Spanning 87.6 miles across the South Dakota Great Plains, this route from Mitchell to Worthing is a straightforward journey typically taking about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Since the entire drive is manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budgeting around $13 for fuel should be sufficient to cover the trip in a standard vehicle. You will spend your time navigating a mix of I-29, 280th Street, and South Burr Street. It is an ideal path if you are looking for a quick, efficient connection between these two points in the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.8 miles from Mitchell, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 29
19.3 mi
20m
280th Street
0.9 mi
1m
South Burr Street
0.8 mi
1m
West 1st Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Havens Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
South Sanborn Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
SD Highway 44
0.1 mi
<1m
South Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 19.3 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mitchell, SD and Worthing, 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
64 mi·1 hr
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
7
Merge onto I 29
19 mi·20 min·I 29
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
9
Turn left onto SD 44
0.1 mi·9 sec·SD Highway 44
10
Continue on CR 124
0.9 mi·1 min·280th Street
11
Continue on CR 124
0.7 mi·1 min·West 1st Street
12
Turn right onto South Main Street
419 ft·18 sec·South Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best without needing a complex itinerary. Because there are no designated stops on this 87.6-mile trek, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving, as the $13 estimate assumes a consistent pace without major detours. Pay close attention to the transition points between South Burr Street and 280th Street, as the turn-heavy nature of the drive demands focus. Keeping a steady pace during your 19.3-mile stretch on I-29 will help you maintain your estimated 1 hour and 30 minute arrival time. Carry a physical map or reliable GPS, as the mix of local roads can be easy to misjudge during the final segments.
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 43.8 miles from Mitchell, SD, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.3 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 19 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.8 miles or 44m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Worthing, 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 87.6 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Mitchell, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 19.3 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 87.6 — 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
5
66.3 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|I 29
Merge onto I 29
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
85.8 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|SD 44 / SD Highway 44
Turn left onto SD 44 / SD Highway 44
Navigation decision point
4
87.6 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.70 one way
$27.39 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.04
$30.07
premium
$4.89
$16.86
$33.72
diesel
$5.61
$19.34
$38.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.20
$4.20
Efficient EV
21.9
0
$7.66
$3.50
EV Truck/SUV
35
0
$12.26
$5.61
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 17, 2026
Origin
Mitchell, SD
Night
in Mitchell on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Partly Cloudy
W 10 to 20 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Worthing, SD
Night
in Worthing on Saturday
Local time
9:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
9 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
1h 30m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience as you transition away from the main interstate stretches. With only 22% of the journey spent on highways, the character of the road leans toward local navigation rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is 19.3 miles on I-29, providing a brief period of steady driving before you return to local roads. The route requires active attention to your navigation as the road surface and traffic patterns shift frequently. This is not a monotonous highway grind, but rather a more engaged, technical drive through the regional landscape.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.3 mi on I 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Sanborn Boulevard.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Mitchell, SD to Worthing, SD is easy. At 1h 30m with 22% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 66.3 miles (I 29): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,695 ft1,315 ft
Total Climb
460 ft
Total Descent
372 ft
Highest Point
1,695 ft
~50.1 mi in
Elevation Range
380 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 87.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 19.3 miles on I 29. 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 66.3 miles (I 29): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Worthing, SD before heading back.
