How far is Madison, SD from Garretson, SD?

The driving distance from Madison, SD to Garretson, SD is about 51.2 miles (82.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 36.4 miles (58.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 25m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
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
51.23 mi
01h 12m
Flight
36.39 mi
58.57 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Madison.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
36.39 mi
Kilometers
58.57 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
51.23 mi
Kilometers
82.44 km
Drive Time
01h 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 01h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Garretson
Wed, Apr 15, 2:30 PM CDT
Return by in Madison
Wed, Apr 15, 3:43 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Madison
2026-04-15T13:18
Arrive Garretson
Wed, Apr 15, 2:30 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:13 AM to 11:13 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:04 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Madison
9:30 PM CDT
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
Dell Rapids
SD

City in South Dakota, United States of America

From Madison
25.6 mi
00h 36m
To Garretson
25.7 mi
00h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
42°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
72°F
Today

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 9:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Egan Avenue

    117 m · 16 sec · North Egan Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Northeast 2nd Street

    1126 ft · 23 sec · Northeast 2nd Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Washington Avenue

    1.6 km · 2 min · North Washington Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Southeast 10th Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Southeast 10th Street

  5. 5

    Continue on SD Highway 34

    13.1 mi · 19 min · SD Highway 34

  6. 6

    Continue on Southwest 3rd Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Southwest 3rd Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Southeast 3rd Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Southeast 3rd Street

  8. 8

    Continue on SD Highway 34

    1.9 mi · 3 min · SD Highway 34

  9. 9

    Take the ramp right toward I 29: Sioux Falls

    1592 ft · 39 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    10.8 mi · 10 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward SD 115: Dell Rapids, Colton

    1516 ft · 43 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto 246th Street

    2.5 mi · 3 min · 246th Street

  13. 13

    Continue on West 4th Street

    3212 ft · 1 min · West 4th Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Highway 115

    1.3 km · 2 min · North Highway 115

  15. 15

    Continue on 475th Avenue

    3.7 mi · 4 min · 475th Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left onto 250th Street

    10 mi · 18 min · 250th Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto 485th Avenue

    2.9 mi · 4 min · 485th Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto 5th Street

    2349 ft · 1 min · 5th Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto North Main Avenue

    89 m · 8 sec · North Main Avenue

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
20 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
39.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
SD Highway 34
15 mi · 29%
I 29
11.1 mi · 22%
250th Street
9.97 mi · 19%
475th Avenue
3.66 mi · 7%
485th Avenue
2.92 mi · 6%
246th Street
2.54 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

SD Highway 34

Continue on SD Highway 34

13.1 mi · 00h 19m

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
01h 12m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.8 mi
36.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dell Rapids
00h 36m from Madison
Leave By
4:04 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Madison and Mostly Sunny near Garretson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 51.2 miles (82.4 km) and usually takes 01h 12m 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?

Dell Rapids is a useful midpoint, sitting about 25.6 miles from Madison and 25.7 miles from Garretson.

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

The direct path is about 36.4 miles (58.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:04 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.83 one way or $13.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Madison and Mostly Sunny near Garretson.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Madison and Garretson. Straight-line distance: 36.39 mi (58.57 km).

Madison

#1 Madison

City in Lake County, South Dakota, United States

Population7,064
Coordinates44.0060800, -97.1139500
Altitude511
CountryUnited States
Garretson

#2 Garretson

City in South Dakota, United States of America

Population1,147
Coordinates43.7174700, -96.5028200
Altitude458
CountryUnited States
Start: Madison (-97.11395, 44.00608)
End: Garretson (-96.50282, 43.71747)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 82 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.81 gal
6.84 L · about $6.83
Round trip
$13.65
3.62 gal · 13.68 L
Estimated CO2
16.1 kg one way
Round trip: 32.2 kg / 71 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.83 $13.65
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.70 $15.40
Premium $4.65 $8.42 $16.85
Diesel $5.30 $9.60 $19.20

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Madison and Garretson. The current time is 13:18:05.

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.