Pierre to Hot Springs is 243.4 miles and takes about 4h 10m via US 83, I 90, and SD 79, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Dakota, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. It's a straightforward trip primarily on highways, making it a manageable option if you're looking for a direct route across the state. Expect mostly open country as you make your way south and west.
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
121.7 miles from Pierre, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 83
95.4 mi
1h 29m
I 90
55.4 mi
53m
SD 79
47.9 mi
53m
South US Highway 83
30.6 mi
34m
North Elk Vale Road
5.3 mi
7m
Fall River Road
4 mi
4m
North 1st Street
1 mi
1m
West Sioux Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 83
— 95.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~294 veh/hr typical
· worst 591
Quietest
2 AM
~22 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Pierre, SD and Hot Springs, SD.
1
Start on SD 1889
0.1 mi·15 sec·South Euclid Avenue
2
Turn left onto SD 1889
0.1 mi·13 sec·South Pierre Street
3
Turn right onto US 14; US 83; SD 34
0.9 mi·1 min·West Sioux Avenue
4
Continue on US 14; US 83; SD 34
0.5 mi·35 sec·North Highway 83
5
Continue on US 83
0.7 mi·45 sec·North Deadwood Street
6
Continue on US 83; SD 1806
1.0 mi·1 min·North 1st Street
7
Continue on US 83; SD 1806
31 mi·34 min·South US Highway 83
8
Take the exit onto US 83
95 mi·1 hr 29 min·US 83
9
Continue on I 90
55 mi·53 min·I 90
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
12
Continue on US 16 Truck; SD 79
5.3 mi·7 min·North Elk Vale Road
13
Take the exit onto SD 79
48 mi·53 min·SD 79
14
Turn right onto US 18; US 385
4.0 mi·4 min·Fall River Road
15
Continue on US 18; US 385
0.7 mi·1 min·Jensen Highway
16
Continue on US 385
0.3 mi·32 sec·South Chicago Street
17
Turn right onto University Avenue
211 ft·14 sec·University Avenue
18
Turn left
91 ft·6 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4h 10m drive, leaving Pierre in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Hot Springs before evening. You'll want to fuel up before leaving Pierre, as there's a 95.4-mile stretch on US 83 where services might be sparse. While there's only one designated stop on this route, you can easily add more brief breaks if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that long stretch on US 83, to ensure you have enough to reach the next town.
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 121.7 miles from Pierre, SD, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.4 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 54 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.7 miles or 2h 1m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hot Springs, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pierre, 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 Pierre, SD
This is one driving day of about 243.4 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Pierre, 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 US 83 for about 95.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 243.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SD 1889 / South Pierre Street
Turn left onto SD 1889 / South Pierre Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 14; US 83; SD 34 / West Sioux Avenue
Turn right onto US 14; US 83; SD 34 / West Sioux Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
184.8 mi into trip|~3h 2m 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
185 mi into trip|~3h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
243.4 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|University Avenue
Turn right onto University Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.87 one way
$81.74 round trip
$4.27/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.49
$43.05
$86.09
premium
$5.07
$48.57
$97.13
diesel
$6.02
$57.70
$115.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73
0
$25.56
$11.68
Efficient EV
60.9
0
$21.30
$9.74
EV Truck/SUV
97.4
1
$34.08
$15.58
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Pierre, SD
Morning
in Pierre on Saturday
Local time
7:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Clear
SSE 9 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:00PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 8:15PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Destination
Hot Springs, SD
Morning
in Hot Springs on Saturday
Local time
6:22 AM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
W 8 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 9:00PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 8:15PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen 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
4 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
4h 10m 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.
Wind Cave National Park
National Park
Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands a...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 226.6
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 201.5
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
$30
near mile 134.3
Immerse yourself in one of the longest caves in the world. With over 220 miles of mapped and surveyed passages, this underground wilderness appeals to human curiosity. Its splendor is revealed through...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 243.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 94% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest stretch without a significant break is 95.4 miles on US 83. You'll transition from US 83 to I 90, and then onto SD 79, which will likely feel more like rural cruising as you approach your destination. Expect minimal traffic delays for the majority of this drive.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.4 mi on US 83.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 83 and I 90. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SD 1889 / South Pierre Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 10m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SD 1889 / South Pierre Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 14; US 83; SD 34 / West Sioux Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 184.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,530 ft1,480 ft
Total Climb
2,050 ft
Total Descent
83 ft
Highest Point
3,530 ft
~208.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,050 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 Pierre, SD to Hot Springs, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Crazy Horse along the way.
Hot Springs is a town of about 3,000 people in the Black Hills of western South Dakota, founded as a resort around a historic warm spring. It's a jumping-off point for nearby Wind Cave National Park.
The longest stretch is about 95.4 miles on US 83. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: at 0.1 miles (SD 1889 / South Pierre Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 14; US 83; SD 34 / West Sioux Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 184.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Wind Cave National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Hot Springs, SD, but most travelers stay overnight.
