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Trip from Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Pierre, SD

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 59m

Distance

180.4 mi

290 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 48m ★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 22m
10 AM
3h 8m
12 PM
3h 5m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 21m
8 PM
2h 53m

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

Downtown Pierre, SD, SD

Pierre, SD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Pierre, SD covers 180.4 miles and takes about 2h 59m 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 $28.20 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

90.2 miles from Colonial Pine Hills, SD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 180.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 59m 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 2h 59m drive with frequent turns across 180.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Pierre, SD is easy. At 2h 59m 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 Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Pierre, 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
US 83 North
Highway 83
South 1st Street
North Deadwood Street

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 Pierre, 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

150 mi · 2 hr 22 min
10

Take the exit slight right toward US 83 North, SD 53: Fort Pierre, Pierre State Capitol

0.4 mi · 1 min · US 83 North, SD 53: Fort Pierre, Pierre State Capitol
11

Turn left onto US Highway 83

31 mi · 35 min · US Highway 83
12

Continue on South 1st Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · South 1st Street
13

Continue on North Deadwood Street

0.7 mi · 47 sec · North Deadwood Street
14

Continue on North Highway 83

0.5 mi · 33 sec · North Highway 83
15

Continue on West Sioux Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Sioux Avenue
16

Turn left onto South Pierre Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · South Pierre Street
17

Arrive at your destination

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 90.2 miles from Colonial Pine Hills, SD, or about 1h 29m 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 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 90.2 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pierre, 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 180.4 miles and 2h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 90.2 mi from Colonial Pine Hills, SD · 1h 29m into the drive

Downtown Cedar Butte, SD, SD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cedar Butte, SD

90 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.

Cedar Butte, SD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 90.2 miles from Colonial Pine Hills, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Pierre, SD

The final approach into Pierre, 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 Pierre, 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

$28.20 one way

$56.41 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 63 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $30.97 $61.93
premium $4.89 $34.72 $69.43
diesel $5.61 $39.83 $79.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 63.1 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 54.1 0 $18.94 $8.66
Efficient EV 45.1 0 $15.79 $7.22
EV Truck/SUV 72.2 0 $25.26 $11.55

Gas CO2

63 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

Colonial Pine Hills, SD

Morning in Colonial Pine Hills on Saturday

Local time

10:58 AM

MDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pierre, SD

Morning in Pierre on Saturday

Local time

11:58 AM

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

2h 59m 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 Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Pierre, SD covers 180.4 miles and takes about 2h 59m 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 90.2 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 $28.20 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.

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 Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Pierre, SD is easy. At 2h 59m 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 Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Pierre, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Colonial Pine Hills, SD to Pierre, 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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