If you are planning a trek from Lennox to Rapid City, expect to cover 354.3 miles across the South Dakota plains. This journey typically takes about 5 hours and 13 minutes, making it a manageable day trip if you get an early start. Budget approximately $54 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Great Plains locations. Since this route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience. While it is possible to complete the trip in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the route means you will want to stay alert behind the wheel.
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
176.6 miles from Lennox, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
329.6 mi
5h 11m
SD Highway 17
9.6 mi
16m
463rd Avenue
4.6 mi
8m
466th Avenue
3 mi
5m
265th Street
3 mi
4m
I 190
1.4 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
East Boynton Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 329.6 mi, about 5h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lennox, SD and Rapid City, SD.
1
Start on West 2nd Avenue
70 ft·8 sec·West 2nd Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·South Main Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto East Boynton Avenue
0.3 mi·48 sec·East Boynton Avenue
4
Turn left onto CR 105
0.2 mi·17 sec·North Pine Street
5
Continue on CR 105
9.6 mi·16 min·SD Highway 17
6
Continue on CR 145
3.0 mi·5 min·466th Avenue
7
Turn left onto SD 42
3.0 mi·4 min·265th Street
8
Turn right onto CR 151
4.6 mi·8 min·463rd Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
10
Merge onto I 90
330 mi·5 hr 11 min·I 90
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 190, US 16: Downtown, Black Hawk National Forest, Mount Rushmore
12
Continue on I 190
1.4 mi·1 min·I 190
13
Turn left onto US 16; SD 44
0.2 mi·39 sec·Omaha Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto US 16
0.2 mi·45 sec·Mount Rushmore Road
Use the right lane.
15
Arrive at destination
US 16
Trip Plan
Because this route relies entirely on local roads, plan for a steady pace rather than quick highway transit. You should factor in at least one planned stop during your 5-hour and 13-minute drive to stretch your legs and reset. Since the route involves frequent turns, check your navigation frequently and ensure your fuel tank is ready for the $54 expenditure before heading out from Lennox. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid fatigue and ensure you arrive in Rapid City with plenty of daylight to spare. Given the lack of high-speed highway segments, remain patient with the local traffic patterns you will encounter along the way.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 176.6 miles from Lennox, SD, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 329.6 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 78 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.6 miles or 3h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 54m
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 Lennox, 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 Lennox, SD
This is one driving day of about 353.3 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Lennox, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 329.6 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 353.1 — 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|South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|East Boynton Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto East Boynton Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|CR 105 / North Pine Street
Turn left onto CR 105 / North Pine Street
Navigation decision point
5
351 mi into trip|~5h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 190, US 16: Downtown, Black Hawk National Forest, Mount Rushmore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 190, US 16: Downtown, Black Hawk Natio...
7
353.1 mi into trip|~5h 52m in|US 16 / Mount Rushmore Road
Turn right onto US 16 / Mount Rushmore Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.23 one way
$110.47 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$60.65
$121.29
premium
$4.89
$67.99
$135.98
diesel
$5.61
$78.00
$156.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106
1
$37.10
$16.96
Efficient EV
88.3
1
$30.91
$14.13
EV Truck/SUV
141.3
1
$49.46
$22.61
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lennox, SD
Evening
in Lennox on Saturday
Local time
8:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rapid City, SD
Evening
in Rapid City on Saturday
Local time
7:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
78°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
30 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
5h 53m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 353.3
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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
$30
near mile 292.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Forget the monotony of high-speed interstate cruising; this route is defined by its turn-heavy, local road character. You will navigate through segments like South Main Street, East Boynton Avenue, and North Pine Street, which keep your focus on the road rather than long, straight stretches. With a highway share of 0%, this path offers a completely different feel compared to typical cross-country travel. Every turn requires your full attention, so expect a more involved driving experience as you transition across the state. The lack of traditional highway miles means your pace will be dictated by the local infrastructure throughout the entire 354.3-mile trip.
96% 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: 329.6 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and SD Highway 17. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 53m drive. You will face about 9 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 (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (East Boynton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (CR 105 / North Pine Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 53m. Total distance: 353.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 329.6 miles on I 90. 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.
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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (East Boynton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (CR 105 / North Pine Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 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.
