How far is Rapid City, SD from Mission, SD?

The driving distance from Rapid City, SD to Mission, SD is about 181.8 miles (292.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 139.2 miles (224.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT.
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
181.76 mi
03h 03m
Flight
139.22 mi
224.06 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rapid City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
139.22 mi
Kilometers
224.06 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
181.76 mi
Kilometers
292.52 km
Drive Time
03h 03m

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 03h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Mission
Thu, Apr 23, 12:47 AM CDT
Return by in Rapid City
Thu, Apr 23, 2:51 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rapid City
2026-04-22T20:44
Arrive Mission
Wed, Apr 22, 11:47 PM MDT
Route Timing
03h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:04 AM to 12:04 PM CDT

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

Leave by
10:52 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rapid City
9:00 PM MDT
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
Kadoka
SD

City in and county sear of in Jackson County, South Dakota, United States of America

From Rapid City
90.7 mi
01h 31m
To Mission
91 mi
01h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
7 to 16 mph SW
Destination
90°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 29 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Rapid City and Mission.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rapid City and Mission.

  1. 1

    Start on Mount Rushmore Road

    1223 ft · 48 sec · Mount Rushmore Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Omaha Street

    1094 ft · 38 sec · Omaha Street

  3. 3

    Turn right

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on I 90 East: Sioux Falls

    1661 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    134.7 mi · 2 hr 8 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    1651 ft · 42 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    42 mi · 48 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on 2nd Street

    1.2 km · 55 sec · 2nd Street

  10. 10

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 2nd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rapid City and Mission.

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
10 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 East
135 mi · 74%
Blue Star Memorial Highway/Vietnam Veterans Memo
44 mi · 24%
2nd Street
0.75 mi
Mount Rushmore Road
0.23 mi
Omaha Street
0.21 mi
Longest Stretch

I 90 East

Continue straight

135 mi · 02h 08m

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
03h 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42.6 mi
139.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kadoka
01h 31m from Rapid City
Leave By
10:52 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Rapid City and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Mission.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rapid City to Mission?

The road trip is about 181.8 miles (292.5 km) and usually takes 03h 03m 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?

Kadoka is a useful midpoint, sitting about 90.7 miles from Rapid City and 91 miles from Mission.

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

The direct path is about 139.2 miles (224.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.6 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 MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:52 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.17 one way or $48.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Rapid City and Mission, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Rapid City and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Mission.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rapid City and Mission. Straight-line distance: 139.22 mi (224.06 km).

Rapid City

#1 Rapid City

The second most populous city in South Dakota.

Population77,503
Coordinates44.0805400, -103.2310100
Altitude988
CountryUnited States
Mission

#2 Mission

City in Todd County, South Dakota, United States

Population1,269
Coordinates43.3058400, -100.6581900
Altitude787
CountryUnited States
Start: Rapid City (-103.23101, 44.08054)
End: Mission (-100.65819, 43.30584)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 293 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.41 gal
24.28 L · about $24.17
Round trip
$48.34
12.82 gal · 48.56 L
Estimated CO2
57 kg one way
Round trip: 113.9 kg / 251 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.17 $48.34
Mid-grade $4.25 $27.26 $54.52
Premium $4.65 $29.83 $59.66
Diesel $5.30 $34.00 $68.00

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 Rapid City, SD and Mission, SD. The current time in Rapid City is 20:44:20, although it is 21:44:20 in Mission.

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.