Summer Road Trips in South Dakota

Routes

Avg Distance

419 mi

Avg Drive

7h 4m

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

Jul 18, 2026

0 seconds ago

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

Summer in South Dakota means maximizing daylight for exploring its expansive landscapes. With an average trip length of 424 minutes and routes reaching up to 3643 feet in elevation, these drives offer a fantastic way to see the state. You'll find plenty of park access across the 30 available routes, making it easy to stretch your legs and take in the scenery during the warmer months.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$3.75/gal

Diesel: $4.80/gal

Typical trip cost

$58–$71

One-way, ~419 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~147 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. Table highlights Summer 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 peak	81	59	4.2	—
Jul peak	85	63	3.3	—
Aug peak	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

Carry extra water — summer heat in the car and at rest stops dehydrates faster than you think.
Start drives early or late to avoid peak afternoon heat, especially through desert or plains stretches.
Check your tire pressure before long summer drives — hot pavement increases blowout risk with underinflated tires.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've identified 30 routes in South Dakota that work well for summer travel, based on drive quality, typical weather conditions, and distance (averaging 419 miles).

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 $58 and $71. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Across Jun, Jul, Aug, South Dakota typically sees daytime highs in the 81–85°F range with about 3.6 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.

Summer Routes

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