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Trip from Fort Pierre, SD to Madison, SD

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

Drive Time

3h 52m

Distance

220.4 mi

355 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Good

6 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 40m ★
6 AM
3h 53m
8 AM
4h 18m
10 AM
4h 2m
12 PM
3h 59m
3 PM
4h 3m
5 PM
4h 17m
8 PM
3h 45m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in South Dakota, United States of America

Fort Pierre, SD

Wikimedia Commons

city in Lake County, South Dakota, United States

Madison, SD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Fort Pierre, SD to Madison, SD covers 220.4 miles and takes about 3h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 90, South US Highway 83, SD Highway 34 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 136.5 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.46 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

110.2 miles from Fort Pierre, SD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 136.5 mi 2h 7m
South US Highway 83 30.9 mi 35m
SD Highway 34 26.6 mi 37m
SD Highway 25 23.8 mi 27m
Northwest 2nd Street 1.3 mi 2m
South 1st Street 0.5 mi <1m
North Egan Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 136.5 mi, about 2h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Pierre, SD and Madison, SD.

1

Start on US 83; SD 1806

0.5 mi · 37 sec · South 1st Street
2

Continue on US 83; SD 1806

31 mi · 35 min · South US Highway 83
3

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
4

Merge onto I 90

137 mi · 2 hr 7 min · I 90
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec
Toward SD 25: Emery, Farmer
6

Turn left onto SD 25

24 mi · 27 min · SD Highway 25
7

Turn right onto SD 25; SD 34

27 mi · 37 min · SD Highway 34
8

Continue on US 81; SD 34

1.3 mi · 2 min · Northwest 2nd Street
9

Turn right onto North Egan Avenue

384 ft · 12 sec · North Egan Avenue
10

Arrive at destination

North Egan Avenue

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 110.2 miles from Fort Pierre, SD, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.5 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 48 miles or 51m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 110.2 miles or 1h 50m 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 59m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Fort Pierre, 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 Fort Pierre, SD

This is one driving day of about 220.4 miles and 3h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Fort Pierre, 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 136.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Fort Thompson, SD, SD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fort Thompson, SD

110 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

Fort Thompson, SD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Thompson, SD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 110.2 miles from Fort Pierre, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 136.5 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 220.4

Madison, South Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Pierre, South Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16052244200

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Pierre, South Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16052991134

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Pierre, South Dakota

+16052244140

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Pierre, South Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Pierre, South Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Silver Spur Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Fort Pierre, South Dakota

Hours: 4–9 pm

+16054942100

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 31.5 and 220.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
31.5 mi into trip | ~35m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

5
168.3 mi into trip | ~2h 44m in

Take the exit toward SD 25: Emery, Farmer

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward SD 25: Emery, Farmer
4
168.6 mi into trip | ~2h 45m in | SD 25 / SD Highway 25

Turn left onto SD 25 / SD Highway 25

Navigation decision point

4
192.4 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in | SD 25; SD 34 / SD Highway 34

Turn right onto SD 25; SD 34 / SD Highway 34

Navigation decision point

4
220.3 mi into trip | ~3h 52m in | North Egan Avenue

Turn right onto North Egan Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.46 one way

$68.91 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $37.83 $75.66
premium $4.89 $42.41 $84.83
diesel $5.61 $48.66 $97.32

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 77.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 66.1 0 $23.14 $10.58
Efficient EV 55.1 0 $19.29 $8.82
EV Truck/SUV 88.2 1 $30.86 $14.11

Gas CO2

77 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Fort Pierre, SD

Afternoon in Fort Pierre on Saturday

Local time

12:38 PM

MDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Madison, SD

Afternoon in Madison on Saturday

Local time

1:38 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°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

4 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 52m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

220.4 mi in 3h 52m, mostly highway — 136.5 mi of that is on I 90.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 136.5 mi on I 90.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and South US Highway 83. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 31.5 miles in.

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 3h 52m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 168.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 168.6 miles (SD 25 / SD Highway 25): Navigation decision point.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Fort Pierre, SD to Madison, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Farmer along the way.

Farmer

168.3 mi in | ~2h 44m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 220.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 136.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through SD can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.

The main spots that need attention: at 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 168.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 168.6 miles (SD 25 / SD Highway 25): Navigation decision point.

Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Madison, SD, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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