Origin
Watertown, SD
Morning in Watertown on Saturday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Watertown, SD to Garretson, SD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 55m
Distance
103.7 mi
167 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 47m
★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
1h 59m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Watertown, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Garretson, SD
Patrick
Trip Overview
The drive from Watertown, SD to Garretson, SD covers 103.7 miles and takes about 1h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 29, 250th Street, 475th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.9 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.21 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.8 miles from Watertown, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 103.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 55m highway drive covering 103.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 29 and 250th Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 78.9 miles on I 29.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and 250th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near 1st Avenue Northeast.
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 1h 55m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (1st Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (US 212 / 9th Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 82.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
1st Avenue Northeast
Turn right onto 1st Avenue Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
2.7 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 212 / 9th Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto US 212 / 9th Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
82.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward SD 115: Dell Rapids, Colton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SD 115: Dell Rapids, Colton
4
82.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
SD 115 / 246th Street
Turn left onto SD 115 / 246th Street
Navigation decision point
4
90.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
CR 114 / 250th Street
Turn left onto CR 114 / 250th Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Watertown, SD to Garretson, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Colton along the way.
Colton
82.4 mi in
|
~1h 20m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 78.9 mi | 1h 13m |
| 250th Street | 10 mi | 17m |
| 475th Avenue | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| 485th Avenue | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| 246th Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| 1st Avenue Northeast | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Willow Creek Drive Southeast | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Highway 115 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 78.9 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watertown, SD and Garretson, SD.
1
Start on South Broadway
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Broadway
2
Turn right onto 1st Avenue Northeast
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Avenue Northeast
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on Willow Creek Drive Southeast
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Willow Creek Drive Southeast
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto US 212
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
9th Avenue Southeast
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I-29: Brookings
6
Merge onto I 29
79 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
I 29
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward SD 115: Dell Rapids, Colton
8
Turn left onto SD 115
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
246th Street
9
Continue on SD 115
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 4th Street
10
Turn right onto SD 115
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Highway 115
11
Continue on SD 115
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
475th Avenue
12
Turn left onto CR 114
10.0 mi
·
17 min
·
250th Street
13
Turn right onto SD 11
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
485th Avenue
14
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Street
15
Turn right onto North Main Avenue
292 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Main Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
North Main Avenue
Trip Plan
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 51.8 miles from Watertown, SD, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.9 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 23 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.8 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Garretson, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Watertown, SD
This is one driving day of about 103.7 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Watertown, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 78.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.8 mi from Watertown, SD · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.8 miles from Watertown, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 29 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.9 miles.
Arriving in Garretson, SD
The final approach into Garretson, SD usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.21 one way
$32.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.80 | $35.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.96 | $39.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.90 | $45.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.1 | 0 | $10.89 | $4.98 |
| Efficient EV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.07 | $4.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.5 | 0 | $14.52 | $6.64 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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
Garretson, SD
Morning in Garretson on Saturday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Medary, SD
52 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
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
1h 55m 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 Watertown, SD to Garretson, SD covers 103.7 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, 250th Street, 475th Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.8 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 $16.21 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 is a straightforward 1h 55m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (1st Avenue Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (US 212 / 9th Avenue Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 82.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Watertown, SD to Garretson, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Colton along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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