Origin
Scenic, SD
Afternoon in Scenic on Thursday
Local time
4:02 PM
MDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scenic, SD to Keystone, SD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
61.4 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Keystone, SD
Patrick
Trip Overview
The drive from Scenic, SD to Keystone, SD covers 61.4 miles and takes about 1h 35m 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, South Highway 16, US 16A for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.5 miles on East Highway 44. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.60 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.
Midpoint
30.7 miles from Scenic, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 61.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 35m highway drive covering 61.4 miles, with most of the trip on East Highway 44 and South Highway 16. The longest continuous stretch is about 38.5 miles on East Highway 44.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 38.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East Highway 44 and South Highway 16. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (SD 44 / East Highway 44): Navigation decision point; at 58.2 miles (US 16A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SD 44 / East Highway 44
At end of road, turn left onto SD 44 / East Highway 44
Navigation decision point
5
58.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m 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
60.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
SD 40 / Reed Street
Turn left onto SD 40 / Reed Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
61.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Highway 44 | 38.5 mi | 1h 3m |
| South Highway 16 | 12 mi | 14m |
| US 16A | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Elk Vale Road | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Catron Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| East Catron Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Mount Rushmore Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Reed Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
East Highway 44
— 38.5 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scenic, SD and Keystone, SD.
1
Start on 2nd Street
10 ft
·
5 sec
·
2nd Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto SD 44
39 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
East Highway 44
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge onto US 16 Truck; SD 79
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Elk Vale Road
6
Continue on US 16 Truck
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East Catron Boulevard
7
Continue on US 16 Truck
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Catron Boulevard
8
Turn left onto US 16
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Rushmore Road
9
Continue on US 16
12 mi
·
14 min
·
South Highway 16
10
Take the exit onto US 16A
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
US 16A
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn left onto SD 40
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Reed Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Continue on SD 40
510 ft
·
19 sec
·
1st Street
13
Turn right
93 ft
·
6 sec
14
Arrive at destination
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30.7 miles from Scenic, SD, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.5 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 14 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.7 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Keystone, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scenic, SD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Scenic, SD
This is one driving day of about 61.4 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Scenic, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East Highway 44 for about 38.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.7 mi from Scenic, SD · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.7 miles from Scenic, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Keystone, SD
The final approach into Keystone, SD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.60 one way
$19.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.54 | $21.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.82 | $23.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.56 | $27.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
| Efficient EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.37 | $2.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.60 | $3.93 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Keystone, SD
Afternoon in Keystone on Thursday
Local time
4:02 PM
MDT
Current temp
45°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
8 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
1h 35m 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 Scenic, SD to Keystone, SD covers 61.4 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Highway 44, South Highway 16, 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 30.7 miles from Scenic, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.60 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 is a straightforward 1h 35m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (SD 44 / East Highway 44): Navigation decision point; at 58.2 miles (US 16A): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Scenic, SD to Keystone, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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