This 329.2-mile drive from Springfield, South Dakota, to Box Elder, South Dakota, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey through the heart of the Great Plains. Clocking in at just under 6 hours, it's entirely manageable as a single-day trip, though you'll want to factor in a brief stop. With 99% of the route on major highways like I 90 and SD Highway 37, you'll be covering ground efficiently. Expect a fuel cost around $50 for this stretch. This route is ideal if you're looking for a practical, no-fuss drive across the state.
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
164.6 miles from Springfield, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
264.4 mi
4h 8m
SD Highway 37
55.9 mi
1h 25m
SD Highway 50
4.1 mi
6m
South Highway 37
1 mi
1m
Highway 1416
0.9 mi
1m
Walnut Street
0.9 mi
2m
Liberty Boulevard
0.5 mi
<1m
South Burr Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 264.4 mi, about 4h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, SD and Box Elder, SD.
1
Start on SD 37P
0.2 mi·33 sec·8th Street
2
Turn left onto SD 37P
0.9 mi·2 min·Walnut Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto SD 37
8.8 mi·15 min·SD Highway 37
4
Turn left onto SD 37; SD 50
4.1 mi·6 min·SD Highway 50
5
Turn right onto SD 37
47 mi·1 hr 10 min·SD Highway 37
6
Continue on SD 37
1.0 mi·1 min·South Highway 37
7
Continue on SD 37
0.4 mi·34 sec·South Burr Street
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
9
Merge onto I 90; SD 37
264 mi·4 hr 8 min·I 90; SD 37
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
11
Keep slight left at fork
92 ft·7 sec
12
Turn left onto Liberty Boulevard
0.5 mi·52 sec·Liberty Boulevard
13
Turn right onto Highway 1416
0.9 mi·1 min·Highway 1416
14
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Oak Street
15
Turn right onto Front Street
94 ft·4 sec·Front Street
16
Arrive at destination
Front Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 49-minute duration, starting early in Springfield, SD, will give you ample time to reach Box Elder, SD, without feeling rushed. You'll have one main stretch of 264.4 miles on I 90, so plan for a brief stop before or after that segment to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. The estimated fuel cost is $50, so ensure your tank is full before you depart. Since it's a single-day drive, you have flexibility; however, aiming for an early start is key to enjoying the full day at your destination.
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 164.6 miles from Springfield, SD, or about 3h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 264.4 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 72 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.6 miles or 3h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Box Elder, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Springfield, 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 Springfield, SD
This is one driving day of about 329.2 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Springfield, 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 264.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 329.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|SD 37 / SD Highway 37
At end of road, turn right onto SD 37 / SD Highway 37
Navigation decision point
4
13.9 mi into trip|~24m in|SD 37 / SD Highway 37
Turn right onto SD 37 / SD Highway 37
Navigation decision point
5
327.3 mi into trip|~5h 45m in
Take the exit toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
4
327.7 mi into trip|~5h 46m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
329.2 mi into trip|~5h 49m in|Front Street
Turn right onto Front Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.47 one way
$102.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$56.51
$113.02
premium
$4.89
$63.35
$126.70
diesel
$5.61
$72.68
$145.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.8
1
$34.57
$15.80
Efficient EV
82.3
0
$28.80
$13.17
EV Truck/SUV
131.7
1
$46.09
$21.07
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
39 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Springfield, SD
Evening
in Springfield on Saturday
Local time
8:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Box Elder, SD
Evening
in Box Elder on Saturday
Local time
7:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
32 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
5h 49m 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.
Badlands National Park
National Park
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 283.8
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 329.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The personality of this drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 99% of the 329.2 miles spent on interstates and state highways. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including a significant 264.4-mile segment on I 90. This means consistent speeds and a predictable road surface for the majority of your journey. While the landscape is characteristic of the Great Plains, the focus remains on efficient travel rather than winding backroads. Expect a steady pace as you make your way across South Dakota.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 264.4 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 37. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near SD 37 / SD Highway 37.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 49m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (SD 37 / SD Highway 37): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (SD 37 / SD Highway 37): Navigation decision point; at 327.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 49m. Total distance: 329.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 264.4 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 1.1 miles (SD 37 / SD Highway 37): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (SD 37 / SD Highway 37): Navigation decision point; at 327.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Box Elder, SD before the return drive.
