Deadwood, SD to Mitchell, SD is 314.9 miles and takes about 5h 6m via I 90 and SD 79, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across South Dakota. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip. It's a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two South Dakota points without extensive 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
157.5 miles from Deadwood, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
212.7 mi
3h 19m
SD 79
87.6 mi
1h 26m
Main Street
9.4 mi
11m
Boulder Canyon Road
1.1 mi
1m
Lazelle Street
1.1 mi
1m
West Havens Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
South Ohlman Street
0.8 mi
1m
South Sanborn Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 212.7 mi, about 3h 19m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 70 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~644 veh/hr typical
· worst 998
Quietest
2 AM
~27 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
23.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Deadwood, SD and Mitchell, SD.
1
Start on Lee Street
184 ft·13 sec·Lee Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
344 ft·16 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto Deadwood Street
219 ft·12 sec·Deadwood Street
4
Turn left onto US 14A; US 85
0.4 mi·32 sec·Pioneer Way
5
Continue on US 14A; US 85
9.3 mi·11 min·Main Street
6
Continue on US 14A
1.1 mi·1 min·Boulder Canyon Road
7
Continue on US 14A
1.1 mi·1 min·Lazelle Street
8
Take the exit onto SD 79
88 mi·1 hr 26 min·SD 79
9
Continue on I 90
213 mi·3 hr 19 min·I 90
10
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
0.4 mi·53 sec·I 90 Business
11
Turn left onto I 90 Business; SD 37
0.8 mi·1 min·South Ohlman Street
12
Take the exit
302 ft·8 sec
13
Turn straight onto I 90 Business
0.8 mi·2 min·West Havens Avenue
14
Turn left onto South Sanborn Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·South Sanborn Boulevard
15
Turn left onto West 1st Avenue
34 ft·1 sec·West 1st Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
West 1st Avenue
Trip Plan
Consider starting your drive from Deadwood early in the morning to take full advantage of the daylight for the 5h 6m trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $53, it's wise to fill up your tank before leaving Deadwood, as there's a significant 212.7-mile stretch on I 90 where services might be less frequent. Since this is a single-day route, you have flexibility, but planning for one stop to break up the drive will help keep you alert. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 90 to SD 79 as you get closer to Mitchell, as this marks the shift to more local roads.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 157.5 miles from Deadwood, SD, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 212.7 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 69 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.5 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mitchell, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Deadwood, 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 Deadwood, SD
This is one driving day of about 314.9 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Deadwood, 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 212.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 314.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Deadwood Street
Turn left onto Deadwood Street
Navigation decision point
4
12.1 mi into trip|~14m in|SD 79
Take the exit onto SD 79
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
312.7 mi into trip|~5h 1m in|I 90 Business; SD 37 / South Ohlman Street
Turn left onto I 90 Business; SD 37 / South Ohlman Street
Navigation decision point
4
314.4 mi into trip|~5h 5m in|South Sanborn Boulevard
Turn left onto South Sanborn Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.04 one way
$106.07 round trip
$4.28/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.51
$55.96
$111.93
premium
$5.08
$63.00
$126.01
diesel
$6.05
$74.98
$149.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.5
1
$33.06
$15.12
Efficient EV
78.7
0
$27.55
$12.60
EV Truck/SUV
126
1
$44.09
$20.15
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Deadwood, SD
Afternoon
in Deadwood on Saturday
Local time
12:07 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
SW 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Mitchell, SD
Afternoon
in Mitchell on Saturday
Local time
1:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Clear
S 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
10 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
5h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
National Memorial
Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, tell the story of the birth, growth, devel...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 43.4
The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
$30
near mile 97.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway cruising, with 95% of the 314.9 miles on interstates and major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 212.7 miles on I 90 before transitioning to surface roads like SD 79 and Main Street. Expect a consistent driving experience with frequent exits on the highway portion, shifting to a more local feel as you approach Mitchell.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 212.7 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and SD 79. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 6m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Deadwood Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles (SD 79): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Deadwood is a town in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is rivaled only by Tombstone, Arizona as America's most storied town from the wild frontier days.
Mitchell is a city in Southeast South Dakota on Interstate 90 about 75 miles (121 km) west of Sioux Falls. Mitchell is located in the heart of South Dakota, with rich rolling farmland leading into wide open prairies.
Top landmarks
•Koch Apartments — apartment building in Mitchell, United States of America
The longest stretch is about 212.7 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.
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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Deadwood Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles (SD 79): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mitchell, SD before the return drive.
