Origin
Fort Pierre, SD
Night in Fort Pierre on Friday
Local time
10:42 PM
MDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Pierre, SD to Brandon, SD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 42m
Distance
226 mi
364 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 29m
★
6 AM
3h 42m
8 AM
4h 7m
10 AM
3h 51m
12 PM
3h 48m
3 PM
3h 52m
5 PM
4h 6m
8 PM
3h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Pierre, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Brandon, SD
Patrick
Trip Overview
The drive from Fort Pierre, SD to Brandon, SD covers 226 miles and takes about 3h 42m 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, North Splitrock Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 193 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.33 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
113 miles from Fort Pierre, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 42m. Total distance: 226 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 42m highway drive covering 226 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and South US Highway 83. The longest continuous stretch is about 193 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 10 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 193 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 42m 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 31.8 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 224.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
31.5 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
31.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
224.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 39m in
Take the exit toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
7
225 mi into trip
|
~3h 39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
4
226 mi into trip
|
~3h 41m in
|
East Sylvan Circle
Turn left onto East Sylvan Circle
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 193 mi | 3h 2m |
| South US Highway 83 | 30.9 mi | 35m |
| North Splitrock Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South 1st Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Sylvan Circle | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Pipestone Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 193 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Pierre, SD and Brandon, 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
193 mi
·
3 hr 2 min
·
I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
6
Keep slight right at fork
228 ft
·
5 sec
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
7
Turn slight right onto SD 11
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Splitrock Boulevard
8
Turn left onto East Sylvan Circle
107 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Sylvan Circle
9
Turn left onto North Pipestone Street
44 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Pipestone Street
10
Arrive at destination
North Pipestone Street
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 113 miles from Fort Pierre, SD, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 193 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 50 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113 miles or 1h 53m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brandon, 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 226 miles and 3h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 193 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113 mi from Fort Pierre, SD · 1h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 113 miles from Fort Pierre, 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 193 miles.
Arriving in Brandon, SD
The final approach into Brandon, 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 Brandon, 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
$35.33 one way
$70.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.79 | $77.59 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.49 | $86.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.90 | $99.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.73 | $10.85 |
| Efficient EV | 56.5 | 0 | $19.78 | $9.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.4 | 1 | $31.64 | $14.46 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Brandon, SD
Night in Brandon on Friday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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 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 42m 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 Fort Pierre, SD to Brandon, SD covers 226 miles and takes about 3h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, South US Highway 83, North Splitrock Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 113 miles from Fort Pierre, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.33 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 42m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 31.8 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 224.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Fort Pierre, SD to Brandon, 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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