How far is Rapid City, SD from North Sioux City, SD?

The driving distance from Rapid City, SD to North Sioux City, SD is about 423.3 miles (681.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 355.7 miles (572.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
423.35 mi
06h 46m
Flight
355.73 mi
572.5 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
355.73 mi
Kilometers
572.5 km
Flight Time
00h 42m

Driving Distance

Road route
423.35 mi
Kilometers
681.31 km
Drive Time
06h 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 06h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in North Sioux City
Thu, Apr 16, 7:07 AM CDT
Return by in Rapid City
Thu, Apr 16, 12:53 PM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rapid City
2026-04-15T23:21
Arrive North Sioux City
Thu, Apr 16, 6:07 AM MDT
Route Timing
06h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:46 PM to 3:16 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:28 PM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rapid City
8:00 PM MDT
Overnight-style route

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
Chamberlain
SD

City in and county seat of Brule County, South Dakota, United States

From Rapid City
211.3 mi
03h 23m
To North Sioux City
212.1 mi
03h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph S
Destination
86°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rapid City and North Sioux City.

  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 · 29 sec

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    338.5 mi · 5 hr 20 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    2349 ft · 57 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    81 mi · 1 hr 19 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward North Sioux City

    1346 ft · 39 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto River Drive

    1.6 km · 2 min · River Drive

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Military Road

    829 ft · 23 sec · Military Road

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Military Road

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
2.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 East
421 mi · 99%
River Drive
0.98 mi
Mount Rushmore Road
0.23 mi
Omaha Street
0.21 mi
Military Road
0.16 mi
Longest Stretch

I 90 East

Continue straight

338 mi · 05h 20m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
06h 46m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+67.6 mi
355.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chamberlain
03h 23m from Rapid City
Leave By
10:28 PM MDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Rapid City and Sunny near North Sioux City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rapid City to North Sioux City?

The road trip is about 423.3 miles (681.3 km) and usually takes 06h 46m 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?

Chamberlain is a useful midpoint, sitting about 211.3 miles from Rapid City and 212.1 miles from North Sioux City.

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

The direct path is about 355.7 miles (572.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.6 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 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 $56.34 one way or $112.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 132.8 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 North Sioux City, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Rapid City and Sunny near North Sioux City.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rapid City and North Sioux City. Straight-line distance: 355.73 mi (572.5 km).

Rapid City

#1 Rapid City

The second most populous city in South Dakota.

Population77,503
Coordinates44.0805400, -103.2310100
Altitude988
CountryUnited States
North Sioux City

#2 North Sioux City

City in Union County South Dakota, United States

Population2,928
Coordinates42.5272200, -96.4830900
Altitude337
CountryUnited States
Start: Rapid City (-103.23101, 44.08054)
End: North Sioux City (-96.48309, 42.52722)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 681 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.94 gal
56.55 L · about $56.34
Round trip
$112.68
29.88 gal · 113.1 L
Estimated CO2
132.8 kg one way
Round trip: 265.5 kg / 585 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $56.34 $112.68
Mid-grade $4.25 $63.54 $127.08
Premium $4.65 $69.53 $139.06
Diesel $5.30 $79.24 $158.48

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 16, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Rapid City, SD and North Sioux City, SD. The current time in Rapid City is 23:21:01, although it is 00:21:01 in North Sioux City.

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.