Origin
Fort Thompson, SD
Late night in Fort Thompson on Thursday
Local time
12:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Thompson, SD to Mitchell, SD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 30m
Distance
91.7 mi
148 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 34m
3 PM
1h 36m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Thompson, SD
Esteban Carriazo
Mitchell, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fort Thompson, SD to Mitchell, SD covers 91.7 miles and takes about 1h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 4, Highway 249, Highway 34 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.34 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
45.9 miles from Fort Thompson, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 30m drive with frequent turns across 91.7 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.
Route 4 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Fort Thompson, SD to Mitchell, SD is easy. At 1h 30m 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 Fort Thompson, SD to Mitchell, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 4 | — | — |
| Highway 249 | — | — |
| Highway 34 | — | — |
| Highway 50 | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
| East Mott Avenue | — | — |
| North Sanborn Street | — | — |
| East King Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Route 4
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Thompson, SD and Mitchell, SD.
1
Start on BIA Route 4
66 ft
·
2 sec
·
BIA Route 4
2
Turn right onto SD Highway 249
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
SD Highway 249
3
Turn straight onto SD Highway 34
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
SD Highway 34
4
Turn right onto SD Highway 50
19 mi
·
28 min
·
SD Highway 50
5
Continue on North Main Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
6
Turn left onto East Mott Avenue
331 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Mott Avenue
7
Turn right onto North Sanborn Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Sanborn Street
8
Turn left onto East King Street
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
East King Street
9
Take the ramp left toward I 90 East
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 90 East
10
Merge slight left
64 mi
·
59 min
11
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
12
Turn left onto South Ohlman Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Ohlman Street
13
Take the exit slight right
302 ft
·
8 sec
14
Turn straight onto West Havens Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Havens Avenue
15
Turn left onto South Sanborn Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sanborn Boulevard
16
Turn left onto West 1st Avenue
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
West 1st Avenue
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.9 miles from Fort Thompson, SD, or about 45m 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 20 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.9 miles or 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 14m
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 Fort Thompson, SD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Thompson, SD
This is one driving day of about 91.7 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Fort Thompson, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.9 mi from Fort Thompson, SD · 45m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Halfway reset
Meal breakThe midpoint is around 45.9 miles from Fort Thompson, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.34 one way
$28.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.74 | $31.48 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.65 | $35.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.25 | $40.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.63 | $4.40 |
| Efficient EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.7 | 0 | $12.84 | $5.87 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Destination
Mitchell, SD
Late night in Mitchell on Thursday
Local time
12:16 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
30 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
1h 30m 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 Mitchell, SD covers 91.7 miles and takes about 1h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 4, Highway 249, Highway 34. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.9 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 $14.34 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.
The drive from Fort Thompson, SD to Mitchell, SD is easy. At 1h 30m 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 Fort Thompson, SD to Mitchell, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fort Thompson, SD to Mitchell, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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