Origin
Rapid City, SD
Evening in Rapid City on Saturday
Local time
8:48 PM
MDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rapid City, SD to Spearfish, SD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
48.1 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rapid City, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Spearfish, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 48.1-mile drive from Rapid City, SD to Spearfish, SD is a quick, 51-minute trip that’s perfect for a single day. Primarily utilizing I-90 and I-190, with a short section on East Jackson Boulevard, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Great Plains. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $8, it's an economical option for travelers. Since there are no recommended stops and the longest stretch is a continuous 44.7 miles on I-90, you won't need to break this trip into multiple days. It's a convenient connection within South Dakota.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 44.7 mi | 45m |
| I 190 | 2 mi | 2m |
| East Jackson Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Mount Rushmore Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Omaha Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 44.7 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rapid City, SD and Spearfish, 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
14 mi
·
14 min
·
I 90; US 14; SD 34
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State University
8
Turn left onto East Jackson Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Jackson Boulevard
9
Turn left onto I 90 Business
149 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Main Street
10
Arrive at destination
I 90 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 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 47.5 — 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
5
47.2 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Jackson Boulevard, Black Hills State Uni...
4
47.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
East Jackson Boulevard
Turn left onto East Jackson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.52 one way
$15.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.26 | $16.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.26 | $18.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.62 | $21.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
| Efficient EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.73 | $3.08 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Spearfish, SD
Evening in Spearfish on Saturday
Local time
8:48 PM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Sturgis, SD
24 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
5 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
51m 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 experience on this route, with 97% of the drive taking place on major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 44.7 miles on I-90, meaning you’ll spend most of your time on fast-paced highway driving. While the profile is largely consistent, you'll transition from I-190 and East Jackson Boulevard onto I-90, offering a smooth and efficient travel experience. This drive is designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal detours.
97% 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: 44.7 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 190. 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 51m 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 48.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.7 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 Spearfish, 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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