How far is Billings, MT from Rapid City, SD?

The driving distance from Billings, MT to Rapid City, SD is about 317 miles (510.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 283.3 miles (455.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
317.04 mi
05h 59m
Flight
283.26 mi
455.87 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Billings.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
283.26 mi
Kilometers
455.87 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
317.04 mi
Kilometers
510.22 km
Drive Time
05h 59m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rapid City
Wed, Oct 14, 12:54 AM MDT
Return by in Billings
Wed, Oct 14, 6:53 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Billings
2026-10-13T18:54
Arrive Rapid City
Wed, Oct 14, 12:54 AM MDT
Route Timing
05h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:59 AM to 1:59 PM MDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:02 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Billings
9:00 PM MDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Broadus
MT

Town of the United States

From Billings
158.1 mi
02h 59m
To Rapid City
158.9 mi
02h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Oct 13 3:00 PM MDT
Wind
6 mph NW
Destination
47°F
Today

Chance Rain Showers then Cloudy

Starts
Tue, Oct 13 11:00 AM MDT
Wind
3 mph E

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Billings and Rapid City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Billings and Rapid City.

  1. 1

    Start on Montana Avenue

    2446 ft · 1 min · Montana Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North 18th Street

    128 m · 9 sec · North 18th Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto 1st Avenue North

    1.1 km · 1 min · 1st Avenue North

  4. 4

    Continue on 1st Avenue North

    84 m · 8 sec · 1st Avenue North

  5. 5

    Turn right onto US Highway 87 East

    1.3 mi · 2 min · US Highway 87 East

  6. 6

    Turn left

    1595 ft · 41 sec

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 90 East: Sheridan

    54 mi · 51 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 212 East: Little Bighorn Battlefield, Broadus

    2032 ft · 54 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left

    42.1 mi · 50 min

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US Highway 212

    66 m · 5 sec · US Highway 212

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 212

    20.1 mi · 24 min · US Highway 212

  13. 13

    Continue on Main Street

    3072 ft · 2 min · Main Street

  14. 14

    Continue on US Highway 212

    43.7 mi · 51 min · US Highway 212

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Park Avenue

    2986 ft · 1 min · Park Avenue

  16. 16

    Continue on US Highway 212

    93.7 mi · 1 hr 47 min · US Highway 212

  17. 17

    Turn right onto North 5th Avenue

    2.3 mi · 5 min · North 5th Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto SD Highway 34

    17.5 mi · 21 min · SD Highway 34

  19. 19

    Take the ramp left

    10.7 mi · 11 min

  20. 20

    Continue straight

    23.3 mi · 24 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward I 190: Mount Rushmore, Downtown

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Omaha Street

    1148 ft · 39 sec · Omaha Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Mount Rushmore Road

    1223 ft · 46 sec · Mount Rushmore Road

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Mount Rushmore Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Billings and Rapid City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
24 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
0 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US Highway 212
158 mi · 50%
I 90 East
54 mi · 17%
SD Highway 34
51.4 mi · 16%
US Highway 87 East
4.45 mi · 1%
North 5th Avenue
2.34 mi · 1%
I 190
1.53 mi
Longest Stretch

US Highway 212

Continue on US Highway 212

93.7 mi · 01h 47m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 59m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.7 mi
283.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Broadus
02h 59m from Billings
Leave By
5:02 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Billings and Chance Rain Showers then Cloudy near Rapid City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Billings to Rapid City?

The road trip is about 317 miles (510.2 km) and usually takes 05h 59m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Broadus is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.1 miles from Billings and 158.9 miles from Rapid City.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 283.3 miles (455.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:02 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $50.39 one way or $100.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Billings and Chance Rain Showers then Cloudy near Rapid City.

Stop Ideas Near Broadus

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Broadus, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Broadus.

BUS

Miles City, MT

112 mi away
1019 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Billings and Rapid City. Straight-line distance: 283.26 mi (455.87 km).

Billings

#1 Billings

The most populous city in Montana.

Population117,445
Coordinates45.7832900, -108.5006900
Altitude952
CountryUnited States
Rapid City

#2 Rapid City

The second most populous city in South Dakota.

Population77,503
Coordinates44.0805400, -103.2310100
Altitude988
CountryUnited States
Start: Billings (-108.50069, 45.78329)
End: Rapid City (-103.23101, 44.08054)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 510 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.19 gal
42.35 L · about $50.39
Round trip
$100.78
22.38 gal · 84.7 L
Estimated CO2
99.4 kg one way
Round trip: 198.9 kg / 438 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.50 $50.39 $100.78
Mid-grade $4.83 $54.05 $108.10
Premium $5.21 $58.31 $116.62
Diesel $6.13 $68.55 $137.10

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Montana · Oct 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Billings and Rapid City. The current time is 18:54:45.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.