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Trip from Whitewood, SD to Kirk, SD

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

29m

Distance

20.3 mi

33 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 27m ★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m

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

Best Time
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Whitewood, SD, SD

Whitewood, SD

Julio Lopez

Downtown Kirk, SD, SD

Kirk, SD

Luis Quintero

Trip Overview

This short, 20.3-mile drive from Whitewood to Kirk, South Dakota, can easily be completed in about 29 minutes, making it perfect for a brief excursion. Primarily utilizing US Highway 85, I-90, and US Highway 14A, this route is largely highway-focused, with 73% of it on faster roads. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $3, it's an economical option for a day trip within the Great Plains region. You won't need to break this drive up with an overnight stay, offering plenty of flexibility for your schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US Highway 85 7.3 mi 8m
I 90 4.8 mi 4m
US Highway 14A 2.6 mi 2m
Pioneer Way 1.1 mi 1m
Main Street 0.8 mi 1m
Mountain View Drive 0.7 mi 2m
Laurel Street 0.6 mi 1m
Glendale Drive 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US Highway 85 — 7.3 mi, about 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Whitewood, SD and Kirk, SD.

1

Start on South Street

35 ft · 7 sec · South Street
2

Turn left onto CR 320

0.6 mi · 1 min · Laurel Street
3

Continue on SD 34; CR 320

0.1 mi · 16 sec · SD Highway 34
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec
5

Merge onto I 90; US 14

4.8 mi · 4 min · I 90; US 14
6

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Toward US 85 South: Deadwood, Lead
7

Turn left

0.2 mi · 18 sec
8

Continue on US 85

7.3 mi · 8 min · US Highway 85
9

At end of road, turn right onto US 14A; US 85

0.8 mi · 1 min · Main Street
10

Continue on US 14A; US 85

1.1 mi · 1 min · Pioneer Way
11

Continue on US 14A; US 85 Truck

2.6 mi · 2 min · US Highway 14A
12

Continue on US 14A; US 85 Truck

0.5 mi · 37 sec · Glendale Drive
13

Turn right onto Chicago Street

147 ft · 6 sec · Chicago Street
14

Keep slight left at fork onto Chicago Street

350 ft · 15 sec · Chicago Street
15

Continue on 3rd Street

0.2 mi · 49 sec · 3rd Street
16

Turn left onto Mountain View Drive

0.7 mi · 2 min · Mountain View Drive
17

Turn left onto Grier Avenue

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Grier Avenue
18

Turn left onto Lost Irishman Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Lost Irishman Road
19

Turn left

249 ft · 18 sec
20

Arrive at destination

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 18.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CR 320 / Laurel Street

Turn left onto CR 320 / Laurel Street

Navigation decision point

5
5.9 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the exit toward US 85 South: Deadwood, Lead

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

Toward US 85 South: Deadwood, Lead
5
13.9 mi into trip | ~17m in | US 14A; US 85 / Main Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 14A; US 85 / Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
18.9 mi into trip | ~23m in | Chicago Street

Turn right onto Chicago Street

Navigation decision point

5
18.9 mi into trip | ~23m in | Chicago Street

Keep slight left at fork onto Chicago Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.42 one way

$6.84 round trip

$4.28/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.51 $3.61 $7.22
premium $5.08 $4.06 $8.12
diesel $6.05 $4.83 $9.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.1 0 $2.13 $0.97
Efficient EV 5.1 0 $1.78 $0.81
EV Truck/SUV 8.1 0 $2.84 $1.30

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 Oct 15, 2026

Origin

Whitewood, SD

Afternoon in Whitewood on Saturday

Local time

12:13 PM

MDT

Current temp

47°F

Mostly Sunny

NW 24 to 35 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 1:29PM CDT until October 16 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 1:29PM CDT until October 16 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

Destination

Kirk, SD

Afternoon in Kirk on Saturday

Local time

12:13 PM

MDT

Current temp

40°F

Mostly Sunny

NW 13 to 22 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 1:29PM CDT until October 16 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 1:29PM CDT until October 16 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

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

7 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

29m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-centric experience on this 20.3-mile journey, with 73% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 7.3 miles on US Highway 85, offering a consistent pace. While the profile is predominantly highway, the transitions between US Highway 85, I-90, and US Highway 14A will provide some variation in the driving experience. This route is built for efficiency rather than leisurely sightseeing.

73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.3 mi on US Highway 85.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 85 and I 90. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 320 / Laurel Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.3 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 320 / Laurel Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.9 miles (US 14A; US 85 / Main Street): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

High-altitude sections with notable climbs

5,775 ft 3,655 ft

Total Climb

2,539 ft

Total Descent

419 ft

Highest Point

5,775 ft

~20.3 mi in

Elevation Range

2,120 ft

Notable High Points

4,819 ft at ~13.1 miles +229 ft prominence

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 Whitewood, SD to Kirk, SD, road signs begin pointing toward Lead along the way.

Lead

5.9 mi in | ~7m

About the Cities

Starting in Whitewood, SD

Full guide →

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 29m. Total distance: 20.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 7.3 miles on US Highway 85. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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: near the start (CR 320 / Laurel Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.9 miles (US 14A; US 85 / Main Street): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kirk, SD before heading back.

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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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