Trip from Garretson, SD to Spearfish, SD

Drive Time

5h 55m

Distance

406.8 mi

655 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$62

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 43m ★

6 AM

5h 56m

8 AM

6h 22m

10 AM

6h 5m

12 PM

6h 2m

3 PM

6h 6m

5 PM

6h 20m

8 PM

5h 48m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Trip Overview

The drive from Garretson, SD to Spearfish, SD covers 406.8 miles and takes about 5h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 5th Street, River Avenue, 485th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $61.79 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

203.4 miles from Garretson, SD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 55m drive with frequent turns across 406.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

5th Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 55m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Garretson, SD to Spearfish, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
5th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
River Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
485th Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
254th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
482nd Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 90	Unavailable	Refreshing
Jackson Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing
East Jackson Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: 5th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Garretson, SD and Spearfish, SD.

1

Start on North Main Avenue

292 ft · 9 sec · North Main Avenue

2

Turn left onto 5th Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · 5th Street

3

At the end of the road, turn left onto River Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · River Avenue

4

Continue on 485th Avenue

0.4 mi · 43 sec · 485th Avenue

5

Continue on 254th Street

2.8 mi · 3 min · 254th Street

6

Continue on 482nd Avenue

6.4 mi · 8 min · 482nd Avenue

7

Take the ramp slight right toward I 90: Sioux Falls

0.3 mi · 38 sec · I 90: Sioux Falls

8

Merge slight left

394 mi · 6 hr 16 min

9

Take the exit slight right toward Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State University

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State University

10

Turn left onto East Jackson Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Jackson Boulevard

11

Turn left onto North Main Street

148 ft · 14 sec · North Main Street

12

Arrive at your destination

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 203.4 miles from Garretson, SD, or about 2h 57m 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 89 miles or 1h 17m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 203.4 miles or 2h 57m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 3m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Garretson, 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 Garretson, SD

This is one driving day of about 406.8 miles and 5h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Garretson, 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 203.4 mi from Garretson, SD · 2h 57m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fort Thompson, SD

203 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

Mitchell, SD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 89 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Thompson, SD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 203.4 miles from Garretson, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Spearfish, SD

The final approach into Spearfish, 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 Spearfish, 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

$61.79 one way

$123.58 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 142 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$68.11	$136.23
premium	$4.80	$76.80	$153.59
diesel	$5.64	$90.38	$180.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$62

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$87–$112

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 142.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	122	1	$42.71	$19.53
Efficient EV	101.7	1	$35.60	$16.27
EV Truck/SUV	162.7	2	$56.95	$26.04

Gas CO2

142 kg

EV CO2

48 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Garretson, SD

Night in Garretson on Sunday

Local time

11:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Spearfish, SD

Night in Spearfish on Sunday

Local time

10:06 PM

MDT

Current temp

40°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 earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

2 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

5h 55m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Garretson, SD to Spearfish, SD covers 406.8 miles and takes about 5h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 5th Street, River Avenue, 485th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 203.4 miles from Garretson, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $61.79 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a straightforward 5h 55m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Garretson, SD to Spearfish, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Garretson, SD to Spearfish, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Garretson, SD or browse trips ending in Spearfish, SD.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SD road trips.

Explore maps for Garretson, SD or Spearfish, SD on MapSof.net.