Spanning 126.5 miles across the South Dakota Great Plains, this route connects Milbank to Sioux Falls in approximately 2 hours and 27 minutes. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that works perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Expect to spend about $19 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly option for travelers. Since the entire journey remains within the state of South Dakota, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. Whether you are heading south for business or a change of pace, this direct route offers a reliable way to navigate the plains efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
63.2 miles from Milbank, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 29
66.5 mi
1h 2m
SD Highway 15
39.7 mi
55m
US Highway 212
4.8 mi
7m
SD Highway 28
4 mi
6m
I 90
3.7 mi
4m
I 229
3.6 mi
4m
3rd Avenue North
1.1 mi
1m
South Dakota Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 66.5 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milbank, SD and Sioux Falls, SD.
1
Start on US 12
0.3 mi·26 sec·East 4th Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Dakota Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South Dakota Street
3
Continue on SD 15
19 mi·27 min·SD Highway 15
4
Turn right onto US 212; SD 15
4.8 mi·7 min·US Highway 212
5
Turn left onto SD 15
9.1 mi·13 min·SD Highway 15
6
Continue on SD 15
1.1 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue North
7
Continue on SD 15
12 mi·13 min·SD Highway 15
8
Turn right onto SD 15; SD 28
4.0 mi·6 min·SD Highway 28
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
10
Merge onto I 29
66 mi·1 hr 2 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 400Toward I 229 SouthUse 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 6Toward 10th Street, DowntownUse 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 PavilionUse 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
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though leaving early can help you avoid any potential rush-hour traffic upon arrival in Sioux Falls. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily tackle the entire 2.5-hour duration in one go if you prefer. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Milbank, as the $19 budget is a baseline estimate that can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency. Given the high percentage of highway travel, ensure your vehicle is cruise-control ready for the long 66.5-mile stretch on I-29. Use this quick transit time to your advantage by planning your arrival activities in advance, as the lack of required stops makes for a very fast trip.
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 63.2 miles from Milbank, SD, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.5 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 28 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.2 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sioux Falls, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Milbank, 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 Milbank, SD
This is one driving day of about 126.5 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Milbank, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 66.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 121.7 and 126.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
121.7 mi into trip|~2h 20m 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
125.7 mi into trip|~2h 24m 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
126 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
126.1 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|South Lowell Avenue
Turn right onto South Lowell Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
126.4 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|North Chicago Avenue
Turn right onto North Chicago Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.78 one way
$39.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.71
$43.43
premium
$4.89
$24.34
$48.69
diesel
$5.61
$27.93
$55.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.9
0
$13.28
$6.07
Efficient EV
31.6
0
$11.07
$5.06
EV Truck/SUV
50.6
0
$17.71
$8.10
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Milbank, SD
Late night
in Milbank on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sioux Falls, SD
Late night
in Sioux Falls on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Medary, SD
63 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
3 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
2h 27m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient journey, as 97% of your travel time will be spent on highways including I-29, SD Highway 15, and US Highway 212. The route features a significant 66.5-mile uninterrupted stretch on I-29, which allows for steady, consistent cruising. Because it is a highway-focused drive, you should anticipate a straightforward experience rather than technical or winding roads. This setup is ideal for those who prefer a predictable path that makes steady progress toward the destination. You will spend most of your time behind the wheel focused on the open road as you transition between these major arterial routes.
97% 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: 66.5 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and SD Highway 15. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 121.7 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 126.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 121.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.7 miles (I 229 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126 miles (I 229 Business): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Milbank is a city 3640 in the Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota. Milbank has two claims to fame: first, it's the birthplace of American Legion Baseball. Secondly, it's the home of the great NFL running back Clarence "Pug" Manders, who led the league in rushing in 1941.
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.
Top landmarks
•South Dakota State Penitentiary — prison in South Dakota, United States of America
•Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science — museum, theater, concert hall, and art gallery in downtown Sioux Falls, South Da...
•Sioux Falls National Bank Building — office building in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 126.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.5 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. 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: at 121.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.7 miles (I 229 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126 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.
