Origin
Rapid City, SD
Evening in Rapid City on Saturday
Local time
8:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rapid City, SD to Belle Fourche, SD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
55.2 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rapid City, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Belle Fourche, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit across the South Dakota plains, the 55.2-mile journey from Rapid City to Belle Fourche is an ideal choice. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 3 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via I-90, I-190, and SD Highway 34 as you head across the Great Plains. With fuel costs estimated at around $8, it is a very budget-friendly trip for a solo driver or a small group. Because the route is short and efficient, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your day however you see fit. Whether you are commuting or just exploring, this highway-focused drive offers a direct path between these two regional hubs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 33.4 mi | 33m |
| SD Highway 34 | 17.4 mi | 20m |
| I 190 | 2 mi | 2m |
| 5th Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| SD 34 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Mount Rushmore Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Omaha Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| State Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 33.4 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rapid City, SD and Belle Fourche, SD.
1
Start on US 16
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
Mount Rushmore Road
2
Turn left onto US 16; SD 44
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Omaha Street
3
Turn right onto I 190; US 16
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 190; US 16
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 190
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 190
Exit 1A
Toward I 90 West: Gillette
5
Merge onto I 90; US 14; SD 79
31 mi
·
30 min
·
I 90; US 14; SD 79
6
Continue on I 90; US 14; SD 34
2.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 90; US 14; SD 34
7
Take the exit onto SD 34
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
SD 34
Toward SD 34 West: Whitewood, Belle Fourche
8
Turn right onto SD 34
17 mi
·
20 min
·
SD Highway 34
9
Turn right onto US 85
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
5th Avenue
10
Turn right onto US 212 Business
384 ft
·
15 sec
·
State Street
11
Turn right onto 6th Avenue
27 ft
·
1 sec
·
6th Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
6th Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from Rapid City, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 55.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 190; US 16
Turn right onto I 190; US 16
Navigation decision point
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 190
Keep slight left at fork onto I 190 toward I 90 West: Gillette
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1A
Toward I 90 West: Gillette
5
35.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
SD 34
Take the exit onto SD 34 toward SD 34 West: Whitewood, Belle Fourche
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SD 34 West: Whitewood, Belle Fourche
4
55.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
US 212 Business / State Street
Turn right onto US 212 Business / State Street
Navigation decision point
5
55.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
6th Avenue
Turn right onto 6th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.63 one way
$17.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.48 | $18.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.62 | $21.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.19 | $24.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Belle Fourche, SD
Evening in Belle Fourche on Saturday
Local time
8:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Sturgis, SD
28 mi in
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
2 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 3m 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?
This drive is defined by its efficiency, with 96% of the journey taking place on highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-90, which includes a long, uninterrupted stretch of 33.4 miles where you can settle into a steady pace. The road transitions smoothly between the interstates and the state highway system, keeping the driving experience consistent throughout the hour-long trip. Because the route is highway-focused, you should anticipate a fast-paced drive rather than a winding backroad experience. The character of the road is practical and functional, designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal complexity.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.4 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and SD Highway 34. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near I 190; US 16.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 3m 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 0.4 miles (I 190; US 16): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 190): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 35.9 miles (SD 34): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 55.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.4 miles on I 90. 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: at 0.4 miles (I 190; US 16): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 190): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 35.9 miles (SD 34): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Belle Fourche, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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