Pierre to Porcupine is 205 miles and takes about 4 hours 5 minutes via US 83 and US 18, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you across the vast Great Plains of South Dakota, offering a straightforward, highway-focused experience. With 91% of the journey on highways, you'll find this route efficient for covering ground. It's a solid option if you're looking for a direct path with minimal fuss, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
102.6 miles from Pierre, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 5m. Total distance: 205.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch on US 83, covering 62.3 miles, which means you can settle in for some solid driving time without frequent turns. The route primarily follows US 83, then transitions to US 18 and State Highway 73, maintaining a consistent highway feel throughout its 205-mile length. Expect a smooth and direct journey across the plains.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 83 is the longest continuous segment at about 62.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 83 and US 18. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SD 1889 / South Pierre Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 5m 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: at 0.1 miles (SD 1889 / South Pierre Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 14; US 83; SD 34 / West Sioux Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 96.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SD 1889 / South Pierre Street
Turn left onto SD 1889 / South Pierre Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 14; US 83; SD 34 / West Sioux Avenue
Turn right onto US 14; US 83; SD 34 / West Sioux Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
96.2 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward SD 73 North: Kadoka
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SD 73 North: Kadoka
4
96.6 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|I 90 Business; SD 73 / SD Highway 73
Turn left onto I 90 Business; SD 73 / SD Highway 73
Navigation decision point
4
142.4 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|US 18; SD 73
Turn right onto US 18; SD 73
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 83
62.3 mi
58m
US 18
48.1 mi
57m
State Highway 73
44.6 mi
51m
South US Highway 83
30.6 mi
34m
Big Foot Trail
14.6 mi
35m
SD Highway 73
1.2 mi
2m
North 1st Street
1 mi
1m
West Sioux Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 83
— 62.3 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pierre, SD and Porcupine, SD.
1
Start on SD 1889
0.1 mi·15 sec·South Euclid Avenue
2
Turn left onto SD 1889
0.1 mi·13 sec·South Pierre Street
3
Turn right onto US 14; US 83; SD 34
0.9 mi·1 min·West Sioux Avenue
4
Continue on US 14; US 83; SD 34
0.5 mi·35 sec·North Highway 83
5
Continue on US 83
0.7 mi·45 sec·North Deadwood Street
6
Continue on US 83; SD 1806
1.0 mi·1 min·North 1st Street
7
Continue on US 83; SD 1806
31 mi·34 min·South US Highway 83
8
Take the exit onto US 83
62 mi·58 min·US 83
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward SD 73 North: Kadoka
10
Turn left onto I 90 Business; SD 73
1.2 mi·2 min·SD Highway 73
11
Continue on SD 73
45 mi·51 min·State Highway 73
12
Turn right onto US 18; SD 73
48 mi·57 min·US 18; SD 73
13
Turn right onto BIA 27
15 mi·35 min·Big Foot Trail
14
Turn right onto Main Street
124 ft·8 sec·Main Street
15
Turn left onto Eagle Drive
29 ft·1 sec·Eagle Drive
16
Arrive at destination
Eagle Drive
Trip Plan
Given this drive is about 4 hours and 5 minutes, it’s easily manageable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving Pierre in the morning to make the most of daylight. While the drive is primarily highway, keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 62.3-mile stretch on US 83, as services might be spaced out in this region. You'll only have one recommended stop, so plan accordingly for any needed breaks or refueling.
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 102.6 miles from Pierre, SD, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.3 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 45 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.6 miles or 1h 46m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Porcupine, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pierre, 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 Pierre, SD
This is one driving day of about 205.1 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Pierre, 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 US 83 for about 62.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 102.6 mi from Pierre, SD
· 1h 46m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.07 one way
$64.13 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$35.21
$70.41
premium
$4.89
$39.47
$78.94
diesel
$5.61
$45.28
$90.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
7 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Destination Charger
Pierre, South Dakota
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Pierre, South Dakota
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Murdo, South Dakota
Tesla
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Pierre, South Dakota
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Pierre, South Dakota
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Pierre, South Dakota
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Enel X Way Charging Station
Blunt, South Dakota
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination: 2
ChargePoint: 2
EV Connect: 1
Tesla: 1
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.5
0
$21.54
$9.84
Efficient EV
51.3
0
$17.95
$8.20
EV Truck/SUV
82
1
$28.71
$13.13
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Pierre, SD
Evening
in Pierre on Friday
Local time
5:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Porcupine, SD
Afternoon
in Porcupine on Friday
Local time
4:58 PM
MDT
Current temp
37°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
40 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
4h 5m 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 Pierre, SD to Porcupine, SD covers 205.1 miles and takes about 4h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 83, US 18, State Highway 73. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 102.6 miles from Pierre, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.07 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 4h 5m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SD 1889 / South Pierre Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 14; US 83; SD 34 / West Sioux Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 96.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Pierre, SD to Porcupine, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
