How far is Hill City, SD from Sturgis, SD?

The driving distance from Hill City, SD to Sturgis, SD is about 55.7 miles (89.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33.1 miles (53.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
55.68 mi
00h 59m
Flight
33.14 mi
53.33 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hill City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
33.14 mi
Kilometers
53.33 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
55.68 mi
Kilometers
89.61 km
Drive Time
00h 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 00h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sturgis
Wed, Sep 16, 3:22 AM MDT
Return by in Hill City
Wed, Sep 16, 4:21 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hill City
2026-09-16T02:23
Arrive Sturgis
Wed, Sep 16, 3:22 AM MDT
Route Timing
00h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:59 AM to 10:59 AM MDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:32 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hill City
9:30 PM MDT
Morning start is best

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
Rapid City
SD

The second most populous city in South Dakota.

From Hill City
27.8 mi
00h 29m
To Sturgis
27.9 mi
00h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Sep 16 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W
Destination
81°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Sep 16 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
7 to 15 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Hill City and Sturgis.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hill City and Sturgis.

  1. 1

    Start on Elm Street

    19 m · 6 sec · Elm Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Highway 385

    3 mi · 5 min · Highway 385

  4. 4

    Continue on South Highway 16

    17.7 mi · 22 min · South Highway 16

  5. 5

    Continue on Mount Rushmore Road

    4.6 mi · 7 min · Mount Rushmore Road

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Flormann Street

    707 ft · 20 sec · Flormann Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto West Boulevard

    1.4 mi · 4 min · West Boulevard

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Gillette

    1.3 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    24.6 mi · 25 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90 Business

    1999 ft · 49 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Edmunds Street

    4 m · 1 sec · Edmunds Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Edmunds Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Hill City and Sturgis.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
14 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
25.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 West
25.4 mi · 46%
South Highway 16
17.7 mi · 32%
Mount Rushmore Road
4.62 mi · 8%
Highway 385
3.02 mi · 5%
West Boulevard
2.63 mi · 5%
I 90 Business
1.43 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 90 West

Merge slight left

24.6 mi · 00h 25m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 59m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.6 mi
33.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rapid City
00h 29m from Hill City
Leave By
4:32 PM MDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Hill City and Sunny near Sturgis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Hill City to Sturgis?

The road trip is about 55.7 miles (89.6 km) and usually takes 00h 59m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Rapid City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 27.8 miles from Hill City and 27.9 miles from Sturgis.

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

The direct path is about 33.1 miles (53.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:32 PM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.18 one way or $16.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 17.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Hill City and Sunny near Sturgis.

Stop Ideas Near Rapid City

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Rapid City and the surrounding midpoint area.
Willow Park
Scenic stop 0.8 mi away

Willow Park

Rapid City , SD
155 Monroe St, Rapid City, SD 57701
Rating 4.1/5 35 reviews Park,Playground
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 8.9 mi away

Box Elder City Hall

Box Elder , SD
420 Villa Dr, Box Elder, SD 57719
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews City government office
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 8.9 mi away

Box Elder Water Department

Box Elder , SD
420 Villa Dr, Box Elder, SD 57719
Rating 2.3/5 3 reviews Water utility company

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Rapid City.

Transit stop coverage is not ready for this midpoint yet.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hill City and Sturgis. Straight-line distance: 33.14 mi (53.33 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Hill City

City in South Dakota, United States of America

Population1,032
Coordinates43.9324900, -103.5751900
Altitude1519
CountryUnited States
Sturgis

#2 Sturgis

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

Population6,978
Coordinates44.4097100, -103.5090800
Altitude1043
CountryUnited States
Start: Elm Street (-103.575184, 43.932526)
End: Edmunds Street (-103.50908, 44.409706)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 90 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.97 gal
7.44 L · about $8.18
Round trip
$16.35
3.94 gal · 14.88 L
Estimated CO2
17.5 kg one way
Round trip: 35 kg / 77 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $8.18 $16.35
Mid-grade $4.39 $8.66 $17.31
Premium $4.97 $9.79 $19.57
Diesel $5.88 $11.58 $23.16

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 · Sep 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Hill City and Sturgis. The current time is 02:23:01.

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.