How far is Pierre, SD from Hot Springs, SD?

The driving distance from Pierre, SD to Hot Springs, SD is about 243.5 miles (391.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 168.4 miles (271 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 21m 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
243.42 mi
04h 10m
Flight
168.42 mi
271.04 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pierre.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
168.42 mi
Kilometers
271.04 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
243.42 mi
Kilometers
391.75 km
Drive Time
04h 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 04h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hot Springs
Sun, Apr 19, 9:01 AM MDT
Return by in Pierre
Sun, Apr 19, 2:12 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pierre
2026-04-19T05:51
Arrive Hot Springs
Sun, Apr 19, 10:01 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:11 AM to 11:11 AM MDT

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

Leave by
8:38 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pierre
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
Cottonwood
SD

Town in Jackson County, South Dakota, United States

From Pierre
121.5 mi
02h 05m
To Hot Springs
121.9 mi
02h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph SSE
Destination
69°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Pierre and Hot Springs.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pierre and Hot Springs.

  1. 1

    Start on South Euclid Avenue

    551 ft · 15 sec · South Euclid Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South Pierre Street

    564 ft · 14 sec · South Pierre Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto West Sioux Avenue

    1.5 km · 1 min · West Sioux Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on North Highway 83

    2600 ft · 36 sec · North Highway 83

  5. 5

    Continue on North Deadwood Street

    1.1 km · 46 sec · North Deadwood Street

  6. 6

    Continue on North 1st Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · North 1st Street

  7. 7

    Continue on South US Highway 83

    30.6 mi · 35 min · South US Highway 83

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    95.4 mi · 1 hr 30 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    55.4 mi · 53 min

  10. 10

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

    1470 ft · 36 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    869 ft · 23 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on North Elk Vale Road

    5.3 mi · 7 min · North Elk Vale Road

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight left

    47.9 mi · 54 min

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Fall River Road

    4 mi · 5 min · Fall River Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Jensen Highway

    1.1 km · 1 min · Jensen Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on South Chicago Street

    1817 ft · 33 sec · South Chicago Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto University Avenue

    64 m · 14 sec · University Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left

    28 m · 7 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pierre and Hot Springs.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
0 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South US Highway 83
181 mi · 75%
North Elk Vale Road
53.2 mi · 22%
Fall River Road
3.97 mi · 2%
North 1st Street
0.99 mi
West Sioux Avenue
0.92 mi
Jensen Highway
0.68 mi
Longest Stretch

South US Highway 83

Take the exit slight right

95.4 mi · 01h 30m

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
04h 10m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+75.1 mi
168.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cottonwood
02h 05m from Pierre
Leave By
8:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Pierre and Sunny near Hot Springs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Pierre to Hot Springs?

The road trip is about 243.5 miles (391.8 km) and usually takes 04h 10m 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?

Cottonwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 121.5 miles from Pierre and 121.9 miles from Hot Springs.

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

The direct path is about 168.4 miles (271 km), while the road route adds roughly 75.1 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 8:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.39 one way or $64.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Pierre and Sunny near Hot Springs.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pierre and Hot Springs. Straight-line distance: 168.42 mi (271.04 km).

Pierre

#1 Pierre

Capital city of South Dakota and county seat of Hughes County

Population13,708
Coordinates44.3683200, -100.3509700
Altitude451
CountryUnited States
Hot Springs

#2 Hot Springs

City in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States

Population3,502
Coordinates43.4316500, -103.4743600
Altitude1051
CountryUnited States
Start: Pierre (-100.35097, 44.36832)
End: Hot Springs (-103.47436, 43.43165)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 392 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.59 gal
32.52 L · about $32.39
Round trip
$64.79
17.18 gal · 65.04 L
Estimated CO2
76.3 kg one way
Round trip: 152.7 kg / 337 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.39 $64.79
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.53 $73.07
Premium $4.65 $39.98 $79.96
Diesel $5.30 $45.56 $91.12

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Pierre, SD and Hot Springs, SD. The current time in Pierre is 05:51:05, although it is 04:51:05 in Hot Springs.

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.