Origin
Madison, SD
Late night in Madison on Saturday
Local time
4:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, SD to Fort Pierre, SD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 52m
Distance
220.1 mi
354 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 39m
★
6 AM
3h 52m
8 AM
4h 18m
10 AM
4h 1m
12 PM
3h 59m
3 PM
4h 3m
5 PM
4h 17m
8 PM
3h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Pierre, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Madison, SD to Fort Pierre, SD covers 220.1 miles and takes about 3h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northwest 2nd Street, Highway 34, Highway 25 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.41 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
110 miles from Madison, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 220.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 52m drive with frequent turns across 220.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northwest 2nd 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
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 3h 52m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Madison, SD to Fort Pierre, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest 2nd Street | — | — |
| Highway 34 | — | — |
| Highway 25 | — | — |
| US 83 North | — | — |
| Highway 83 | — | — |
| South 1st Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Northwest 2nd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, SD and Fort Pierre, SD.
1
Start on North Egan Avenue
384 ft
·
20 sec
·
North Egan Avenue
2
Turn left onto Northwest 2nd Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
3
Continue on SD Highway 34
27 mi
·
37 min
·
SD Highway 34
4
Turn left onto SD Highway 25
24 mi
·
27 min
·
SD Highway 25
5
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
6
Merge slight left
136 mi
·
2 hr 7 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 83 North, SD 53: Pierre State Capitol, Fort Pierre
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 83 North, SD 53: Pierre State Capitol, Fort Pierre
8
Keep slight left
322 ft
·
9 sec
9
Turn right onto US Highway 83
31 mi
·
34 min
·
US Highway 83
10
Continue on South 1st Street
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
South 1st Street
11
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 110 miles from Madison, SD, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
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 48 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110 miles or 1h 56m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Pierre, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madison, 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 Madison, SD
This is one driving day of about 220.1 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Madison, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 110 mi from Madison, SD · 1h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
110 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 110 miles from Madison, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fort Pierre, SD
The final approach into Fort Pierre, 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 Fort Pierre, SD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.41 one way
$68.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.78 | $75.56 |
| premium | $4.89 | $42.36 | $84.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.60 | $97.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66 | 0 | $23.11 | $10.56 |
| Efficient EV | 55 | 0 | $19.26 | $8.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88 | 1 | $30.81 | $14.09 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Fort Pierre, SD
Late night in Fort Pierre on Saturday
Local time
3:27 AM
MDT
Current temp
78°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
4 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
3h 52m 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 Madison, SD to Fort Pierre, SD covers 220.1 miles and takes about 3h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northwest 2nd Street, Highway 34, Highway 25. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 110 miles from Madison, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.41 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 52m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Madison, SD to Fort Pierre, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Madison, SD to Fort Pierre, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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