Scenic Drives in South Dakota

Routes

Avg Distance

392 mi

Avg Drive

6h 36m

Destinations

South Dakota's scenic drives offer a journey through gently rolling terrain, with routes averaging 391 miles and taking about 6.5 hours to complete. These drives boast impressive drive scores, often reaching an 8 out of 10, with maximum elevations around 3,500 feet. You'll find plenty of park access along the way, making it easy to stretch your legs and soak in the landscape.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$3.75/gal

Diesel: $4.80/gal

Typical trip cost

$49–$71

One-way, ~392 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~137 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-07-13

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.

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	76	52	2.7	—
Oct	61	38	2.4	1.4
Nov	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

Scenic routes often have fewer gas stations and services. Top off your tank before heading into mountainous or rural stretches.
Budget extra time for scenic drives — pulling over for views, photos, and short hikes is half the point.
Check weather conditions for mountain passes and high-elevation stretches, especially in shoulder seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

We rate routes on a 1-10 drive score based on elevation changes, road variety, and terrain diversity. The 60 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.

Current regular gas averages $3.75/gallon in South Dakota (week of 2026-07-13). Diesel: $4.80/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $49 and $71. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

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.

Top Scenic Routes

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South Dakota Trips

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	76	52	2.7	—
Oct	61	38	2.4	1.4
Nov	45	25	1.2	6.2
Dec	32	13	0.8	8.7

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	76	52	2.7	—
Oct	61	38	2.4	1.4
Nov	45	25	1.2	6.2
Dec	32	13	0.8	8.7

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	76	52	2.7	—
Oct	61	38	2.4	1.4
Nov	45	25	1.2	6.2
Dec	32	13	0.8	8.7