Origin
Lemmon, SD
Afternoon in Lemmon on Thursday
Local time
2:16 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lemmon, SD to Harrisburg, SD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
7h 35m
Distance
412.9 mi
664 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$65
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 26m
★
6 AM
7h 36m
8 AM
7h 55m
10 AM
7h 43m
12 PM
7h 41m
3 PM
7h 44m
5 PM
7h 55m
8 PM
7h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lemmon, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Harrisburg, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lemmon, SD to Harrisburg, SD covers 412.9 miles and takes about 7h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 29, US 12, 10th Street East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 135.4 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $64.55 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
206.4 miles from Lemmon, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 57m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 35m. Total distance: 412.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 35m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 7h 35m highway drive covering 412.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 29 and US 12. The longest continuous stretch is about 135.4 miles on I 29.
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 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 135.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and US 12. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 12; SD 73 / 10th Street East.
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 7h 35m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 5 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 12; SD 73 / 10th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 271.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.2 miles (I 29; US 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 12; SD 73 / 10th Street East
Turn left onto US 12; SD 73 / 10th Street East
Navigation decision point
6
271.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 29, US 81: Watertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29, US 81: Watertown
5
272.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 16m in
|
I 29; US 81
Merge onto I 29; US 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
407.5 mi into trip
|
~7h 26m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
407.8 mi into trip
|
~7h 26m in
|
CR 110 / 273rd Street
Turn left onto CR 110 / 273rd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 135.4 mi | 2h 9m |
| US 12 | 135.2 mi | 2h 40m |
| 10th Street East | 95.6 mi | 1h 48m |
| US Highway 12 | 36.3 mi | 41m |
| 273rd Street | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| West Grand Crossing | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| West Willow Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Highway 12 & 83 | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 135.4 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lemmon, SD and Harrisburg, SD.
1
Start on Main Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 12; SD 73
96 mi
·
1 hr 48 min
·
10th Street East
3
Continue on US 12; SD 20
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Grand Crossing
4
Continue on US 12; SD 20; SD 1804
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US Highway 12
5
Continue on US 12; US 83; SD 20
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 12 & 83
6
Continue on US 12; US 83; SD 20
18 mi
·
20 min
·
US Highway 12
7
Continue on US 12; SD 47
35 mi
·
40 min
·
US 12; SD 47
8
Continue on US 12; SD 45
100 mi
·
1 hr 59 min
·
US 12; SD 45
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 29, US 81: Watertown
10
Merge onto I 29; US 81
135 mi
·
2 hr 9 min
·
I 29; US 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
12
Turn left onto CR 110
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
273rd Street
13
Continue on CR 110
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West Willow Street
14
Arrive at destination
CR 110
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 206.4 miles from Lemmon, SD, or about 3h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135.4 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 91 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 206.4 miles or 3h 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 6h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisburg, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lemmon, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lemmon, SD
This is one driving day of about 412.9 miles and 7h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Lemmon, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 135.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 206.4 mi from Lemmon, SD · 3h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
206 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 91 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 206.4 miles from Lemmon, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 29 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 135.4 miles.
Arriving in Harrisburg, SD
The final approach into Harrisburg, 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 Harrisburg, 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
$64.55 one way
$129.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
145 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $70.88 | $141.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $79.46 | $158.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $91.16 | $182.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 144.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 123.9 | 1 | $43.35 | $19.82 |
| Efficient EV | 103.2 | 1 | $36.13 | $16.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 165.2 | 2 | $57.81 | $26.43 |
Gas CO2
144 kg
EV CO2
48 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Harrisburg, SD
Afternoon in Harrisburg on Thursday
Local time
3:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
23 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
7h 35m 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 Lemmon, SD to Harrisburg, SD covers 412.9 miles and takes about 7h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, US 12, 10th Street East. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 206.4 miles from Lemmon, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $64.55 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 2 meaningful breaks 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 7h 35m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 5 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 12; SD 73 / 10th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 271.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.2 miles (I 29; US 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lemmon, SD to Harrisburg, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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