This 405.9-mile drive from Garretson, South Dakota, to Spearfish, South Dakota, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 6 hours and 34 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on I-90, accounting for 97% of the journey. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $62. This route is a straightforward, highway-focused experience across the Great Plains, making it a convenient option for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Given its duration, it's best tackled in one go, though you'll have one planned stop along the way.
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
203 miles from Garretson, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
393.9 mi
6h 16m
482nd Avenue
6.4 mi
7m
254th Street
2.8 mi
3m
River Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
East Jackson Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
5th Street
0.4 mi
1m
485th Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
North Main Avenue
<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 Garretson, SD and Spearfish, SD.
1
Start on North Main Avenue
292 ft·8 sec·North Main Avenue
2
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·5th Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto SD 11
0.6 mi·1 min·River Avenue
4
Continue on SD 11
0.4 mi·43 sec·485th Avenue
5
Continue on SD 11
2.8 mi·3 min·254th Street
6
Continue on SD 11
6.4 mi·7 min·482nd Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 90: Sioux Falls
8
Merge onto I 90
394 mi·6 hr 16 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State University
10
Turn left onto East Jackson Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·East Jackson Boulevard
11
Turn left onto I 90 Business
149 ft·14 sec·North Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour and 34-minute journey, aim for an early morning departure from Garretson to maximize daylight. With the longest stretch on I-90 being nearly 400 miles, plan your single stop strategically for fuel and a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be spaced out on interstates. The $62 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra. This route is best completed in one day, so pacing yourself and staying alert is key.
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 203 miles from Garretson, SD, or about 3h 18m 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 89 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203 miles or 3h 18m 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 35m
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 Garretson, 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 Garretson, SD
This is one driving day of about 405.9 miles and 6h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Garretson, 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 405.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|SD 11 / River Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto SD 11 / River Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
11.1 mi into trip|~15m in|I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
405 mi into trip|~6h 31m 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
405.2 mi into trip|~6h 32m in|East Jackson Boulevard
Turn left onto East Jackson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.46 one way
$126.92 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg142 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$69.67
$139.35
premium
$4.89
$78.11
$156.22
diesel
$5.61
$89.62
$179.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
121.8
1
$42.62
$19.48
Efficient EV
101.5
1
$35.52
$16.24
EV Truck/SUV
162.4
2
$56.83
$25.98
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
47 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
Garretson, SD
Evening
in Garretson on Saturday
Local time
8:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Spearfish, SD
Evening
in Spearfish on Saturday
Local time
7:08 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
27 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 34m 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.
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 363.9
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 307.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive on this route, with I-90 being your main companion for nearly the entire 405.9 miles. This means you'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including one segment of 393.9 miles on I-90. While the highway share is high at 97%, you will briefly navigate local roads like 482nd Avenue and 254th Street. The character of the drive is largely consistent, offering a steady pace across the South Dakota landscape.
97% 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: 393.9 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and 482nd Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 5th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
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 34m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 6 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (SD 11 / River Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,643 ft1,344 ft
Total Climb
2,623 ft
Total Descent
486 ft
Highest Point
3,643 ft
~405.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,300 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 34m. Total distance: 405.9 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: at 0.1 miles (5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (SD 11 / River Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 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.
