Jefferson City to Rapid City: Road Trip Guide & Distance

687.4 miles 1106.2 km · straight line
824.8 miles estimated 1327.4 km · driving distance
16h 36min estimated drive time
$79 - $98 estimated fuel cost
~1h 53min flight time
307° NW bearing direction

How far is Jefferson City from Rapid City?

The distance from Jefferson City to Rapid City is 687.4 miles (1106.2 km) as the crow flies. Rapid City is located NW of Jefferson City. By car, the driving distance is approximately 824.8 miles, taking about 16h 36min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 53min. Both are located in United States — Jefferson City in Missouri and Rapid City in South Dakota.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Jefferson City and Rapid City. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Jefferson City to Rapid City

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 16h 36min $79 - $98 Flexible stops
Fly ~1h 53min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~19h 55min $66–$124* Budget
Train ~21h 35min $99–$289* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Jefferson City & Rapid City

Quick Facts

Jefferson City
38.58°N, 92.17°W
America/Chicago
192m elevation
Rapid City
44.08°N, 103.23°W
America/Chicago
966m elevation
Explore more routes from Rapid City

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 229 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 57 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 36.2 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients