South Ohlman Street
West Havens Avenue
South Sanborn Boulevard
West 1st Avenue

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Clarkson Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Colonial Pine Hills, SD and Mitchell, SD.

1

Start on Alfalfa Court

0.1 mi · 35 sec · Alfalfa Court
2

Turn left onto Clarkson Road

0.2 mi · 47 sec · Clarkson Road
3

At the end of the road, turn right onto Sheridan Lake Road

3.0 mi · 4 min · Sheridan Lake Road
4

Turn slight right

413 ft · 18 sec
5

Continue straight

0.1 mi · 32 sec
6

Turn straight onto Catron Boulevard

4.8 mi · 7 min · Catron Boulevard
7

Continue on Elk Vale Road

5.3 mi · 7 min · Elk Vale Road
8

Take the exit slight right

0.5 mi · 1 min
9

Merge slight left

268 mi · 4 hr 12 min
10

Take the exit slight right

0.4 mi · 53 sec
11

Turn left onto South Ohlman Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Ohlman Street
12

Take the exit slight right

302 ft · 8 sec
13

Turn straight onto West Havens Avenue

0.8 mi · 2 min · West Havens Avenue
14

Turn left onto South Sanborn Boulevard

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Sanborn Boulevard
15

Turn left onto West 1st Avenue

33 ft · 1 sec · West 1st Avenue
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 142.2 miles from Colonial Pine Hills, SD, or about 2h 4m 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 63 miles or 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 142.2 miles or 2h 4m 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 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mitchell, SD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Colonial Pine Hills, 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 Colonial Pine Hills, SD

This is one driving day of about 284.5 miles and 4h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Colonial Pine Hills, 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 142.2 mi from Colonial Pine Hills, SD · 2h 4m into the drive

city in South Dakota, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fort Pierre, SD

142 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

Box Elder, SD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Pierre, SD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 142.2 miles from Colonial Pine Hills, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Mitchell, SD

The final approach into Mitchell, 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 Mitchell, 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

$44.48 one way

$88.96 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $48.84 $97.67
premium $4.89 $54.75 $109.50
diesel $5.61 $62.81 $125.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 99.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 85.4 1 $29.87 $13.66
Efficient EV 71.1 0 $24.89 $11.38
EV Truck/SUV 113.8 1 $39.83 $18.21

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

33 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

Colonial Pine Hills, SD

Afternoon in Colonial Pine Hills on Thursday

Local time

1:45 PM

MDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mitchell, SD

Afternoon in Mitchell on Thursday

Local time

2:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°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

31 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

4h 8m 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 Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Mitchell, SD covers 284.5 miles and takes about 4h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Clarkson Road, Sheridan Lake Road, Catron Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 142.2 miles from Colonial Pine Hills, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.48 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 4h 8m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Mitchell, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Mitchell, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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