Origin
Yankton, SD
Night in Yankton on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Yankton, SD to Springfield, SD
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
30.2 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yankton, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Springfield, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 30.2-mile drive from Yankton, South Dakota, to Springfield, South Dakota, is a quick and easy trip, taking approximately 51 minutes. Primarily utilizing SD Highway 52, SD Highway 50, and SD Highway 314, this route is almost entirely highway driving, making it perfect for a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $5, it's an economical option for a short getaway. You'll traverse the familiar Great Plains landscape of South Dakota, experiencing a straightforward drive with no planned stops. This trip is ideal if you're looking for a brief, uncomplicated journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SD Highway 52 | 12.3 mi | 21m |
| SD Highway 50 | 8.5 mi | 12m |
| SD Highway 314 | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| SD Highway 37 | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Walnut Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West 8th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Summit Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Highway 314 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
SD Highway 52
— 12.3 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yankton, SD and Springfield, SD.
1
Start on SD 52
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
West 4th Street
2
Continue on SD 52
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Summit Street
3
Turn left onto SD 52
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
West 8th Street
4
Turn right onto West City Limits Road
509 ft
·
13 sec
·
West City Limits Road
5
Turn left onto Highway 314
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Highway 314
6
Continue on SD 314
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
SD Highway 314
7
At end of road, turn left onto SD 50; SD 52 Truck
8.5 mi
·
12 min
·
SD Highway 50
8
Turn left onto SD 52
12 mi
·
21 min
·
SD Highway 52
9
Turn left onto SD 37
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
SD Highway 37
10
Turn left onto SD 37P
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Walnut Street
11
Turn slight right onto SD 37P
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
SD 37P
12
Arrive at destination
SD 37P
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.1 miles from Yankton, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 26.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
SD 52 / West 8th Street
Turn left onto SD 52 / West 8th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West City Limits Road
Turn right onto West City Limits Road
Navigation decision point
5
5.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
SD 50; SD 52 Truck / SD Highway 50
At end of road, turn left onto SD 50; SD 52 Truck / SD Highway 50
Navigation decision point
4
14 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
SD 52 / SD Highway 52
Turn left onto SD 52 / SD Highway 52
Navigation decision point
4
26.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
SD 37 / SD Highway 37
Turn left onto SD 37 / SD Highway 37
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.72 one way
$9.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.18 | $10.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.81 | $11.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.67 | $13.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.17 | $1.45 |
| Efficient EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.64 | $1.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Springfield, SD
Night in Springfield on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
51m 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-focused experience for 92% of this 30.2-mile route, covering the distance in about 51 minutes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.3 miles on SD Highway 52. As you transition between SD Highway 52, SD Highway 50, and SD Highway 314, the road maintains a consistent, open feel characteristic of the Great Plains. This drive offers a smooth, predictable journey without significant changes in road type or complexity.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on SD Highway 52.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SD Highway 52 and SD Highway 50. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near SD 52 / West 8th Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 51m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (SD 52 / West 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (West City Limits Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles (SD 50; SD 52 Truck / SD Highway 50): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,586 ft
1,208 ft
Total Climb
494 ft
Total Descent
404 ft
Highest Point
1,586 ft
~10.8 mi in
Elevation Range
378 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 30.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on SD Highway 52. 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: at 0.8 miles (SD 52 / West 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (West City Limits Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles (SD 50; SD 52 Truck / SD Highway 50): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Springfield, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Springfield, SD
More from Yankton, SD
More trips to Springfield, SD
Explore more options from Yankton, SD or browse trips ending in Springfield, SD.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SD road trips.