How far is Yankton, SD from Hot Springs, SD?

The driving distance from Yankton, SD to Hot Springs, SD is about 417.7 miles (672.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 308.7 miles (496.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 57m 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
417.73 mi
06h 58m
Flight
308.7 mi
496.8 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Yankton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
308.7 mi
Kilometers
496.8 km
Flight Time
00h 37m

Driving Distance

Road route
417.73 mi
Kilometers
672.27 km
Drive Time
06h 58m

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 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hot Springs
Sun, Apr 19, 7:39 AM MDT
Return by in Yankton
Sun, Apr 19, 3:38 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Yankton
2026-04-19T01:41
Arrive Hot Springs
Sun, Apr 19, 8:39 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
11:59 AM to 1:29 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
10:02 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Yankton
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
Vivian
SD

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

From Yankton
208.5 mi
03h 29m
To Hot Springs
209.2 mi
03h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W
Destination
69°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Yankton and Hot Springs.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Yankton and Hot Springs.

  1. 1

    Start on West 4th Street

    15 m · 3 sec · West 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Broadway Avenue

    4.6 mi · 6 min · Broadway Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on US Highway 81

    52.5 mi · 1 hr · US Highway 81

  4. 4

    Take the exit left

    2349 ft · 57 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    301.5 mi · 4 hr 44 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 16 Truck, ND 79 South: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse

    1470 ft · 36 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    869 ft · 23 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on North Elk Vale Road

    5.3 mi · 7 min · North Elk Vale Road

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left

    47.9 mi · 54 min

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Fall River Road

    4 mi · 5 min · Fall River Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Jensen Highway

    1.1 km · 1 min · Jensen Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on South Chicago Street

    1817 ft · 33 sec · South Chicago Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto University Avenue

    64 m · 14 sec · University Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left

    28 m · 7 sec

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Yankton and Hot Springs.

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
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US Highway 81
354 mi · 85%
North Elk Vale Road
53.2 mi · 13%
Broadway Avenue
4.61 mi · 1%
Fall River Road
3.97 mi · 1%
Jensen Highway
0.68 mi
US 16 Truck
0.44 mi
Longest Stretch

US Highway 81

Merge slight left

302 mi · 04h 44m

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 58m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+109 mi
308.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vivian
03h 29m from Yankton
Leave By
10:02 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Yankton and Sunny near Hot Springs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Yankton to Hot Springs?

The road trip is about 417.7 miles (672.3 km) and usually takes 06h 58m 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?

Vivian is a useful midpoint, sitting about 208.5 miles from Yankton and 209.2 miles from Hot Springs.

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

The direct path is about 308.7 miles (496.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 109 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 $55.58 one way or $111.17 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 131 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Yankton and Hot Springs, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Yankton and Sunny near Hot Springs.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Yankton and Hot Springs. Straight-line distance: 308.7 mi (496.8 km).

Yankton

#1 Yankton

County seat of Yankton County, South Dakota, United States

Population14,651
Coordinates42.8711100, -97.3972800
Altitude368
CountryUnited States
Hot Springs

#2 Hot Springs

City in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States

Population3,502
Coordinates43.4316500, -103.4743600
Altitude1051
CountryUnited States
Start: Yankton (-97.39728, 42.87111)
End: Hot Springs (-103.47436, 43.43165)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 672 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.74 gal
55.8 L · about $55.58
Round trip
$111.17
29.48 gal · 111.6 L
Estimated CO2
131 kg one way
Round trip: 262 kg / 578 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $55.58 $111.17
Mid-grade $4.25 $62.69 $125.38
Premium $4.65 $68.60 $137.20
Diesel $5.30 $78.18 $156.36

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 Yankton, SD and Hot Springs, SD. The current time in Yankton is 01:41:04, although it is 00:41:04 in Hot Springs.

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.