Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
20.2 mi
32 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Pierre, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Wendte, SD
Luis Quintero
Fort Pierre to Wendte is 20.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 14 minutes via Bad River Road and US Highway 83, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within South Dakota's Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive. It's a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without a long commitment. Consider this route for its simplicity and ease of navigation.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bad River Road | 18.7 mi | 1h 12m |
| South US Highway 83 | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| South 1st Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Pierre, SD and Wendte, SD.
Start on US 83; SD 1806
Continue on US 83; SD 1806
Turn right onto Bad River Road
Turn left
Arrive at destination
2 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 20 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Bad River Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$3.13 one way
$6.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $3.43 | $6.87 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.92 | $7.84 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $4.45 | $8.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.12 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.77 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.29 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Night in Fort Pierre on Tuesday
Local time
11:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
Destination
Night in Wendte on Tuesday
Local time
11:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
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 drive is mostly surface roads, with only about 4% on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 18.7 miles on Bad River Road, which is primarily a surface road. The remainder of your travel will be on South US Highway 83 and South 1st Street, also surface roads. Expect a rural cruising feel for most of this trip.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near Bad River Road.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fort Pierre, SD to Wendte, SD is easy. At 1h 14m with 4% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (Bad River Road): Navigation decision point; at 20 miles: Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
265 ft
Total Descent
113 ft
Highest Point
1,603 ft
~7.2 mi in
Elevation Range
163 ft
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 20.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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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