Spanning 168.7 miles across the South Dakota Great Plains, this route takes you from Sioux Falls to Fort Thompson in about 3 hours. It is an ideal one-day trip, requiring minimal planning for an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. You should budget approximately $26 for fuel to cover the distance. Because you stay within the Great Plains region for the entire journey, the landscape remains consistent as you transition between these two locations. This straightforward drive is a practical choice if you are looking for an efficient way to cross the state.
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
84.4 miles from Sioux Falls, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
134.3 mi
2h 7m
SD Highway 50
18.8 mi
28m
SD Highway 34
4.6 mi
6m
I 229 Business
4.2 mi
5m
East King Street
3.1 mi
4m
South Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
SD Highway 249
1.1 mi
1m
I 90 Business
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 134.3 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux Falls, SD and Fort Thompson, SD.
1
Start on North Chicago Avenue
0.1 mi·29 sec·North Chicago Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto East 8th Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·East 8th Street
3
Turn right onto North Lowell Avenue
0.1 mi·19 sec·North Lowell Avenue
4
Turn left onto I 229 Business; SD 42
0.1 mi·24 sec·East 10th Street
5
Take the ramp onto I 229 Business
4.2 mi·5 min·I 229 Business
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 90
7
Merge onto I 90
134 mi·2 hr 7 min·I 90
8
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; SD 50
0.4 mi·51 sec·I 90 Business; SD 50
Toward Chamberlain
9
Turn right onto I 90 Business; SD 50
3.1 mi·4 min·East King Street
10
Turn right onto South Main Street
1.3 mi·3 min·South Main Street
11
Continue on SD 50
19 mi·28 min·SD Highway 50
12
Turn left onto SD 34
4.6 mi·6 min·SD Highway 34
13
Keep slight left at fork onto SD 249
1.1 mi·1 min·SD Highway 249
14
Turn left onto BIA 4
65 ft·1 sec·BIA Route 4
15
Arrive at destination
BIA 4
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is only 3 hours, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop to break up the long interstate segment and keep your focus sharp. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the 134.3-mile stretch on I-90, as services may be spaced out along this primary artery. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing to rush. Use the extra time to enjoy the open road and maintain a steady pace across the plains.
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 84.4 miles from Sioux Falls, SD, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134.3 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 37 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.4 miles or 1h 22m 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 14m
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 Sioux Falls, 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 Sioux Falls, SD
This is one driving day of about 168.7 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Sioux Falls, 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 134.3 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 139.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East 8th Street
At end of road, turn left onto East 8th Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|North Lowell Avenue
Turn right onto North Lowell Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|I 229 Business
Take the ramp onto I 229 Business
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
4.7 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 90
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90
4
139.3 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|I 90 Business; SD 50
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; SD 50 toward Chamberlain
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Chamberlain
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.37 one way
$52.75 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.96
$57.92
premium
$4.89
$32.46
$64.93
diesel
$5.61
$37.25
$74.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.6
0
$17.71
$8.10
Efficient EV
42.2
0
$14.76
$6.75
EV Truck/SUV
67.5
0
$23.62
$10.80
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Sioux Falls, SD
Night
in Sioux Falls on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 6:54PM CDT until April 13 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 12:12PM MDT until April 13 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Destination
Fort Thompson, SD
Night
in Fort Thompson on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
ENE 1 to 6 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 6:54PM CDT until April 13 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 12:12PM MDT until April 13 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
47°F
Gregory, SD
84 mi in
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 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 on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 97% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-90, which accounts for a 134.3-mile stretch of the journey. Beyond the interstate, you will transition onto SD Highway 50 and SD Highway 34 to reach your destination. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience behind the wheel rather than technical, winding backroads. The route offers a steady rhythm, allowing you to cover significant ground quickly while moving between the designated state highways.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 134.3 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 Highway 50. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 8th 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 drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 8th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (North Lowell Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (I 229 Business): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Sioux Falls, SD to Fort Thompson, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Chamberlain along the way.
Sioux Falls is a city of about 184,000 (2019) in Southeast South Dakota. Founded in 1883 in what was then known as the Dakota Territory, Sioux Falls has grown from a sleepy Midwestern town into a resort for shopping and tourism in the northern Great Plains. It is widely recognized as the largest urban center between Minneapolis and Denver.
The longest stretch is about 134.3 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 0.1 miles (East 8th Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.3 miles (North Lowell Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (I 229 Business): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Thompson, SD, but most travelers stay overnight.
