Origin
Pierre, SD
Evening in Pierre on Sunday
Local time
6:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pierre, SD to Watertown, SD
Drive Time
4h 1m
Distance
205.5 mi
331 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 48m
★
6 AM
4h 1m
8 AM
4h 27m
10 AM
4h 10m
12 PM
4h 8m
3 PM
4h 12m
5 PM
4h 26m
8 PM
3h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pierre, SD
Leeloo The First
Watertown, SD
David Kanigan
Trip Overview
The drive from Pierre, SD to Watertown, SD covers 205.5 miles and takes about 4h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US Highway 14, SD Highway 25 South, East 3rd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 112.4 miles on US Highway 14. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.21 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
102.8 miles from Pierre, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 1m highway drive covering 205.5 miles, with most of the trip on US Highway 14 and SD Highway 25 South. The longest continuous stretch is about 112.4 miles on US Highway 14.
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 Highway 14 is the longest continuous segment at about 112.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 14 and SD Highway 25 South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 71.8 miles in near US 14 / East 3rd Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 1m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 71.8 miles (US 14 / East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 97 miles (US 14; US 281): Navigation decision point; at 103.6 miles (US 14 / US Highway 14): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
71.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
US 14 / East 3rd Street
Turn left onto US 14 / East 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
4
97 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
|
US 14; US 281
Turn right onto US 14; US 281
Navigation decision point
3
103.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
|
US 14 / US Highway 14
Turn left onto US 14 / US Highway 14
Navigation decision point
3
148.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 50m in
|
SD 25 / SD Highway 25 South
Turn left onto SD 25 / SD Highway 25 South
Navigation decision point
5
182.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m in
|
US 212; SD 25 / US Highway 212
At end of road, turn right onto US 212; SD 25 / US Highway 212
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 14 | 112.4 mi | 2h 7m |
| SD Highway 25 South | 34.2 mi | 40m |
| East 3rd Street | 25.2 mi | 28m |
| US Highway 212 | 14.5 mi | 18m |
| US 14 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| 9th Avenue Southwest | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| North Highway 14 | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| 4th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 14
— 112.4 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pierre, SD and Watertown, SD.
1
Start on SD 1889
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Euclid Avenue
2
Continue on SD 1889
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North Highway 14
3
Continue on US 14; US 83
68 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
US Highway 14
4
Turn right onto US 14; SD 45
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broadway
5
Turn left onto US 14
25 mi
·
28 min
·
East 3rd Street
6
Turn right onto US 14; US 281
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 14; US 281
7
Turn left onto US 14
30 mi
·
34 min
·
US Highway 14
8
Continue on US 14
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Neosho Street
9
Continue on US 14
15 mi
·
16 min
·
US Highway 14
10
Turn left onto SD 25
34 mi
·
40 min
·
SD Highway 25 South
11
At end of road, turn right onto US 212; SD 25
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US Highway 212
12
Continue on US 212
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Street
13
Continue on US 212
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 212
14
Continue on US 212
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
9th Avenue Southwest
15
Turn left onto South Broadway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Broadway
16
Arrive at destination
South Broadway
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 102.8 miles from Pierre, SD, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.4 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.8 miles or 1h 58m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Watertown, 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 205.5 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 Highway 14 for about 112.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 102.8 mi from Pierre, SD · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 102.8 miles from Pierre, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 14 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 112.4 miles.
Arriving in Watertown, SD
The final approach into Watertown, 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 Watertown, SD.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.21 one way
$62.43 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $34.41 | $68.82 |
| premium | $4.80 | $38.79 | $77.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $45.65 | $91.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.7 | 0 | $21.58 | $9.86 |
| Efficient EV | 51.4 | 0 | $17.98 | $8.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.2 | 1 | $28.77 | $13.15 |
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.
Destination
Watertown, SD
Evening in Watertown on Sunday
Local time
6:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°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
4h 1m 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 Watertown, SD covers 205.5 miles and takes about 4h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 14, SD Highway 25 South, East 3rd Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 102.8 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 $31.21 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 1m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 71.8 miles (US 14 / East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 97 miles (US 14; US 281): Navigation decision point; at 103.6 miles (US 14 / US Highway 14): Navigation decision point.
The route from Pierre, SD to Watertown, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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