The drive from Harrisburg, SD to Lemmon, SD covers 412.8 miles and takes about 7h 35m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US Highway 12, I 29, 133rd Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 229.1 miles on US Highway 12.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $64.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
206.4 miles from Harrisburg, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 12
229.1 mi
4h 20m
I 29
135.3 mi
2h 9m
133rd Street
13 mi
14m
134th Street
6.3 mi
7m
US 12
5.7 mi
6m
6th Avenue Southeast
5.1 mi
11m
East Highway 12
4.1 mi
5m
East Grand Crossing
3.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 12
— 229.1 mi, about 4h 20m
Traffic on I-29
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~634 veh/hr typical
· worst 873
Quietest
1 AM
~24 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
26.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Harrisburg, SD and Lemmon, SD.
1
Start on CR 110
1.8 mi·3 min·East Willow Street
2
Continue on CR 110
3.2 mi·5 min·273rd Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
4
Merge onto I 29
135 mi·2 hr 9 min·I 29
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward US 12: Aberdeen, Milbank
6
Turn left onto US 12
23 mi·25 min·US Highway 12
7
Continue on US 12
1.5 mi·1 min·East Highway 12
8
Continue on US 12
29 mi·32 min·US Highway 12
9
Continue on US 12
2.6 mi·3 min·East Highway 12
10
Continue on US 12
13 mi·14 min·133rd Street
11
Continue on US 12
1.0 mi·1 min·US Highway 12 East
12
Continue on US 12
5.1 mi·11 min·6th Avenue Southeast
13
Continue on US 12
2.8 mi·3 min·US Highway 12 West
14
Continue on US 12
6.3 mi·7 min·134th Street
15
Continue on US 12
69 mi·1 hr 18 min·US Highway 12
16
Continue on US 12; US 83; SD 20
1.0 mi·1 min·Highway 12 & 83
17
Continue on US 12; US 83; SD 20
19 mi·21 min·US Highway 12
18
Continue on US 12; SD 20; SD 1804
3.4 mi·3 min·East Grand Crossing
19
Continue on US 12; SD 20
90 mi·1 hr 42 min·US Highway 12
20
Continue on US 12; SD 73
5.7 mi·6 min·US 12; SD 73
21
Turn right onto Main Avenue
0.4 mi·59 sec·Main Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Main Avenue
Trip Plan
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 206.4 miles from Harrisburg, SD, or about 3h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 229.1 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 91 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 206.4 miles or 3h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lemmon, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Harrisburg, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Harrisburg, SD
This is one driving day of about 412.8 miles and 7h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Harrisburg, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 12 for about 229.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
$10 to $20
Selby, South Dakota
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+16056491144
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 412.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
4.9 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
5.2 mi into trip|~9m in|I 29
Merge onto I 29
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
140.5 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward US 12: Aberdeen, Milbank
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 12: Aberdeen, Milbank
3
140.8 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|US 12 / US Highway 12
Turn left onto US 12 / US Highway 12
Navigation decision point
4
412.4 mi into trip|~7h 34m in|Main Avenue
Turn right onto Main Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.00 one way
$128.00 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg144 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$70.18
$140.35
premium
$4.93
$80.09
$160.18
diesel
$5.60
$90.99
$181.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$64
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 144.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
123.8
1
$43.34
$19.81
Efficient EV
103.2
1
$36.12
$16.51
EV Truck/SUV
165.1
2
$57.79
$26.42
Gas CO2
144 kg
EV CO2
48 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 Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Harrisburg, SD
Late night
in Harrisburg on Wednesday
Local time
12:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Partly Sunny
E 5 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 5:07PM CDT until September 1 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 4:56PM CDT until September 1 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Lemmon, SD
Night
in Lemmon on Tuesday
Local time
11:52 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SE 9 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 5:07PM CDT until September 1 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 4:56PM CDT until September 1 at 5:45PM 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
13 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
7h 35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
412.8 mi in 7h 35m, mostly highway — 229.1 mi of that is on US Highway 12.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 229.1 mi on US Highway 12.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 12 and I 29. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.
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 7h 35m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 5 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (I 29): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 140.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,566 ft1,305 ft
Total Climb
2,051 ft
Total Descent
916 ft
Highest Point
2,566 ft
~412.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,261 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Harrisburg, SD to Lemmon, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Milbank along the way.
Harrisburg is the capital and 4th-largest metropolitan area of Pennsylvania, with a metro population of 592,000 people in 2020. Harrisburg is known as the host city of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States, the largest annual outdoor sports show in North America, an auto show, which features a large static display of new and classic cars, and Motorama, a two-day event consisting of a car show, motocross racing, and remote control car racing.
The longest stretch is about 229.1 miles on US Highway 12. 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 Lemmon, 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 2 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 4.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (I 29): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 140.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lemmon, SD before the return drive.
