This 217.1-mile journey from Springfield to Pierre, South Dakota, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 3 hours and 26 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via Highway 37 and Highway 50, with a starting point on Walnut Street. Since this is a local drive with no highway segments, expect a more intimate connection with the landscape. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $33. This route offers a straightforward, unhurried passage through the Great Plains region.
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
107.9 miles from Springfield, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
118.5 mi
1h 51m
SD Highway 37
55.9 mi
1h 25m
US Highway 83
30.7 mi
34m
SD Highway 50
4.1 mi
6m
South Highway 37
1 mi
1m
South 1st Street
1 mi
1m
West Sioux Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Walnut Street
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 118.5 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, SD and Pierre, 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
119 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 90; SD 37
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward US 83 North, SD 53: Pierre State Capitol, Fort Pierre
11
Keep slight left at fork
322 ft·8 sec
12
Turn right onto US 83
31 mi·34 min·US Highway 83
13
Continue on US 83; SD 1806
1.0 mi·1 min·South 1st Street
14
Continue on US 83; SD 1806
0.7 mi·47 sec·North Deadwood Street
15
Continue on US 14; US 83; SD 34
0.5 mi·33 sec·North Highway 83
16
Continue on US 14; US 83; SD 34
0.9 mi·1 min·West Sioux Avenue
17
Turn left onto SD 1889
0.2 mi·24 sec·South Pierre Street
18
Arrive at destination
SD 1889
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 26 minute duration, this trip is easily achievable in one day. You'll have ample flexibility for departure times, but an early start will allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop, plan your refueling and rest breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or when you notice your fuel gauge nearing a quarter tank. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially on these local roads where services might be less frequent than on major highways. The $33 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer.
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 107.9 miles from Springfield, SD, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.5 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 47 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.9 miles or 2h 19m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pierre, 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 215.8 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 118.5 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 215.6 — 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
181.4 mi into trip|~3h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 83 North, SD 53: Pierre State Capitol, Fort Pierre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 83 North, SD 53: Pierre State Capitol...
4
181.8 mi into trip|~3h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
215.6 mi into trip|~4h 7m in|SD 1889 / South Pierre Street
Turn left onto SD 1889 / South Pierre Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.74 one way
$67.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.04
$74.09
premium
$4.89
$41.53
$83.06
diesel
$5.61
$47.65
$95.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.7
0
$22.66
$10.36
Efficient EV
54
0
$18.88
$8.63
EV Truck/SUV
86.3
1
$30.21
$13.81
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% 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
8:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pierre, SD
Evening
in Pierre on Saturday
Local time
8:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
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 8m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 217.1-mile route, as it features a 0% highway share. This means you'll be on two-lane roads for the whole trip, with frequent turns guiding your way. While there's no longest uninterrupted stretch data, the nature of this drive suggests a continuous engagement with local scenery and potentially more frequent stops or changes in direction. The journey progresses as a consistent, non-highway experience.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.5 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 4h 8m drive. You will face about 7 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 181.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Springfield, SD to Pierre, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Pierre along the way.
Fort Pierre
181.4 mi in|~3h 28m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 8m. Total distance: 215.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 118.5 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.
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 13.9 miles (SD 37 / SD Highway 37): Navigation decision point; at 181.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Pierre, SD, but most travelers stay overnight.
