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

The driving distance from Harrisburg, SD to Box Elder, SD is about 348.6 miles (561 km), with a travel time of about 04h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 321.2 miles (517 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
348.6 mi
04h 49m
Flight
321.24 mi
516.99 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Harrisburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
321.24 mi
Kilometers
516.99 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
348.6 mi
Kilometers
561.02 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 Box Elder
Thu, Apr 23, 2:30 AM MDT
Return by in Harrisburg
Thu, Apr 23, 8:20 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Harrisburg
2026-04-22T22:41
Arrive Box Elder
Thu, Apr 23, 3:30 AM 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 Harrisburg
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 Harrisburg
174.1 mi
02h 24m
To Box Elder
174.5 mi
02h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 30 mph SSE
Destination
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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Willow Street

    1.8 mi · 3 min · East Willow Street

  2. 2

    Continue on 273rd Street

    3.2 mi · 6 min · 273rd Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right

    1644 ft · 40 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    12.5 mi · 14 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90 West: Rapid City

    1236 ft · 30 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    329.1 mi · 5 hr 9 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward Box Elder, Elisworth AirForce Base

    1962 ft · 48 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    28 m · 7 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Liberty Boulevard

    2562 ft · 52 sec · Liberty Boulevard

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Highway 1416

    1.5 km · 2 min · Highway 1416

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Oak Street

    671 ft · 32 sec · Oak Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Front Street

    29 m · 4 sec · Front Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Front Street

Car Route Details

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

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
13 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 West
330 mi · 95%
273rd Street
16 mi · 5%
East Willow Street
1.78 mi · 1%
Highway 1416
0.9 mi
Liberty Boulevard
0.49 mi
Oak Street
0.13 mi
Longest Stretch

I 90 West

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 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.4 mi
321.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kennebec
02h 24m from Harrisburg
Leave By
7:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Harrisburg and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Box Elder.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 348.6 miles (561 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 174.1 miles from Harrisburg and 174.5 miles from Box Elder.

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

The direct path is about 321.2 miles (517 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.4 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 $46.38 one way or $92.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Harrisburg and Box Elder. Straight-line distance: 321.24 mi (516.99 km).

Harrisburg

#1 Harrisburg

City in South Dakota, United States of America

Population7,126
Coordinates43.4313700, -96.6972700
Altitude435
CountryUnited States
Box Elder

#2 Box Elder

City in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States

Population7,165
Coordinates44.1124900, -103.0682300
Altitude925
CountryUnited States
Start: Willow Street (-96.697271, 43.431465)
End: Front Street (-103.068237, 44.112405)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 561 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 42m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.3 gal
46.56 L · about $46.38
Round trip
$92.77
24.6 gal · 93.12 L
Estimated CO2
109.3 kg one way
Round trip: 218.6 kg / 482 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $46.38 $92.77
Mid-grade $4.25 $52.31 $104.62
Premium $4.65 $57.24 $114.49
Diesel $5.30 $65.24 $130.48

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 Harrisburg, SD and Box Elder, SD. The current time in Harrisburg is 22:41:28, although it is 21:41:28 in Box Elder.

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.