Origin
Sioux Falls, SD
Afternoon in Sioux Falls on Sunday
Local time
4:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sioux Falls, SD to Rapid City, SD
Drive Time
5h 37m
Distance
350.4 mi
564 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 24m
★
6 AM
5h 38m
8 AM
6h 4m
10 AM
5h 47m
12 PM
5h 44m
3 PM
5h 48m
5 PM
6h 3m
8 PM
5h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sioux Falls, SD
Tom Fisk
Rapid City, SD
Mike Lensing
Trip Overview
The drive from Sioux Falls, SD to Rapid City, SD covers 350.4 miles and takes about 5h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, I 229 Business, I 190 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 343.1 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.22 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
175.2 miles from Sioux Falls, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 49m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 37m highway drive covering 350.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and I 229 Business. The longest continuous stretch is about 343.1 miles on I 90.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 343.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 229 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 8th Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 37m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 5 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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
5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
348.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 190, US 16: Downtown, Black Hawk National Forest, Mount Rushmore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 190, US 16: Downtown, Black Hawk Natio...
7
350.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 36m in
|
US 16 / Mount Rushmore Road
Turn right onto US 16 / Mount Rushmore Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 343.1 mi | 5h 25m |
| I 229 Business | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| I 190 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Mount Rushmore Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Omaha Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 8th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Lowell Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 10th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 343.1 mi, about 5h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux Falls, SD and Rapid City, 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
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 229 Business
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 90
7
Merge onto I 90
343 mi
·
5 hr 25 min
·
I 90
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 190, US 16: Downtown, Black Hawk National Forest, Mount Rushmore
9
Continue on I 190
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 190
10
Turn left onto US 16; SD 44
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Omaha Street
Use the none / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto US 16
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Mount Rushmore Road
Use the right lane.
12
Arrive at destination
US 16
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 175.2 miles from Sioux Falls, SD, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 343.1 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 80 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.2 miles or 2h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rapid City, 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 350.4 miles and 5h 37m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 343.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 175.2 mi from Sioux Falls, SD · 2h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
175 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 175.2 miles from Sioux Falls, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 343.1 miles.
Arriving in Rapid City, SD
The final approach into Rapid City, 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 Rapid City, SD.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.22 one way
$106.44 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
123 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $58.67 | $117.34 |
| premium | $4.80 | $66.15 | $132.30 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $77.85 | $155.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 105.1 | 1 | $36.79 | $16.82 |
| Efficient EV | 87.6 | 1 | $30.66 | $14.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 140.2 | 1 | $49.06 | $22.43 |
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Rapid City, SD
Afternoon in Rapid City on Sunday
Local time
3:54 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 37m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Rapid City, SD covers 350.4 miles and takes about 5h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, I 229 Business, I 190. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 175.2 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 $53.22 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 37m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 5 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sioux Falls, SD to Rapid City, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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