How far is Yankton, SD from Rapid City, SD?

Here are the driving distances between Yankton, SD and Rapid City, SD:

  • Taking I-90 W, the most direct highway route, it is approximately 248 miles (399 km) from Yankton to Rapid City. This drive takes around 4 hours in normal traffic.
  • Going via US-18 W and US-385 N through Pierre is a slightly shorter route at 239 miles (385 km), but takes about the same amount of time, around 4 hours.
  • Taking more backroad routes like SD-50 W and SD-34 N adds even more distance, approximately 270 miles (434 km) and over 5 hours of drive time.
  • As the crow flies, the straight line distance between Yankton and Rapid City is around 210 miles (338 km).

So in summary, the typical driving distance by highways between Yankton and Rapid City is 240-250 miles, equating to about a 4 hour drive under normal conditions. The absolute shortest distance is around 210 miles as the crow flies, but taking main roads adds between 30-60 extra miles.

Fastest route

The driving distance between Yankton, South Dakota and Rapid City, South Dakota is 357.7 miles (576.32 kilometers). The fastest route is to take I-90 E. The drive time is about 5 hours and 16 minutes.

Here are the steps for the most direct route:

  1. Head east on W 4th St toward Linn St.
  2. Continue onto Summit St.
  3. Turn left onto W 8th St.
  4. Turn right onto W City Limits Rd.
  5. Turn left onto SD-314 W.
  6. Turn left onto SD-50 W.
  7. Keep left to stay on SD-50 W.
  8. Turn right onto SD-37 N.
  9. Continue straight onto 410th Ave/S Burr St.
  10. Turn left onto SD-37 N.
  11. Take the ramp to Huron/Plankinton.
  12. Merge onto I-90 E.
  13. Take exit 57 for I-190/US-16 W/Theodore Roosevelt Expy.
  14. Continue onto I-190 S/US-16 W/Theodore Roosevelt Expy.
  15. Turn left onto SD-44 E/Omaha St.
  16. Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Mt Rushmore Rd.

If you're looking for a more scenic route, you can take I-90 E to US-81 S to US-18 W. This route is about 373.6 miles long and takes about 5 hours and 45 minutes to drive.

Distance by Flight

Shortest distance between Yankton and Rapid City is 304.12 miles (489.43 km).

Flight distance from Yankton, SD to Rapid City, SD is 304.12 miles. Estimated flight time is 00 hours 43 minutes.

It takes 00 hours 39 minutes to travel from Yankton to Rapid City with an airplane (average speed of 550 miles).

Driving distance

The driving distance from Yankton, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota is: 358.08 miles (576.27 km) by car.

Driving from Yankton to Rapid City will take approximately 05 hours 11 minutes.

Rapid City image
#1 Yankton

County seat of Yankton County, South Dakota, United States

Population 14651
GPS Coordinates 42°52'16"N 97°23'50"W
Latitude 42.8711100
Longitude -97.3972800
Altitude 368
Country United States
Rapid City image
#2 Rapid City

The second most populous city in South Dakota. It is located in the Black Hills in western South Dakota. Rapid City is known for its many parks and green spaces, its many historical sites, and its many attractions, such as the Rushmore National Memorial and the Mount Rushmore Visitor Center.

Population 77503
GPS Coordinates 44°4'50"N 103°13'52"W
Latitude 44.0805400
Longitude -103.2310100
Altitude 988
Country United States

Estimated Travel Time Between Yankton and Rapid City

The distance between Yankton and Rapid City is 576 km if you choose to drive by road. You can go 06 hours 24 minutes if you drive your car at an average speed of 90 kilometers / hour. For different choices, please review the avg. speed travel time table on the below.

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Yankton, SD and Rapid City, SD. The current time in Yankton is 16:10:32, although it is 15:10:32 in Rapid City.

Average Speed Travel Time
30 mph (48.3 km/h) 11 hours 55 minutes
40 mph (64.37 km/h) 08 hours 57 minutes
50 mph (80.47 km/h) 07 hours 09 minutes
60 mph (96.56 km/h) 05 hours 58 minutes
70 mph (112.65 km/h) 05 hours 06 minutes
75 mph (120.7 km/h) 04 hours 46 minutes
80 mph (128.75 km/h) 04 hours 28 minutes

Gas Consumption

A car with a fuel efficiency of 8.3 l/100 km will need 47.83 liters (12.64 gallon) of gas to cover the route between Yankton and Rapid City.
The estimated cost of gas to go from Yankton to Rapid City is $44.58 (diesel $59.61).

South Dakota gas prices.

Gasoline Mid Grade Premium Diesel
Gallon $3.53 $3.72 $4.2 $4.72
Total $44.58 $46.97 $53.07 $59.61

Take a look at our Gas Cost Calculator feature. It will figure out how much it will cost to drive this particular distance.

The average gas price (in South Dakota ) per gallon of daily gas for calculations is $3.528 (Diesel $4.718) /gallon. Last changed prices on March 28, 2024.

How did we calculate the distance?

The place names are translated into coordinates to approximate the distance between Yankton and Rapid City (latitude and longitude). Cities, states, and countries each have their own regional center. The Haversine formula is used to measure the radius.

Distance to Other Cities

Rapid City image

Driving distance from Brandon, SD to Yankton 99.85 miles (161 km)

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Driving distance from Harrisburg, SD to Yankton 82.84 miles (133 km)

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Driving distance from Madison, SD to Yankton 94.62 miles (152 km)

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Driving distance from Mitchell, SD to Yankton 83.27 miles (134 km)

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Driving distance from Sioux Falls, SD to Yankton 89.46 miles (144 km)

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Driving distance from Tea, SD to Yankton 80.97 miles (130 km)

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Driving distance from Watertown, SD to Yankton 156.42 miles (252 km)

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Driving distance from Belle Fourche, SD to Yankton 409.02 miles (658 km)

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Driving distance from Box Elder, SD to Yankton 347.82 miles (560 km)

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Driving distance from Pierre, SD to Yankton 234.65 miles (378 km)

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Driving distance from Spearfish, SD to Yankton 401.87 miles (647 km)

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Driving distance from Sturgis, SD to Yankton 382.28 miles (615 km)

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