Origin
Pine Ridge, SD
Night in Pine Ridge on Tuesday
Local time
9:43 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pine Ridge, SD to Box Elder, SD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 16m
Distance
99 mi
159 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pine Ridge, SD
Mike Lensing
Box Elder, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Pine Ridge, SD to Box Elder, SD covers 99 miles and takes about 2h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41, State Highway 40, US 18 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26 miles on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.35 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.5 miles from Pine Ridge, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41 | 26 mi | 30m |
| State Highway 40 | 20.9 mi | 36m |
| US 18 | 16.7 mi | 24m |
| South Highway 79 | 13.6 mi | 15m |
| Loneman Day School Road | 6 mi | 6m |
| Elk Vale Road | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Red Shirt Table Road | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Highway 1416 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41
— 26 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pine Ridge, SD and Box Elder, SD.
1
Start on SD 407
383 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 407
2
Continue on US 18
17 mi
·
24 min
·
US 18
3
Turn right onto BIA 41
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lone Man Road
4
Continue on BIA 41
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41
5
Continue on BIA 41
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Loneman Day School Road
6
Continue on BIA 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Red Shirt Table Road
7
Continue on BIA 41
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41
8
Continue on BIA 41
21 mi
·
36 min
·
State Highway 40
9
Continue on SD 40
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
10
Turn right onto SD 79
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Heartland Expressway
11
Continue on SD 79
14 mi
·
15 min
·
South Highway 79
12
Take the exit onto SD 79
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
SD 79
13
Keep slight right at fork onto SD 79
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
SD 79
14
Merge onto US 16 Truck; SD 79
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Elk Vale Road
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
16
Merge onto I 90; US 14
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90; US 14
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base, Commercial Gate
18
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
this road
Toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base, Commercial Gate
19
Continue on Highway 1416
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 1416
20
Turn right onto Oak Street
365 ft
·
18 sec
·
Oak Street
21
Turn right onto Front Street
94 ft
·
4 sec
·
Front Street
22
Arrive at destination
Front Street
Trip Plan
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 49.5 miles from Pine Ridge, SD, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26 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 22 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.5 miles or 1h 2m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Box Elder, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pine Ridge, 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 Pine Ridge, SD
This is one driving day of about 99 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Pine Ridge, SD.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41 for about 26 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.5 miles from Pine Ridge, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 16.8 and 99 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
16.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
BIA 41 / Lone Man Road
Turn right onto BIA 41 / Lone Man Road
Navigation decision point
3
75.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
SD 79 / North Heartland Expressway
Turn right onto SD 79 / North Heartland Expressway
Navigation decision point
5
89.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
|
SD 79
Keep slight right at fork onto SD 79
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
96.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base, Commercial Gate
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base, Comm...
5
99 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
|
Front Street
Turn right onto Front Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.35 one way
$30.70 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $16.83 | $33.66 |
| premium | $4.93 | $19.21 | $38.42 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $21.82 | $43.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.40 | $4.75 |
| Efficient EV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.66 | $3.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.6 | 0 | $13.86 | $6.34 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Box Elder, SD
Night in Box Elder on Tuesday
Local time
9:43 PM
MDT
Current temp
87°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
25 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 16m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
99 mi in 2h 16m, mostly highway — 26 mi of that is on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26 mi on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41 and State Highway 40. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 16.8 miles in near BIA 41 / Lone Man Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 99 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.8 miles (BIA 41 / Lone Man Road): Navigation decision point; at 75.2 miles (SD 79 / North Heartland Expressway): Navigation decision point; at 89.2 miles (SD 79): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
3,494 ft
2,878 ft
Total Climb
865 ft
Total Descent
1,073 ft
Highest Point
3,494 ft
~91.5 mi in
Elevation Range
616 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Pine Ridge, SD
Full guide →Pine Ridge is a town in South Dakota and the tribal headquarters of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Arriving in Box Elder, SD
Full guide →Founded 1907
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 99 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26 miles on Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 41. 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 Box Elder, 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 16.8 miles (BIA 41 / Lone Man Road): Navigation decision point; at 75.2 miles (SD 79 / North Heartland Expressway): Navigation decision point; at 89.2 miles (SD 79): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Box Elder, SD before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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