Fall Road Trips in South Dakota

Routes

Avg Distance

424 mi

Avg Drive

7h 12m

Destinations

Methodology

Routes filtered by drive score and typical seasonal conditions. Historical hazard counts pulled from FEMA disaster declarations and USGS seismic feeds; monthly weather context from NOAA 1991–2020 normals.

Data sources: OSRM • NOAA NCEI climate normals • FEMA OpenFEMA • USGS Earthquake Hazards • EIA weekly fuel survey

Last reviewed

Oct 17, 2026

0 seconds ago

Curated by the US Trip Planner editorial team.
Not sponsored; no affiliate links on this page.

In South Dakota, fall driving offers crisp air and vibrant landscapes across 30 routes averaging 424 miles. These drives, with a drive score range of 8, navigate gently rolling terrain reaching up to 3,643 feet in elevation. With excellent EV charging coverage on some routes, you can explore state parks and enjoy the autumn colors without worry. Expect average drive times around 7 hours, perfect for a weekend escape.

Climate through the year: South Dakota

South Dakota peaks at around 85°F in Jul and cools to 27°F / 9°F in Jan. Wettest month is Jun at ~4.2 in of rain. Table highlights Fall months.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	27	9	0.6	8
Feb	32	13	0.8	8.6
Mar	45	24	1.6	7.2
Apr	59	36	3	5.1
May	71	48	3.9	0.1
Jun	81	59	4.2	—
Jul	85	63	3.3	—
Aug	83	61	3.3	—
Sep peak	76	52	2.7	—
Oct peak	61	38	2.4	1.4
Nov peak	45	25	1.2	6.2
Dec	32	13	0.8	8.7

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for SD — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Check the weather forecast for your route, not just your origin and destination.
Bring layers for shoulder-season travel — mornings and evenings can be much cooler than midday.
South Dakota routes can vary in condition depending on the time of year. Check for construction zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've identified 30 routes in South Dakota that work well for fall travel, based on drive quality, typical weather conditions, and distance (averaging 424 miles).

Across Sep, Oct, Nov, South Dakota typically sees daytime highs in the 45–76°F range with about 2.1 in of rain per month on average. Based on NOAA 1991–2020 monthly climate normals.

Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Fall Routes

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