This page delivers traffic analytics for Pennington County, South Dakota. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for Pennington County, South Dakota among 708 road miles divided in 7,216 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 518 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.
5,682
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
7.8%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
31.8 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.
17.0%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
48.7 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$74,557
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 5,682 vehicles per day in Pennington County, South Dakota that results in 3,062,279 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈1.1 billion per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 13 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 31.8 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the South Dakota state averages: Pennington sees 80% higher average daily traffic volume than the state average (5,682 vehicles per day against 3,156), suggesting more demand on each road - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. Across the whole network that adds up to 3,062,279 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈1.1 billion per year), roughly 13% of South Dakota's statewide total. At 31.8 minutes, the average travel time is 2% lower than the state level. Congestion runs 31% higher than the state level, at a ratio of 17.0% - more pronounced congestion - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. Pennington carries more traffic than 98% of counties in South Dakota. 25% of counties in South Dakota have a shorter average travel time than Pennington's 31.8 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.
8,505
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
10.4%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
34.2 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.
33.3%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
49.3 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$74,425
A significant volume of traffic in Pennington County, South Dakota utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 8,505 vehicles per day, 62% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 5,246 vehicles per day. That average covers 255 highway road miles divided in 966 segments (average segment length 1,393 ft), together carrying 1,665,348 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈608 million per year). That is the most highway travel volume of any county in South Dakota. Trucks constitute 10.4% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on highways (10.4%) is 23% lower than the state average for similar road classifications. This indicates Pennington serves as a primarily local traffic hub. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of local access. By truck concentration, highways here outrank 8% of counties in South Dakota. 79% of counties in South Dakota see fewer highway trucks per day than Pennington's roughly 885.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
5,246
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
4.8%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
31.4 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.
14.4%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
48.4 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$74,659
The non-highway road network in Pennington County, South Dakota supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 5,246 vehicles per day, 38% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 8,505 vehicles per day. That average covers 453 non-highway road miles divided in 6,250 segments (average segment length 383 ft), together carrying 1,396,931 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈510 million per year). Trucks constitute 4.8% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Non-highway roads carry a truck concentration that's 54% lower than the highway network. The non-highway congestion ratio of 14.4% is 13% higher than the state level, suggesting slower local mobility than the state average. 25% of counties in South Dakota see shorter overall travel times than Pennington. Pennington's average driver income exceeds 66% of counties in South Dakota. 38% of counties in South Dakota have a younger driver population than Pennington.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 7:00 AM–12:00 PM and PM peak 3:00 PM–6:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 87% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 2% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
June–August is the high season, with volumes +40% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -33% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In Pennington County, South Dakota, the peak hour concentrates about 8% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is pronounced at +40% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
Pennington
South Dakota
Average
Difference
Traffic
5,682
3,156
+80.1%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
7.8%
10.3%
-23.7%
Truck % (Highway)
10.4%
13.6%
-23.3%
Avg. Travel Time
31.8 min
32.5 min
-2.2%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 5,682 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Pennington's average travel time of 31.8 minutes is longer than 25% of counties in South Dakota.
Drivers on Pennington roads have a median age of 49 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $74,557 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
The average travel time for drivers is 31.8 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Weekday peaks occur between 7:00 AM and 12:00 PM in the morning and between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM in the evening - about 87% above the daily average.
Traffic volumes are typically 40% higher during June–August. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in January, averaging 3,784 vehicles per day - a 33% decrease from the annual average.
Trucks account for approximately 7.8% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 10.4% on highways.
Approximately 15% of highway traffic and 7% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside Pennington 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)
