Mitchell, SD to Lennox, SD is 78 miles and takes about 1 hour 33 minutes via South SD Highway 17, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region of South Dakota, offering a straightforward journey between two communities. Expect a local feel for the majority of this trip, primarily on county roads and state highways. If you're looking for a short, uncomplicated hop between towns, this route fits the bill without requiring an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39 miles from Mitchell, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South SD Highway 17
9.6 mi
16m
463rd Avenue
4.4 mi
7m
466th Avenue
3 mi
5m
265th Street
3 mi
4m
South Burr Street
0.8 mi
1m
West Havens Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
South Sanborn Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
South SD Highway 17
— 9.6 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mitchell, SD and Lennox, 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 left onto I 90 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·West Havens Avenue
4
Turn right onto I 90 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·South Burr Street
5
Take the ramp
55 mi·51 min
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
7
Keep slight right at fork
247 ft·6 sec
8
Turn straight onto CR 151
4.4 mi·7 min·463rd Avenue
9
Turn left onto SD 42
3.0 mi·4 min·265th Street
10
Turn right onto CR 145
3.0 mi·5 min·466th Avenue
11
Continue on CR 105
9.6 mi·16 min·South SD Highway 17
12
Continue on CR 105
0.2 mi·19 sec·North Pine Street
13
Turn right onto East Boynton Avenue
0.3 mi·48 sec·East Boynton Avenue
14
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·North Main Street
15
Turn right onto West 2nd Avenue
70 ft·3 sec·West 2nd Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
West 2nd Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour 33 minute duration, this is easily a same-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any early rush hour impacts, though this route is unlikely to be heavily congested. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, you won't need to worry too much about frequent stops for gas, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye on your GPS for the many turns; the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile means staying alert to navigation is key to staying on track to Lennox.
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 39 miles from Mitchell, SD, or about 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.6 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 17 miles or 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 miles or 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lennox, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mitchell, SD
This is one driving day of about 78 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Mitchell, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South SD Highway 17 for about 9.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 77.4 — 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
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|I 90 Business / West Havens Avenue
Turn left onto I 90 Business / West Havens Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
57.1 mi into trip|~56m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
61.6 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|SD 42 / 265th Street
Turn left onto SD 42 / 265th Street
Navigation decision point
5
77.4 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|East Boynton Avenue
Turn right onto East Boynton Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.19 one way
$24.39 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.39
$26.78
premium
$4.89
$15.01
$30.02
diesel
$5.61
$17.22
$34.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.19
$3.74
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.82
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.92
$4.99
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Mitchell, SD
Night
in Mitchell on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lennox, SD
Night
in Lennox on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Lyons, SD
39 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
29 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 33m 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?
This drive is characterized by frequent turns, making it a more engaged local experience rather than a high-speed transit. With only 12% of the route on highways, you'll primarily navigate South Dakota's network of county roads like 463rd Avenue and 466th Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 9.6 miles on South SD Highway 17, so be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with regular adjustments. This profile suggests a route that requires your attention, moving through the landscape at a more deliberate pace.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.6 mi on South SD Highway 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Sanborn Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 33m drive. You will face about 10 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 0.5 miles (I 90 Business / West Havens Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 57.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 78 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 9.6 miles on South SD Highway 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (South Sanborn Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (I 90 Business / West Havens Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 57.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lennox, SD before heading back.
