Keystone to Scenic is 61 miles and takes about 1 hour 34 minutes via East Highway 44, South Highway 16, and Catron Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region of South Dakota, offering a straightforward drive. It's a short trip, ideal for a single day of travel. Consider this an easy hop between two points in the state, without extensive planning needed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30.5 miles from Keystone, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Highway 44
38.3 mi
1h 2m
South Highway 16
12.1 mi
14m
Catron Boulevard
3.3 mi
4m
Highway 16A
2.3 mi
4m
Elk Vale Road
2.3 mi
2m
Mount Rushmore Road
1 mi
1m
Reed Street
0.3 mi
1m
Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
East Highway 44
— 38.3 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Keystone, SD and Scenic, SD.
1
Start on this road
93 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto SD 40
510 ft·17 sec·1st Street
3
Continue on SD 40
0.3 mi·1 min·Reed Street
4
Turn right onto US 16A
2.3 mi·4 min·Highway 16A
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 16A
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 16A
6
Merge onto US 16
12 mi·14 min·South Highway 16
7
Continue on US 16
1.0 mi·1 min·Mount Rushmore Road
8
Take the exit onto US 16 Truck
0.1 mi·12 sec·US 16 Truck
9
Merge onto US 16 Truck
3.3 mi·4 min·Catron Boulevard
10
Continue on US 16 Truck
2.3 mi·2 min·Elk Vale Road
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
12
Turn right onto SD 44
38 mi·1 hr 2 min·East Highway 44
13
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·Main Street
14
Turn right onto 2nd Street
10 ft·0 sec·2nd Street
15
Arrive at destination
2nd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 1-hour drive, you have a lot of flexibility. Leaving Keystone anytime in the morning or early afternoon should get you to Scenic with plenty of daylight to spare. With only 61 miles, you won't need many stops, but it’s always wise to top off your fuel in Keystone before you depart, as fuel availability can be limited in more rural parts of South Dakota. Plan to take it easy and enjoy the straightforward drive across the plains.
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 30.5 miles from Keystone, SD, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.3 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 13 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.5 miles or 43m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scenic, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Keystone, SD so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Keystone, SD
This is one driving day of about 61 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Keystone, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East Highway 44 for about 38.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 61 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SD 40 / 1st Street
Turn left onto SD 40 / 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in|US 16A
Keep slight right at fork onto US 16A
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
3.1 mi into trip|~6m in|US 16 / South Highway 16
Merge onto US 16 / South Highway 16
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
22.4 mi into trip|~30m in|SD 44 / East Highway 44
Turn right onto SD 44 / East Highway 44
Navigation decision point
4
61 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|2nd Street
Turn right onto 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.14 one way
$20.28 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$11.05
$22.09
premium
$5.18
$12.45
$24.89
diesel
$5.35
$12.85
$25.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.3
0
$6.41
$2.93
Efficient EV
15.3
0
$5.34
$2.44
EV Truck/SUV
24.4
0
$8.54
$3.90
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Keystone, SD
Afternoon
in Keystone on Wednesday
Local time
1:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:28PM CDT until June 1 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Destination
Scenic, SD
Afternoon
in Scenic on Wednesday
Local time
1:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
N 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:28PM CDT until June 1 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 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 34m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
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...
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...
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...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 2.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 87% of this 61-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 38.3 miles on East Highway 44. The remainder of the drive transitions to surface roads. Expect mostly highway cruising with some rural sections as you approach your destination.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.3 mi on East Highway 44.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East Highway 44 and South Highway 16. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SD 40 / 1st Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SD 40 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (US 16A): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.1 miles (US 16 / South Highway 16): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
4,771 ft2,533 ft
Total Climb
744 ft
Total Descent
2,269 ft
Highest Point
4,771 ft
~4.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,237 ft
Notable High Points
4,771 ft at ~4.4 miles+433 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Colombian Market
Cafe
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Rapid City, SD
Cuisine: coffee_shop;pastry
Hours: Tu-Th 08:00-1600; Mo 08:00-17:00; Fr 08:...
Keystone is a tiny town in the Black Hills of South Dakota, at the entrance to the popular Mount Rushmore National Memorial. It offers a full range of accommodations, but at the price of a "tourist trap" veneer.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 61 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.3 miles on East Highway 44. 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 (SD 40 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (US 16A): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.1 miles (US 16 / South Highway 16): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes — Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park (4 total within detour distance). 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 Scenic, SD before heading back.
