How far is Watertown, SD from North Spearfish, SD?

The driving distance from Watertown, SD to North Spearfish, SD is about 454.9 miles (732.1 km), with a travel time of about 07h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 333.8 miles (537.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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
454.88 mi
07h 44m
Flight
333.82 mi
537.23 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Watertown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
333.82 mi
Kilometers
537.23 km
Flight Time
00h 40m

Driving Distance

Road route
454.88 mi
Kilometers
732.06 km
Drive Time
07h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in North Spearfish
Sun, Apr 19, 11:08 AM MDT
Return by in Watertown
Sun, Apr 19, 7:52 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Watertown
2026-04-19T04:24
Arrive North Spearfish
Sun, Apr 19, 12:08 PM CDT
Route Timing
07h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:44 PM to 2:14 PM MDT

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

Leave by
8:32 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Watertown
8:00 PM CDT
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
Kennebec
SD

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

From Watertown
227 mi
03h 52m
To North Spearfish
227.9 mi
03h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
50°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 12 mph NW
Destination
64°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Watertown and North Spearfish.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Watertown and North Spearfish.

  1. 1

    Start on South Broadway

    1.1 km · 2 min · South Broadway

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 9th Avenue Southwest

    6.4 mi · 9 min · 9th Avenue Southwest

  3. 3

    Continue on US Highway 212

    10.6 mi · 12 min · US Highway 212

  4. 4

    Continue on 4th Street

    1 mi · 2 min · 4th Street

  5. 5

    Continue on US Highway 212

    3.9 mi · 6 min · US Highway 212

  6. 6

    Turn left onto SD Highway 25

    60 mi · 1 hr 11 min · SD Highway 25

  7. 7

    Turn right onto SD Highway 34

    6 mi · 7 min · SD Highway 34

  8. 8

    Turn left onto SD Highway 25

    23.6 mi · 27 min · SD Highway 25

  9. 9

    Take the ramp right

    1803 ft · 44 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    340.8 mi · 5 hr 25 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I-90 West

    1639 ft · 46 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Old Belle Road

    1932 ft · 39 sec · Old Belle Road

  13. 13

    Continue on McGuigan Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · McGuigan Road

  14. 14

    Turn right

    130 m · 31 sec

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Watertown and North Spearfish.

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
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
SD Highway 25
425 mi · 93%
US Highway 212
14.5 mi · 3%
9th Avenue Southwest
6.41 mi · 1%
SD Highway 34
6.03 mi · 1%
4th Street
1.02 mi
McGuigan Road
0.76 mi
Longest Stretch

SD Highway 25

Merge slight left

341 mi · 05h 25m

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
07h 44m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+121.1 mi
333.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kennebec
03h 52m from Watertown
Leave By
8:32 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Watertown and Sunny near North Spearfish.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Watertown to North Spearfish?

The road trip is about 454.9 miles (732.1 km) and usually takes 07h 44m 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?

Kennebec is a useful midpoint, sitting about 227 miles from Watertown and 227.9 miles from North Spearfish.

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

The direct path is about 333.8 miles (537.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 121.1 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 CDT. 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 $60.52 one way or $121.05 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 142.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Watertown and North Spearfish, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Watertown and Sunny near North Spearfish.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Watertown and North Spearfish. Straight-line distance: 333.82 mi (537.23 km).

Watertown

#1 Watertown

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

Population22,303
Coordinates44.8994100, -97.1150700
Altitude528
CountryUnited States
North Spearfish

#2 North Spearfish

Census-designated place in Lawrence County, South Dakota, United States

Population2,285
Coordinates44.5066500, -103.8921500
Altitude1113
CountryUnited States
Start: Watertown (-97.11507, 44.89941)
End: North Spearfish (-103.89215, 44.50665)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 732 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)15h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
16.05 gal
60.76 L · about $60.52
Round trip
$121.05
32.1 gal · 121.52 L
Estimated CO2
142.6 kg one way
Round trip: 285.3 kg / 629 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $60.52 $121.05
Mid-grade $4.25 $68.26 $136.52
Premium $4.65 $74.70 $149.39
Diesel $5.30 $85.13 $170.26

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Watertown, SD and North Spearfish, SD. The current time in Watertown is 04:24:23, although it is 03:24:23 in North Spearfish.

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.