Billings to Rapid City Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Billings, MT to Rapid City, SD (317 miles). Connects Billings to South Dakota's Black Hills tourism region via I-90.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Billings to Rapid City?
Billings to Rapid City is a 317-mile lane paying about $793 - $935 per load, near $2.50 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, lumber/metal-products freight and refrigerated-food freight.
- Distance
- 317 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $745 - $872
- Rate per mile
- $2.35 - $2.75
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing, reflecting an 8% climb in long-term contract rates. See our dispatch fee structure.
Billings to Rapid City
Billings to Rapid City is a 317-mile, multi-hour run southeast, connecting Montana's biggest freight hub to the Black Hills region's freight hub. Long-term contract rates in the Rapid City market climbed roughly 8% through 2026 as tender rejection rates stayed elevated, and local carriers run everything from refrigerated foods to lumber and metal products.
Origin
Billings, MT
Destination
Rapid City, SD
Distance
317 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$745 - $872
Rate per Mile
$2.35 - $2.75
317-mile lane, a multi-hour run southeast
Long-term contract rates in the Rapid City market climbed roughly 8% through 2026
Connects Billings's rail-connected commodity base to the Black Hills region
Billings to Rapid City: route facts a driver should know
Ellsworth AFB is gearing up for the B-21 bomber
Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City supports about 8,200 local jobs, roughly 5% of the area's civilian labor force. It's the first operational base for the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber, with a projected 40% payroll increase tied to the buildup.
Source: Minneapolis Fed, Rapid City regional economy coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Billings runs three oil refineries
Yellowstone County is home to three oil refineries: Phillips 66 in Billings, Par Pacific in Lockwood, and CHS Inc. in nearby Laurel, making Billings a genuine fuel-freight hub.
Source: Wikipedia, Billings Refinery (Phillips 66). Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Billings to Rapid City?
About $311.49 this week. The lane is 317 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 49 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.39 a gallon on this lane (week of October 19, 2026). The U.S. average diesel price is up 10 cents this week.
An estimate. It uses EIA's weekly average for the two regions this lane connects, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 317 mi
- Diesel needed
- 49 gal
- Price used
- $6.39/gal
- Fuel cost
- $311.49
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, lumber/metal-products freight and refrigerated-food freight fill the trailers heading southeast.
- Tourism/Hospitality Supplies
- Consumer Goods
- Cattle
What makes the Billings to Rapid City lane difficult?
The length requires careful hours-of-service and fuel-stop planning
The length requires careful hours-of-service and fuel-stop planning.
Winter weather across Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota can affect road conditions from November through March
Winter weather across Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota can affect road conditions from November through March.
Sparse population along the route limits mid-lane reload options
Sparse population along the route limits mid-lane reload options.
What freight moves on the Billings to Rapid City lane?
What travels between Billings and Rapid City, and why the Black Hills freight base matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Tourism/Hospitality Supplies
- •Consumer Goods
- •Cattle
Secondary Commodities
- •Lumber/metal-products-connected freight
- •Refrigerated-food-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Tourism-connected freight (summer Black Hills season)
- •Refrigerated-food freight (steady)
When is the Billings to Rapid City lane busiest?
Summer tourism season and steady general freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady general freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Summer tourism-connected freight (Black Hills)
- •Steady general freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather across Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, with growing demand tied to Ellsworth's multi-year B-21 buildout.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Billings to Rapid City lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a rate check.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-3 days out is typical for a haul this long.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical refrigerated and lumber/metal-connected freight tends to pay a premium given elevated tender rejection rates.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight winter delivery without checking road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Billings to Rapid City
- •
This is a long haul at 330 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Military-construction and support freight is worth asking about given Ellsworth AFB's active B-21 bomber buildup.
- •
Fuel and tanker freight out of Billings is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Billings to Rapid City lane?
Rapid City's diversified freight base makes a northwestbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Rapid City, SD
- •Regional distribution hubs near Rapid City
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With rising contract rates and elevated tender rejections, there is real backhaul opportunity.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Tourism-supply and federal-installation freight from Rapid City offers a varied, if partly seasonal, backhaul base.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Ellsworth AFB's growing payroll and construction activity give you real backhaul options.
- •
Billings's three-refinery fuel economy keeps westbound loads flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this long run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Billings to Rapid City lane?
Three notes before this Black Hills corridor run.
Plan your hours-of-service and fuel stops before this multi-hour cross-state run.
Check Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota winter road conditions closely before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Confirm current contract rates given the 8% climb through 2026.
Ellsworth AFB's B-21 bomber buildup is a genuinely growing, multi-year freight source. Worth building a relationship with contractors there now.
Billings to Rapid City Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Rapid City's rate climate, and the Black Hills freight base.
The lane data shows about $793 - $935 per load, or $2.50 - $2.95 a mile, across 317 miles.
Long-term contract rates climbed roughly 8% through 2026 as tender rejection rates stayed elevated.
It's a multi-hour run given the 317 miles.
Reasonably, given rising rates and the region's diversified freight base.
Other Montana freight lanes we dispatch
- Billings to Seattle
- Billings to Salt Lake City
- Billings to Fargo
- Billings to Cheyenne
- Billings to Bozeman
- Billings to Casper
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, West Coast: +$2,010/week after moving to $2.62/mi on general freight / consumer goods freight.
Read the case studyNeed help running Billings, MT to Rapid City, SD consistently?
Running Billings to Rapid City often? Ask about a free custom growth plan.