Crossing the state from Rapid City to Jefferson covers 416.2 miles of South Dakota landscape, typically taking about 6 hours and 38 minutes of drive time. Because this route is almost entirely highway-focused, you can comfortably complete the journey in a single day, though you should budget approximately $63 for fuel costs. You will be traversing the Great Plains from end to end, keeping you firmly within the state borders for the duration of the trip. Navigating this distance requires stamina, so plan for at least one substantial stop to break up the monotony. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this direct path offers a straightforward experience across the heart of the region.
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
208.1 miles from Rapid City, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
338.5 mi
5h 19m
I 29
74.1 mi
1h 11m
I 190
1.5 mi
2m
West Dakota Street
0.8 mi
1m
Mount Rushmore Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Omaha Street
0.2 mi
<1m
330th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 338.5 mi, about 5h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rapid City, SD and Jefferson, 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
338 mi·5 hr 19 min·I 90; US 14; US 16 Truck; SD 79
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
7
Merge onto I 29
74 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 29
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Toward Jefferson
9
Turn left onto 330th Street
400 ft·8 sec·330th Street
10
Continue on West Dakota Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West Dakota Street
11
Turn right onto CR 1B
0.2 mi·25 sec·Main Street
12
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
56 ft·2 sec·South 3rd Street
13
Arrive at destination
South 3rd Street
Trip Plan
For a drive of this length, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach Jefferson before dark. Since you only have one major stop planned for the 6-hour and 38-minute duration, use that time effectively to stretch your legs and refresh your fuel supply. Keep a close eye on your gas gauge during the 338.5-mile stretch on I-90, as refueling opportunities can feel sparse depending on your exact pace. Given the heavy reliance on interstates, stay alert for changing traffic patterns as you transition between I-90 and I-29. Flexibility is an advantage here, so monitor your energy levels closely and don't hesitate to add a second brief rest break if you find the long highway miles becoming repetitive.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 208.1 miles from Rapid City, SD, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 338.5 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 92 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 208.1 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson, 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 416.2 miles and 6h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 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 338.5 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 0.4 and 416.2 — 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 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
5
340.9 mi into trip|~5h 24m in|I 29
Merge onto I 29
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
415 mi into trip|~6h 36m in
Take the exit toward Jefferson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Jefferson
5
416.2 mi into trip|~6h 38m in|South 3rd Street
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.07 one way
$130.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg146 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$71.44
$142.88
premium
$4.89
$80.09
$160.19
diesel
$5.61
$91.89
$183.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 145.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
124.9
1
$43.70
$19.98
Efficient EV
104.1
1
$36.42
$16.65
EV Truck/SUV
166.5
2
$58.27
$26.64
Gas CO2
146 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
7:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jefferson, SD
Evening
in Jefferson on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
1 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
6h 38m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
$30
near mile 57.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient, interstate-heavy experience, as 99% of this 416.2-mile trek is comprised of highway driving. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-90 and I-29, including a significant 338.5-mile stretch on I-90 alone that defines the character of the trip. The route relies on a combination of I-90, I-29, and I-190, providing a fast, predictable corridor that minimizes technical maneuvering. Because the infrastructure is so focused on major interstates, you can maintain a consistent pace across the Great Plains. Behind the wheel, this translates to a steady, rhythmic drive where the road conditions remain largely uniform from start to finish.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 338.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 29. 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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 38m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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 340.9 miles (I 29): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 38m. Total distance: 416.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 338.5 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Jefferson, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. 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 0.4 miles (I 190; US 16): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 190): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 340.9 miles (I 29): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jefferson, SD before the return drive.
