If you are planning a trip from Brandon to Parkston, you are looking at a straightforward 96.5-mile journey across the South Dakota Great Plains. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 46 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable one-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $15, it is an economical route that requires minimal logistical planning. Because the drive is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have additional business in the area. Navigating through the heart of the region, this trip keeps you primarily on major thoroughfares. It is a practical choice for those who prefer efficient, direct travel over winding backroads.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.2 miles from Brandon, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
73.8 mi
1h 11m
SD Highway 37
19 mi
28m
South Highway 37
1 mi
1m
North Splitrock Boulevard
1 mi
2m
West Glynn Drive
0.6 mi
1m
South Burr Street
0.4 mi
<1m
I 90 Business
0.3 mi
<1m
East Sylvan Circle
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 73.8 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brandon, SD and Parkston, 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
74 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
0.3 mi·34 sec·I 90 Business
Toward Mitchell
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business
130 ft·5 sec·I 90 Business
8
Continue on I 90 Business
0.4 mi·43 sec·South Burr Street
9
Continue on SD 37
1.0 mi·1 min·South Highway 37
10
Continue on SD 37
19 mi·28 min·SD Highway 37
11
Turn left onto West Glynn Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·West Glynn Drive
12
Arrive at destination
East Glynn Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick drive under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 96.5-mile distance in one go without needing to schedule formal rest stops, though staying hydrated is always a good practice. Given that you will be spending the vast majority of your time on I-90, keep a steady pace and be mindful of traffic flow during peak hours. Budgeting roughly $15 for fuel is a safe bet, but filling up your tank before leaving Brandon ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station while on the interstate. Use the simplicity of the highway-heavy route to your advantage by planning your arrival in Parkston around your specific local appointments.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.2 miles from Brandon, SD, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.8 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 21 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.2 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parkston, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brandon, SD
This is one driving day of about 96.5 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Brandon, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 73.8 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 75.4 — 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.
4
75.1 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|I 90 Business
Take the exit onto I 90 Business toward Mitchell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Mitchell
5
75.4 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|I 90 Business
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 Business
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.09 one way
$30.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.56
$33.13
premium
$4.89
$18.57
$37.14
diesel
$5.61
$21.31
$42.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.13
$4.63
Efficient EV
24.1
0
$8.44
$3.86
EV Truck/SUV
38.6
0
$13.51
$6.18
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Brandon, SD
Night
in Brandon on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
N 10 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Parkston, SD
Night
in Parkston on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 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
1h 46m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a highway-focused drive, with 98% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will kick off the trip with a significant 73.8-mile stretch on I-90, which allows for consistent, uninterrupted cruising. After transitioning off the interstate, you will conclude the journey using SD Highway 37 and South Highway 37 to reach Parkston. The personality of this drive is defined by steady, open-road travel rather than technical turns or complex navigation. Expect a seamless transition from the interstate to the state highway system as you wrap up the final leg of your 96.5-mile trek.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.8 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and SD Highway 37. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Sylvan Circle.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Brandon, SD to Parkston, SD is easy. At 1h 46m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
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 Brandon, SD to Parkston, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Mitchell along the way.
Mitchell
75.1 mi in|~1h 13m|via I 90 Business
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 96.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 73.8 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Parkston, SD before heading back.
