Origin
Watertown, SD
Morning in Watertown on Thursday
Local time
10:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Watertown, SD to Milbank, SD
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
56m
Distance
45.7 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Watertown, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Milbank, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Watertown, SD to Milbank, SD covers 45.7 miles and takes about 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 3rd Avenue Northeast, 4th Street Northeast, 26th Avenue Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 45.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 56m drive with frequent turns across 45.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
3rd Avenue Northeast 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Watertown, SD to Milbank, SD is easy. At 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Watertown, SD to Milbank, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Avenue Northeast | — | — |
| 4th Street Northeast | — | — |
| 26th Avenue Northeast | — | — |
| I 29 North | — | — |
| SD 20 | — | — |
| Highway 20 | — | — |
| West Berry Avenue | — | — |
| Highway 15 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
3rd Avenue Northeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watertown, SD and Milbank, SD.
1
Start on South Broadway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Broadway
2
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue Northeast
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
3rd Avenue Northeast
3
Turn left onto 4th Street Northeast
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
4th Street Northeast
4
Turn right onto 26th Avenue Northeast
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
26th Avenue Northeast
5
Take the ramp left toward I 29 North, US 81 North, SD 20 East: Summit
12 mi
·
11 min
·
I 29 North, US 81 North, SD 20 East: Summit
6
Take the exit slight right toward SD 20: South Shore, Stockholm
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
SD 20: South Shore, Stockholm
7
Turn right onto SD Highway 20
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
SD Highway 20
8
Continue on West Berry Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Berry Avenue
9
Continue on SD Highway 20
13 mi
·
15 min
·
SD Highway 20
10
Turn left onto SD Highway 15
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
SD Highway 15
11
Continue on South Dakota Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Dakota Street
12
Turn right onto West 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
West 4th Avenue
13
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.9 mi from Watertown, SD · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.9 miles from Watertown, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Milbank, SD
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Milbank, SD if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.14 one way
$14.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.84 | $15.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.79 | $17.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.09 | $20.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $4.00 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Milbank, SD
Morning in Milbank on Thursday
Local time
10:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Altamont, SD
23 mi in
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
1 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
56m 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 Milbank, SD covers 45.7 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 3rd Avenue Northeast, 4th Street Northeast, 26th Avenue Northeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.9 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 $7.14 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.
The drive from Watertown, SD to Milbank, SD is easy. At 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Watertown, SD to Milbank, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Watertown, SD to Milbank, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Milbank, SD
More trips to Milbank, SD
Explore more options from Watertown, SD or browse trips ending in Milbank, SD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SD road trips.
Explore maps for Watertown, SD or Milbank, SD on MapSof.net.