Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 31m
Distance
391.1 mi
629 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brandon, SD
Patrick
Custer, SD
Patrick
Brandon, SD to Custer, SD is 391.1 miles and takes about 6h 31m via I 90 and Highway 16, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you across the Great Plains, starting in one part of South Dakota and ending in another. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward trip. With a recommended one-day drive, it's an efficient way to cover ground if you're looking to get to your destination without too many detours.
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
195.5 miles from Brandon, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 6m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 344.2 mi | 5h 25m |
| South Highway 16 | 17.5 mi | 21m |
| Highway 385 | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| US Highway 16/385 | 6 mi | 7m |
| North Elk Vale Road | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Catron Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East Catron Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 1m |
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
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Brandon, SD and Custer, SD.
Start on North Pipestone Street
Turn right onto East Sylvan Circle
Turn right onto SD 11
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on US 16 Truck; SD 79
Continue on US 16 Truck
Continue on US 16 Truck
Turn left onto US 16
Continue on US 16
Continue on US 16
Continue on US 16; US 385
Continue on US 16; US 385
Continue on US 16; US 385
Continue on US 16; US 385
Turn left onto US 16A; SD 89
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 6.5-hour drive, consider leaving Brandon early in the morning. This allows ample time for breaks without feeling rushed. Since most of the driving is on I 90, you'll have plenty of opportunities for fuel and rest stops during the initial 344.2-mile stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Custer, as services might become less frequent on the final highway segments. This route is well-suited for a single-day push, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, you could easily split it with an overnight stop.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 86 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 195.5 miles or 3h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Custer, SD than in the middle of the route.
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 391.1 miles and 6h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
196 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 195.5 miles from Brandon, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 344.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 345.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto East Sylvan Circle
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto SD 11 / North Splitrock Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$60.64 one way
$121.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $66.49 | $132.97 |
| premium | $4.93 | $75.88 | $151.76 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $86.21 | $172.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 136.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 117.3 | 1 | $41.07 | $18.77 |
| Efficient EV | 97.8 | 1 | $34.22 | $15.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 156.4 | 1 | $54.75 | $25.03 |
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Brandon on Friday
Local time
1:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Custer on Friday
Local time
12:56 PM
MDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is predominantly highway travel, with 96% of the route on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 344.2 miles on I 90, so expect long periods of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur near the end of your trip. Given the high highway percentage, anticipate a steady flow of traffic and frequent exit options for services.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and South Highway 16. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Sylvan Circle.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 31m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 7 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Sylvan Circle): Navigation decision point; near the start (SD 11 / North Splitrock Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
4,487 ft
Total Descent
529 ft
Highest Point
5,312 ft
~391.1 mi in
Elevation Range
3,958 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Brandon, SD to Custer, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Crazy Horse along the way.
Crazy Horse
Founded 1875
Custer is a city in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota, the first city founded in the region. The city lines were laid out by the notorious Al Swearengen who was portrayed in the popular HBO series, Deadwood.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 31m. Total distance: 391.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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