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Trip from Madison, SD to Freeman, SD

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 24m

Distance

61.4 mi

99 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 18m ★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 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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city in Lake County, South Dakota, United States

Madison, SD

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Freeman, SD, SD

Freeman, SD

Julio Lopez

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick transition through the South Dakota Great Plains, the drive from Madison to Freeman is a straightforward 61.4-mile trip. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 24 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day journey. Budget roughly $9 for fuel to cover the distance, which is entirely manageable in one go without needing an overnight stay. Since the route stays firmly within the Great Plains region, you will experience consistent terrain throughout the trip. It is a highly practical connection that favors efficiency over complex navigation, perfect if you want to reach your destination with minimal fuss.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

30.7 miles from Madison, SD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This 61.4-mile trek is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of your time spent on major thoroughfares like US Highway 81 and SD Highway 34. You will spend the bulk of your journey on US Highway 81, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 45.3 miles. Because the route relies so heavily on these fast-moving roads, you can maintain a steady pace for the duration of the trip. The transition into Northwest 2nd Street marks the final leg of your drive as you approach Freeman. Expect a consistent, predictable driving experience that avoids the stop-and-go nature of heavy urban traffic.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US Highway 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 45.3 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,709 ft 1,441 ft

Total Climb

105 ft

Total Descent

268 ft

Highest Point

1,709 ft

~10.2 mi in

Elevation Range

268 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 81 and SD Highway 34. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SD 34 / Northwest 2nd Street.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Madison, SD to Freeman, SD is easy. At 1h 24m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SD 34 / Northwest 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (US 81 / US Highway 81): Navigation decision point; at 60.2 miles (East North County Road): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | SD 34 / Northwest 2nd Street

Turn left onto SD 34 / Northwest 2nd Street

Navigation decision point

3
13.9 mi into trip | ~20m in | US 81 / US Highway 81

Turn left onto US 81 / US Highway 81

Navigation decision point

4
60.2 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | East North County Road

Turn right onto East North County Road

Navigation decision point

4
61.1 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in | North Main Street

Turn left onto North Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
61.4 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | East 3rd Street

Turn left onto East 3rd Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US Highway 81 45.3 mi 59m
SD Highway 34 12.5 mi 18m
Northwest 2nd Street 1.3 mi 1m
North Nebraska Street 1 mi 1m
East North County Road 0.9 mi 2m
North Main Street 0.3 mi <1m
North Egan Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
East 3rd Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US Highway 81 — 45.3 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Madison, SD and Freeman, SD.

1

Start on North Egan Avenue

384 ft · 20 sec · North Egan Avenue
2

Turn left onto SD 34

1.3 mi · 1 min · Northwest 2nd Street
3

Continue on US 81; SD 34

13 mi · 18 min · SD Highway 34
4

Turn left onto US 81

19 mi · 28 min · US Highway 81
5

Continue on US 81

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Nebraska Street
6

Continue on US 81

26 mi · 31 min · US Highway 81
7

Turn right onto East North County Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · East North County Road
8

Turn left onto North Main Street

0.3 mi · 54 sec · North Main Street
9

Turn left onto East 3rd Street

28 ft · 1 sec · East 3rd Street
10

Arrive at destination

East 3rd Street

Trip Plan

Because this route is short and direct, you have total flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning complex rest stops since there are zero scheduled breaks required to complete the 1 hour and 24-minute drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as a $9 estimate is based on standard consumption; filling up in Madison ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station mid-route. Since you are spending nearly the entire trip on highways, stay alert for changing speed limits as you move from the open stretches of US Highway 81 onto local town roads. This is a simple, low-stress transit that allows you to arrive in Freeman refreshed and ready for your next stop.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30.7 miles from Madison, SD, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.3 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 61.4 miles or 1h 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 30.7 miles or 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Freeman, 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 61.4 miles and 1h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Madison, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 81 for about 45.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 30.7 mi from Madison, SD · 45m into the drive

city in South Dakota, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tea, SD

31 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

Yankton, SD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tea, SD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.7 miles from Madison, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Freeman, SD

The final approach into Freeman, 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 Freeman, 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

$9.60 one way

$19.20 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $10.54 $21.08
premium $4.89 $11.82 $23.63
diesel $5.61 $13.56 $27.11

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.4 0 $6.45 $2.95
Efficient EV 15.4 0 $5.37 $2.46
EV Truck/SUV 24.6 0 $8.60 $3.93

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Madison, SD

Afternoon in Madison on Wednesday

Local time

2:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Sunny

WSW 15 to 25 mph 10% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 3:22AM MDT until April 12 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 3:22AM MDT until April 12 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD

Destination

Freeman, SD

Afternoon in Freeman on Wednesday

Local time

2:41 PM

CDT

Current temp

83°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 15 to 25 mph 10% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 3:22AM MDT until April 12 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 3:22AM MDT until April 12 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 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 24m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Freeman, SD covers 61.4 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 81, SD Highway 34, Northwest 2nd 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 30.7 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 $9.60 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 Madison, SD to Freeman, SD is easy. At 1h 24m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SD 34 / Northwest 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (US 81 / US Highway 81): Navigation decision point; at 60.2 miles (East North County Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Madison, SD to Freeman, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 1,441 ft to 1,709 ft elevation with about 105 ft of total climbing.

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