Origin
Hill City, SD
Evening in Hill City on Thursday
Local time
8:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hill City, SD to Spearfish, SD
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
57.3 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 18m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 25m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hill City, SD
David Yu
Spearfish, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 57.3-mile drive from Hill City, South Dakota, to Spearfish, South Dakota, will take you about 1 hour and 13 minutes to complete. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, this short trip is easily manageable as a day trip, offering flexibility for exploration. The route stays within the Great Plains region, so expect a consistent landscape. It's characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting a more engaging and less straightforward journey than a typical interstate cruise. This makes it a good option if you prefer a route with more frequent navigation changes and a less predictable flow.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 57.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Prepare for a driving experience that's anything but monotonous. This 'turn-heavy local drive' means you'll be navigating a series of turns rather than cruising on long, straight stretches of highway. With a 0% highway share, you're fully immersed in local roads for the entire 57.3 miles. Since there's no designated 'longest stretch' provided in the data, anticipate frequent changes in direction and potentially varied speed limits as you make your way. This route prioritizes active driving over passive cruising.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Main 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hill City, SD to Spearfish, SD is easy. At 1h 13m 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 Hill City, SD to Spearfish, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | — | — |
| Highway 385 | — | — |
| Cliff Street | — | — |
| Charles Street | — | — |
| Pioneer Way | — | — |
| Highway 85 | — | — |
| I 90 West | — | — |
| Jackson Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hill City, SD and Spearfish, SD.
1
Start on Elm Street
62 ft
·
6 sec
·
Elm Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on Highway 385
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 385
4
Turn left onto Highway 385
17 mi
·
24 min
·
Highway 385
5
Continue on US Highway 385
20 mi
·
29 min
·
US Highway 385
6
At the end of the road, turn right onto Cliff Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cliff Street
7
Continue on Charles Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Charles Street
8
Merge slight left onto Pioneer Way
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Pioneer Way
9
Continue on Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
10
Turn left onto US Highway 85
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US Highway 85
11
Turn left onto I 90 West, US 14 West, US 85 North
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 90 West, US 14 West, US 85 North
12
Take the exit slight right toward Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State University
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State University
13
Turn left onto East Jackson Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jackson Boulevard
14
Turn left onto North Main Street
148 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Main Street
15
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.6 mi from Hill City, SD · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.6 miles from Hill City, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.96 one way
$17.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.84 | $19.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.03 | $22.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Spearfish, SD
Evening in Spearfish on Thursday
Local time
8:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 13m 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 Hill City, SD to Spearfish, SD covers 57.3 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Street, Highway 385, Cliff Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.6 miles from Hill City, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.96 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 Hill City, SD to Spearfish, SD is easy. At 1h 13m 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 Hill City, SD to Spearfish, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Hill City, SD to Spearfish, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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