SD 11 is defined by South Dakota Codified Law §31-4-131. According to this statute, the segment of the road between SD 50 and SD 48 is currently not a portion of the highway. The segment of the highway in Sioux Falls from 85th Street through the concurrency with
SD 42, as well as the segment from the Madison Street intersection to the interchange with
I-90, are included in the
National Highway System, a system of highways important to the nation's defense, economy, and mobility.
Southern segment SD 11's southern segment begins in the south-central part of
Union County, at an
intersection with the northern terminus of South Franklin Street in the northwestern part of
Elk Point. Here, the roadway continues to the southeast as East Rose Street. Both South Franklin Street and East Rose Street are signed as part of a "city
truck route". SD 11 heads to the northwest and almost immediately curves to the north. Just south of 321st Street, it crosses over the Big Ditch. North of 320th Street, it intersects
SD 50 west-northwest of
Richland. This intersection is the northern terminus of the southern segment of SD 11 and the eastern terminus of County Road 25 (CR 25; 319th Avenue).
Northern segment SD 11's northern segment begins in the east-central part of Union County, at an intersection with
SD 48 east of
Spink. Here, the roadway continues to the south as 479th Avenue. It travels to the north and crosses over West Union Creek between 310th and 309th streets. The highway enters
Alcester, where it crosses over some
railroad tracks of
Union Pacific Railroad. It continues to the north. Starting at a point just south of 298th Street, it parallels part of East Brule Creek. Then, it intersects
SD 46 (297th Street), where it enters the southeastern part of
Lincoln County. SD 11 travels through Norway Center at 294th Street and continues to the north. It travels through
rural areas of the county and crosses over Little Beaver Creek between 285th and 284th streets. It continues northward and intersects
U.S. Route 18 (US 18) west of
Canton. The two highways begin a
concurrency to the west. Here, the roadway continues to the north as 479th Avenue. Approximately later, SD 11 splits off to the north, with the roadway continuing to the south as 478th Avenue. Between US 18 and 281st Street, it crosses over some railroad tracks of
BNSF Railway. Between 280th and 279th streets, it has a crossing over
Beaver Creek. Just south of 277th Street, it crosses over some railroad tracks of BNSF Railway. Between 275th and 274th streets, it crosses over Ninemile Creek. Just north of 273rd Street, the highway passes the Lake Alvin State Recreation Area. Just north of 271st Street, it crosses over Spring Creek. It travels through
Shindler and curves to the north-northwest. At an intersection with 57th Street, the highway enters the southeastern part of
Minnehaha County and becomes a
divided highway. . SD 11 skirts along the eastern part of Harmodon Park. It intersects 41st Street, which leads to the park entrance. The highway enters the
city limits of
Sioux Falls. North of Split Rock Road, the divided highway portion ends. Almost immediately, it intersects
SD 42 (Arrowhead Parkway). Here, SD 11 and SD 42 begin a concurrency to the east. They curve to the southeast and pass the Willow Run Golf Course and Arrowhead Park. After curving to the east-southeast, they cross over the
Big Sioux River. Less than later, they intersect the northern terminus of CR 142 (481st Avenue). Here, SD 11 splits off to the north. It then curves to the north-northeast. It crosses over Split Rock Creek and then enters
Brandon. It travels just to the east of Aspen Park and then crosses over some railroad tracks of Union Pacific Railroad. On the northwestern edge of McHardy Park, SD 11 curves to the north. It passes the Brandon Valley High School between Cedar Street and Holly Boulevard. Just north of the city limits of Brandon is an
interchange with
Interstate 90 (I-90). The highway travels through
Corson and crosses over some railroad tracks of BNSF Railway. It then has a second crossing of Split Rock Creek. Just north of 258th Street is a third crossing of this creek and then a crossing of West Pipestone Creek. Just south of 255th Street is a second crossing of this creek. The highway curves to the east and crosses this creek for a third time, just west of 483rd Avenue. It crosses over Split Rock Creek for a third time, just before entering the southwestern part of
Garretson. It curves to the north and passes some
sewage disposal ponds before crossing the Split Rock Creek again. Then, the highway leaves Garretson. Just south of 246th Street, the highway begins curving to the north-northeast. It crosses over
Pipestone Creek and then curves to the east. At 244th Street, it begins to travel on the Minnehaha–
Moody county line for the rest of its length. Just to the east of 486th Avenue, the highway curves to the east-northeast. Approximately east of 487th Avenue, the highway reaches the
Minnesota state line. Here, SD 11 ends, and the roadway continues as
Minnesota State Highway 269 (MN 269). ==History==