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Trip from Jefferson, SD to Box Elder, SD

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 28m

Distance

406.9 mi

655 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$64

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
6h 16m ★
6 AM
6h 28m
8 AM
6h 53m
10 AM
6h 37m
12 PM
6h 34m
3 PM
6h 38m
5 PM
6h 52m
8 PM
6h 21m

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 Jefferson, SD, SD

Jefferson, SD

Tom Fisk

city in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States

Box Elder, SD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Jefferson, SD to Box Elder, SD covers 406.9 miles and takes about 6h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 90, I 29, Highway 1416 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 329.1 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $63.61 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 Jefferson, SD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 14m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 28m. Total distance: 406.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 28m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 6h 28m highway drive covering 406.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch is about 329.1 miles on I 90.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 329.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 29. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 1B / Main Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 28m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 1B / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 75.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 404.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 mi into trip | ~0m in | CR 1B / Main Street

Turn left onto CR 1B / Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
75.6 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in

Take the exit toward I 90 West: Rapid City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 90 West: Rapid City
5
404.9 mi into trip | ~6h 24m 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
4
405.3 mi into trip | ~6h 24m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
406.8 mi into trip | ~6h 28m in | Front Street

Turn right onto Front Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 329.1 mi 5h 9m
I 29 74.4 mi 1h 12m
Highway 1416 0.9 mi 1m
West Dakota Street 0.7 mi 1m
Liberty Boulevard 0.5 mi <1m
Main Street 0.2 mi <1m
Oak Street 0.1 mi <1m
Front Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 329.1 mi, about 5h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South 3rd Street

56 ft · 7 sec · South 3rd Street
2

Turn left onto CR 1B

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Main Street
3

Turn left onto West Dakota Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Dakota Street
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
5

Merge onto I 29

74 mi · 1 hr 12 min · I 29
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 90 West: Rapid City
7

Merge onto I 90

329 mi · 5 hr 9 min · I 90
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
9

Keep slight left at fork

92 ft · 7 sec
10

Turn left onto Liberty Boulevard

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Liberty Boulevard
11

Turn right onto Highway 1416

0.9 mi · 1 min · Highway 1416
12

Turn left onto Oak Street

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Oak Street
13

Turn right onto Front Street

94 ft · 4 sec · Front Street
14

Arrive at destination

Front Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

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 Jefferson, SD, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 329.1 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 90 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 203.4 miles or 3h 14m 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 29m

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 Jefferson, 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 Jefferson, SD

This is one driving day of about 406.9 miles and 6h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Jefferson, 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 329.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 203.4 mi from Jefferson, SD · 3h 14m into the drive

Downtown Fort Thompson, SD, SD

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

Sioux Falls, 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 203.3 miles from Jefferson, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park

National Park

The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The...

25 mi from route ~62 min detour $30 near mile 364.8
Caution: Navigation
View on nps.gov
Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

National Memorial

Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, tell the story of the birth, growth, devel...

25 mi from route ~62 min detour Free near mile 406.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$63.61 one way

$127.23 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 142 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $69.85 $139.69
premium $4.89 $78.30 $156.61
diesel $5.61 $89.84 $179.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$64

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$89–$114

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 142.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 122.1 1 $42.72 $19.53
Efficient EV 101.7 1 $35.60 $16.28
EV Truck/SUV 162.8 2 $56.97 $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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Jefferson, SD

Morning in Jefferson on Saturday

Local time

6:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Box Elder, SD

Late night in Box Elder on Saturday

Local time

5:37 AM

MDT

Current temp

46°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

31 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

6h 28m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Jefferson, SD to Box Elder, SD covers 406.9 miles and takes about 6h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 90, I 29, Highway 1416. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

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

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $63.61 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

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.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 28m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 1B / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 75.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 404.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Jefferson, SD to Box Elder, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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