This page delivers traffic analytics for Clay County, South Dakota. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for Clay County, South Dakota among 199 road miles divided in 2,052 segments. Our metrics go beyond simple volume counts to provide actionable insights on traffic intensity, congestion, commercial vehicle flow, and network performance with highest possible granularity (average segment length is 513 ft). Whether you are evaluating a new retail location, planning logistics routes, or assessing infrastructure needs, this data helps you move from assumptions to certainty.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
1,607
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
8.6%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
31.7 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
8.8%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
40.0 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$72,187
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 1,607 vehicles per day in Clay County, South Dakota that results in 244,635 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈89.3 million per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 12 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 31.7 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the South Dakota state averages: Clay sees 49% lower average daily traffic volume than the state average (1,607 vehicles per day against 3,156), suggesting less demand on each road - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. In total volume terms, its road network carries 244,635 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈89.3 million per year), about 1.0% of South Dakota's statewide total. The average trip takes 31.7 minutes, 2% lower than the state level. The congestion ratio of 8.8% is 32% lower, pointing to smoother traffic flow than the state level - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. Clay carries more traffic than 69% of counties in South Dakota. 23% of counties in South Dakota have a shorter average travel time than Clay's 31.7 minutes.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis
Highway Traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
4,340
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
10.0%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
43.0 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
11.6%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
43.1 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$73,879
A significant volume of traffic in Clay County, South Dakota utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 4,340 vehicles per day, 229% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 1,319 vehicles per day. That average covers 36 highway road miles divided in 196 segments (average segment length 982 ft), together carrying 124,456 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈45.4 million per year). Trucks constitute 10.0% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on highways (10.0%) is 26% lower than the state average for similar road classifications. This indicates Clay serves as a primarily local traffic hub. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of local access. Clay's highway truck share (10.0%) is higher than 6% of counties in South Dakota. 52% of counties in South Dakota see fewer highway trucks per day than Clay's roughly 434.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
1,319
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
7.1%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
30.5 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
8.5%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
34.1 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$70,669
The non-highway road network in Clay County, South Dakota supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 1,319 vehicles per day, 70% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 4,340 vehicles per day. That average covers 163 non-highway road miles divided in 1,856 segments (average segment length 464 ft), together carrying 120,179 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈43.9 million per year). Trucks constitute 7.1% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Non-highway roads carry a truck concentration that's 29% lower than the highway network. Non-highway congestion (8.5%) runs 34% lower than the state average, pointing to smoother local traffic flow. 23% of counties in South Dakota see shorter overall travel times than Clay. 52% of counties in South Dakota see lower average driver income among trip origins than Clay. Clay's median driver age is higher than 5% of counties in South Dakota.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and PM peak 3:00 PM–7:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 77% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 29% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
August–October is the high season, with volumes +9% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
July is the quietest month, with volumes -11% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In Clay County, South Dakota, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is mild at +9% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
Clay
South Dakota
Average
Difference
Traffic
1,607
3,156
-49.1%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
8.6%
10.3%
-16.3%
Truck % (Highway)
10.0%
13.6%
-26.3%
Avg. Travel Time
31.7 min
32.5 min
-2.3%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 1,607 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Clay carries more traffic than 69% of counties in South Dakota, averaging 1,607 vehicles per day.
Drivers on Clay roads have a median age of 40 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $72,187 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
Traffic volumes are typically 9% higher during August–October. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in July, averaging 1,436 vehicles per day - a 11% decrease from the annual average.
Weekday peaks occur between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM in the morning and between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM in the evening - about 77% above the daily average.
The average travel time for drivers is 31.7 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Trucks account for approximately 8.6% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 10.0% on highways.
Approximately 41% of highway traffic and 6% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside Clay County, South Dakota. This indicates that a portion of highway traffic is regional pass-through, while local roads are more representative of resident and commuter activity.
Data Sources & Methodology
The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:
Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)
