The drive from Mitchell, SD to Hot Springs, SD covers 329 miles and takes about 5h 26m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90 Business, SD 79, North Elk Vale Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 268.4 miles on I 90 Business.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.44 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
164.5 miles from Mitchell, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 26m. Total distance: 329 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 5h 26m highway drive covering 329 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 Business and SD 79. The longest continuous stretch is about 268.4 miles on I 90 Business.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 90 Business is the longest continuous segment at about 268.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 Business and SD 79. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Sanborn Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 26m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Sanborn Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 90 Business; SD 37 / South Ohlman Street): Navigation decision point; at 270.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South Sanborn Boulevard
Turn right onto South Sanborn Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|I 90 Business; SD 37 / South Ohlman Street
Turn left onto I 90 Business; SD 37 / South Ohlman Street
Navigation decision point
5
270.4 mi into trip|~4h 18m in
Take the exit toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore...
5
270.6 mi into trip|~4h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
329 mi into trip|~5h 26m in|University Avenue
Turn right onto University Avenue
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mitchell, SD to Hot Springs, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Crazy Horse along the way.
Crazy Horse
270.4 mi in|~4h 18m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90 Business
268.4 mi
4h 13m
SD 79
47.9 mi
53m
North Elk Vale Road
5.3 mi
7m
Fall River Road
4 mi
4m
West Havens Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Jensen Highway
0.7 mi
1m
South Ohlman Street
0.6 mi
1m
South Sanborn Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90 Business
— 268.4 mi, about 4h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mitchell, SD and Hot Springs, SD.
1
Start on West 1st Avenue
34 ft·5 sec·West 1st Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Sanborn Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·South Sanborn Boulevard
3
Turn right onto I 90 Business
0.9 mi·2 min·West Havens Avenue
4
Turn left onto I 90 Business; SD 37
0.6 mi·1 min·South Ohlman Street
5
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
268 mi·4 hr 13 min·I 90 Business
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
8
Continue on US 16 Truck; SD 79
5.3 mi·7 min·North Elk Vale Road
9
Take the exit onto SD 79
48 mi·53 min·SD 79
10
Turn right onto US 18; US 385
4.0 mi·4 min·Fall River Road
11
Continue on US 18; US 385
0.7 mi·1 min·Jensen Highway
12
Continue on US 385
0.3 mi·32 sec·South Chicago Street
13
Turn right onto University Avenue
211 ft·14 sec·University Avenue
14
Turn left
91 ft·6 sec
15
Arrive at 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 164.5 miles from Mitchell, SD, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 268.4 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 72 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.5 miles or 2h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hot Springs, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mitchell, 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 Mitchell, SD
This is one driving day of about 329 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Mitchell, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 90 Business for about 268.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 164.5 mi from Mitchell, SD
· 2h 38m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Wind Cave National Park
National Park
Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands a...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 306.3
Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, tell the story of the birth, growth, devel...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 283.6
The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
$30
near mile 215.6
Immerse yourself in one of the longest caves in the world. With over 220 miles of mapped and surveyed passages, this underground wilderness appeals to human curiosity. Its splendor is revealed through...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 329
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.44 one way
$102.87 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$56.47
$112.95
premium
$4.89
$63.31
$126.63
diesel
$5.61
$72.64
$145.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
1 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: sparse
Tesla Supercharger
Murdo, South Dakota
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.7
1
$34.55
$15.79
Efficient EV
82.3
0
$28.79
$13.16
EV Truck/SUV
131.6
1
$46.06
$21.06
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Mitchell, SD
Late night
in Mitchell on Friday
Local time
3:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hot Springs, SD
Late night
in Hot Springs on Friday
Local time
2:34 AM
MDT
Current temp
80°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
3 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
5h 26m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Mitchell, SD to Hot Springs, SD covers 329 miles and takes about 5h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90 Business, SD 79, North Elk Vale Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 164.5 miles from Mitchell, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.44 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 26m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Sanborn Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 90 Business; SD 37 / South Ohlman Street): Navigation decision point; at 270.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Mitchell, SD to Hot Springs, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Crazy Horse along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
