Spanning 213.4 miles across the Great Plains, this drive from Rapid City to Fort Thompson is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 35 minutes. You will spend the entire trip on highways, primarily utilizing I-90 and SD-47, making this a highly efficient route for travelers. Because the drive is manageable within a single day, you likely won't need an overnight stop unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting approximately $32 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the trip. Since both your starting point and destination are located within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent regional landscape throughout your travel. This route is an ideal choice if you prioritize highway speed and direct navigation over winding backroads.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
106.7 miles from Rapid City, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
190.8 mi
3h 1m
SD 47
19.4 mi
28m
I 190
1.5 mi
2m
SD 248
0.8 mi
1m
Mount Rushmore Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Omaha Street
0.2 mi
<1m
BIA Route 4
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 190.8 mi, about 3h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rapid City, SD and Fort Thompson, 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 right at fork onto I 190
0.3 mi·29 sec·I 190
Exit 1BToward I 90 East: Sioux Falls
5
Continue on I 90; US 14; US 16 Truck; SD 79
191 mi·3 hr 1 min·I 90; US 14; US 16 Truck; SD 79
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
7
Turn left onto SD 248
0.8 mi·1 min·SD 248
8
Continue on SD 47
19 mi·28 min·SD 47
9
Turn sharp right onto BIA 4
65 ft·1 sec·BIA Route 4
10
Arrive at destination
BIA 4
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since the 213.4-mile trip is well-suited for a single day of travel. Because you have just one planned stop along the way, make sure to time it strategically to break up the longest 190.8-mile stretch on I-90. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the interstate portion to ensure you don't run low before reaching the final leg on SD-47. Since this is an entirely highway-focused route, consider leaving during daylight hours to maintain better visibility during the long, uninterrupted sections. Flexibility is your best asset here, so feel free to adjust your single stop based on your energy levels rather than a rigid schedule.
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 106.7 miles from Rapid City, SD, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 190.8 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 47 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.7 miles or 1h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Thompson, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rapid City, 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 Rapid City, SD
This is one driving day of about 213.4 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Rapid City, 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 I 90 for about 190.8 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 213.4 — 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 right at fork onto I 190 toward I 90 East: Sioux Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1B
Toward I 90 East: Sioux Falls
4
193.2 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|SD 248
Turn left onto SD 248
Navigation decision point
5
213.4 mi into trip|~3h 35m in|BIA 4 / BIA Route 4
Turn sharp right onto BIA 4 / BIA Route 4
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.36 one way
$66.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.63
$73.26
premium
$4.89
$41.07
$82.13
diesel
$5.61
$47.12
$94.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64
0
$22.41
$10.24
Efficient EV
53.4
0
$18.67
$8.54
EV Truck/SUV
85.4
1
$29.88
$13.66
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Rapid City, SD
Evening
in Rapid City on Saturday
Local time
8:50 PM
MDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fort Thompson, SD
Night
in Fort Thompson on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
31 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
3h 35m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
$30
near mile 58.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience as you traverse the South Dakota landscape. With 100% of the route consisting of highway driving, you will spend the vast majority of your time on I-90, which accounts for a significant 190.8-mile stretch of the journey. The road maintains a consistent, high-speed personality, allowing you to cover ground quickly between the two points. Transitioning from the interstate to SD-47 marks the final phase of your drive, shifting the feel slightly as you approach Fort Thompson. Be prepared for the steady, rhythmic pace of long-distance interstate travel that defines this specific path.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 190.8 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and SD 47. 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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 35m 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,243 ft1,445 ft
Total Climb
411 ft
Total Descent
2,209 ft
Highest Point
3,243 ft
Elevation Range
1,798 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 35m. Total distance: 213.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 190.8 miles on I 90. 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 0.2 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 — Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Thompson, SD, but most travelers stay overnight.
