
Total Traffic Volume & Performance in Union County, South Dakota
Traffic The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network. | vehicles per day1,628 |
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Trucks The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles. | 16.2% |
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Average travel time The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network. | 25.9 min |
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Drivers’ average age Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated. | 44.6 yrs |
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Drivers’ average income Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated. | $81,288 |
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A typical monitored road in Union County, South Dakota sees 1,628 vehicles per day, while its 252 miles of monitored roads together handle 841,436 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈307 million per year). Freight weighs heavily here: trucks are 16.2% of traffic, against 10.3% across South Dakota.
The shortest trips of any county in South Dakota
Union's average daily traffic volume is 48% lower than the state average - 1,628 vehicles per day against 3,156 - suggesting less traffic load per road - less drive-by exposure for retail, but easier access for deliveries. Network-wide, Union accounts for about 3.4% of South Dakota's statewide total of vehicle-miles. 71% of counties in South Dakota see less traffic than Union's 1,628 vehicles per day.
At 25.9 minutes, the average travel time is 20% lower than the state level. Union additionally records the lowest average travel time of any county in South Dakota - 25.9 minutes.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis

Highway Traffic in Union County, South Dakota
| Traffic | vehicles per day6,051 |
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| Trucks | 17.8% |
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| Average travel time | 45.7 min |
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| Drivers’ average age | 43.8 yrs |
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| Drivers’ average income | $80,746 |
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The vast majority of driving in Union County, South Dakota happens on highways: 84% of all vehicle-miles. The average highway carries 6,051 vehicles per day, 368% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 1,293 vehicles per day.
With 39% of the road miles (98 miles in 109 segments), highways punch above their length, carrying 710,720 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈259 million per year).
No more than 2 other counties in South Dakota move more traffic on their highways.
More highway trucks than 98% of counties in South Dakota
At 17.8%, highway truck share is 31% higher than the state average. Highways here lean toward freight, so highway access is a real asset for logistics operators.
Union's highway truck share (17.8%) is higher than 88% of counties in South Dakota. By raw truck volume, Union carries more highway trucks than 98% of counties in South Dakota.

Non-highway Traffic in Union County, South Dakota
| Traffic | vehicles per day1,293 |
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| Trucks | 7.4% |
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| Average travel time | 24.4 min |
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| Drivers’ average age | 46.6 yrs |
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| Drivers’ average income | $82,963 |
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Local roads carry a smaller share of travel in Union County, South Dakota, 16% of vehicle-miles; most driving happens on highways. A typical local road sees 1,293 vehicles per day.
Local roads make up 61% of the monitored road miles (155 miles in 1,438 segments) but carry less than their share of travel: 130,716 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈47.7 million per year). About 1 in 14 vehicles on non-highway roads is a truck (7.4%).
Drivers from higher-income areas than 89% of counties in South Dakota
Non-highway roads carry a truck concentration that's 59% lower than the highway network.
89% of counties in South Dakota see lower average driver income among trip origins than Union. The driver population here skews younger than 83% of counties in South Dakota.