How far is Rapid Valley, SD from Madison, SD?

The driving distance from Rapid Valley, SD to Madison, SD is about 344.2 miles (553.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 299.6 miles (482.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 13m 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
344.15 mi
05h 06m
Flight
299.6 mi
482.16 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rapid Valley.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
299.6 mi
Kilometers
482.16 km
Flight Time
00h 36m

Driving Distance

Road route
344.15 mi
Kilometers
553.85 km
Drive Time
05h 06m

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 05h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Madison
Thu, Apr 23, 2:12 AM CDT
Return by in Rapid Valley
Thu, Apr 23, 6:19 AM MDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rapid Valley
2026-04-22T20:06
Arrive Madison
Thu, Apr 23, 1:12 AM MDT
Route Timing
05h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM MDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:07 PM to 2:07 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
6:46 AM MDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rapid Valley
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
Presho
SD

Human settlement in Lyman County, South Dakota, United States of America

From Rapid Valley
171.2 mi
02h 33m
To Madison
172.9 mi
02h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 20 mph SW
Destination
86°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 30 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Rapid Valley and Madison.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rapid Valley and Madison.

  1. 1

    Start on Sweetbriar Street

    1311 ft · 1 min · Sweetbriar Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Walnut Street

    59 m · 8 sec · Walnut Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Peanut Lane

    156 m · 28 sec · Peanut Lane

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Twilight Drive

    1341 ft · 39 sec · Twilight Drive

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Jolly Lane

    121 m · 16 sec · Jolly Lane

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Jubilee Lane

    1293 ft · 37 sec · Jubilee Lane

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Elk Vale Road

    2 mi · 3 min · Elk Vale Road

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    2710 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    287.7 mi · 4 hr 31 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward SD 25: Emery, Farmer

    1688 ft · 48 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto SD Highway 25

    23.8 mi · 28 min · SD Highway 25

  12. 12

    Turn right onto SD Highway 34

    26.6 mi · 38 min · SD Highway 34

  13. 13

    Continue on Northwest 2nd Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Northwest 2nd Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Egan Avenue

    117 m · 11 sec · North Egan Avenue

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Egan Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Rapid Valley and Madison.

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
15 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Elk Vale Road
290 mi · 84%
SD Highway 34
26.6 mi · 8%
SD Highway 25
23.8 mi · 7%
Northwest 2nd Street
1.3 mi
SD 25
0.32 mi
Twilight Drive
0.25 mi
Longest Stretch

Elk Vale Road

Merge slight left

288 mi · 04h 31m

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
05h 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.6 mi
299.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Presho
02h 33m from Rapid Valley
Leave By
6:46 AM MDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Rapid Valley and Mostly Sunny near Madison.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Rapid Valley to Madison?

The road trip is about 344.2 miles (553.9 km) and usually takes 05h 06m 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?

Presho is a useful midpoint, sitting about 171.2 miles from Rapid Valley and 172.9 miles from Madison.

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

The direct path is about 299.6 miles (482.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.6 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 6:46 AM MDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $45.78 one way or $91.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 107.9 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Rapid Valley and Madison, 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 Valley and Mostly Sunny near Madison.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rapid Valley and Madison. Straight-line distance: 299.6 mi (482.16 km).

Rapid Valley

#1 Rapid Valley

Census-designated place in Pennington County, South Dakota

Population8,260
Coordinates44.0624900, -103.1462900
Altitude962
CountryUnited States
Madison

#2 Madison

City in Lake County, South Dakota, United States

Population7,064
Coordinates44.0060800, -97.1139500
Altitude511
CountryUnited States
Start: Sweetbriar Street (-103.145409, 44.062478)
End: 1st Street Northeast (-97.113951, 44.006124)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 554 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 44m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 54m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.14 gal
45.97 L · about $45.78
Round trip
$91.56
24.28 gal · 91.94 L
Estimated CO2
107.9 kg one way
Round trip: 215.8 kg / 476 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $45.78 $91.56
Mid-grade $4.25 $51.63 $103.26
Premium $4.65 $56.50 $113.00
Diesel $5.30 $64.39 $128.78

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 Valley, SD and Madison, SD. The current time in Rapid Valley is 20:06:16, although it is 21:06:16 in Madison.

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.