Spearfish to Winner is 259.3 miles and takes about 4h 33m via I 90 and US 183, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across South Dakota. You'll primarily be on interstate highways before transitioning to U.S. routes. Given the relatively short duration, it's an easily manageable one-day trip for most travelers looking to cover ground 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
129.7 miles from Spearfish, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
213.8 mi
3h 25m
US 183
35.7 mi
50m
277th Street
8.6 mi
12m
East Jackson Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
North Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 213.8 mi, about 3h 25m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~794 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,225
Quietest
2 AM
~30 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
26.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Spearfish, SD and Winner, SD.
1
Start on I 90 Business
85 ft·30 sec·North Main Street
2
Continue on I 90 Business
166 ft·9 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn right onto East Jackson Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·East Jackson Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 90 East, US 85 South
5
Merge onto I 90; US 14; US 85
14 mi·14 min·I 90; US 14; US 85
6
Continue on I 90; US 14; SD 34
7.6 mi·7 min·I 90; US 14; SD 34
7
Continue on I 90; US 14; SD 79
24 mi·24 min·I 90; US 14; SD 79
8
Continue on I 90; US 14; US 16 Truck; SD 79
168 mi·2 hr 40 min·I 90; US 14; US 16 Truck; SD 79
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward US 183: Winner
10
Turn right onto US 183
36 mi·50 min·US 183
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 18; US 183; SD 44
8.6 mi·12 min·277th Street
12
Turn left
39 ft·2 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Spearfish in the morning is recommended to make the most of the daylight, especially since this is a one-day trip. With a total duration of around 4.5 hours, you can comfortably complete the drive without needing to split it. Plan for one main stop, perhaps around the halfway mark or before you transition off I 90, to refuel and stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Winner, as the final stretch on US 183 and 277th Street might have fewer services than the interstate.
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 129.7 miles from Spearfish, SD, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 213.8 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 57 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.7 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winner, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Spearfish, 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 Spearfish, SD
This is one driving day of about 259.3 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Spearfish, 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 213.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 259.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Jackson Boulevard
Turn right onto East Jackson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 90 East, US 85 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 East, US 85 South
4
214.7 mi into trip|~3h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 183: Winner
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 183: Winner
5
250.7 mi into trip|~4h 20m in|US 18; US 183; SD 44 / 277th Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 18; US 183; SD 44 / 277th Street
Navigation decision point
4
259.3 mi into trip|~4h 33m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.25 one way
$86.51 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$47.01
$94.02
premium
$5.26
$53.69
$107.37
diesel
$6.18
$63.08
$126.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.8
0
$27.23
$12.45
Efficient EV
64.8
0
$22.69
$10.37
EV Truck/SUV
103.7
1
$36.30
$16.60
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Spearfish, SD
Late night
in Spearfish on Saturday
Local time
5:52 AM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Sunny
E 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 12:06PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 10:56AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Winner, SD
Morning
in Winner on Saturday
Local time
6:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Sunny
NW 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 12:06PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 10:56AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls 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 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
4h 33m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 44.7
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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
$30
near mile 98.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily weighted towards highway driving, with 96% of the trip on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 213.8 miles on I 90, which means consistent cruising with potentially fewer immediate exits compared to rural roads. After the interstate portion, you'll transition to U.S. 183 and then 277th Street, offering a change of pace on surface roads for the final segment.
96% 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: 213.8 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 183. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Jackson Boulevard.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 33m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 214.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
The longest stretch is about 213.8 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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.
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: near the start (East Jackson Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 214.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Winner, SD, but most travelers stay overnight.
