Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
31.8 mi
51 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake Preston, SD
Lisa from Pexels
Osceola, SD
Dmytro Koplyk
Lake Preston to Osceola is 31.8 miles and takes about 47 minutes via US Highway 14, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within South Dakota's Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive. Expect mostly open country with minimal fuss. It's a quick connection perfect for a day trip or as part of a larger exploration of the area.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 14 | 23.2 mi | 26m |
| 418th Avenue | 6.1 mi | 14m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.9 mi | 3m |
| 1st Street Northwest | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Neosho Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Sioux Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Avenue North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| School Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Preston, SD and Osceola, SD.
Start on Main Avenue North
Turn right onto US 14
Continue on US 14
Continue on US 14
Turn right onto CR 39
Continue on CR 39
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
Turn left onto School Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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.
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 31.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 15.9 miles from Lake Preston, 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.
4 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 31.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto US 14 / 1st Street Northwest;1st Street Southwest
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto CR 39 / North Sioux Street;418th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto School Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$5.29 one way
$10.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $5.76 | $11.52 |
| premium | $5.18 | $6.49 | $12.98 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $6.70 | $13.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.34 | $1.53 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.78 | $1.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Lake Preston on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:28PM CDT until June 1 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Destination
Afternoon in Osceola on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Partly Cloudy
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:28PM CDT until June 1 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
89°F
Oldham, SD
16 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is 73% highway, with a longest stretch of 23.2 miles on US Highway 14. You'll spend most of your time on this main artery before transitioning to local roads like 418th Avenue and 4th Avenue. Given the profile, expect mostly rural cruising with few complex interchanges.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 14 and 418th Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 14 / 1st Street Northwest;1st Street Southwest.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lake Preston, SD to Osceola, SD is easy. At 47m with 73% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 14 / 1st Street Northwest;1st Street Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 24.5 miles (CR 39 / North Sioux Street;418th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles (4th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
137 ft
Total Descent
401 ft
Highest Point
1,773 ft
~11.4 mi in
Elevation Range
371 ft
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 31.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Straightforward navigation.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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