Trip from Gregory, SD to Box Elder, SD

Drive Time

4h 17m

Distance

231.8 mi

373 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 4m ★
6 AM
4h 18m
8 AM
4h 44m
10 AM
4h 27m
12 PM
4h 24m
3 PM
4h 28m
5 PM
4h 43m
8 PM
4h 10m

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

Downtown Gregory, SD, SD

Gregory, SD

Luis Quintero

Downtown Box Elder, SD, SD

Box Elder, SD

James Owen

Trip Overview

Spanning 231.8 miles across South Dakota, this trip takes you from Gregory to Box Elder in approximately 4 hours and 17 minutes. You will primarily navigate US Highway 18 and 307th Avenue before merging onto I-90 for the bulk of your travel. Because the total drive time is manageable, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. Budgeting about $35 for fuel should cover your transit across the Great Plains. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that connects two distinct points within the same region, making it a reliable choice for travelers who prefer predictable road conditions.

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

115.9 miles from Gregory, SD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a drive that transitions from local roads to a high-speed interstate experience. With 84% of your journey spent on highways, you will quickly settle into a rhythm once you reach the main thoroughfares. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel will be spent on a 158.7-mile stretch along I-90, which serves as the backbone of this trip. While the initial segments involve navigating US Highway 18 and 307th Avenue, the transition to the interstate offers a consistent, efficient pace. This route maintains a steady character, favoring long, uninterrupted driving stretches over complex or technical maneuvers.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 158.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and 307th Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near SD 47 / Park Avenue.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (SD 47 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 35 miles (US 183; SD 44; SD 53 / 307th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~1m in | SD 47 / Park Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto SD 47 / Park Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
35 mi into trip | ~52m in | US 183; SD 44; SD 53 / 307th Avenue

Turn right onto US 183; SD 44; SD 53 / 307th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
5
71.1 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in | I 90

Merge onto I 90

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
5
229.9 mi into trip | ~4h 13m in

Take the exit toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base

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

Toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
5
231.8 mi into trip | ~4h 17m in | Front Street

Turn right onto Front Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 158.7 mi 2h 28m
307th Avenue 35.8 mi 51m
US Highway 18 34.4 mi 51m
Highway 1416 0.9 mi 1m
Liberty Boulevard 0.5 mi <1m
Park Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
East 6th Street 0.2 mi 1m
Oak Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 158.7 mi, about 2h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gregory, SD and Box Elder, SD.

1

Start on East 6th Street

0.2 mi · 1 min · East 6th Street
2

At end of road, turn left onto SD 47

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Park Avenue
3

Turn right onto US 18

34 mi · 51 min · US Highway 18
4

Turn right onto US 183; SD 44; SD 53

36 mi · 51 min · 307th Avenue
Use the none lane.
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 44 sec
6

Merge onto I 90

159 mi · 2 hr 28 min · I 90
Use the none lane.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
8

Keep slight left at fork

92 ft · 7 sec
9

Turn left onto Liberty Boulevard

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Liberty Boulevard
10

Turn right onto Highway 1416

0.9 mi · 1 min · Highway 1416
11

Turn left onto Oak Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Oak Street
12

Turn right onto Front Street

94 ft · 4 sec · Front Street
13

Arrive at destination

Front Street

Trip Plan

Since this 4-hour and 17-minute trek is designed for a single day, aim to depart early to maximize your time once you arrive in Box Elder. You should plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $35 gas budget in mind as you pace the 231.8-mile distance. Because the longest segment consists of 158.7 miles on I-90, ensure your vehicle is prepped for sustained speeds before you merge onto the interstate. Flexibility is a major advantage here; since the duration is relatively short, you have plenty of room to adjust your departure time based on local traffic or weather conditions across the Great Plains.

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 115.9 miles from Gregory, SD, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.7 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 80 miles or 1h 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 115.9 miles or 2h 26m 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 36m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Gregory, 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 Gregory, SD

This is one driving day of about 231.8 miles and 4h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Gregory, 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 158.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 115.9 mi from Gregory, SD · 2h 26m into the drive

Downtown Pierre, SD, SD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pierre, SD

116 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

Pierre, SD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pierre, SD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 115.9 miles from Gregory, 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 158.7 miles.

Arriving in Box Elder, SD

The final approach into Box Elder, 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 Box Elder, 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

$35.21 one way

$70.42 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 81 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $38.81 $77.63
premium $4.80 $43.76 $87.52
diesel $5.64 $51.50 $103.00

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: 81.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 69.5 0 $24.34 $11.13
Efficient EV 58 0 $20.28 $9.27
EV Truck/SUV 92.7 1 $32.45 $14.84

Gas CO2

81 kg

EV CO2

27 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Gregory, SD

Evening in Gregory on Sunday

Local time

6:04 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Box Elder, SD

Evening in Box Elder on Sunday

Local time

5:04 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

3 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

4h 17m 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 Gregory, SD to Box Elder, SD covers 231.8 miles and takes about 4h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, 307th Avenue, US Highway 18. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 115.9 miles from Gregory, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.21 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 4h 17m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (SD 47 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 35 miles (US 183; SD 44; SD 53 / 307th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Gregory, SD to Box Elder, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Box Elder, SD to Gregory, SD

Plan the drive back the other way.

231.4 mi 4h 16m

Explore more options from Gregory, SD or browse trips ending in Box Elder, SD.

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