Spanning 352.8 miles across the South Dakota plains, this route connects Worthing to Box Elder in approximately 5 hours and 38 minutes. Because the drive is straightforward and primarily highway-focused, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend about $54 on fuel for the journey, making it a relatively predictable expense for your travel budget. Since you are staying within the Great Plains region for the duration of the trip, the landscape remains consistent as you move between the two points. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently using major infrastructure.
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
176.4 miles from Worthing, SD
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
329.1 mi
5h 9m
I 29
19.5 mi
20m
280th Street
0.9 mi
1m
Highway 1416
0.9 mi
1m
West 1st Street
0.7 mi
1m
Liberty Boulevard
0.5 mi
<1m
Oak Street
0.1 mi
<1m
South Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 329.1 mi, about 5h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Worthing, SD and Box Elder, SD.
1
Start on South Main Street
419 ft·23 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR 124
0.7 mi·1 min·West 1st Street
3
Continue on CR 124
0.9 mi·1 min·280th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
5
Merge onto I 29
20 mi·20 min·I 29
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 90 West: Rapid City
7
Merge onto I 90
329 mi·5 hr 9 min·I 90
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
9
Keep slight left at fork
92 ft·7 sec
10
Turn left onto Liberty Boulevard
0.5 mi·52 sec·Liberty Boulevard
11
Turn right onto Highway 1416
0.9 mi·1 min·Highway 1416
12
Turn left onto Oak Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Oak Street
13
Turn right onto Front Street
94 ft·4 sec·Front Street
14
Arrive at destination
Front Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 38-minute transit, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and manage your fuel consumption, which is estimated at $54. Given the long 329.1-mile stretch on I-90, keep a close eye on your gas gauge and don't push your fuel range too far between exits. Departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue, especially since you have the flexibility to finish the entire trip in a single day. Since nearly the entire drive is on major highways, monitor traffic reports for I-90 specifically, as any delays on that primary artery will significantly impact your arrival time in Box Elder.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 176.4 miles from Worthing, SD, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 329.1 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 78 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.4 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Box Elder, SD than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Worthing, 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 Worthing, SD
This is one driving day of about 352.8 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Worthing, 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 329.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 352.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 124 / West 1st Street
Turn left onto CR 124 / West 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
21.5 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West: Rapid City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 90 West: Rapid City
5
350.9 mi into trip|~5h 34m in
Take the exit toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base
4
351.3 mi into trip|~5h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
352.8 mi into trip|~5h 38m in|Front Street
Turn right onto Front Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.16 one way
$110.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$60.56
$121.12
premium
$4.89
$67.89
$135.79
diesel
$5.61
$77.89
$155.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.8
1
$37.04
$16.93
Efficient EV
88.2
1
$30.87
$14.11
EV Truck/SUV
141.1
1
$49.39
$22.58
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Worthing, SD
Evening
in Worthing on Saturday
Local time
8:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Box Elder, SD
Evening
in Box Elder on Saturday
Local time
7:07 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°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
2 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
5h 38m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
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
~61 min detour
$30
near mile 304.2
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 352.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its heavy reliance on high-speed transit, with 99% of your journey taking place on highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-90, which accounts for a massive 329.1-mile uninterrupted stretch. The remainder of your navigation involves transitions through I-29 and 280th Street to round out the 352.8-mile distance. Behind the wheel, you should prepare for a consistent, interstate-focused experience that favors speed and directness over technical maneuvers. The road's personality is steady and efficient, designed for those who want to cover significant ground quickly.
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: 329.1 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 0.1 miles in near CR 124 / West 1st Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 38m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 124 / West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 350.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 352.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 329.1 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.
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 0.1 miles (CR 124 / West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 350.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Box Elder, SD before the return drive.
