Sioux Falls to Porcupine is 363.9 miles and takes about 6h 31m via I 90, US 18, and State Highway 73, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across South Dakota. Given its mostly highway profile, it's a practical choice for a single-day trip. You'll likely find this route to be a no-frills transit, ideal if your priority is reaching your destination efficiently.
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
181.9 miles from Sioux Falls, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
250 mi
3h 55m
US 18
48.1 mi
57m
State Highway 73
44.6 mi
51m
Big Foot Trail
14.6 mi
35m
I 229 Business
4.2 mi
5m
SD Highway 73
1.2 mi
2m
East 8th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Lowell Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 250 mi, about 3h 55m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 17 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~335 veh/hr typical
· worst 583
Quietest
2 AM
~22 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux Falls, SD and Porcupine, 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
250 mi·3 hr 55 min·I 90
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward SD 73 North: Kadoka
9
Turn left onto I 90 Business; SD 73
1.2 mi·2 min·SD Highway 73
10
Continue on SD 73
45 mi·51 min·State Highway 73
11
Turn right onto US 18; SD 73
48 mi·57 min·US 18; SD 73
12
Turn right onto BIA 27
15 mi·35 min·Big Foot Trail
13
Turn right onto Main Street
124 ft·8 sec·Main Street
14
Turn left onto Eagle Drive
29 ft·1 sec·Eagle Drive
15
Arrive at destination
Eagle Drive
Trip Plan
With a total travel time of around 6.5 hours and a fuel cost estimated at $56, this trip is well-suited for a single day. Consider an early morning departure from Sioux Falls to maximize daylight and allow for a comfortable pace. The longest stretch without major turns is about 250 miles on I 90, so plan your stops accordingly, perhaps around the 100-150 mile marks. Ensure you have adequate fuel before heading onto US 18 and State Highway 73, as services may be less frequent in those areas.
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 181.9 miles from Sioux Falls, SD, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 250 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 80 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.9 miles or 2h 54m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Porcupine, 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 363.9 miles and 6h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 250 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 255 — 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
255 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward SD 73 North: Kadoka
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SD 73 North: Kadoka
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.50 one way
$121.00 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$65.90
$131.81
premium
$5.18
$74.26
$148.51
diesel
$5.35
$76.65
$153.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109.2
1
$38.21
$17.47
Efficient EV
91
1
$31.84
$14.56
EV Truck/SUV
145.6
1
$50.95
$23.29
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
43 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Sioux Falls, SD
Afternoon
in Sioux Falls on Wednesday
Local time
2:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 0 to 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:28PM CDT until June 1 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Destination
Porcupine, SD
Afternoon
in Porcupine on Wednesday
Local time
1:05 PM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
NE 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:28PM CDT until June 1 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
10 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 31m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 96% of the 363.9 miles being interstate or major roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time cruising on I 90 for about 250 miles. Surface roads begin later in the trip, transitioning from the high-speed interstate environment. Expect straightforward, rural cruising for much of the 6h 31m duration.
96% 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: 250 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 18. 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 31m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 12 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,496 ft1,374 ft
Total Climb
2,372 ft
Total Descent
649 ft
Highest Point
3,496 ft
~337.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,122 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Coffea Roasterie
Cafe
Near the start, short detour
1.4 mi from route
~3 min detour
Sioux Falls, SD
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Th 07:00-20:00; Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa 07...
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.
Top landmarks
•South Dakota State Penitentiary — prison in South Dakota, United States of America
•Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science — museum, theater, concert hall, and art gallery in downtown Sioux Falls, South Da...
•Sioux Falls National Bank Building — office building in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
The longest stretch is about 250 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Porcupine, 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. There are 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Porcupine, SD before the return drive.
