Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
14.6 mi
24 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bridgewater, SD
Julio Lopez
Spencer, SD
Julio Lopez
Bridgewater to Spencer is 14.6 miles and takes about 31 minutes via 431st Avenue and SD Highway 262, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This brief trip stays within the Great Plains region of South Dakota, offering a straightforward connection between two small communities. You'll experience a mix of road types, making it a simple drive for most vehicles. Consider this route for its directness if you need to get from Bridgewater to Spencer efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 431st Avenue | 9.4 mi | 22m |
| SD Highway 262 | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| East Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East 5th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bridgewater, SD and Spencer, SD.
Start on SD 262
Turn right onto CR 25A
Continue on CR 25
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Arrive at destination
2 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 14.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto CR 25A / 431st Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.43 one way
$4.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $2.64 | $5.29 |
| premium | $5.18 | $2.98 | $5.96 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $3.08 | $6.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.53 | $0.70 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.28 | $0.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.04 | $0.93 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Bridgewater on Wednesday
Local time
2:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:28PM CDT until June 1 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Destination
Afternoon in Spencer on Wednesday
Local time
2:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:28PM CDT until June 1 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
This 14.6-mile route features a 32% highway share. You'll spend about 9.4 miles on 431st Avenue before transitioning to other roads like SD Highway 262. Expect a stretch of rural cruising for nearly 10 miles on 431st Avenue. The profile indicates a mix of highway and surface roads, so be prepared for a change in road conditions after the initial highway segment.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in near CR 25A / 431st Avenue.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bridgewater, SD to Spencer, SD is easy. At 31m with 32% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles (CR 25A / 431st Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 14.4 miles (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
80 ft
Total Descent
115 ft
Highest Point
1,425 ft
~11.5 mi in
Elevation Range
65 ft
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 14.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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