Origin
Rapid City, SD
Late night in Rapid City on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
MDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rapid City, SD to Deadwood, SD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
41.6 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rapid City, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Deadwood, SD
Alfo Medeiros
Trip Overview
This quick 41.6-mile journey from Rapid City to Deadwood, South Dakota, can be completed in about 46 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. With 92% of the drive on highways, you’ll mostly be on I-90 and US Highway 14A, with a brief segment on I-190. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $7, reflecting its short distance. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward travel experience. It's a convenient connection between two South Dakota points, perfect for a morning excursion or an afternoon exploration without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 27 mi | 27m |
| US Highway 14A | 9.3 mi | 11m |
| I 190 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Lazelle Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Boulder Canyon Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Pioneer Way | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Mount Rushmore Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Omaha Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 27 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rapid City, SD and Deadwood, 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
27 mi
·
27 min
·
I 90; US 14; SD 79
6
Take the exit onto SD 79
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
SD 79
Toward US 14A West, SD 34 East, SD 79 North: Deadwood, Lead
7
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 14A; SD 79
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Lazelle Street
8
Continue on US 14A
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Boulder Canyon Road
9
Continue on US 14A
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
US Highway 14A
10
Continue on US 14A; US 85
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Pioneer Way
11
Turn right onto Lee Street
20 ft
·
0 sec
·
Lee Street
12
Arrive at destination
Lee Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.8 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 29.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 16; SD 44 / Omaha Street
Turn left onto US 16; SD 44 / Omaha Street
Navigation decision point
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
3
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 90; US 14; SD 79
Merge onto I 90; US 14; SD 79
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
29.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
SD 79
Take the exit onto SD 79 toward US 14A West, SD 34 East, SD 79 North: Deadwood, Lead
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 14A West, SD 34 East, SD 79 North: De...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.50 one way
$13.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.14 | $14.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.01 | $16.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.18 | $18.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.37 | $2.00 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.64 | $1.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.82 | $2.66 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Deadwood, SD
Late night in Deadwood on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Sturgis, SD
21 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
6 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
46m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this trip, with 92% of the route utilizing major roads like I-90 and US Highway 14A. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27 miles on I-90, offering a consistent pace. While predominantly highway, the transition onto US Highway 14A may introduce slightly different road conditions as you approach your destination. This drive is characterized by efficient travel, minimizing time spent on slower, more winding roads.
92% 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: 27 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US Highway 14A. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 16; SD 44 / Omaha Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 46m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 16; SD 44 / Omaha Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (I 190; US 16): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 190): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Rapid City, SD to Deadwood, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Lead along the way.
Lead
29.4 mi in
|
~31m
|
via SD 79
About the Cities
Arriving in Deadwood, SD
Full guide →Founded 1876
Deadwood is a town in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is rivaled only by Tombstone, Arizona as America's most storied town from the wild frontier days.
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 46m. Total distance: 41.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27 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 0.2 miles (US 16; SD 44 / Omaha Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (I 190; US 16): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 190): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Deadwood, 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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