Origin
Sioux Falls, SD
Afternoon in Sioux Falls on Sunday
Local time
4:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sioux Falls, SD to Brandon, SD
Drive Time
15m
Distance
11.5 mi
18 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sioux Falls, SD
Tom Fisk
Brandon, SD
Julio Lopez
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick commute or a simple change of scenery, the 11.5-mile journey from Sioux Falls to Brandon is an incredibly efficient trip. Expect to spend only 15 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize I-90 and I-229 Business to navigate between these two Great Plains communities. With fuel costs estimated at just $2, this is a highly budget-friendly route that requires no overnight stops. It is a straightforward, practical drive that bridges two neighboring South Dakota cities without any unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
5.7 miles from Sioux Falls, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 81% of your travel time spent on major thoroughfares. You will experience a brief, uninterrupted 5.4-mile stretch along I-90, which provides the bulk of the driving experience. As you transition off the interstate, the route shifts into the local flow of North Splitrock Boulevard to reach your destination. The character of the road is functional and steady, moving you quickly through the landscape. You can expect a consistent pace that minimizes the stop-and-go traffic often found on slower, secondary roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 5.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 229 Business. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 8th Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 11.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (East 8th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (North Lowell Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 8th Street
At end of road, turn left onto East 8th Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Lowell Avenue
Turn right onto North Lowell Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5
10.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
7
10.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 5.4 mi | 5m |
| I 229 Business | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| North Splitrock Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East 8th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Lowell Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 10th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Chicago Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Sylvan Circle | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 5.4 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux Falls, SD and Brandon, SD.
1
Start on North Chicago Avenue
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Chicago Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto East 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
East 8th Street
3
Turn right onto North Lowell Avenue
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Lowell Avenue
4
Turn left onto I 229 Business; SD 42
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East 10th Street
5
Take the ramp onto I 229 Business
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
I 229 Business
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 90
7
Merge onto I 90
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 90
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
9
Keep slight right at fork
228 ft
·
5 sec
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
10
Turn slight right onto SD 11
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Splitrock Boulevard
11
Turn left onto East Sylvan Circle
107 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Sylvan Circle
12
Turn left onto North Pipestone Street
44 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Pipestone Street
13
Arrive at destination
North Pipestone Street
Trip Plan
Because this drive takes only 15 minutes, you have maximum flexibility when planning your departure time. Since there are no required stops on this 11.5-mile route, you can easily fit this travel into a busy schedule without needing a formal itinerary. Keep in mind that the majority of your time will be spent on the highway, so ensure your vehicle is ready for a quick-burst interstate run. Your best strategy is to simply time your departure to avoid local peak traffic hours on I-90. Given the minimal fuel cost of $2, you can complete this trip spontaneously without worrying about complex logistics or refueling breaks.
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 5.7 miles from Sioux Falls, SD, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.4 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 11.5 miles or 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.7 miles or 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brandon, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sioux Falls, 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 Sioux Falls, SD
This is one driving day of about 11.5 miles and 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sioux Falls, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 5.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.7 mi from Sioux Falls, SD · 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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
Arriving in Brandon, SD
The final approach into Brandon, 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 Brandon, 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
$1.75 one way
$3.49 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $1.93 | $3.85 |
| premium | $4.80 | $2.17 | $4.34 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.55 | $5.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.21 | $0.55 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.01 | $0.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Brandon, SD
Afternoon in Brandon on Sunday
Local time
4:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°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
1 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
15m 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 Sioux Falls, SD to Brandon, SD covers 11.5 miles and takes about 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, I 229 Business, North Splitrock Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.7 miles from Sioux Falls, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.75 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 11.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.1 miles (East 8th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (North Lowell Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sioux Falls, SD to Brandon, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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