Spanning 395.7 miles across South Dakota, this trek from Brandon to Spearfish takes approximately 5 hours and 24 minutes of pure drive time. Since the journey remains entirely within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent regional atmosphere throughout the trip. While it is technically feasible to complete this distance in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the local roads makes it a substantial commitment. Budgeting roughly $60 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way transit. Because this route relies on local connectors rather than major interstates, it is best viewed as a dedicated day-long excursion rather than a quick sprint.
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
198.1 miles from Brandon, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
393.9 mi
6h 16m
North Splitrock Boulevard
1 mi
2m
East Jackson Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
North Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Sylvan Circle
<0.1 mi
<1m
North Pipestone Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 393.9 mi, about 6h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brandon, SD and Spearfish, 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
394 mi·6 hr 16 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State University
7
Turn left onto East Jackson Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·East Jackson Boulevard
8
Turn left onto I 90 Business
149 ft·14 sec·North Main Street
9
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour and 24 minute duration, plan to depart early in the morning to ensure you reach Spearfish before nightfall. Since the route is turn-heavy, schedule at least one substantial stop to stretch your legs and reset your focus. Keep your $60 fuel budget in mind, and consider topping off your tank before departing Brandon to avoid any mid-trip stress on local roads. Flexibility is your greatest asset here; since this is a single-day trip, feel free to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions along the local connectors. Prioritize your comfort by planning your rest break around the midpoint of the 395.7-mile journey to keep your energy levels steady.
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 198.1 miles from Brandon, SD, or about 3h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 393.9 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 87 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.1 miles or 3h 11m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spearfish, 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 396.1 miles and 6h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 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 393.9 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 395.5 — 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
395.2 mi into trip|~6h 19m in
Take the exit toward Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State Uni...
4
395.5 mi into trip|~6h 20m in|East Jackson Boulevard
Turn left onto East Jackson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.93 one way
$123.85 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg139 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$67.99
$135.98
premium
$4.89
$76.23
$152.45
diesel
$5.61
$87.45
$174.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
118.8
1
$41.59
$19.01
Efficient EV
99
1
$34.66
$15.84
EV Truck/SUV
158.4
1
$55.45
$25.35
Gas CO2
139 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Brandon, SD
Evening
in Brandon on Saturday
Local time
8:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Spearfish, SD
Evening
in Spearfish on Saturday
Local time
7:07 PM
MDT
Current temp
73°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
26 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
6h 22m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a technical and engaging experience behind the wheel, as this path avoids high-speed interstate travel entirely. You will navigate via East Sylvan Circle, North Splitrock Boulevard, and Jackson Boulevard, creating a drive defined by frequent turns rather than monotonous straightaways. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a more involved, attentive driving experience that keeps you off the major transit corridors. The road's personality is distinctly local, requiring you to stay alert through every change in direction as you traverse the landscape. This is not a route for cruise control, but rather for those who prefer a hands-on navigation style.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 393.9 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and North Splitrock Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Sylvan Circle.
Driving Effort3/10
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 22m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 5 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 22m. Total distance: 396.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 393.9 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 Spearfish, 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 Spearfish, SD before the return drive.
