This page delivers traffic analytics for South Dakota. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for South Dakota among 13,186 road miles divided in 90,979 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 765 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.
3,156
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
10.3%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
32.5 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.
12.9%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
46.1 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$76,324
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 3,156 vehicles per day in South Dakota that results in 24,437,314 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈8.9 billion per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 10 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 32.5 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the US national averages: South Dakota's average daily traffic volume is 55% lower than the national average - 3,156 vehicles per day against 6,986 - suggesting less traffic load per road, a critical factor for logistics and site planning. Network-wide, South Dakota accounts for about 0.3% of the national total, at 24,437,314 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈8.9 billion per year). At 32.5 minutes, the average travel time is 3% lower than the national level. The congestion ratio of 12.9% is 31% lower, pointing to smoother traffic flow than the national level - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. 4% of states nationwide see less traffic than South Dakota's 3,156 vehicles per day. On travel time, South Dakota runs longer than 28% of states nationwide.
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.
5,090
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
13.6%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
37.3 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.
23.2%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
48.2 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$75,172
A significant volume of traffic in South Dakota utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 5,090 vehicles per day, 75% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 2,904 vehicles per day. That average covers 3,345 highway road miles divided in 10,489 segments (average segment length 1,684 ft), together carrying 12,822,820 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈4.7 billion per year). Trucks constitute 13.6% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on highways (13.6%) is 4% higher than the national average for similar road classifications. This indicates South Dakota serves as a significant freight corridor. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of highway access. 52% of states nationwide see a lower highway truck share than South Dakota's 13.6%. 4% of states nationwide see fewer highway trucks per day than South Dakota's roughly 691.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
2,904
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
6.6%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
31.9 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.
12.8%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
45.7 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$77,467
The non-highway road network in South Dakota supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 2,904 vehicles per day, 43% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 5,090 vehicles per day. That average covers 9,842 non-highway road miles divided in 80,490 segments (average segment length 646 ft), together carrying 11,614,490 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈4.2 billion per year). Trucks constitute 6.6% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 51% lower than on highways. The non-highway congestion ratio of 12.8% is 30% lower than the national level, suggesting more efficient local mobility than the national average. Overall, average travel time here is longer than 28% of states nationwide. South Dakota's average driver income exceeds 20% of states nationwide. 57% of states nationwide have a younger driver population than South Dakota.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 7:00 AM–12:00 PM and PM peak 3:00 PM–7:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 71% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 12% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
June–August is the high season, with volumes +19% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -21% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In South Dakota, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is pronounced at +19% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
South Dakota
N/A
Average
Difference
Traffic
3,156
6,986
-54.8%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
10.3%
9.3%
+9.9%
Truck % (Highway)
13.6%
13.1%
+3.9%
Avg. Travel Time
32.5 min
33.3 min
-2.5%
How South Dakota compares
South Dakota against nearby states
Against the 4 nearest states, South Dakota moves 33.5% of the total daily travel; it has the third busiest roads of the five. The same kind of road, just less of it: traffic per road matches the states around it while the network itself is smaller.
South Dakota and the 4 nearest states by centroid distance, with the United States average for scale.
Together, those three counties carry 34.3% of all the vehicle-miles measured in the state.
Ranked by daily vehicle-miles, across the 66 counties in South Dakota with a published traffic page. Vehicle-miles is total travel, so this ranks by traffic MOVED rather than by how busy a typical road is.
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 3,156 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
South Dakota carries more traffic than 4% of states nationwide, averaging 3,156 vehicles per day.
The average travel time for drivers is 32.5 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 7:00 PM in the evening - about 71% above the daily average.
Traffic volumes are typically 19% higher during June–August. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in January, averaging 2,497 vehicles per day - a 21% decrease from the annual average.
Drivers on South Dakota roads have a median age of 46 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $76,324 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
Trucks account for approximately 10.3% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 13.6% on highways.
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)
