Mitchell, SD to Colonial Pine Hills, SD is 284.7 miles and takes about 4h 40m via South Sanborn Boulevard and West Havens Avenue, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within the Great Plains region of South Dakota, offering a straightforward drive across familiar terrain. Given its duration and the surface road profile, this route is best suited for those who appreciate a steady pace and don't mind navigating local streets for the majority of the trip. It's a manageable one-day excursion, perfect for a direct trip without extensive highway time.
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
142.3 miles from Mitchell, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90 Business
268.4 mi
4h 13m
North Elk Vale Road
5.4 mi
7m
Catron Boulevard
3.7 mi
5m
Sheridan Lake Road
3.2 mi
5m
East Catron Boulevard
1.2 mi
1m
West Havens Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
South Ohlman Street
0.6 mi
1m
South Sanborn Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90 Business
— 268.4 mi, about 4h 13m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 23 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~267 veh/hr typical
· worst 510
Quietest
2 AM
~20 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mitchell, SD and Colonial Pine Hills, SD.
1
Start on West 1st Avenue
34 ft·5 sec·West 1st Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Sanborn Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·South Sanborn Boulevard
3
Turn right onto I 90 Business
0.9 mi·2 min·West Havens Avenue
4
Turn left onto I 90 Business; SD 37
0.6 mi·1 min·South Ohlman Street
5
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
268 mi·4 hr 13 min·I 90 Business
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
8
Continue on US 16 Truck; SD 79
5.4 mi·7 min·North Elk Vale Road
9
Continue on US 16 Truck
1.2 mi·1 min·East Catron Boulevard
10
Continue on US 16 Truck
3.7 mi·5 min·Catron Boulevard
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Sheridan Lake Road
3.2 mi·5 min·Sheridan Lake Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto Clarkson Road
0.2 mi·44 sec·Clarkson Road
13
Turn right onto Alfalfa Court
0.1 mi·30 sec·Alfalfa Court
14
Arrive at destination
Alfalfa Court
Trip Plan
Given this is a 4h 40m drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to ensure you have ample daylight for navigation on surface roads. With only one stop indicated, consider breaking up the drive roughly halfway to stretch your legs and refuel, especially since the fuel cost is estimated at $45. Pay attention to local speed limits as you transition between different road types within towns. Since the entire route is on surface roads, be prepared for potential traffic lights and intersections that may slow your progress.
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 142.3 miles from Mitchell, SD, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 268.4 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 63 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.3 miles or 2h 17m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colonial Pine Hills, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mitchell, 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 Mitchell, SD
This is one driving day of about 284.7 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Mitchell, 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 Business for about 268.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 281.1 — 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 Sanborn Boulevard
Turn right onto South Sanborn Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|I 90 Business; SD 37 / South Ohlman Street
Turn left onto I 90 Business; SD 37 / South Ohlman Street
Navigation decision point
5
270.4 mi into trip|~4h 18m in
Take the exit toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore...
5
270.6 mi into trip|~4h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
281.1 mi into trip|~4h 33m in|Sheridan Lake Road
Turn left onto Sheridan Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.04 one way
$84.09 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$46.42
$92.83
premium
$4.72
$52.86
$105.72
diesel
$4.80
$53.76
$107.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.4
1
$29.89
$13.67
Efficient EV
71.2
0
$24.91
$11.39
EV Truck/SUV
113.9
1
$39.86
$18.22
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Mitchell, SD
Late night
in Mitchell on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Clear
NE 5 to 10 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 6:34PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 3:07PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Destination
Colonial Pine Hills, SD
Late night
in Colonial Pine Hills on Sunday
Local time
3:55 AM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Cloudy
N 2 to 8 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 6:34PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 3:07PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
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
3 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 40m 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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 284.7
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 215.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is entirely on surface roads, meaning you'll be navigating local streets and highways for the full 284.7 miles. You won't encounter any high-speed highway cruising, as the highway share is 0%. Expect a consistent pace on local roads without the frequent merging and exiting typical of interstate travel. The longest stretch without a significant turn or change in road type is not specified, but the profile suggests a steady, albeit slower, drive.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 268.4 mi on I 90 Business.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 Business and North Elk Vale Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Sanborn Boulevard.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 40m drive. You will face about 8 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 Sanborn Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 90 Business; SD 37 / South Ohlman Street): Navigation decision point; at 270.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
4,083 ft1,315 ft
Total Climb
2,882 ft
Total Descent
114 ft
Highest Point
4,083 ft
~284.7 mi in
Elevation Range
2,768 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mitchell, SD to Colonial Pine Hills, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Crazy Horse along the way.
Mitchell is a city in Southeast South Dakota on Interstate 90 about 75 miles (121 km) west of Sioux Falls. Mitchell is located in the heart of South Dakota, with rich rolling farmland leading into wide open prairies.
Top landmarks
•Koch Apartments — apartment building in Mitchell, United States of America
The longest stretch is about 268.4 miles on I 90 Business. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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: near the start (South Sanborn Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 90 Business; SD 37 / South Ohlman Street): Navigation decision point; at 270.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Colonial Pine Hills, SD, but most travelers stay overnight.
