Trip from Spearfish, SD to Gregory, SD

Drive Time

5h 13m

Distance

285.7 mi

460 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 0m ★
6 AM
5h 13m
8 AM
5h 40m
10 AM
5h 23m
12 PM
5h 20m
3 PM
5h 24m
5 PM
5h 39m
8 PM
5h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Spearfish, SD, SD

Spearfish, SD

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Gregory, SD, SD

Gregory, SD

Luis Quintero

Trip Overview

Spanning 285.7 miles across the South Dakota Great Plains, this drive typically takes about 5 hours and 13 minutes to complete. Because the route is straightforward, it is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $43 for fuel to cover the distance between Spearfish and Gregory. Since both locations are situated within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent landscape throughout the journey. This trip is an ideal choice if you prefer a focused drive that gets you to your destination efficiently without the need for an overnight stay.

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

142.8 miles from Spearfish, SD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 87% of your travel occurs on major thoroughfares. The journey begins with a significant 213.8-mile stretch on I-90, which allows for steady progress across the state. As you transition from the interstate onto US-183 and 277th Street, the road environment shifts, requiring a bit more attention to navigation. While the majority of the trip is an interstate grind, the final segments offer a change of pace from the long, uninterrupted highway miles. You will find that the road remains consistent and predictable, making it a reliable route for those who value steady travel speeds.

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.
I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 213.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 183. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Jackson Boulevard.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 13m 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: near the start (East Jackson Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 214.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Jackson Boulevard

Turn right onto East Jackson Boulevard

Navigation decision point

5
0.6 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 90 East, US 85 South

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 90 East, US 85 South
4
214.7 mi into trip | ~3h 28m in

Take the exit toward US 183: Winner

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 183: Winner
5
215 mi into trip | ~3h 29m in | US 183

Turn right onto US 183

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
5
250.7 mi into trip | ~4h 20m in | US 18; US 183; SD 44 / 277th Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 18; US 183; SD 44 / 277th Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 213.8 mi 3h 25m
US 183 35.7 mi 50m
277th Street 34.4 mi 51m
East Jackson Boulevard 0.5 mi 1m
Park Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
West 6th Street 0.2 mi <1m
North Main Street <0.1 mi <1m
East 6th Street Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: I 90 — 213.8 mi, about 3h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Spearfish, SD and Gregory, SD.

1

Start on I 90 Business

85 ft · 30 sec · North Main Street
2

Continue on I 90 Business

166 ft · 9 sec · North Main Street
3

Turn right onto East Jackson Boulevard

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Jackson Boulevard
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward I 90 East, US 85 South
5

Merge onto I 90; US 14; US 85

14 mi · 14 min · I 90; US 14; US 85
6

Continue on I 90; US 14; SD 34

7.6 mi · 7 min · I 90; US 14; SD 34
7

Continue on I 90; US 14; SD 79

24 mi · 24 min · I 90; US 14; SD 79
8

Continue on I 90; US 14; US 16 Truck; SD 79

168 mi · 2 hr 40 min · I 90; US 14; US 16 Truck; SD 79
Use the none lane.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward US 183: Winner
10

Turn right onto US 183

36 mi · 50 min · US 183
Use the none lane.
11

At end of road, turn left onto US 18; US 183; SD 44

34 mi · 51 min · 277th Street
12

Turn left onto SD 47

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Park Avenue
13

Turn right onto West 6th Street

0.2 mi · 56 sec · West 6th Street
14

Arrive at destination

East 6th Street

Trip Plan

For the best experience, aim for a morning departure to comfortably handle the 5-hour and 13-minute travel time before dusk. Since the plan includes one primary stop, try to time your break after finishing the long 213.8-mile stretch on I-90 to maximize your momentum. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the final transition onto US-183 and 277th Street, as service options may be less frequent than on the interstate. Flexibility is a key advantage here, so feel free to adjust your pace if weather conditions on the Great Plains shift. Always double-check your route map before leaving the interstate, as the transition to local roads requires a clear plan for your final approach into Gregory.

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 142.8 miles from Spearfish, SD, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 213.8 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 20m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 142.8 miles or 2h 20m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gregory, SD than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Spearfish, 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 Spearfish, SD

This is one driving day of about 285.7 miles and 5h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Spearfish, 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 213.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 142.8 mi from Spearfish, SD · 2h 20m into the drive

Downtown Pierre, SD, SD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pierre, SD

143 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.

Popular next leg

Pierre, SD to Gregory, SD

118.4 mi · 2h 36m

Pacing Suggestions

Rapid City, SD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Pierre, SD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 142.8 miles from Spearfish, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 213.8 miles.

Arriving in Gregory, SD

The final approach into Gregory, 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 Gregory, 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

$43.39 one way

$86.79 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $47.84 $95.68
premium $4.80 $53.93 $107.87
diesel $5.64 $63.47 $126.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 100 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 85.7 1 $30.00 $13.71
Efficient EV 71.4 0 $25.00 $11.43
EV Truck/SUV 114.3 1 $40.00 $18.28

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

33 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Spearfish, SD

Evening in Spearfish on Sunday

Local time

6:21 PM

MDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gregory, SD

Evening in Gregory on Sunday

Local time

7:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°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 later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

3 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

5h 13m 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 Spearfish, SD to Gregory, SD covers 285.7 miles and takes about 5h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, US 183, 277th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 142.8 miles from Spearfish, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.39 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 13m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Jackson Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 214.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Spearfish, SD to Gregory, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Gregory, SD to Spearfish, SD

Plan the drive back the other way.

285.9 mi 5h 13m

Explore more options from Spearfish, SD or browse trips ending in Gregory, SD.

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