Origin
Rapid City, SD
Afternoon in Rapid City on Thursday
Local time
4:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rapid City, SD to Porcupine, SD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 50m
Distance
83.6 mi
134 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 40m
★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rapid City, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Porcupine, SD
Magda Ehlers
Trip Overview
The drive from Rapid City, SD to Porcupine, SD covers 83.6 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Highway 44, North Big Foot Trail, Big Foot Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.3 miles on East Highway 44. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.07 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
41.8 miles from Rapid City, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 83.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive from Rapid City, SD to Porcupine, SD covers 83.6 miles and takes about 2h 50m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Highway 44 is the longest continuous segment at about 40.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near SD 44 / Omaha Street.
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 Porcupine, SD is easy. At 2h 50m with 56% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (SD 44 / Omaha Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.5 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 83.5 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SD 44 / Omaha Street
Turn right onto SD 44 / Omaha Street
Navigation decision point
3
42.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
83.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 50m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
83.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 50m in
|
Eagle Drive
Turn left onto Eagle Drive
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Highway 44 | 40.3 mi | 1h 6m |
| North Big Foot Trail | 19.2 mi | 46m |
| Big Foot Trail | 7.9 mi | 19m |
| Bombing Range Road | 6.8 mi | 16m |
| Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 27 | 6.8 mi | 16m |
| Omaha Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Mount Rushmore Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Highway 44
— 40.3 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rapid City, SD and Porcupine, SD.
1
Start on US 16
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Mount Rushmore Road
2
Turn right onto SD 44
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Omaha Street
3
Continue on SD 44
40 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
East Highway 44
4
Turn right onto Main Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Main Street
5
Continue on Bombing Range Road
6.8 mi
·
16 min
·
Bombing Range Road
6
Continue on BIA 27
7.9 mi
·
19 min
·
Big Foot Trail
7
Continue on BIA 27
6.8 mi
·
16 min
·
Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 27
8
Continue on BIA 27
19 mi
·
46 min
·
North Big Foot Trail
9
Turn left onto Main Street
124 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
10
Turn left onto Eagle Drive
29 ft
·
1 sec
·
Eagle Drive
11
Arrive at destination
Eagle Drive
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 41.8 miles from Rapid City, SD, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.3 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 18 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.8 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
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 Rapid City, 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 Rapid City, SD
This is one driving day of about 83.6 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Rapid City, 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 East Highway 44 for about 40.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.8 mi from Rapid City, SD · 1h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.8 miles from Rapid City, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Porcupine, SD
The final approach into Porcupine, 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 Porcupine, SD.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.07 one way
$26.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.35 | $28.70 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.09 | $32.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.46 | $36.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.78 | $4.01 |
| Efficient EV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.31 | $3.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.4 | 0 | $11.70 | $5.35 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Porcupine, SD
Afternoon in Porcupine on Thursday
Local time
4:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
26°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
52 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
2h 50m 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 Porcupine, SD covers 83.6 miles and takes about 2h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Highway 44, North Big Foot Trail, Big Foot Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.8 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 $13.07 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Rapid City, SD to Porcupine, SD is easy. At 2h 50m with 56% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (SD 44 / Omaha Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.5 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 83.5 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Rapid City, SD to Porcupine, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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