Trip from Mission, SD to Madison, SD

Drive Time

3h 50m

Distance

232.1 mi

373 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 37m ★
6 AM
3h 50m
8 AM
4h 16m
10 AM
3h 59m
12 PM
3h 57m
3 PM
4h 0m
5 PM
4h 14m
8 PM
3h 43m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Mission, SD, SD

Mission, SD

Patrick

Downtown Madison, SD, SD

Madison, SD

Mike Norris

Trip Overview

The drive from Mission, SD to Madison, SD covers 232.1 miles and takes about 3h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, SD 25, Highway 25 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.25 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

116 miles from Mission, SD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 50m drive with frequent turns across 232.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway 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.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 50m 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 Mission, SD to Madison, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway Unavailable Refreshing
SD 25 Unavailable Refreshing
Highway 25 Unavailable Refreshing
Highway 34 Unavailable Refreshing
Northwest 2nd Street Unavailable Refreshing
North Egan Avenue Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 2nd Street

0.7 mi · 55 sec · 2nd Street
2

Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

1.8 mi · 2 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
3

Take the exit slight right

0.1 mi · 17 sec
4

Merge slight left onto Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

42 mi · 47 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
5

Take the exit right

0.3 mi · 40 sec
6

Merge slight left

157 mi · 2 hr 26 min
7

Take the exit slight right toward SD 25: Emery, Farmer

0.3 mi · 48 sec · SD 25: Emery, Farmer
8

Turn left onto SD Highway 25

24 mi · 27 min · SD Highway 25
9

Turn right onto SD Highway 34

27 mi · 37 min · SD Highway 34
10

Continue on Northwest 2nd Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · Northwest 2nd Street
11

Turn right onto North Egan Avenue

384 ft · 11 sec · North Egan Avenue
12

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 116 miles from Mission, SD, or about 1h 55m 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 80 miles or 1h 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 116 miles or 1h 55m 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 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison, SD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Mission, 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 Mission, SD

This is one driving day of about 232.1 miles and 3h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mission, 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 116 mi from Mission, SD · 1h 55m into the drive

Downtown Fort Thompson, SD, SD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fort Thompson, SD

116 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

Pierre, SD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Thompson, SD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 116 miles from Mission, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Madison, SD

The final approach into Madison, 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 Madison, 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

$35.25 one way

$70.51 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 81 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $38.86 $77.73
premium $4.80 $43.82 $87.63
diesel $5.64 $51.56 $103.13

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 81.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 69.6 0 $24.37 $11.14
Efficient EV 58 0 $20.31 $9.28
EV Truck/SUV 92.8 1 $32.49 $14.85

Gas CO2

81 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Mission, SD

Evening in Mission on Sunday

Local time

6:05 PM

CDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Madison, SD

Evening in Madison on Sunday

Local time

6:05 PM

CDT

Current temp

38°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

Same local time

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

Temperature spread

4 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

3h 50m 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 Mission, SD to Madison, SD covers 232.1 miles and takes about 3h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, SD 25, Highway 25. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 116 miles from Mission, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.25 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 50m 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 Mission, SD to Madison, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mission, SD to Madison, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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