Origin
Madison, SD
Afternoon in Madison on Wednesday
Local time
4:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, SD to Garretson, SD
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
51.2 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Garretson, SD
Patrick
Trip Overview
The drive from Madison, SD to Garretson, SD covers 51.2 miles and takes about 1h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northeast 2nd Street, North Washington Avenue, Southeast 10th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.00 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
25.6 miles from Madison, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 12m drive with frequent turns across 51.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northeast 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Madison, SD to Garretson, SD is easy. At 1h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Madison, SD to Garretson, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast 2nd Street | — | — |
| North Washington Avenue | — | — |
| Southeast 10th Street | — | — |
| Highway 34 | — | — |
| Southwest 3rd Street | — | — |
| Southeast 3rd Street | — | — |
| I 29 | — | — |
| SD 115 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Northeast 2nd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, SD and Garretson, SD.
1
Start on North Egan Avenue
384 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Egan Avenue
2
Turn right onto Northeast 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Northeast 2nd Street
3
Turn right onto North Washington Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Avenue
4
Turn left onto Southeast 10th Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast 10th Street
5
Continue on SD Highway 34
13 mi
·
18 min
·
SD Highway 34
6
Continue on Southwest 3rd Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest 3rd Street
7
Continue on Southeast 3rd Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast 3rd Street
8
Continue on SD Highway 34
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
SD Highway 34
9
Take the ramp right toward I 29: Sioux Falls
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 29: Sioux Falls
10
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
10 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward SD 115: Dell Rapids, Colton
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
SD 115: Dell Rapids, Colton
12
Turn left onto 246th Street
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
246th Street
13
Continue on West 4th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 4th Street
14
Turn right onto North Highway 115
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Highway 115
15
Continue on 475th Avenue
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
475th Avenue
16
Turn left onto 250th Street
10.0 mi
·
17 min
·
250th Street
17
Turn right onto 485th Avenue
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
485th Avenue
18
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Street
19
Turn right onto North Main Avenue
292 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Main Avenue
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 25.6 miles from Madison, SD, or about 36m 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 11 miles or 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.6 miles or 36m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Garretson, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Madison, SD
This is one driving day of about 51.2 miles and 1h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 11 miles from Madison, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.6 mi from Madison, SD · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Madison, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Garretson, SD
The final approach into Garretson, SD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.00 one way
$16.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.79 | $17.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.85 | $19.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.30 | $22.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Garretson, SD
Afternoon in Garretson on Wednesday
Local time
4:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 12m 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 Garretson, SD covers 51.2 miles and takes about 1h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northeast 2nd Street, North Washington Avenue, Southeast 10th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.6 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 $8.00 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 Garretson, SD is easy. At 1h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Madison, SD to Garretson, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Madison, SD to Garretson, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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