How far is Mesa, AZ from Rapid City, SD?
The driving distance from Mesa, AZ to Rapid City, SD is about 1257.1 miles (2023.1 km), with a travel time of about 22h 34m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 867.9 miles (1396.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 45h 08m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MST.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 22h 34m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Mesa and Rapid City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa and Rapid City.
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1
Start on South Diamond Avenue
12 m · 7 sec · South Diamond Avenue
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2
Turn left onto East Diamond Avenue
744 ft · 28 sec · East Diamond Avenue
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3
At the end of the road, turn right onto South 37th Street
118 m · 19 sec · South 37th Street
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4
Turn left onto East Drummer Avenue
149 m · 19 sec · East Drummer Avenue
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5
At the end of the road, turn right onto South Val Vista Drive
1.4 km · 2 min · South Val Vista Drive
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6
Turn left onto East Main Street
2 mi · 3 min · East Main Street
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7
Turn right onto North Gilbert Road
6.2 mi · 10 min · North Gilbert Road
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8
Turn right onto Beeline Highway
68.4 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Beeline Highway
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9
Turn right
53 mi · 1 hr 11 min
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10
Turn left onto Highway 277
1.9 mi · 3 min · Highway 277
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11
Continue on West 3rd Street North
4.9 mi · 7 min · West 3rd Street North
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12
Turn left onto Heber-Holbrook Highway
2.9 mi · 4 min · Heber-Holbrook Highway
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13
Turn straight onto Heber Road
30.9 mi · 36 min · Heber Road
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14
Turn left onto Show Low-Holbrook Highway
1.6 mi · 2 min · Show Low-Holbrook Highway
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15
Continue on Holbrook-Springerville Highway
2841 ft · 57 sec · Holbrook-Springerville Highway
-
16
Continue on Navajo Boulevard
1.4 km · 2 min · Navajo Boulevard
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17
Take the exit right
3058 ft · 1 min
-
18
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
230.8 mi · 3 hr 54 min · Purple Heart Trail
-
19
Take the exit slight right toward I 25 North, I 25 South: Santa Fe, Las Cruces
1838 ft · 41 sec
-
20
Keep slight left to continue on I 25 North: Santa Fe
1.3 km · 2 min
-
21
Merge slight left onto Pan American Freeway
326.9 mi · 5 hr 33 min · Pan American Freeway
-
22
Continue on South Freeway
10.4 mi · 13 min · South Freeway
-
23
Continue on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
12.9 mi · 13 min · John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
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24
Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway
23 mi · 24 min · Ronald Reagan Highway
-
25
Continue on Monument Valley Freeway
8.5 mi · 10 min · Monument Valley Freeway
-
26
Continue on Ronald Reagan Highway
70.1 mi · 1 hr 18 min · Ronald Reagan Highway
-
27
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
4.3 mi · 6 min · North Valley Highway
-
28
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
5.3 mi · 6 min · North Valley Highway
-
29
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
197 mi · 3 hr 11 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
-
30
Take the exit slight right toward US 18 East, US 20 East: Lusk
1450 ft · 40 sec
-
31
Turn right onto US Highway 18/20
18.2 mi · 20 min · US Highway 18/20
-
32
Continue on US Highway 20
23.3 mi · 25 min · US Highway 20
-
33
Continue on West 8th Street
882 ft · 32 sec · West 8th Street
-
34
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.4 km · 2 min · South Main Street
-
35
Continue on US Highway 85
45.8 mi · 49 min · US Highway 85
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36
Turn right onto US Highway 18
44.8 mi · 52 min · US Highway 18
-
37
Continue on Highway 18 West
1069 ft · 16 sec · Highway 18 West
-
38
Turn right onto Highway 18 Bypass
1.1 mi · 1 min · Highway 18 Bypass
-
39
Continue on Indianapolis Avenue
1.1 km · 1 min · Indianapolis Avenue
-
40
Take the exit slight right toward US 18 EAST, US 395 SOUTH
56 m · 6 sec
-
41
Merge slight left onto Jensen Highway
757 ft · 22 sec · Jensen Highway
-
42
Continue on Fall River Road
4 mi · 5 min · Fall River Road
-
43
Turn left onto SD Highway 79
6.2 mi · 7 min · SD Highway 79
-
44
Continue on Highway 79
9.6 mi · 10 min · Highway 79
-
45
Continue on SD Highway 79
9.7 mi · 10 min · SD Highway 79
-
46
Continue on South Highway 79
8.1 mi · 9 min · South Highway 79
-
47
Continue on South Heartland Expressway
2172 ft · 34 sec · South Heartland Expressway
-
48
Continue on South Highway 79
13.6 mi · 16 min · South Highway 79
-
49
Continue on Cambell Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Cambell Street
-
50
Turn slight right onto East Saint Joseph Street
1.4 mi · 3 min · East Saint Joseph Street
-
51
Continue on East Main Street
1.4 mi · 4 min · East Main Street
-
52
Turn left onto Mount Rushmore Road
130 m · 17 sec · Mount Rushmore Road
-
53
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Mount Rushmore Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Mesa and Rapid City.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Pan American Freeway
Merge slight left onto Pan American Freeway
327 mi · 05h 33m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Mesa and Mostly Sunny near Rapid City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Mesa to Rapid City?
The road trip is about 1257.1 miles (2023.1 km) and usually takes 22h 34m 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?
Raton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 626 miles from Mesa and 631.1 miles from Rapid City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 867.9 miles (1396.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 389.2 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 MST. 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 $191.86 one way or $383.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 394.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Mesa and Mostly Sunny near Rapid City.
Stop Ideas Near Raton
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Raton.
Raton
Trinidad
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Mesa and Rapid City. Straight-line distance: 867.88 mi (1396.71 km).
#1 Mesa
Suburb city of Phoenix, located in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 33.4017142, -111.7495822 |
| Altitude | 388 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Rapid City
The second most populous city in South Dakota.
| Population | 77,503 |
| Coordinates | 44.0805400, -103.2310100 |
| Altitude | 988 |
| Country | United States |
End: Rapid City (-103.23101, 44.08054)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 2023 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 41h 53m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 31h 25m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 25h 08m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 20h 57m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 17h 57m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 15h 40m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.33 | $191.86 | $383.71 |
| Mid-grade | $4.68 | $207.52 | $415.03 |
| Premium | $5.02 | $222.51 | $445.02 |
| Diesel | $6.25 | $277.43 | $554.85 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
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