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Trip from Fort Thompson, SD to Madison, SD

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 44m

Distance

117.8 mi

190 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Fair

1 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 34m ★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m

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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Downtown Fort Thompson, SD, SD

Fort Thompson, SD

Esteban Carriazo

city in Lake County, South Dakota, United States

Madison, SD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Fort Thompson, SD to Madison, SD covers 117.8 miles and takes about 2h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on SD Highway 34, Northwest 2nd Street, SD Highway 249 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 114.3 miles on SD Highway 34. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.42 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

58.9 miles from Fort Thompson, SD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 117.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 44m highway drive covering 117.8 miles, with most of the trip on SD Highway 34 and Northwest 2nd Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 114.3 miles on SD Highway 34.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
SD Highway 34 is the longest continuous segment at about 114.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SD Highway 34 and Northwest 2nd Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SD 249 / SD Highway 249.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Fort Thompson, SD to Madison, SD is easy. At 2h 44m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (SD 249 / SD Highway 249): Navigation decision point; at 117.7 miles (North Egan Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

2 of 2 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | SD 249 / SD Highway 249

Turn right onto SD 249 / SD Highway 249

Navigation decision point

4
117.7 mi into trip | ~2h 44m in | North Egan Avenue

Turn right onto North Egan Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
SD Highway 34 114.3 mi 2h 38m
Northwest 2nd Street 1.3 mi 2m
SD Highway 249 1.1 mi 1m
West 7th Street 1 mi 1m
North Egan Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
BIA Route 4 <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: SD Highway 34 — 114.3 mi, about 2h 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on BIA 4

65 ft · 1 sec · BIA Route 4
2

Turn right onto SD 249

1.1 mi · 1 min · SD Highway 249
3

Turn straight onto SD 34

57 mi · 1 hr 24 min · SD Highway 34
4

Continue on SD 34

1.0 mi · 1 min · West 7th Street
5

Continue on SD 34

57 mi · 1 hr 14 min · SD Highway 34
Use the straight lane.
6

Continue on US 81; SD 34

1.3 mi · 2 min · Northwest 2nd Street
7

Turn right onto North Egan Avenue

384 ft · 12 sec · North Egan Avenue
8

Arrive at destination

North Egan Avenue

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 58.9 miles from Fort Thompson, SD, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.3 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 26 miles or 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 58.9 miles or 1h 27m 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 16m

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 Thompson, 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 Thompson, SD

This is one driving day of about 117.8 miles and 2h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Fort Thompson, 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 SD Highway 34 for about 114.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 58.9 mi from Fort Thompson, SD · 1h 27m into the drive

Downtown Mitchell, SD, SD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mitchell, SD

59 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

First break window

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mitchell, SD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58.9 miles from Fort Thompson, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before SD Highway 34 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 114.3 miles.

Arriving in Madison, SD

The final approach into Madison, 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 Madison, 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.

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 117.8

Madison, South Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.42 one way

$36.83 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $20.22 $40.44
premium $4.89 $22.67 $45.34
diesel $5.61 $26.01 $52.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

1 DC fast chargers · Coverage: fair

ChargePoint Charging Station

Madison, South Dakota

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.3 0 $12.37 $5.65
Efficient EV 29.5 0 $10.31 $4.71
EV Truck/SUV 47.1 0 $16.49 $7.54

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (66% 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

Fort Thompson, SD

Evening in Fort Thompson on Thursday

Local time

8:52 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Madison, SD

Evening in Madison on Thursday

Local time

8:52 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

27 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 44m 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 Thompson, SD to Madison, SD covers 117.8 miles and takes about 2h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are SD Highway 34, Northwest 2nd Street, SD Highway 249. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.9 miles from Fort Thompson, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.42 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 Fort Thompson, SD to Madison, SD is easy. At 2h 44m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SD 249 / SD Highway 249): Navigation decision point; at 117.7 miles (North Egan Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Fort Thompson, SD to Madison, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Madison, SD to Fort Thompson, SD

Plan the drive back the other way.

117.8 mi 2h 44m

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