How long is the commute from Rapid City, SD?

Name: Commute and cars in Rapid City, SD, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Workers who live in Rapid City, SD take an average of 17.5 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

76.7% of workers drive alone to work.

0.2% take public transportation.

1.8% of workers walk to work.

10.0% work from home.

7.0% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 17.5 minutes (±1.2)
Public transportation: 0.2%
Work from home: 10.0%
Households without a car: 7.0%

How people in Rapid City get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	Rapid City	Pennington County	South Dakota	United States
Drove alone	76.7% (±1.9 points)	77.4%	77.0%	68.8%
Carpooled	9.3% (±1.7 points)	9.1%	8.3%	8.5%
Public transportation	0.2% (±0.2 points)	0.2%	0.5%	3.2%
Walked	1.8% (±0.6 points)	1.9%	3.1%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	2.0% (±0.8 points)	1.9%	1.3%	2.0%
Worked from home	10.0% (±1.4 points)	9.6%	9.7%	15.1%

In Rapid City, the average commute is lower than in Pennington County (19.4 minutes).

It is not measurably different from South Dakota (17.8 minutes).

It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In Rapid City, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from Pennington County (0.2%).

It is also lower than in South Dakota (0.5%).

It is lower than the national figure (3.2%).

In Pennington County, Rapid City ranks 11 of 13 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 409 of 652.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Cars per household in Rapid City

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	Rapid City	Pennington County	South Dakota	United States
No vehicle	7.0% (±0.9 points)	5.6%	5.2%	8.4%
1 vehicle	34.7% (±1.9 points)	30.2%	28.4%	33.1%
2 vehicles	35.2% (±2.0 points)	35.5%	36.3%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	23.2% (±1.8 points)	28.7%	30.1%	21.9%

In Rapid City, the share of households without a vehicle is higher than in Pennington County (5.6%).

It is also higher than in South Dakota (5.2%).

It is lower than the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in Rapid City

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Rapid City	Pennington County	South Dakota	United States
Workers working from home	10.0% (±1.4 points)	9.6% (±1.1 points)	9.7% (±0.3 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	94.6% (±1.1 points)	95.2% (±0.8 points)	94.2% (±0.3 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	90.3% (±1.3 points)	90.6% (±1.1 points)	89.6% (±0.3 points)	91.0%

In Rapid City, the share of households with a broadband subscription is not measurably different from Pennington County (90.6%).

It is not measurably different from South Dakota (89.6%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near Rapid City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rapid City
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
Rapid City	—	17.5 minutes (±1.2)	—
Rapid Valley	4.8 mi	19.8 minutes (±4.1)	Not measurably different
Green Valley	5.7 mi	38.2 minutes (±15.3)	Higher
Colonial Pine Hills	6.2 mi	20.5 minutes (±2.3)	Higher
Ashland Heights	6.4 mi	17.3 minutes (±6.4)	Not measurably different
Box Elder	7.3 mi	20.1 minutes (±3.6)	Not measurably different
Blackhawk	8.0 mi	23.5 minutes (±4.0)	Higher
Summerset	10 mi	19.7 minutes (±1.9)	Not measurably different
Piedmont	13 mi	15.6 minutes (±4.3)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Green Valley, SD (38.2 minutes), Colonial Pine Hills, SD (20.5 minutes), Blackhawk, SD (23.5 minutes).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Average commute across Pennington County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
5	Huron Township	25.9 minutes (±5.7)
6	Hill City	24.6 minutes (±9.3)
7	Wasta	21.9 minutes (±4.9)
8	Colonial Pine Hills	20.5 minutes (±2.3)
9	Box Elder	20.1 minutes (±3.6)
10	Rapid Valley	19.8 minutes (±4.1)
11	Rapid City	17.5 minutes (±1.2)
12	Ashland Heights	17.3 minutes (±6.4)
13	Wall	17.2 minutes (±5.6)

Showing 9 of 13 places in Pennington County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Rapid City

How long is the average commute in Rapid City?

Workers who live in Rapid City, SD take an average of 17.5 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in Rapid City without a car?

7.0% of households in Rapid City have no vehicle, and 0.2% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in Rapid City?

10.0% (±1.4 points) of workers who live in Rapid City worked from home, and 90.3% of households have a broadband subscription.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Rapid City city, South Dakota (place:52980, in state:46).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.