How far is Madison, SD from Belle Fourche, SD?

The driving distance from Madison, SD to Belle Fourche, SD is about 396.8 miles (638.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 336 miles (540.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 20m 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
396.78 mi
05h 40m
Flight
336.04 mi
540.8 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Madison.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
336.04 mi
Kilometers
540.8 km
Flight Time
00h 40m

Driving Distance

Road route
396.78 mi
Kilometers
638.55 km
Drive Time
05h 40m

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 05h 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Belle Fourche
Thu, Apr 23, 4:28 AM MDT
Return by in Madison
Thu, Apr 23, 11:09 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Madison
2026-04-22T23:48
Arrive Belle Fourche
Thu, Apr 23, 5:28 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:40 AM to 12:40 PM MDT

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

Leave by
5:40 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Madison
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
Draper
SD

Town in South Dakota, United States of America

From Madison
198.3 mi
02h 50m
To Belle Fourche
198.5 mi
02h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 30 mph SSE
Destination
82°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 21 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Madison and Belle Fourche.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Madison and Belle Fourche.

  1. 1

    Start on North Egan Avenue

    117 m · 20 sec · North Egan Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Northwest 2nd Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Northwest 2nd Street

  3. 3

    Continue on SD Highway 34

    26.6 mi · 38 min · SD Highway 34

  4. 4

    Turn left onto SD Highway 25

    23.6 mi · 27 min · SD Highway 25

  5. 5

    Take the ramp right

    1803 ft · 44 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    326.1 mi · 5 hr 10 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward SD 34 West: Whitewood, Belle Fourche

    1463 ft · 38 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto SD Highway 34

    17.4 mi · 21 min · SD Highway 34

  9. 9

    Turn right onto 5th Avenue

    1.7 mi · 4 min · 5th Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn right onto State Street

    117 m · 15 sec · State Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto 6th Avenue

    8 m · 1 sec · 6th Avenue

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 6th Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
SD Highway 25
350 mi · 88%
SD Highway 34
44 mi · 11%
5th Avenue
1.66 mi
Northwest 2nd Street
1.3 mi
SD 34 West
0.28 mi
North Egan Avenue
0.07 mi
Longest Stretch

SD Highway 25

Merge slight left

326 mi · 05h 10m

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
05h 40m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+60.8 mi
336 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Draper
02h 50m from Madison
Leave By
5:40 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Madison and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Belle Fourche.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Madison to Belle Fourche?

The road trip is about 396.8 miles (638.6 km) and usually takes 05h 40m 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?

Draper is a useful midpoint, sitting about 198.3 miles from Madison and 198.5 miles from Belle Fourche.

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

The direct path is about 336 miles (540.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.8 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 5:40 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $52.79 one way or $105.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 124.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Madison and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Belle Fourche.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Madison and Belle Fourche. Straight-line distance: 336.04 mi (540.8 km).

Madison

#1 Madison

City in Lake County, South Dakota, United States

Population7,064
Coordinates44.0060800, -97.1139500
Altitude511
CountryUnited States
Belle Fourche

#2 Belle Fourche

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

Population5,742
Coordinates44.6713700, -103.8521500
Altitude921
CountryUnited States
Start: 1st Street Northeast (-97.113951, 44.006124)
End: 6th Avenue (-103.852143, 44.67137)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 639 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14 gal
53 L · about $52.79
Round trip
$105.59
28 gal · 106 L
Estimated CO2
124.4 kg one way
Round trip: 248.8 kg / 549 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $52.79 $105.59
Mid-grade $4.25 $59.54 $119.08
Premium $4.65 $65.16 $130.31
Diesel $5.30 $74.26 $148.51

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 Madison, SD and Belle Fourche, SD. The current time in Madison is 23:48:50, although it is 22:48:50 in Belle Fourche.

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.