Origin
Gregory, SD
Evening in Gregory on Saturday
Local time
8:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gregory, SD to Box Elder, SD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 17m
Distance
231.8 mi
373 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 4m
★
6 AM
4h 18m
8 AM
4h 44m
10 AM
4h 27m
12 PM
4h 24m
3 PM
4h 28m
5 PM
4h 43m
8 PM
4h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gregory, SD
Patrick
Box Elder, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 231.8 miles across South Dakota, this trip takes you from Gregory to Box Elder in approximately 4 hours and 17 minutes. You will primarily navigate US Highway 18 and 307th Avenue before merging onto I-90 for the bulk of your travel. Because the total drive time is manageable, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. Budgeting about $35 for fuel should cover your transit across the Great Plains. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that connects two distinct points within the same region, making it a reliable choice for travelers who prefer predictable road conditions.
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
115.9 miles from Gregory, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 158.7 mi | 2h 28m |
| 307th Avenue | 35.8 mi | 51m |
| US Highway 18 | 34.4 mi | 51m |
| Highway 1416 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Liberty Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Park Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East 6th Street | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| Oak Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 158.7 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gregory, SD and Box Elder, SD.
1
Start on East 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East 6th Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto SD 47
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Park Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 18
34 mi
·
51 min
·
US Highway 18
4
Turn right onto US 183; SD 44; SD 53
36 mi
·
51 min
·
307th Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
6
Merge onto I 90
159 mi
·
2 hr 28 min
·
I 90
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
8
Keep slight left at fork
92 ft
·
7 sec
9
Turn left onto Liberty Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Liberty Boulevard
10
Turn right onto Highway 1416
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 1416
11
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Oak Street
12
Turn right onto Front Street
94 ft
·
4 sec
·
Front Street
13
Arrive at destination
Front Street
Trip Plan
Since this 4-hour and 17-minute trek is designed for a single day, aim to depart early to maximize your time once you arrive in Box Elder. You should plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $35 gas budget in mind as you pace the 231.8-mile distance. Because the longest segment consists of 158.7 miles on I-90, ensure your vehicle is prepped for sustained speeds before you merge onto the interstate. Flexibility is a major advantage here; since the duration is relatively short, you have plenty of room to adjust your departure time based on local traffic or weather conditions across the Great Plains.
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 115.9 miles from Gregory, SD, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.7 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 51 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.9 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Box Elder, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gregory, 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 Gregory, SD
This is one driving day of about 231.8 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Gregory, 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 158.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 115.9 miles from Gregory, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 158.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 231.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
SD 47 / Park Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto SD 47 / Park Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 18 / US Highway 18
Turn right onto US 18 / US Highway 18
Navigation decision point
4
35 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
US 183; SD 44; SD 53 / 307th Avenue
Turn right onto US 183; SD 44; SD 53 / 307th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
229.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 13m in
Take the exit toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
5
231.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 17m in
|
Front Street
Turn right onto Front Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.24 one way
$72.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $39.79 | $79.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $44.61 | $89.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.18 | $102.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.5 | 0 | $24.34 | $11.13 |
| Efficient EV | 58 | 0 | $20.28 | $9.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.7 | 1 | $32.45 | $14.84 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Destination
Box Elder, SD
Evening in Box Elder on Saturday
Local time
7:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°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
1 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
4h 17m 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.
Badlands National Park
National Park
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
$30
near mile 183.8
Caution: Navigation
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 231.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that transitions from local roads to a high-speed interstate experience. With 84% of your journey spent on highways, you will quickly settle into a rhythm once you reach the main thoroughfares. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel will be spent on a 158.7-mile stretch along I-90, which serves as the backbone of this trip. While the initial segments involve navigating US Highway 18 and 307th Avenue, the transition to the interstate offers a consistent, efficient pace. This route maintains a steady character, favoring long, uninterrupted driving stretches over complex or technical maneuvers.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 158.7 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and 307th Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near SD 47 / Park Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (SD 47 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 18 / US Highway 18): Navigation decision point; at 35 miles (US 183; SD 44; SD 53 / 307th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 231.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 158.7 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 0.2 miles (SD 47 / Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 18 / US Highway 18): Navigation decision point; at 35 miles (US 183; SD 44; SD 53 / 307th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Box Elder, SD, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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