Origin
Preston, SD
Evening in Preston on Wednesday
Local time
6:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Preston, SD to Kirk, SD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
32m
Distance
9 mi
14 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Preston, SD
Julio Lopez
Kirk, SD
Luis Quintero
Trip Overview
This short 9-mile drive from Preston to Kirk, South Dakota, will take you about 32 minutes to complete. It's a perfect candidate for a quick day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The route primarily uses local roads, with a low highway share of only 4%, giving you a more intimate feel of the Great Plains landscape. With an estimated fuel cost of just $1, this is an incredibly budget-friendly excursion. Consider this route for a brief, straightforward journey within South Dakota.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
4.5 miles from Preston, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, characterized by its winding nature rather than long, straight stretches. You'll navigate Cutting Mine Road, Wharf Mine Road, and Richmond Hill Road, with the longest uninterrupted segment being 3.5 miles on Cutting Mine Road. Given the low highway share (4%), this drive offers a more connected experience to the local terrain. The constant turns suggest a need for attentive driving, making it feel more engaging than a typical interstate cruise.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cutting Mine Road is the longest continuous segment at about 3.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near Richmond Hill Road.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 9 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.4 miles (Richmond Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (Cutting Mine Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (US 14A; US 85 Truck / US Highway 14A): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
2.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Richmond Hill Road
Turn right onto Richmond Hill Road
Navigation decision point
4
3.2 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
Cutting Mine Road
Turn left onto Cutting Mine Road
Navigation decision point
4
6.7 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 14A; US 85 Truck / US Highway 14A
At end of road, turn right onto US 14A; US 85 Truck / US Highway 14A
Navigation decision point
4
7.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Chicago Street
Turn right onto Chicago Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Chicago Street
Keep slight left at fork onto Chicago Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting Mine Road | 3.5 mi | 13m |
| Wharf Mine Road | 2.4 mi | 9m |
| Richmond Hill Road | 0.8 mi | 3m |
| Mountain View Drive | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Glendale Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| US Highway 14A | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Lost Irishman Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Cutting Mine Road
— 3.5 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Preston, SD and Kirk, SD.
1
Start on Wharf Mine Road
2.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Wharf Mine Road
2
Turn right onto Richmond Hill Road
0.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Richmond Hill Road
3
Turn left onto Cutting Mine Road
3.5 mi
·
13 min
·
Cutting Mine Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 14A; US 85 Truck
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
US Highway 14A
5
Continue on US 14A; US 85 Truck
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
Glendale Drive
6
Turn right onto Chicago Street
147 ft
·
6 sec
·
Chicago Street
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Chicago Street
350 ft
·
15 sec
·
Chicago Street
8
Continue on 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
3rd Street
9
Turn left onto Mountain View Drive
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Mountain View Drive
10
Turn left onto Grier Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Grier Avenue
11
Turn left onto Lost Irishman Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lost Irishman Road
12
Turn left
249 ft
·
18 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 9-mile distance and 32-minute duration, you have a lot of flexibility with this trip. There are no designated stops, so you can depart whenever suits you best. Since the fuel cost is minimal at around $1, don't worry about frequent refueling. The main roads are Cutting Mine Road, Wharf Mine Road, and Richmond Hill Road, so keep an eye on your GPS to navigate the turns. Because this is such a brief journey, you might consider combining it with other local explorations in the Great Plains region of South Dakota.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 4.5 miles from Preston, SD, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3.5 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 9 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4.5 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kirk, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Preston, SD.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Preston, SD
This is one driving day of about 9 miles and 32m.
At 9 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Cutting Mine Road for about 3.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4.5 mi from Preston, SD · 17m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Arriving in Kirk, SD
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Kirk, 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
$1.41 one way
$2.81 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.54 | $3.09 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.73 | $3.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.99 | $3.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.94 | $0.43 |
| Efficient EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.79 | $0.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.26 | $0.58 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Kirk, SD
Evening in Kirk on Wednesday
Local time
6:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
50°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
14 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
32m 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 Preston, SD to Kirk, SD covers 9 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cutting Mine Road, Wharf Mine Road, Richmond Hill Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.5 miles from Preston, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.41 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 9 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.4 miles (Richmond Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (Cutting Mine Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles (US 14A; US 85 Truck / US Highway 14A): Navigation decision point.
The route from Preston, SD to Kirk, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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