How far is Rapid Valley, SD from Rapid City, SD?
The driving distance from Rapid Valley, SD to Rapid City, SD is about 5.8 miles (9.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 4.4 miles (7.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 27m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 13m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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.
Township in Pennington County, South Dakota
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Rapid Valley and Rapid City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rapid Valley and Rapid City.
-
1
Start on Sweetbriar Street
1311 ft · 1 min · Sweetbriar Street
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2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Walnut Street
59 m · 8 sec · Walnut Street
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3
Continue on Peanut Lane
156 m · 28 sec · Peanut Lane
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4
Turn left onto Twilight Drive
1.3 km · 2 min · Twilight Drive
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5
Turn right onto East Highway 44
2 mi · 3 min · East Highway 44
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6
Continue on East Omaha Street
1.9 mi · 4 min · East Omaha Street
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7
Turn left onto Mount Rushmore Road
1290 ft · 50 sec · Mount Rushmore Road
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8
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Mount Rushmore Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Rapid Valley and Rapid City.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
East Highway 44
Turn right onto East Highway 44
2.02 mi · 00h 03m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Sunny leaving Rapid Valley and Sunny near Rapid City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Rapid Valley to Rapid City?
The road trip is about 5.8 miles (9.3 km) and usually takes 00h 13m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Green Valley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 2.7 miles from Rapid Valley and 3 miles from Rapid City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 4.4 miles (7.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.4 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:02 PM MDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $0.75 one way or $1.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 1.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Rapid Valley and Sunny near Rapid City.
Stop Ideas Near Green Valley
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Willow Park
Box Elder City Hall
Box Elder Water Department
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Green Valley.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Rapid Valley and Rapid City. Straight-line distance: 4.39 mi (7.06 km).
#1 Rapid Valley
Census-designated place in Pennington County, South Dakota
| Population | 8,260 |
| Coordinates | 44.0624900, -103.1462900 |
| Altitude | 962 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Rapid City
The second most populous city in South Dakota.
| Population | 77,503 |
| Coordinates | 44.0805400, -103.2310100 |
| Altitude | 988 |
| Country | United States |
End: Mount Rushmore Road (-103.231059, 44.080547)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 9 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 11m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 06m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 05m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 04m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 04m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $0.75 | $1.51 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $0.85 | $1.70 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $0.93 | $1.86 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $1.06 | $2.12 |
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 · May 02, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.