Driving Time between Blooming Prairie, Minnesota and Rapid City, South Dakota

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How Long Does It Take to Drive from Blooming Prairie to Rapid City?

If you're planning a road trip from Blooming Prairie, Minnesota to Rapid City, South Dakota, you're in for quite an adventure. The drive itself can take anywhere from 7 to 12 hours, depending on the route you choose and traffic patterns. In this blog post, we'll break down the fastest and slowest routes, the distance of each route, and the time it takes based on traffic patterns.

Fastest Route: I-90 W

The fastest route from Blooming Prairie to Rapid City is to take I-90 W all the way. This route is approximately 509 miles long, and it should take you around 7 hours to complete. Of course, this is assuming you're driving non-stop and there's no traffic. If you hit rush hour traffic (which is unlikely on this route), it could take you longer.

Slowest Route: MN-30 W and SD-34 W

If you're not in a rush and want to take the scenic route, you can take MN-30 W and SD-34 W. This route is approximately 542 miles long, and it should take you around 9 hours to complete. This route is much slower than I-90 W because it's not a major highway. However, you'll get to see some beautiful countryside along the way.

Time-Based on Traffic Patterns

As mentioned earlier, traffic patterns can greatly impact how long your drive will take. If you're driving during peak traffic times, your drive could take significantly longer than if you were driving during low traffic times. According to traffic data, these are the peak traffic times for both routes:

  • I-90 W: Expect peak traffic between 7-9am and 4-6pm on weekdays.
  • MN-30 W and SD-34 W: Expect peak traffic between 7-9am and 4-6pm on weekdays.

If you're driving during peak traffic times, plan for your drive to take longer than the estimates provided. However, if you're driving during low traffic times (weekends, holidays, etc.), you may be able to complete your drive faster than the estimates provided.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the drive from Blooming Prairie, Minnesota to Rapid City, South Dakota can take anywhere from 7 to 12 hours, depending on the route you choose and traffic patterns. If you're in a rush, take I-90 W for the fastest route. If you're not in a rush and want to see some beautiful countryside along the way, take MN-30 W and SD-34 W. And remember, if you're driving during peak traffic times, plan for your drive to take longer than the estimates provided. Safe travels!