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Trip from Springfield, SD to Rapid City, SD

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 1m

Distance

339.5 mi

546 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$53

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 48m ★
6 AM
6h 1m
8 AM
6h 27m
10 AM
6h 10m
12 PM
6h 8m
3 PM
6h 12m
5 PM
6h 26m
8 PM
5h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Springfield, SD, SD

Springfield, SD

Wikimedia Commons

seat of Pennington County, South Dakota, United States

Rapid City, SD

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 339.5-mile drive from Springfield, SD, to Rapid City, SD, is a solid day trip, clocking in at around 6 hours of driving time. You'll spend virtually the entire journey on major highways, with 99% of the route on interstates and highways like I 90 and SD Highway 37. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is about $52, making it an economical option. Given the duration and focus on highway travel, it's comfortably manageable in a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. Both your origin and destination are situated within the Great Plains region, so expect a consistent landscape throughout.

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

169.7 miles from Springfield, SD

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 18m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 274.3 mi 4h 19m
SD Highway 37 55.9 mi 1h 25m
SD Highway 50 4.1 mi 6m
I 190 1.4 mi 1m
South Highway 37 1 mi 1m
Walnut Street 0.9 mi 2m
South Burr Street 0.4 mi <1m
8th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 274.3 mi, about 4h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Springfield, SD and Rapid City, 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

274 mi · 4 hr 19 min · I 90; SD 37
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward I 190, US 16: Downtown, Black Hawk National Forest, Mount Rushmore
11

Continue on I 190

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 190
12

Turn left onto US 16; SD 44

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Omaha Street
Use the right lane.
13

Turn right onto US 16

0.2 mi · 45 sec · Mount Rushmore Road
Use the right lane.
14

Arrive at destination

US 16

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider an early start from Springfield to maximize your daylight hours upon arrival in Rapid City. With only one recommended stop and 274.3 miles of I 90 to cover, plan your refueling and rest breaks strategically. You'll want to be mindful of your fuel levels before entering longer stretches of highway. The $52 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check current prices. Since this route is well-suited for a single day, you have the flexibility to push through or take a longer break as needed, but keeping an eye on the clock will ensure a smooth arrival.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 169.7 miles from Springfield, SD, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 274.3 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 75 miles or 1h 48m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 169.7 miles or 3h 18m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rapid City, 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 339.5 miles and 6h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 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 274.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Fort Thompson, SD, SD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fort Thompson, SD

170 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Mitchell, SD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Thompson, SD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 169.7 miles from Springfield, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 274.3 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Fork Real Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rapid City, South Dakota

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 339.5

Hours: 8:30 am–1:30 pm

+16057185020

Visit website

Colonial House Restaurant & Bar

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Rapid City, South Dakota

1.2 mi

Pacific Rim Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rapid City, South Dakota

1.9 mi

Fork Real Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 339.5

Rapid City, South Dakota

Hours: 8:30 am–1:30 pm

+16057185020

Visit website

Colonial House Restaurant & Bar

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 339.5

Rapid City, South Dakota

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+16053424640

Visit website

Pacific Rim Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 339.5

Rapid City, South Dakota

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+16057914148

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 339.5

Rapid City, South Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 339.5

Rapid City, South Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 339.5

Rapid City, South Dakota

+16053484000

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 339.5

Rapid City, South Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 339.5

Rapid City, South Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 339.5

Box Elder, South Dakota

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 339.5

Rapid City, South Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

RED E Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 339.5

Rapid City, South Dakota

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13132626722

Visit website

Giant Prairie Dog Statue

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 266.7

Philip, South Dakota

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 339.2 — 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
337.2 mi into trip | ~5h 56m in

Take the exit toward I 190, US 16: Downtown, Black Hawk National Forest, Mount Rushmore

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 190, US 16: Downtown, Black Hawk Natio...
4
339 mi into trip | ~5h 59m in | US 16; SD 44 / Omaha Street

Turn left onto US 16; SD 44 / Omaha Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
339.2 mi into trip | ~6h in | US 16 / Mount Rushmore Road

Turn right onto US 16 / Mount Rushmore Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$53.08 one way

$106.15 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 119 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $58.28 $116.55
premium $4.89 $65.33 $130.67
diesel $5.61 $74.96 $149.91

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$53

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$78–$103

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 118.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 101.9 1 $35.65 $16.30
Efficient EV 84.9 0 $29.71 $13.58
EV Truck/SUV 135.8 1 $47.53 $21.73

Gas CO2

119 kg

EV CO2

40 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

8:08 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rapid City, SD

Evening in Rapid City on Saturday

Local time

7:08 PM

MDT

Current temp

78°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

6h 1m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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

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 ~44 min detour Free near mile 339.5
View on nps.gov
Badlands National Park

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...

25 mi from route ~62 min detour $30 near mile 280.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for this 339.5-mile trip. With 99% of the route utilizing interstates and state highways, you'll be covering a lot of ground efficiently. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is a significant 274.3 miles on I 90, meaning fewer opportunities for spontaneous detours once you're on that section. This profile suggests a drive characterized by speed and directness rather than winding backroads. While primarily highway, the mix of I 90 and SD Highway 37 will provide some variation in the immediate surroundings as you progress west.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 274.3 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 Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 1m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 6 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

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 337.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

3,243 ft 1,298 ft

Total Climb

2,315 ft

Total Descent

370 ft

Highest Point

3,243 ft

~339.5 mi in

Elevation Range

1,946 ft

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 1m. Total distance: 339.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 274.3 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.

It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Rapid City, SD before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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 337.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rapid City, SD before the return drive.

How this page is built

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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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