Origin
New Underwood, SD
Night in New Underwood on Thursday
Local time
9:30 PM
MDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Underwood, SD to Keystone, SD
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
54m
Distance
42.8 mi
69 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Keystone, SD
Patrick
Trip Overview
The drive from New Underwood, SD to Keystone, SD covers 42.8 miles and takes about 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, South Highway 16, North Elk Vale Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.9 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 42.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 54m highway drive covering 42.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and South Highway 16. The longest continuous stretch is about 15.9 miles on I 90.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 15.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and South Highway 16. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 39.7 miles (US 16A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
17.3 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
17.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
39.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 16A
Take the exit onto US 16A
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
42.4 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
SD 40 / Reed Street
Turn left onto SD 40 / Reed Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
42.8 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Turn right
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 New Underwood, SD to Keystone, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Crazy Horse along the way.
Crazy Horse
17.3 mi in
|
~19m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 15.9 mi | 16m |
| South Highway 16 | 12 mi | 14m |
| North Elk Vale Road | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| US 16A | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Catron Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| East Catron Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Mount Rushmore Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| 161st Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 15.9 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Underwood, SD and Keystone, SD.
1
Start on South A Avenue
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
South A Avenue
2
Turn right onto Highway 1416
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Highway 1416
3
Turn left onto 161st Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
161st Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
5
Merge onto I 90; US 14
16 mi
·
16 min
·
I 90; US 14
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
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
North Elk Vale Road
9
Continue on US 16 Truck
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East Catron Boulevard
10
Continue on US 16 Truck
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Catron Boulevard
11
Turn left onto US 16
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Rushmore Road
12
Continue on US 16
12 mi
·
14 min
·
South Highway 16
13
Take the exit onto US 16A
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
US 16A
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Turn left onto SD 40
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Reed Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Continue on SD 40
510 ft
·
19 sec
·
1st Street
16
Turn right
93 ft
·
6 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.4 mi from New Underwood, SD · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from New Underwood, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Keystone, SD
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Keystone, SD if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.69 one way
$13.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.35 | $14.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.24 | $16.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.45 | $18.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.99 | $2.74 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Keystone, SD
Night in Keystone on Thursday
Local time
9:30 PM
MDT
Current temp
45°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
6 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
54m 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 New Underwood, SD to Keystone, SD covers 42.8 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, South Highway 16, 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 21.4 miles from New Underwood, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.69 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 39.7 miles (US 16A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from New Underwood, SD to Keystone, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Crazy Horse along the way.
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