How far is Jefferson, SD from Sturgis, SD?

The driving distance from Jefferson, SD to Sturgis, SD is about 441 miles (709.7 km), with a travel time of about 06h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 369.8 miles (595.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 25m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
441 mi
06h 12m
Flight
369.85 mi
595.21 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jefferson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
369.85 mi
Kilometers
595.21 km
Flight Time
00h 44m

Driving Distance

Road route
441 mi
Kilometers
709.72 km
Drive Time
06h 12m

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 06h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sturgis
Wed, May 13, 10:46 PM MDT
Return by in Jefferson
Thu, May 14, 5:59 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jefferson
2026-05-13T17:34
Arrive Sturgis
Wed, May 13, 11:46 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
11:13 AM to 12:43 PM MDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:34 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jefferson
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Reliance
SD

Town in Lyman County, South Dakota, United States

From Jefferson
220.3 mi
03h 06m
To Sturgis
220.8 mi
03h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNW
Destination
85°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson and Sturgis.

  1. 1

    Start on South 3rd Street

    17 m · 8 sec · South 3rd Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1163 ft · 24 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto West Dakota Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · West Dakota Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right

    1219 ft · 30 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    74.4 mi · 1 hr 12 min

  6. 6

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

    1236 ft · 30 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    364.1 mi · 5 hr 46 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90 Business

    1999 ft · 49 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Edmunds Street

    4 m · 1 sec · Edmunds Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Edmunds Street

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
2.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 West
364 mi · 83%
West Dakota Street
75.3 mi · 17%
I 90 Business
1.43 mi
Main Street
0.22 mi
South 3rd Street
0.01 mi
Edmunds Street
0 mi
Longest Stretch

I 90 West

Merge slight left

364 mi · 05h 46m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 12m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+71.2 mi
369.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Reliance
03h 06m from Jefferson
Leave By
11:34 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Jefferson and Sunny near Sturgis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Jefferson to Sturgis?

The road trip is about 441 miles (709.7 km) and usually takes 06h 12m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Reliance is a useful midpoint, sitting about 220.3 miles from Jefferson and 220.8 miles from Sturgis.

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

The direct path is about 369.8 miles (595.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 71.2 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $58.68 one way or $117.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 138.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Jefferson and Sunny near Sturgis.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jefferson and Sturgis. Straight-line distance: 369.85 mi (595.21 km).

Jefferson

#1 Jefferson

City in South Dakota, United States

Population1,159
Coordinates42.6025000, -96.5592000
Altitude340
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: 3rd Street (-96.559268, 42.602556)
End: Edmunds Street (-103.50908, 44.409706)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 710 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.56 gal
58.91 L · about $58.68
Round trip
$117.35
31.12 gal · 117.82 L
Estimated CO2
138.3 kg one way
Round trip: 276.6 kg / 610 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $58.68 $117.35
Mid-grade $4.25 $66.18 $132.35
Premium $4.65 $72.42 $144.83
Diesel $5.30 $82.53 $165.06

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 · May 13, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Jefferson, SD and Sturgis, SD. The current time in Jefferson is 17:34:04, although it is 16:34:04 in Sturgis.

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.