Origin
Spearfish, SD
Morning in Spearfish on Thursday
Local time
9:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spearfish, SD to Parkston, SD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 40m
Distance
341.7 mi
550 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 27m
★
6 AM
5h 40m
8 AM
6h 7m
10 AM
5h 50m
12 PM
5h 47m
3 PM
5h 51m
5 PM
6h 6m
8 PM
5h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spearfish, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Parkston, SD
Julio Lopez
Trip Overview
The drive from Spearfish, SD to Parkston, SD covers 341.7 miles and takes about 5h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Main Street, East Jackson Boulevard, I 90 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.42 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
170.9 miles from Spearfish, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 40m. Total distance: 341.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 40m drive with frequent turns across 341.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
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 5h 40m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Spearfish, SD to Parkston, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Main Street | — | — |
| East Jackson Boulevard | — | — |
| I 90 East | — | — |
| Mitchell | — | — |
| South Burr Street | — | — |
| Highway 37 | — | — |
| West Glynn Drive | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spearfish, SD and Parkston, SD.
1
Start on North Main Street
85 ft
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Continue on North Main Street
167 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Main Street
3
Turn right onto East Jackson Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jackson Boulevard
4
Take the ramp right toward I 90 East, US 85 South
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 90 East, US 85 South
5
Merge slight left
14 mi
·
14 min
6
Continue straight
7.6 mi
·
7 min
7
Continue straight
24 mi
·
24 min
8
Continue straight
274 mi
·
4 hr 19 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward Mitchell
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Mitchell
10
Keep slight right
190 ft
·
5 sec
11
Turn slight right onto South Burr Street
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Burr Street
12
Continue on South Highway 37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Highway 37
13
Continue on SD Highway 37
19 mi
·
28 min
·
SD Highway 37
14
Turn left onto West Glynn Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Glynn Drive
15
Arrive at your destination
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 170.9 miles from Spearfish, SD, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
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 75 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.9 miles or 2h 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 4h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parkston, 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 341.7 miles and 5h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 170.9 mi from Spearfish, SD · 2h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
171 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 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 170.9 miles from Spearfish, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Parkston, SD
The final approach into Parkston, 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 Parkston, 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
$53.42 one way
$106.84 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
120 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $58.65 | $117.31 |
| premium | $4.89 | $65.76 | $131.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $75.44 | $150.89 |
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: 119.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 102.5 | 1 | $35.88 | $16.40 |
| Efficient EV | 85.4 | 0 | $29.90 | $13.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 136.7 | 1 | $47.84 | $21.87 |
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 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
Parkston, SD
Morning in Parkston on Thursday
Local time
10:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
24 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
5h 40m 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 Parkston, SD covers 341.7 miles and takes about 5h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Main Street, East Jackson Boulevard, I 90 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 170.9 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 $53.42 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 40m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Spearfish, SD to Parkston, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Spearfish, SD to Parkston, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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