Origin
Brandon, SD
Night in Brandon on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brandon, SD to Lead, SD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 21m
Distance
393.1 mi
633 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 9m
★
6 AM
6h 22m
8 AM
6h 47m
10 AM
6h 31m
12 PM
6h 28m
3 PM
6h 32m
5 PM
6h 46m
8 PM
6h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brandon, SD
Patrick
Lead, SD
Patrick
Trip Overview
The drive from Brandon, SD to Lead, SD covers 393.1 miles and takes about 6h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, US Highway 14A, East Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 376.1 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $60.95 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
196.5 miles from Brandon, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 376.1 mi | 5h 58m |
| US Highway 14A | 9.3 mi | 11m |
| East Main Street | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Lazelle Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Cliff Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Boulder Canyon Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Splitrock Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
| Sherman Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 376.1 mi, about 5h 58m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 82 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~625 veh/hr typical · worst 979
Quietest
2 AM
~28 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Lead, 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
376 mi
·
5 hr 58 min
·
I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto SD 79
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
SD 79
Toward US 14A West, SD 34 East, SD 79 North: Deadwood, Lead
7
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 14A; SD 79
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Lazelle Street
8
Continue on US 14A
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Boulder Canyon Road
9
Continue on US 14A
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
US Highway 14A
10
Continue on US 14A; US 85
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Pioneer Way
11
Turn left onto US 85
410 ft
·
9 sec
·
Pine Street
12
Turn right onto US 85
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Sherman Street
13
Continue on US 85
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Cliff Street
14
Continue on US 85
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US Highway 85
15
Continue on US 85
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
16
Turn right
102 ft
·
7 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 196.5 miles from Brandon, SD, or about 3h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 376.1 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 86 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 196.5 miles or 3h 9m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lead, 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 393.1 miles and 6h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 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 376.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
197 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 196.5 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 376.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 389.8 — 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
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SD 11 / North Splitrock Boulevard
Turn right onto SD 11 / North Splitrock Boulevard
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
377.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 1m in
|
SD 79
Take the exit onto SD 79 toward US 14A West, SD 34 East, SD 79 North: Deadwood, Lead
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 14A West, SD 34 East, SD 79 North: De...
4
389.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 16m in
|
US 85 / Pine Street
Turn left onto US 85 / Pine Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.95 one way
$121.89 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
138 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $66.83 | $133.65 |
| premium | $4.93 | $76.27 | $152.54 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $86.65 | $173.30 |
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: 137.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 117.9 | 1 | $41.28 | $18.87 |
| Efficient EV | 98.3 | 1 | $34.40 | $15.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 157.2 | 1 | $55.03 | $25.16 |
Gas CO2
138 kg
EV CO2
46 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.
Destination
Lead, SD
Night in Lead on Saturday
Local time
10:25 PM
MDT
Current temp
53°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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
6 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
6h 21m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
393.1 mi in 6h 21m, mostly highway — 376.1 mi of that is on I 90.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 376.1 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 Highway 14A. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Sylvan Circle.
Driving Effort
3/10
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 21m, 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.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
5,210 ft
1,354 ft
Total Climb
4,406 ft
Total Descent
551 ft
Highest Point
5,210 ft
~393.1 mi in
Elevation Range
3,856 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Brandon, SD
Full guide →Arriving in Lead, SD
Full guide →Founded 1876
Lead (pronounced "leed") is in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 21m. Total distance: 393.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 21m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 376.1 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lead, SD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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; 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lead, SD before the return drive.
How this page is built
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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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