Origin
Lead, SD
Night in Lead on Thursday
Local time
11:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lead, SD to Spearfish, SD
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
24m
Distance
18.5 mi
30 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lead, SD
Patrick
Spearfish, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 18.5-mile drive from Lead to Spearfish, South Dakota, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 24 minutes, making it ideal as a single-day excursion. Primarily utilizing US Highway 85, this route falls within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape throughout. With a modest estimated fuel cost of just $3, it's an economical option for connecting these two towns. The experience is focused on highway travel, so you won't need to worry about splitting this short journey or planning an overnight stay; it’s designed for efficient travel.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 18.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this journey, with 71% of the drive on main roads like US Highway 85 and West Main Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.7 miles on US Highway 85, providing a consistent pace. This route is characterized by its efficiency rather than winding scenic byways. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, making for a predictable and smooth ride as you transition from Lead to Spearfish.
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.
US Highway 85 is the longest continuous segment at about 7.7 miles.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,212 ft
3,643 ft
Total Climb
425 ft
Total Descent
1,994 ft
Highest Point
5,212 ft
Elevation Range
1,569 ft
Notable High Points
4,803 ft at ~5.3 miles
+146 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 85 and US 85. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 85 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 24m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 85 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (US 85 / US Highway 85): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (US 85): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 85 / West Main Street
Turn left onto US 85 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 85 / US Highway 85
Turn left onto US 85 / US Highway 85
Navigation decision point
5
12 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 85
Turn left onto US 85 toward I 90 West, US 14 West, US 85 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 West, US 14 West, US 85 North
5
17.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State Uni...
4
17.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
East Jackson Boulevard
Turn left onto East Jackson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Lead, SD to Spearfish, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Black Hills State University along the way.
Black Hills State University
17.5 mi in
|
~21m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 85 | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| US 85 | 5.5 mi | 5m |
| West Main Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Cliff Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Charles Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Jackson Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Pioneer Way | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 85
— 7.7 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lead, SD and Spearfish, SD.
1
Start on this road
102 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 85
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on US 85
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US Highway 85
4
Continue on US 85
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cliff Street
5
Continue on US 85
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Charles Street
6
Merge onto US 14A; US 85
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Pioneer Way
7
Continue on US 14A; US 85
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
8
Turn left onto US 85
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US Highway 85
9
Turn left onto US 85
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
US 85
Toward I 90 West, US 14 West, US 85 North
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State University
11
Turn left onto East Jackson Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jackson Boulevard
12
Turn left onto I 90 Business
149 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.89 one way
$5.78 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.18 | $6.35 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.56 | $7.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.08 | $8.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.94 | $0.89 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.62 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.59 | $1.18 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
Night in Spearfish on Thursday
Local time
11:23 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
28 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
24m 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 Lead, SD to Spearfish, SD covers 18.5 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 85, US 85, West Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.2 miles from Lead, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.89 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.
This is a straightforward 24m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 85 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (US 85 / US Highway 85): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (US 85): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Lead, SD to Spearfish, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Black Hills State University along the way.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs. The route ranges from 3,643 ft to 5,212 ft elevation with about 425 ft of total climbing. There is 1 notable high point along the way.
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