How far is Brandon, SD from Rapid City, SD?

The driving distance from Brandon, SD to Rapid City, SD is about 351.9 miles (566.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 333.5 miles (536.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
351.91 mi
04h 49m
Flight
333.47 mi
536.67 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Brandon.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
333.47 mi
Kilometers
536.67 km
Flight Time
00h 40m

Driving Distance

Road route
351.91 mi
Kilometers
566.35 km
Drive Time
04h 49m

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 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rapid City
Tue, Apr 21, 3:23 PM MDT
Return by in Brandon
Tue, Apr 21, 9:12 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Brandon
2026-04-21T11:33
Arrive Rapid City
Tue, Apr 21, 4:23 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:49 AM to 11:49 AM MDT

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

Leave by
7:22 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Brandon
9:00 PM CDT
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 Brandon
175.7 mi
02h 24m
To Rapid City
176.2 mi
02h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NE
Destination
84°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, Apr 21 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Pipestone Street

    13 m · 4 sec · North Pipestone Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Sylvan Circle

    33 m · 7 sec · East Sylvan Circle

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Splitrock Boulevard

    1.6 km · 2 min · North Splitrock Boulevard

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left

    1484 ft · 36 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    348.7 mi · 5 hr 31 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 190, US 16: Downtown, Black Hawk National Forest, Mount Rushmore

    2265 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Omaha Street

    1148 ft · 39 sec · Omaha Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Mount Rushmore Road

    1223 ft · 46 sec · Mount Rushmore Road

  10. 10

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Mount Rushmore Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Brandon 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
10 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
2.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Splitrock Boulevard
350 mi · 99%
I 190
1.84 mi · 1%
Mount Rushmore Road
0.23 mi
Omaha Street
0.22 mi
East Sylvan Circle
0.02 mi
North Pipestone Street
0.01 mi
Longest Stretch

North Splitrock Boulevard

Merge slight left

349 mi · 05h 31m

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 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.4 mi
333.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kennebec
02h 24m from Brandon
Leave By
7:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Brandon and Sunny near Rapid City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 351.9 miles (566.3 km) and usually takes 04h 49m 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 175.7 miles from Brandon and 176.2 miles from Rapid City.

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

The direct path is about 333.5 miles (536.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.4 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.84 one way or $93.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 110.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Brandon and Rapid City, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Brandon and Sunny near Rapid City.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Brandon and Rapid City. Straight-line distance: 333.47 mi (536.67 km).

Brandon

#1 Brandon

City in South Dakota, United States of America

Population10,168
Coordinates43.5947000, -96.5719900
Altitude413
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: Pipestone Street (-96.57196, 43.594698)
End: Mount Rushmore Road (-103.231059, 44.080547)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 566 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.42 gal
47.01 L · about $46.84
Round trip
$93.67
24.84 gal · 94.02 L
Estimated CO2
110.4 kg one way
Round trip: 220.8 kg / 487 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $46.84 $93.67
Mid-grade $4.25 $52.82 $105.64
Premium $4.65 $57.80 $115.61
Diesel $5.30 $65.88 $131.75

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 21, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Brandon, SD and Rapid City, SD. The current time in Brandon is 11:33:49, although it is 10:33:49 in Rapid City.

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.