How far is Lemmon, SD from Madison, SD?

The driving distance from Lemmon, SD to Madison, SD is about 358 miles (576.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 280.4 miles (451.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 21m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
358.03 mi
06h 10m
Flight
280.44 mi
451.32 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lemmon.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
280.44 mi
Kilometers
451.32 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
358.03 mi
Kilometers
576.19 km
Drive Time
06h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Madison
Thu, Apr 23, 8:26 AM CDT
Return by in Lemmon
Thu, Apr 23, 1:37 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lemmon
2026-04-23T01:15
Arrive Madison
Thu, Apr 23, 7:26 AM MDT
Route Timing
06h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:11 PM to 2:41 PM CDT

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

Leave by
11:38 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lemmon
8:00 PM MDT
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
Ipswich
SD

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

From Lemmon
181.6 mi
03h 05m
To Madison
176.4 mi
03h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
Thursday

Light Rain Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
17 to 37 mph W
Destination
74°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 Lemmon and Madison.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lemmon and Madison.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Avenue

    2146 ft · 1 min · Main Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 10th Street East

    95.6 mi · 1 hr 49 min · 10th Street East

  3. 3

    Continue on West Grand Crossing

    3.4 mi · 4 min · West Grand Crossing

  4. 4

    Continue on US Highway 12

    18.5 mi · 21 min · US Highway 12

  5. 5

    Continue on Highway 12 & 83

    1.5 km · 1 min · Highway 12 & 83

  6. 6

    Continue on US Highway 12

    17.8 mi · 20 min · US Highway 12

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    35.3 mi · 40 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    25.1 mi · 29 min

  9. 9

    Turn right onto South US Highway 281

    3 mi · 4 min · South US Highway 281

  10. 10

    Continue on 386th Avenue

    12 mi · 14 min · 386th Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on US Highway 281

    24.5 mi · 28 min · US Highway 281

  12. 12

    Continue on East 3rd Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · East 3rd Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto East 7th Avenue

    1.2 mi · 1 min · East 7th Avenue

  14. 14

    Continue on US Highway 281

    8.8 mi · 10 min · US Highway 281

  15. 15

    Continue on 386th Avenue

    2663 ft · 34 sec · 386th Avenue

  16. 16

    Continue on US Highway 281

    25.8 mi · 29 min · US Highway 281

  17. 17

    Turn left onto US Highway 14

    12.2 mi · 14 min · US Highway 14

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Dakota Avenue North

    5 mi · 6 min · Dakota Avenue North

  19. 19

    Continue on SD Highway 37

    16.8 mi · 19 min · SD Highway 37

  20. 20

    Turn left onto SD Highway 34

    54.7 mi · 1 hr 10 min · SD Highway 34

  21. 21

    Continue on Northwest 2nd Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Northwest 2nd Street

  22. 22

    Turn right onto North Egan Avenue

    117 m · 13 sec · North Egan Avenue

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Egan Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lemmon and Madison.

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
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US Highway 12
96.7 mi · 27%
10th Street East
95.6 mi · 27%
US Highway 281
59 mi · 16%
SD Highway 34
54.7 mi · 15%
SD Highway 37
16.8 mi · 5%
386th Avenue
12.5 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

10th Street East

Turn left onto 10th Street East

95.6 mi · 01h 49m

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 10m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+77.6 mi
280.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ipswich
03h 05m from Lemmon
Leave By
11:38 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Light Rain Likely leaving Lemmon and Chance Rain Showers near Madison.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lemmon to Madison?

The road trip is about 358 miles (576.2 km) and usually takes 06h 10m 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?

Ipswich is a useful midpoint, sitting about 181.6 miles from Lemmon and 176.4 miles from Madison.

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

The direct path is about 280.4 miles (451.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 77.6 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT. 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 $47.63 one way or $95.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 112.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Light Rain Likely around Lemmon and Chance Rain Showers near Madison.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lemmon and Madison. Straight-line distance: 280.44 mi (451.32 km).

Lemmon

#1 Lemmon

City in South Dakota, United States of America

Population1,160
Coordinates45.9408300, -102.1593200
Altitude783
CountryUnited States
Madison

#2 Madison

City in Lake County, South Dakota, United States

Population7,064
Coordinates44.0060800, -97.1139500
Altitude511
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Avenue (-102.159346, 45.94083)
End: 1st Street Northeast (-97.113951, 44.006124)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 576 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.63 gal
47.82 L · about $47.63
Round trip
$95.26
25.26 gal · 95.64 L
Estimated CO2
112.2 kg one way
Round trip: 224.5 kg / 495 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $47.63 $95.26
Mid-grade $4.25 $53.72 $107.43
Premium $4.65 $58.78 $117.56
Diesel $5.30 $66.99 $133.98

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 Lemmon, SD and Madison, SD. The current time in Lemmon is 01:15:58, although it is 02:15:58 in Madison.

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.