Origin
Watertown, SD
Evening in Watertown on Sunday
Local time
6:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Watertown, SD to Box Elder, SD
Drive Time
5h 50m
Distance
352.9 mi
568 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 37m
★
6 AM
5h 50m
8 AM
6h 17m
10 AM
5h 59m
12 PM
5h 57m
3 PM
6h 1m
5 PM
6h 15m
8 PM
5h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Watertown, SD
David Kanigan
Box Elder, SD
James Owen
Trip Overview
The drive from Watertown, SD to Box Elder, SD covers 352.9 miles and takes about 5h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 9th Avenue Southwest, Highway 212, 4th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.60 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
176.4 miles from Watertown, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 50m drive with frequent turns across 352.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
9th Avenue Southwest 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 50m 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 Watertown, SD to Box Elder, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 9th Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 212 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 4th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 25 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 34 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Box Elder | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Liberty Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 1416 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
9th Avenue Southwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watertown, SD and Box Elder, SD.
1
Start on South Broadway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Broadway
2
Turn right onto 9th Avenue Southwest
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
9th Avenue Southwest
3
Continue on US Highway 212
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 212
4
Continue on 4th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Street
5
Continue on US Highway 212
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US Highway 212
6
Turn left onto SD Highway 25
60 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
SD Highway 25
7
Turn right onto SD Highway 34
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
SD Highway 34
8
Turn left onto SD Highway 25
24 mi
·
27 min
·
SD Highway 25
9
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
10
Merge slight left
282 mi
·
4 hr 24 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
12
Keep slight left
92 ft
·
7 sec
13
Turn left onto Liberty Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Liberty Boulevard
14
Turn right onto Highway 1416
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 1416
15
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Oak Street
16
Turn right onto Front Street
95 ft
·
4 sec
·
Front Street
17
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 176.4 miles from Watertown, SD, or about 2h 55m 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 80 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.4 miles or 2h 55m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Box Elder, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Watertown, 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 Watertown, SD
This is one driving day of about 352.9 miles and 5h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Watertown, 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 176.4 mi from Watertown, SD · 2h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
176 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 176.4 miles from Watertown, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Box Elder, SD
The final approach into Box Elder, 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 Box Elder, 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
$53.60 one way
$107.20 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
124 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $59.09 | $118.18 |
| premium | $4.80 | $66.62 | $133.24 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $78.40 | $156.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.5 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 | 105.9 | 1 | $37.05 | $16.94 |
| Efficient EV | 88.2 | 1 | $30.88 | $14.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 141.2 | 1 | $49.41 | $22.59 |
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
Box Elder, SD
Evening in Box Elder on Sunday
Local time
5:09 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
43°F
Gregory, SD
176 mi in
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
4 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 50m 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 Watertown, SD to Box Elder, SD covers 352.9 miles and takes about 5h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 9th Avenue Southwest, Highway 212, 4th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 176.4 miles from Watertown, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.60 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 50m 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 Watertown, SD to Box Elder, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Watertown, SD to Box Elder, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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