Origin
Jefferson, SD
Morning in Jefferson on Sunday
Local time
10:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jefferson, SD to Rapid City, SD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 1m
Distance
418.2 mi
673 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$70
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 49m
★
6 AM
6h 2m
8 AM
6h 28m
10 AM
6h 11m
12 PM
6h 8m
3 PM
6h 12m
5 PM
6h 26m
8 PM
5h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson, SD
Tom Fisk
Rapid City, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Jefferson, SD to Rapid City, SD covers 418.2 miles and takes about 6h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, West Dakota Street, I 90 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $70.16 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
209.1 miles from Jefferson, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | — | — |
| West Dakota Street | — | — |
| I 90 West | — | — |
| I 190 | — | — |
| Omaha Street | — | — |
| Mount Rushmore Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson, SD and Rapid City, SD.
1
Start on South 3rd Street
56 ft
·
8 sec
·
South 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn left onto West Dakota Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Dakota Street
4
Take the ramp slight right
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
5
Merge slight left
74 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 West: Rapid City
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 90 West: Rapid City
7
Merge slight left
339 mi
·
5 hr 20 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 190, US 16: Downtown, Black Hawk National Forest, Mount Rushmore
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 190, US 16: Downtown, Black Hawk National Forest, Mount Rushmore
9
Continue straight
1.4 mi
·
1 min
10
Turn left onto Omaha Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Omaha Street
11
Turn right onto Mount Rushmore Road
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Mount Rushmore Road
12
Arrive at your destination
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 209.1 miles from Jefferson, SD, or about 3h into the drive.
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 92 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 209.1 miles or 3h 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rapid City, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jefferson, 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 Jefferson, SD
This is one driving day of about 418.2 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 miles from Jefferson, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
209 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 92 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 209.1 miles from Jefferson, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.16 one way
$140.31 round trip
$4.26/gal
25.4 MPG avg
146 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.49 | $73.98 | $147.95 |
| premium | $5.05 | $83.11 | $166.23 |
| diesel | $6.07 | $99.89 | $199.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 146.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 125.5 | 1 | $43.91 | $20.07 |
| Efficient EV | 104.6 | 1 | $36.59 | $16.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 167.3 | 2 | $58.55 | $26.76 |
Gas CO2
146 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Rapid City, SD
Morning in Rapid City on Sunday
Local time
9:36 AM
MDT
Current temp
68°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
11 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 1m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
418.2 mi in 6h 1m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Main Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
4/10
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 1m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Jefferson, SD to Rapid City, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
About the Cities
Starting in Jefferson, SD
Full guide →Arriving in Rapid City, SD
Full guide →Founded 1876
Rapid City is the largest city in the Badlands and Black Hills region of South Dakota. It is a convenient base for travel on to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the Crazy Horse Memorial, the Badlands, and the Black Hills National Forest.
Top landmarks
- • Hotel Alex Johnson — building in Rapid City, South Dakota
- • Dinosaur Park — sculpture park in Rapid City, South Dakota
- • Pap Madison Cabin — cabin in Rapid City, SD, USA
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 1m. Total distance: 418.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 Rapid City, 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.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Jefferson, SD to Rapid City, SD is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rapid City, SD before the return drive.
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. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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