Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
22.4 mi
36 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wecota, SD
Patrick
Chelsea, SD
gina bichsel
Wecota to Chelsea is 22.4 miles and takes about 43m via Cecil Harris Memorial Highway and SD Highway 20, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Great Plains region of South Dakota. The route primarily utilizes surface roads, making for a straightforward and uncomplicated trip. Given its brevity, it's an easy addition to a larger itinerary or a quick connector between two points.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cecil Harris Memorial Highway | 14 mi | 24m |
| SD Highway 20 | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| 354th Avenue | 1 mi | 3m |
| 372nd Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 153rd Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| 5th Avenue East | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Wecota Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Wecota, SD and Chelsea, SD.
Start on Wecota Avenue
Turn right onto 153rd Street
Turn left onto 354th Avenue
Turn right onto SD 20
Continue on SD 20; SD 45
Continue on SD 20
Continue on SD 20
Turn left onto 372nd Avenue
Turn left onto 5th Avenue East
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto 153rd Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 354th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto SD 20 / Cecil Harris Memorial Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 372nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 5th Avenue East
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$3.72 one way
$7.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $4.06 | $8.11 |
| premium | $5.18 | $4.57 | $9.14 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $4.72 | $9.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.35 | $1.08 |
| Efficient EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.43 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Wecota on Wednesday
Local time
2:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:28PM CDT until June 1 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Destination
Afternoon in Chelsea on Wednesday
Local time
2:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Cloudy
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 10:28PM CDT until June 1 at 9:45AM CDT by NWS Aberdeen SD
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
You'll spend about 26% of this 22.4-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a main highway is 14 miles along the Cecil Harris Memorial Highway. After that, the route transitions to surface roads, specifically 354th Avenue for the remainder of the trip. Expect a more rural cruising experience once you leave the main highway.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 153rd Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 43m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (153rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (354th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (SD 20 / Cecil Harris Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
12 ft
Total Descent
226 ft
Highest Point
1,563 ft
Elevation Range
214 ft
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 22.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (26%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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