Wasta Rest Area (Westbound)
0 mi from route
Trip from Tea, SD to Sturgis, SD
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 7m
Distance
379.5 mi
611 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$63
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 54m
★
6 AM
6h 7m
8 AM
6h 33m
10 AM
6h 16m
12 PM
6h 14m
3 PM
6h 18m
5 PM
6h 32m
8 PM
6h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tea, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Sturgis, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Tea, SD to Sturgis, SD is 379.5 miles and takes about 6h 7m via I 90 and I 29, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region of South Dakota, offering a straightforward path. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a relatively quick trip. Expect mostly highway driving, so it's a good option if you want to cover ground efficiently. The route is primarily on major interstates, making it a familiar driving experience.
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
189.7 miles from Tea, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 364.1 mi | 5h 45m |
| I 29 | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| I 90 Business | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East Gateway Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Heritage Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
| East 1st Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Edmunds Street | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 364.1 mi, about 5h 45m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 74 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~625 veh/hr typical · worst 979
Quietest
2 AM
~28 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Tea, SD and Sturgis, SD.
1
Start on CR 106
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
East 1st Street
2
Turn left onto CR 111
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Heritage Parkway
3
Turn right onto CR 106
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Gateway Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge onto I 29
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 29
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 90 West: Rapid City
7
Merge onto I 90
364 mi
·
5 hr 45 min
·
I 90
8
Take the exit onto I 90 Business
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 90 Business
Toward I 90 Business
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 Business
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90 Business
10
Turn right onto Edmunds Street
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
Edmunds Street
11
Arrive at destination
Edmunds Street
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Sturgis before evening. Since it's a single-day trip, you can be flexible with stops, but consider a break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The primary roads are interstates, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 364.1-mile stretch on I 90, as services can sometimes be spaced out. Your estimated fuel cost is around $59, so factor that into your budget before you depart.
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 189.7 miles from Tea, SD, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 364.1 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 83 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.7 miles or 3h 5m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sturgis, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tea, 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 Tea, SD
This is one driving day of about 379.5 miles and 6h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Tea, 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 364.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
190 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 189.7 miles from Tea, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 364.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Wasta Rest Area (Eastbound)
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Salem Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Vivian Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
I-90 Belvidere Rest Area (eastbound)
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Salem Rest Area Eastbound
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
I-90 Black Hillls Welcome Center
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Coffee Cup Fuel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
I-90 Belvidere Rest Area (westbound)
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
Rest Area
0.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 378.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 111 / North Heritage Parkway
Turn left onto CR 111 / North Heritage Parkway
Navigation decision point
4
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR 106 / East Gateway Boulevard
Turn right onto CR 106 / East Gateway Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
13.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West: Rapid City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 West: Rapid City
4
378 mi into trip
|
~6h 4m in
|
I 90 Business
Take the exit onto I 90 Business toward I 90 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 Business
4
378.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 5m in
|
I 90 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto I 90 Business
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.30 one way
$126.61 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
133 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $68.80 | $137.61 |
| premium | $5.26 | $78.57 | $157.15 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $92.32 | $184.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 113.9 | 1 | $39.85 | $18.22 |
| Efficient EV | 94.9 | 1 | $33.21 | $15.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 151.8 | 1 | $53.13 | $24.29 |
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Tea, SD
Late night in Tea on Saturday
Local time
4:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Chance Rain Showers
NNW 25 mph
12% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 4:06AM CDT until October 16 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 3:47AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Sturgis, SD
Late night in Sturgis on Saturday
Local time
3:49 AM
MDT
Current temp
31°F
Widespread Frost
NW 12 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 4:06AM CDT until October 16 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 3:47AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
9 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
6h 7m 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
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...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 353.3
View on nps.gov
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 301
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 99% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all your time on interstates. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 364.1 miles, all on I 90. You'll transition from I 29 to I 90, and then briefly onto I 90 Business before reaching your destination. Expect a lot of consistent highway cruising with frequent, densely packed exits along the interstate sections.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 364.1 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 29. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near CR 111 / North Heritage Parkway.
Driving Effort
4/10
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 7m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (CR 111 / North Heritage Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (CR 106 / East Gateway Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,427 ft
1,346 ft
Total Climb
2,256 ft
Total Descent
316 ft
Highest Point
3,427 ft
~372.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,080 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Tea, SD
Full guide →Founded 1894
Arriving in Sturgis, SD
Full guide →Founded 1878
Sturgis is a city in the Black Hills of South Dakota that is most famous for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 7m. Total distance: 379.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 364.1 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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.
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 Sturgis, 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. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 0.5 miles (CR 111 / North Heritage Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (CR 106 / East Gateway Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 13.7 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sturgis, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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