Hill City to Belle Fourche is 69.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 37 minutes via Highway 385 and US Highway 85, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This relatively short trip stays within South Dakota's Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive between two points. It's a practical option if you're looking for a quick transit between areas in western South Dakota without a significant time commitment. The majority of the route is on well-maintained highways, making it an easy addition to a larger itinerary or a standalone excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.7 miles from Hill City, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 385
19.8 mi
29m
US Highway 385
19.8 mi
29m
US Highway 85
16.4 mi
19m
US 85
7.9 mi
8m
5th Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
Main Street
1.5 mi
2m
Cliff Street
1.1 mi
1m
Charles Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Highway 385
— 19.8 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hill City, SD and Belle Fourche, SD.
1
Start on Elm Street
62 ft·5 sec·Elm Street
2
Turn right onto US 16; US 385
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Continue on US 16; US 385
3.0 mi·4 min·Highway 385
4
Turn left onto US 385
17 mi·24 min·Highway 385
5
Continue on US 385
20 mi·29 min·US Highway 385
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 85
1.1 mi·1 min·Cliff Street
7
Continue on US 85
0.8 mi·1 min·Charles Street
8
Merge onto US 14A; US 85
0.3 mi·25 sec·Pioneer Way
9
Continue on US 14A; US 85
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
10
Turn left onto US 85
7.5 mi·8 min·US Highway 85
11
Turn left onto US 85
7.6 mi·8 min·US 85
Toward I 90 West, US 14 West, US 85 North
12
Take the exit onto US 85
0.3 mi·37 sec·US 85
Toward US 85 North: US 85 North, North Avenue, Belle Fourche
13
Keep slight left at fork
88 ft·3 sec
14
Turn right onto US Highway 85
8.9 mi·10 min·US Highway 85
15
Continue on US 85
1.7 mi·3 min·5th Avenue
16
Turn right onto US 212 Business
384 ft·15 sec·State Street
17
Turn right onto 6th Avenue
27 ft·1 sec·6th Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
6th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour 37 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day. You can afford to leave later in the morning, perhaps after a relaxed breakfast in Hill City, and still arrive in Belle Fourche with plenty of daylight. With only 69.4 miles and a fuel cost estimated at $11, there's no need to rush or plan for extensive stops. The longest stretch without an exit is under 20 miles, so fuel and rest stops are readily available along Highway 385 and US Highway 85 when needed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.7 miles from Hill City, SD, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.8 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 15 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.7 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belle Fourche, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hill City, SD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hill City, SD
This is one driving day of about 69.4 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Hill City, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 385 for about 19.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 69.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 16; US 385 / Main Street
Turn right onto US 16; US 385 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
50.8 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|US 85
Turn left onto US 85 toward I 90 West, US 14 West, US 85 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 West, US 14 West, US 85 North
5
58.4 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|US 85
Take the exit onto US 85 toward US 85 North: US 85 North, North Avenue, Belle Fourche
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 85 North: US 85 North, North Avenue,...
5
58.7 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
69.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|6th Avenue
Turn right onto 6th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.85 one way
$21.70 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.91
$23.83
premium
$4.89
$13.36
$26.71
diesel
$5.61
$15.32
$30.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.8
0
$7.29
$3.33
Efficient EV
17.4
0
$6.07
$2.78
EV Truck/SUV
27.8
0
$9.72
$4.44
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Hill City, SD
Evening
in Hill City on Saturday
Local time
8:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Belle Fourche, SD
Evening
in Belle Fourche on Saturday
Local time
8:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
33 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
1h 37m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
Immerse yourself in one of the longest caves in the world. With over 220 miles of mapped and surveyed passages, this underground wilderness appeals to human curiosity. Its splendor is revealed through...
Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands a...
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 92% of the 69.4 miles on paved roads. You'll experience a stretch of 19.8 miles on Highway 385 without needing to exit. The route transitions to US Highway 85 for the latter part of the trip. Expect mostly open road driving with minimal urban merging or complex intersections, characteristic of the Great Plains landscape.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.8 mi on Highway 385.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 385 and US Highway 385. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 16; US 385 / Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 37m 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: near the start (US 16; US 385 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 50.8 miles (US 85): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.4 miles (US 85): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 69.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 19.8 miles on Highway 385. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 (US 16; US 385 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 50.8 miles (US 85): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.4 miles (US 85): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Belle Fourche, SD before heading back.
