How far is Madison, SD from Rapid Valley, SD?

The driving distance from Madison, SD to Rapid Valley, SD is about 343.4 miles (552.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 299.6 miles (482.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 33m 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
343.41 mi
05h 46m
Flight
299.6 mi
482.16 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
299.6 mi
Kilometers
482.16 km
Flight Time
00h 36m

Driving Distance

Road route
343.41 mi
Kilometers
552.67 km
Drive Time
05h 46m

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 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Rapid Valley
Thu, Apr 23, 3:54 AM MDT
Return by in Madison
Thu, Apr 23, 10:40 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Madison
2026-04-22T23:07
Arrive Rapid Valley
Thu, Apr 23, 4:54 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:47 AM to 12:47 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
5:26 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
Presho
SD

Human settlement in Lyman County, South Dakota, United States of America

From Madison
171.3 mi
02h 53m
To Rapid Valley
172.1 mi
02h 53m

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
85°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 20 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Madison and Rapid Valley.

  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

    287.7 mi · 4 hr 31 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse

    1470 ft · 36 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    869 ft · 23 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on North Elk Vale Road

    2.3 mi · 3 min · North Elk Vale Road

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Concourse Drive

    1148 ft · 38 sec · Concourse Drive

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Twilight Drive

    2441 ft · 1 min · Twilight Drive

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Peanut Lane

    703 ft · 33 sec · Peanut Lane

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Sweetbriar Street

    1311 ft · 58 sec · Sweetbriar Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Sweetbriar Street

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
SD Highway 25
312 mi · 91%
SD Highway 34
26.6 mi · 8%
North Elk Vale Road
2.29 mi · 1%
Northwest 2nd Street
1.3 mi
Twilight Drive
0.46 mi
US 16 Truck
0.44 mi
Longest Stretch

SD Highway 25

Merge slight left

288 mi · 04h 31m

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 46m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.8 mi
299.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Presho
02h 53m from Madison
Leave By
5:26 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Madison and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Rapid Valley.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Madison to Rapid Valley?

The road trip is about 343.4 miles (552.7 km) and usually takes 05h 46m 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?

Presho is a useful midpoint, sitting about 171.3 miles from Madison and 172.1 miles from Rapid Valley.

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

The direct path is about 299.6 miles (482.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.8 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 5:26 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.70 one way or $91.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 107.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Madison and Rapid Valley, 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 Rapid Valley.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Madison and Rapid Valley. Straight-line distance: 299.6 mi (482.16 km).

Madison

#1 Madison

City in Lake County, South Dakota, United States

Population7,064
Coordinates44.0060800, -97.1139500
Altitude511
CountryUnited States
Rapid Valley

#2 Rapid Valley

Census-designated place in Pennington County, South Dakota

Population8,260
Coordinates44.0624900, -103.1462900
Altitude962
CountryUnited States
Start: Madison (-97.11395, 44.00608)
End: Rapid Valley (-103.14629, 44.06249)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 553 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 54m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.12 gal
45.87 L · about $45.70
Round trip
$91.41
24.24 gal · 91.74 L
Estimated CO2
107.7 kg one way
Round trip: 215.4 kg / 475 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $45.70 $91.41
Mid-grade $4.25 $51.55 $103.09
Premium $4.65 $56.41 $112.81
Diesel $5.30 $64.28 $128.57

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 Rapid Valley, SD. The current time in Madison is 23:07:37, although it is 22:07:37 in Rapid Valley.

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.