Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
20.2 mi
32 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spearfish, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Kirk, SD
Luis Quintero
This quick 20.2-mile drive from Spearfish to Kirk, South Dakota, will only take about 29 minutes, making it perfect for a day trip. You'll primarily be on highways, with 76% of the route being on major roads like US Highway 85, I-90, and US Highway 14A. Budget around $3 for fuel for this short hop. The drive is focused on efficient travel, moving you through the Great Plains region without significant detours. Given its short duration, it's an easy addition to a larger itinerary or a simple point-to-point journey.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 85 | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| I 90 | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| US Highway 14A | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| Pioneer Way | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Mountain View Drive | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| East Jackson Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Glendale Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~735 veh/hr typical · worst 1,140
Quietest
2 AM
~24 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
30.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Spearfish, SD and Kirk, SD.
Start on I 90 Business
Continue on I 90 Business
Turn right onto East Jackson Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 90; US 14; US 85
Take the exit onto US 85
Turn right onto US 85
At end of road, turn right onto US 14A; US 85
Continue on US 14A; US 85
Continue on US 14A; US 85 Truck
Continue on US 14A; US 85 Truck
Turn right onto Chicago Street
Keep slight left at fork onto Chicago Street
Continue on 3rd Street
Turn left onto Mountain View Drive
Turn left onto Grier Avenue
Turn left onto Lost Irishman Road
Turn left
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 18.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto East Jackson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 90 East, US 85 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 85 toward US 85 South: Deadwood, Lead
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn right onto US 14A; US 85 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto Chicago Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$3.36 one way
$6.72 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $3.66 | $7.32 |
| premium | $5.18 | $4.12 | $8.24 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $4.25 | $8.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.12 | $0.97 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.77 | $0.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.29 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Spearfish on Wednesday
Local time
1:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:28PM CDT until June 1 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Destination
Afternoon in Kirk on Wednesday
Local time
1:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:28PM CDT until June 1 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this journey, with 76% of the 20.2 miles on major roadways. You'll encounter stretches on US Highway 85, I-90, and US Highway 14A, offering a mix of driving speeds. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll navigate is 7.3 miles on US Highway 85. This route prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently, rather than focusing on winding backroads or particularly varied scenery.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 85 and I 90. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Jackson Boulevard.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Jackson Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.1 miles (US 85): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
2,532 ft
Total Descent
400 ft
Highest Point
5,775 ft
~20.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,132 ft
Notable High Points
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Spearfish, SD to Kirk, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Lead along the way.
Lead
Founded 1876
Spearfish is in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Although Spearfish is a small community with 14,000 residents, it is the commercial and academic center for several towns in the Black Hills and nearby Wyoming and Montana, attracting more than a million visitors each year with its museums, festivals and natural beauty.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 20.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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