Origin
Madison, SD
Evening in Madison on Saturday
Local time
8:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, SD to Gettysburg, SD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 19m
Distance
218 mi
351 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 6m
★
6 AM
4h 20m
8 AM
4h 46m
10 AM
4h 29m
12 PM
4h 26m
3 PM
4h 30m
5 PM
4h 45m
8 PM
4h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Madison, SD to Gettysburg, SD is 218 miles and takes about 4h 19m via SD Highway 34 and US 83, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward journey across South Dakota. With a 70% highway share, expect a consistent pace for most of the trip. This route is ideal for a single-day adventure if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points.
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
109 miles from Madison, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SD Highway 34 | 54.7 mi | 1h 10m |
| West 14th Street | 53.7 mi | 1h 1m |
| US 83 | 36.1 mi | 41m |
| US Highway 14 | 25.2 mi | 28m |
| SD Highway 37 | 16.8 mi | 19m |
| US 14 | 12.2 mi | 14m |
| Dakota Avenue South | 5 mi | 5m |
| Commercial Avenue | 4.5 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
SD Highway 34
— 54.7 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, SD and Gettysburg, SD.
1
Start on North Egan Avenue
384 ft
·
20 sec
·
North Egan Avenue
2
Turn left onto SD 34
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
3
Continue on US 81; SD 34
55 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
SD Highway 34
4
Turn right onto SD 37
17 mi
·
19 min
·
SD Highway 37
5
Continue on SD 37
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Dakota Avenue South
6
Turn left onto US 14; SD 37 Truck
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 14; SD 37 Truck
7
Turn right onto US 14; US 281
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US Highway 281
8
Continue on US 14; US 281
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Commercial Avenue
9
Turn left onto US 14
25 mi
·
28 min
·
US Highway 14
10
Turn right onto US 14; SD 45
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broadway
11
Turn left onto US 14
54 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
West 14th Street
12
Take the exit
328 ft
·
9 sec
13
Merge onto US 83
36 mi
·
41 min
·
US 83
14
Continue on US 212
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 212
15
Continue on US 212
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Garfield Avenue
16
Turn right onto North Exene Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Exene Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Exene Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 19m duration, leaving Madison, SD in the morning will comfortably get you to Gettysburg, SD with plenty of daylight to spare. While there's only one suggested stop, consider breaking up the 54.7-mile stretch on SD Highway 34 with a brief pause for gas or a stretch if needed. With a fuel cost estimated at $34, you can easily plan your budget. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer stretches where services might be less frequent.
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 109 miles from Madison, SD, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.7 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 48 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109 miles or 2h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gettysburg, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madison, 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 Madison, SD
This is one driving day of about 218 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Madison, 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 SD Highway 34 for about 54.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 109 miles from Madison, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 217.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SD 34 / Northwest 2nd Street
Turn left onto SD 34 / Northwest 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
56.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
SD 37 / SD Highway 37
Turn right onto SD 37 / SD Highway 37
Navigation decision point
4
96.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
|
US 14 / US Highway 14
Turn left onto US 14 / US Highway 14
Navigation decision point
4
122.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
|
US 14 / West 14th Street
Turn left onto US 14 / West 14th Street
Navigation decision point
4
217.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 19m in
|
North Exene Street
Turn right onto North Exene Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.08 one way
$68.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.42 | $74.84 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.95 | $83.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.13 | $96.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.4 | 0 | $22.89 | $10.46 |
| Efficient EV | 54.5 | 0 | $19.08 | $8.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.2 | 1 | $30.52 | $13.95 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Gettysburg, SD
Evening in Gettysburg on Saturday
Local time
8:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Osceola, SD
109 mi in
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
30 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 19m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with about 70% of your journey on main roads like SD Highway 34 and US 83. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.7 miles on SD Highway 34, so settle in for some steady driving. The character of the road is largely consistent, maintaining a good pace as you traverse the South Dakota landscape. Expect primarily two-lane highway driving with occasional sections that might feel more like a traditional interstate.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.7 mi on SD Highway 34.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SD Highway 34 and West 14th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SD 34 / Northwest 2nd Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 19m 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: at 0.1 miles (SD 34 / Northwest 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 56.1 miles (SD 37 / SD Highway 37): Navigation decision point; at 96.7 miles (US 14 / US Highway 14): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 218 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.7 miles on SD Highway 34. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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: at 0.1 miles (SD 34 / Northwest 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 56.1 miles (SD 37 / SD Highway 37): Navigation decision point; at 96.7 miles (US 14 / US Highway 14): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Gettysburg, SD, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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