Origin
Whitewood, SD
Night in Whitewood on Saturday
Local time
10:17 PM
MDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Whitewood, SD to Kirk, SD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 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
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.
Whitewood, SD
Julio Lopez
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 115 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
$3.17 one way
$6.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.48 | $6.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.91 | $7.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.48 | $8.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
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.
Destination
Kirk, SD
Night in Kirk on Saturday
Local time
10:17 PM
MDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
13 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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
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 EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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