Box Elder, SD to Gettysburg, SD is 240.3 miles and takes about 4h 10m via I 90 and US 83, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive for those looking to cover ground efficiently. With 98% of the trip on highways, expect a consistent cruising experience. If you're seeking a simple, one-day transit through South Dakota's plains, this is a practical option.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
120.1 miles from Box Elder, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
145.2 mi
2h 16m
US 83
36.5 mi
42m
US Highway 83
30.9 mi
35m
US Highway 14
14.1 mi
16m
US Highway 212
4.4 mi
6m
North Highway 14
2.3 mi
3m
South 1st Street
1 mi
1m
South Euclid Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 145.2 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Box Elder, SD and Gettysburg, SD.
1
Start on Front Street
94 ft·9 sec·Front Street
2
Turn left onto Oak Street
365 ft·18 sec·Oak Street
3
Turn right onto Highway 1416
0.9 mi·1 min·Highway 1416
4
Turn left onto Liberty Boulevard
0.2 mi·25 sec·Liberty Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 90; US 14
145 mi·2 hr 16 min·I 90; US 14
7
Take the exit onto US 83
0.4 mi·1 min·US 83
Toward US 83 North, SD 53: Fort Pierre, Pierre State Capitol
8
Turn left onto US 83; SD 53
31 mi·35 min·US Highway 83
9
Continue on US 83; SD 1806
1.0 mi·1 min·South 1st Street
10
Continue on US 83; SD 1806
0.7 mi·47 sec·North Deadwood Street
11
Continue on US 14; US 83; SD 34
0.5 mi·33 sec·North Highway 83
12
Continue on US 14; US 83; SD 34
0.9 mi·1 min·West Sioux Avenue
13
Turn left onto SD 1889
0.1 mi·19 sec·South Pierre Street
14
Continue on SD 1889
0.9 mi·1 min·South Euclid Avenue
15
Continue on SD 1889
2.3 mi·3 min·North Highway 14
16
Continue on US 14; US 83
14 mi·16 min·US Highway 14
17
Take the exit
328 ft·9 sec
18
Merge onto US 83
36 mi·41 min·US 83
19
Continue on US 212
4.4 mi·6 min·US Highway 212
20
Continue on US 212
0.8 mi·1 min·West Garfield Avenue
21
Turn right onto North Exene Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·North Exene Street
22
Arrive at destination
North Exene Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 10m estimated drive time and 240.3 miles, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim for an early morning departure from Box Elder to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. The longest stretch without a significant change in direction is 145.2 miles on I 90, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. While there's only one recommended stop, you'll want to assess your fuel needs before leaving I 90, as US 83 is primarily a rural highway.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 120.1 miles from Box Elder, SD, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.2 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 53 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.1 miles or 1h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gettysburg, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Box Elder, SD so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Box Elder, SD
This is one driving day of about 240.3 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Box Elder, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 145.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 198.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Highway 1416
Turn right onto Highway 1416
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip|~2m in|Liberty Boulevard
Turn left onto Liberty Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
146.8 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward US 83 North, SD 53: Fort Pierre, Pierre State Capitol
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 83 North, SD 53: Fort Pierre, Pierre...
5
198.7 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.57 one way
$75.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$41.25
$82.50
premium
$4.89
$46.24
$92.49
diesel
$5.61
$53.06
$106.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.1
0
$25.23
$11.53
Efficient EV
60.1
0
$21.03
$9.61
EV Truck/SUV
96.1
1
$33.64
$15.38
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Box Elder, SD
Morning
in Box Elder on Tuesday
Local time
7:23 AM
MDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gettysburg, SD
Morning
in Gettysburg on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
31°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
21 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
4h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Badlands National Park
National Park
The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
$30
near mile 49.7
Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, tell the story of the birth, growth, devel...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 98% of the 240.3 miles on interstates and US highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 145.2 miles on I 90, meaning long periods of consistent speed. The transition to surface roads will occur near the end of your trip, likely in the final few miles as you approach Gettysburg. Expect a rural cruising feel with limited exits for extended periods.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.2 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 83. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Oak Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 10m 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: near the start (Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Highway 1416): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Liberty Boulevard): 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 Box Elder, SD to Gettysburg, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Pierre State Capitol along the way.
Pierre State Capitol
146.8 mi in|~2h 19m|via US 83
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 10m. Total distance: 240.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 145.2 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through SD can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Oak Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Highway 1416): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Liberty Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Gettysburg, SD, but most travelers stay overnight.
