How far is Rapid City, SD from Commerce City, CO?
The driving distance from Rapid City, SD to Commerce City, CO is about 403.8 miles (649.8 km), with a travel time of about 07h 12m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 307.9 miles (495.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
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 07h 12m.
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.
Town in Platte County, Wyoming, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain Showers then Cloudy
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Rapid City and Commerce City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rapid City and Commerce City.
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1
Start on Mount Rushmore Road
9 m · 5 sec · Mount Rushmore Road
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2
Turn right onto Saint Joseph Street
2.4 mi · 6 min · Saint Joseph Street
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3
Continue on Cambell Street
2448 ft · 54 sec · Cambell Street
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4
Turn straight onto Cambell Street
1.5 mi · 2 min · Cambell Street
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5
Continue on South Highway 79
13.6 mi · 16 min · South Highway 79
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6
Continue on North Heartland Expressway
2172 ft · 34 sec · North Heartland Expressway
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7
Continue on South Highway 79
8.1 mi · 9 min · South Highway 79
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8
Continue on SD Highway 79
9.7 mi · 10 min · SD Highway 79
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9
Continue on Highway 79
9.5 mi · 10 min · Highway 79
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10
Continue on SD Highway 79
6.2 mi · 7 min · SD Highway 79
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11
Turn right onto Fall River Road
4 mi · 5 min · Fall River Road
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12
Continue on Jensen Highway
905 ft · 28 sec · Jensen Highway
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13
Turn left onto Indianapolis Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min · Indianapolis Avenue
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14
Continue on Highway 18 Bypass
1.1 mi · 2 min · Highway 18 Bypass
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15
At the end of the road, turn left onto Highway 18 West
1069 ft · 14 sec · Highway 18 West
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16
Continue on US Highway 18
44.8 mi · 52 min · US Highway 18
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17
Turn left onto US Highway 85
45.8 mi · 49 min · US Highway 85
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18
Continue on North Main Street
1.4 km · 2 min · North Main Street
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19
Turn right onto West 8th Street
882 ft · 25 sec · West 8th Street
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20
Continue on US Highway 20
23.3 mi · 25 min · US Highway 20
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21
Continue on US Highway 18/20
18.4 mi · 20 min · US Highway 18/20
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22
Take the exit left
198 mi · 3 hr 13 min
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23
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
8.8 mi · 11 min · North Valley Highway
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24
Keep slight right to continue on North Valley Highway
1.3 km · 1 min · North Valley Highway
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25
Take the exit slight left toward I 270 East: Aurora, Limon
3003 ft · 1 min
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26
Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward US 85, CO 2 North: Vasquez Boulevard
1042 ft · 26 sec
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28
Merge slight left onto North Vasquez Boulevard
2249 ft · 37 sec · North Vasquez Boulevard
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29
Turn left onto Dexter Street
946 ft · 52 sec · Dexter Street
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30
Turn left
732 ft · 54 sec
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Rapid City and Commerce City.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
US Highway 18/20
Take the exit left
198 mi · 03h 13m
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.
Chance Rain Showers then Cloudy leaving Rapid City and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Commerce City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Rapid City to Commerce City?
The road trip is about 403.8 miles (649.8 km) and usually takes 07h 12m 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?
Glendo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 201.8 miles from Rapid City and 202 miles from Commerce City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 307.9 miles (495.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 95.9 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 MDT. 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 $60.16 one way or $120.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 126.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Cloudy around Rapid City and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Commerce City.
Stop Ideas Near Glendo
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 Glendo.
Douglas, Wyoming
Wheatland, Wyoming
Casper, Wyoming
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Rapid City and Commerce City. Straight-line distance: 307.86 mi (495.45 km).
#1 Rapid City
The second most populous city in South Dakota.
| Population | 77,503 |
| Coordinates | 44.0805400, -103.2310100 |
| Altitude | 988 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Commerce City
The most populous city in Adams County, Colorado.
| Population | 60,336 |
| Coordinates | 39.8083200, -104.9338700 |
| Altitude | 1572 |
| Country | United States |
End: Commerce City (-104.93387, 39.80832)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 650 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 27m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 05m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 04m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 43m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 46m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 02m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.22 | $60.16 | $120.33 |
| Mid-grade | $4.42 | $63.01 | $126.03 |
| Premium | $5.08 | $72.42 | $144.84 |
| Diesel | $6.01 | $85.60 | $171.20 |
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 · Oct 13, 2026