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Trip from Madison, SD to Sioux Falls, SD

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 4m

Distance

53.4 mi

86 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 59m ★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Lake County, South Dakota, United States

Madison, SD

Wikimedia Commons

city in and seat of Minnehaha County, and largest city in South Dakota, United States

Sioux Falls, SD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 53.4 miles, the drive from Madison to Sioux Falls is a straightforward trip across the Great Plains that typically takes about 1 hour and 4 minutes. Because of the manageable distance and duration, this route works perfectly as a quick day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $8 on fuel, making it a very budget-friendly excursion within South Dakota. The journey is primarily highway-focused, utilizing a mix of SD Highway 34, I-90, and I-29 to navigate the prairie landscape. Whether you are heading out for business or leisure, this direct connection between the two cities is efficient and reliable. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a simple, no-fuss commute between regional hubs.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 29 25.4 mi 24m
SD Highway 34 15 mi 21m
I 90 3.7 mi 4m
I 229 3.6 mi 4m
Southeast 10th Street 1.1 mi 1m
North Washington Avenue 1 mi 1m
Southwest 3rd Street 0.8 mi 1m
Southeast 3rd Street 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 29 — 25.4 mi, about 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Madison, SD and Sioux Falls, SD.

1

Start on North Egan Avenue

384 ft · 16 sec · North Egan Avenue
2

Turn right onto SD 34

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Northeast 2nd Street
3

Turn right onto SD 34

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Washington Avenue
4

Turn left onto SD 34

1.1 mi · 1 min · Southeast 10th Street
5

Continue on SD 34

13 mi · 18 min · SD Highway 34
6

Continue on SD 34

0.8 mi · 1 min · Southwest 3rd Street
7

Continue on SD 34

0.8 mi · 1 min · Southeast 3rd Street
8

Continue on SD 34

1.9 mi · 2 min · SD Highway 34
9

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 29: Sioux Falls
10

Merge onto I 29

25 mi · 24 min · I 29
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward Interstate 90 East: Albert Lea
12

Merge onto I 90

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 90
13

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 33 sec
Exit 400 Toward I 229 South Use the slight right lane.
14

Merge onto I 229

3.6 mi · 4 min · I 229
15

Take the exit onto I 229 Business

0.2 mi · 32 sec · I 229 Business
Exit 6 Toward 10th Street, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto I 229 Business

0.1 mi · 20 sec · I 229 Business
Toward SD 42: Downtown, Washington Pavilion Use the slight right lane.
17

Turn right onto South Lowell Avenue

0.1 mi · 22 sec · South Lowell Avenue
18

Turn left onto East 8th Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · East 8th Street
19

Turn right onto North Chicago Avenue

0.1 mi · 23 sec · North Chicago Avenue
20

Arrive at destination

North Chicago Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in South Dakota, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Crooks, SD

27 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.

Popular next leg

Crooks, SD to Sioux Falls, SD

14.4 mi · 21m

Pacing Suggestions

Lone Tree, SD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Baltic, SD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.7 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 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 48.6 and 53.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
48.6 mi into trip | ~57m in

Take the exit toward I 229 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 400 Toward I 229 South
8
52.6 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in | I 229 Business

Take the exit onto I 229 Business toward 10th Street, Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 6 Toward 10th Street, Downtown
9
52.9 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | I 229 Business

Keep slight right at fork onto I 229 Business toward SD 42: Downtown, Washington Pavilion

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward SD 42: Downtown, Washington Pavilion
5
53 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | South Lowell Avenue

Turn right onto South Lowell Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
53.3 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | North Chicago Avenue

Turn right onto North Chicago Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.35 one way

$16.70 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $9.17 $18.33
premium $4.89 $10.28 $20.55
diesel $5.61 $11.79 $23.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16 0 $5.61 $2.56
Efficient EV 13.4 0 $4.67 $2.14
EV Truck/SUV 21.4 0 $7.48 $3.42

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 Apr 11, 2026

Origin

Madison, SD

Night in Madison on Saturday

Local time

9:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Patchy Fog

SSE 20 to 25 mph 10% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 11 at 1:52PM CDT until April 12 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 11 at 1:33PM CDT until April 12 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD

Destination

Sioux Falls, SD

Night in Sioux Falls on Saturday

Local time

9:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

9 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

1h 4m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highly efficient experience, as 90% of this journey is spent on major highways. You will begin by transitioning onto the regional roads before merging into the interstate system, which defines the bulk of the 1 hour and 4 minute travel time. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 25.4-mile run on I-29, which allows for consistent speeds and a steady pace. While the drive lacks technical turns or complex navigation, the shift from local highways to the wider interstate creates a distinct change in the feel of the road. You can anticipate a smooth, predictable ride that prioritizes speed and convenience over scenic detours.

90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.4 mi on I 29.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and SD Highway 34. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 48.6 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.4 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.6 miles (I 229 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.9 miles (I 229 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,700 ft 1,353 ft

Total Climb

361 ft

Total Descent

567 ft

Highest Point

1,700 ft

~6.7 mi in

Elevation Range

346 ft

About the Cities

Arriving in Sioux Falls, SD

Full guide →

Sioux Falls is a city of about 184,000 (2019) in Southeast South Dakota. Founded in 1883 in what was then known as the Dakota Territory, Sioux Falls has grown from a sleepy Midwestern town into a resort for shopping and tourism in the northern Great Plains. It is widely recognized as the largest urban center between Minneapolis and Denver.

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 1h 4m. Total distance: 53.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 25.4 miles on I 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Sioux Falls, SD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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: at 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.6 miles (I 229 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.9 miles (I 229 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sioux Falls, SD before heading back.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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