Brandon, SD to Colonial Pine Hills, SD is 359.8 miles and takes about 5h 50m via I 90 and North Elk Vale Road, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a mostly highway experience that's straightforward for a single day of travel. You'll spend the bulk of your time on Interstate 90, making it a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient drive. Consider this trip if you prefer a direct path with minimal complexity across South Dakota.
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
179.9 miles from Brandon, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
344.2 mi
5h 25m
North Elk Vale Road
5.4 mi
7m
Catron Boulevard
3.7 mi
5m
Sheridan Lake Road
3.2 mi
5m
East Catron Boulevard
1.2 mi
1m
North Splitrock Boulevard
1 mi
2m
Clarkson Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Alfalfa Court
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 344.2 mi, about 5h 25m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 58 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~319 veh/hr typical
· worst 594
Quietest
2 AM
~22 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brandon, SD and Colonial Pine Hills, SD.
1
Start on North Pipestone Street
44 ft·3 sec·North Pipestone Street
2
Turn right onto East Sylvan Circle
107 ft·6 sec·East Sylvan Circle
3
Turn right onto SD 11
1.0 mi·2 min·North Splitrock Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
5
Merge onto I 90
344 mi·5 hr 25 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
8
Continue on US 16 Truck; SD 79
5.4 mi·7 min·North Elk Vale Road
9
Continue on US 16 Truck
1.2 mi·1 min·East Catron Boulevard
10
Continue on US 16 Truck
3.7 mi·5 min·Catron Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Sheridan Lake Road
3.2 mi·5 min·Sheridan Lake Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto Clarkson Road
0.2 mi·44 sec·Clarkson Road
13
Turn right onto Alfalfa Court
0.1 mi·30 sec·Alfalfa Court
14
Arrive at destination
Alfalfa Court
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour 50 minute estimated drive time, leaving Brandon, SD early in the morning will allow you to reach Colonial Pine Hills, SD with plenty of daylight to spare. The longest stretch without a major turn is 344.2 miles on I 90, so plan for a break around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel. Your estimated fuel cost is $57, so ensure you budget for this and consider filling up before you leave Brandon to potentially secure better prices. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your stop timing, but keeping moving on I 90 is generally the most efficient approach.
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 179.9 miles from Brandon, SD, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 344.2 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 79 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179.9 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colonial Pine Hills, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brandon, 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 Brandon, SD
This is one driving day of about 359.8 miles and 5h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Brandon, 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 344.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 356.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Sylvan Circle
Turn right onto East Sylvan Circle
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
345.5 mi into trip|~5h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore...
5
345.8 mi into trip|~5h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
356.2 mi into trip|~5h 44m in|Sheridan Lake Road
Turn left onto Sheridan Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.02 one way
$120.04 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$65.23
$130.46
premium
$5.26
$74.50
$148.99
diesel
$6.18
$87.53
$175.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
107.9
1
$37.78
$17.27
Efficient EV
90
1
$31.48
$14.39
EV Truck/SUV
143.9
1
$50.37
$23.03
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Brandon, SD
Late night
in Brandon on Sunday
Local time
5:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Widespread Frost
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Colonial Pine Hills, SD
Late night
in Colonial Pine Hills on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Clear
SW 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
17 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
5h 50m 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.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 359.8
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
~60 min detour
$30
near mile 297.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly on highways, with 96% of the route utilizing major roads like I 90. You'll experience 344.2 miles on I 90, which means you'll encounter a consistent flow of traffic and relatively fewer complex intersections for most of the trip. The transition to surface roads like North Elk Vale Road and Catron Boulevard happens towards the end, signaling a change from high-speed cruising to more local road conditions. Expect the final stretch to involve more varied traffic patterns as you approach your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 344.2 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and North Elk Vale Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Sylvan Circle.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 50m drive. You will face about 8 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 (East Sylvan Circle): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 345.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The longest stretch is about 344.2 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 (East Sylvan Circle): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 345.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Colonial Pine Hills, SD before the return drive.
