Origin
Rapid City, SD
Afternoon in Rapid City on Thursday
Local time
3:33 PM
MDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rapid City, SD to Keystone, SD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
30m
Distance
20.9 mi
34 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rapid City, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Keystone, SD
Patrick
Trip Overview
The drive from Rapid City, SD to Keystone, SD covers 20.9 miles and takes about 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Highway 16, Mount Rushmore Road, US 16A for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12 miles on South Highway 16. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 20.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 30m highway drive covering 20.9 miles, with most of the trip on South Highway 16 and Mount Rushmore Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 12 miles on South Highway 16.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Highway 16 is the longest continuous segment at about 12 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Highway 16 and Mount Rushmore Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 17.7 miles in near US 16A.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Rapid City, SD to Keystone, SD is easy. At 30m with 70% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.7 miles (US 16A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.4 miles (SD 40 / Reed Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
17.7 mi into trip
|
~23m 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
20.4 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
SD 40 / Reed Street
Turn left onto SD 40 / Reed Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
20.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Highway 16 | 12 mi | 14m |
| Mount Rushmore Road | 5.7 mi | 9m |
| US 16A | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Reed Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Highway 16
— 12 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rapid City, SD and Keystone, SD.
1
Start on US 16
5.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Mount Rushmore Road
2
Continue on US 16
12 mi
·
14 min
·
South Highway 16
3
Take the exit onto US 16A
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
US 16A
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Turn left onto SD 40
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Reed Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on SD 40
510 ft
·
19 sec
·
1st Street
6
Turn right
93 ft
·
6 sec
7
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.27 one way
$6.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.59 | $7.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.02 | $8.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.61 | $9.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.19 | $1.00 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Afternoon in Keystone on Thursday
Local time
3:33 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
33 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
30m 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 Rapid City, SD to Keystone, SD covers 20.9 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Highway 16, Mount Rushmore Road, US 16A. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.4 miles from Rapid City, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.27 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.
The drive from Rapid City, SD to Keystone, SD is easy. At 30m with 70% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.7 miles (US 16A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.4 miles (SD 40 / Reed Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Rapid City, SD to Keystone, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument.
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