This 117.8-mile drive from Springfield to Brandon, South Dakota, will take you approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes. Primarily utilizing Walnut Street and Highways 37 and 52, this route stays entirely within the Great Plains region. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, it's an economical choice for a single-day trip. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, making it feel more like a connected series of local roads than a high-speed transit. It's a straightforward journey perfect for a day trip, allowing you to easily reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
63.5 miles from Springfield, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 81
52.3 mi
59m
I 90
41.9 mi
41m
SD Highway 52
12.3 mi
21m
SD Highway 50
11.6 mi
16m
SD Highway 37
2.9 mi
5m
Broadway Avenue
2 mi
2m
West 31st Street
1.3 mi
2m
North Splitrock Boulevard
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 81
— 52.3 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, SD and Brandon, 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
2.9 mi·5 min·SD Highway 37
4
Turn right onto SD 52
12 mi·21 min·SD Highway 52
5
At end of road, turn right onto SD 50; SD 52
12 mi·16 min·SD Highway 50
6
Continue on SD 50; SD 52 Truck
1.3 mi·2 min·West 31st Street
7
Turn left onto US 81
2.0 mi·2 min·Broadway Avenue
8
Continue on US 81
52 mi·59 min·US Highway 81
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
10
Merge onto I 90
42 mi·41 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
12
Keep slight right at fork
228 ft·5 sec
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
13
Turn slight right onto SD 11
0.9 mi·1 min·North Splitrock Boulevard
14
Turn left onto East Sylvan Circle
107 ft·11 sec·East Sylvan Circle
15
Turn left onto North Pipestone Street
44 ft·1 sec·North Pipestone Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Pipestone Street
Trip Plan
With a duration of under two hours, this 117.8-mile trip from Springfield to Brandon is easily manageable in a single day. You can depart anytime, but an early start might offer a more relaxed pace, especially given the 'turn-heavy' nature of the route. Budget around $18 for fuel, and keep in mind that frequent turns mean you'll be covering ground more gradually than on an interstate. While there are no designated 'longest stretches' to worry about, staying aware of upcoming turns on Highways 37 and 52 will be key to a smooth journey. You likely won't need extensive rest stops, but a quick break in a town along the way could be refreshing.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.5 miles from Springfield, SD, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.3 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 28 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.5 miles or 1h 27m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brandon, 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 126.9 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 US Highway 81 for about 52.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 125.9 — 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
5
16.3 mi into trip|~29m in|SD 50; SD 52 / SD Highway 50
At end of road, turn right onto SD 50; SD 52 / SD Highway 50
Navigation decision point
5
83.8 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
125.7 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
7
125.9 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SD 11: Corson, Brandon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.84 one way
$39.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.78
$43.57
premium
$4.89
$24.42
$48.84
diesel
$5.61
$28.02
$56.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.1
0
$13.32
$6.09
Efficient EV
31.7
0
$11.10
$5.08
EV Truck/SUV
50.8
0
$17.77
$8.12
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 15, 2026
Origin
Springfield, SD
Evening
in Springfield on Saturday
Local time
8:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brandon, SD
Evening
in Brandon on Saturday
Local time
8:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
31 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
2h 34m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this 117.8-mile journey, with no highway mileage contributing to the total distance. The route predominantly follows Highway 37 and Highway 52, interspersed with local roads like Walnut Street. Given the absence of long highway stretches, the longest uninterrupted segment will be relatively short, requiring your attention for navigation. This driving profile means you'll be making frequent adjustments, offering a more engaged experience behind the wheel as you navigate through the South Dakota landscape.
95% 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: 52.3 mi on US Highway 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 81 and I 90. 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 2h 34m 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 16.3 miles (SD 50; SD 52 / SD Highway 50): Navigation decision point; at 83.8 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 126.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 52.3 miles on US Highway 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.1 miles (SD 37 / SD Highway 37): Navigation decision point; at 16.3 miles (SD 50; SD 52 / SD Highway 50): Navigation decision point; at 83.8 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brandon, SD before heading back.
