How far is Box Elder, SD from Tea, SD?

The driving distance from Box Elder, SD to Tea, SD is about 338.1 miles (544.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 314.2 miles (505.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 26m 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
338.07 mi
04h 43m
Flight
314.21 mi
505.68 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Box Elder.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
314.21 mi
Kilometers
505.68 km
Flight Time
00h 37m

Driving Distance

Road route
338.07 mi
Kilometers
544.07 km
Drive Time
04h 43m

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 04h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tea
Thu, Apr 23, 4:44 AM CDT
Return by in Box Elder
Thu, Apr 23, 8:27 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Box Elder
2026-04-22T23:00
Arrive Tea
Thu, Apr 23, 3:44 AM MDT
Route Timing
04h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:43 AM to 1:43 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:34 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Box Elder
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
Kennebec
SD

City in and county seat of Lyman County, South Dakota, United States

From Box Elder
171.7 mi
02h 21m
To Tea
166.3 mi
02h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 22 mph S
Destination
79°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
25 to 30 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Box Elder and Tea.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Box Elder and Tea.

  1. 1

    Start on Front Street

    29 m · 10 sec · Front Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Oak Street

    111 m · 18 sec · Oak Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Highway 1416

    1.4 km · 2 min · Highway 1416

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Liberty Boulevard

    1194 ft · 26 sec · Liberty Boulevard

  5. 5

    Take the ramp right

    2522 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    328.8 mi · 5 hr 9 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    2349 ft · 57 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    10.2 mi · 12 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward CR 106: Tea

    1237 ft · 30 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right

    91 m · 7 sec

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto East Gateway Boulevard

    1.4 mi · 2 min · East Gateway Boulevard

  12. 12

    Turn left onto North Heritage Parkway

    1 mi · 2 min · North Heritage Parkway

  13. 13

    Turn right onto East 1st Street

    2552 ft · 51 sec · East 1st Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 1st Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Box Elder and Tea.

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
14 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Liberty Boulevard
340 mi · 101%
East Gateway Boulevard
1.39 mi
North Heritage Parkway
1.02 mi
Highway 1416
0.87 mi
East 1st Street
0.48 mi
CR 106
0.29 mi
Longest Stretch

Liberty Boulevard

Merge slight left

329 mi · 05h 09m

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
04h 43m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.9 mi
314.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kennebec
02h 21m from Box Elder
Leave By
7:34 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Box Elder and Chance Rain Showers near Tea.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Box Elder to Tea?

The road trip is about 338.1 miles (544.1 km) and usually takes 04h 43m 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?

Kennebec is a useful midpoint, sitting about 171.7 miles from Box Elder and 166.3 miles from Tea.

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

The direct path is about 314.2 miles (505.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.9 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 7:34 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.99 one way or $89.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 106 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Box Elder and Tea, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Box Elder and Chance Rain Showers near Tea.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Box Elder and Tea. Straight-line distance: 314.21 mi (505.68 km).

Box Elder

#1 Box Elder

City in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States

Population7,165
Coordinates44.1124900, -103.0682300
Altitude925
CountryUnited States
Tea

#2 Tea

City in South Dakota, United States of America

Population6,405
Coordinates43.4463700, -96.8358800
Altitude454
CountryUnited States
Start: Front Street (-103.068237, 44.112405)
End: East 1st Street (-96.83588, 43.446483)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 544 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.93 gal
45.16 L · about $44.99
Round trip
$89.98
23.86 gal · 90.32 L
Estimated CO2
106 kg one way
Round trip: 212 kg / 467 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $44.99 $89.98
Mid-grade $4.25 $50.74 $101.48
Premium $4.65 $55.52 $111.04
Diesel $5.30 $63.28 $126.55

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 South Dakota · Apr 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Box Elder, SD and Tea, SD. The current time in Box Elder is 23:00:49, although it is 00:00:49 in Tea.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

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