It was commissioned in 1975, and had previously had been a spur of Highway 22.

[2] South Dakota Highway 101 begins at a junction with South Dakota Highway 22 in Herrick Township.

The road travels north paralleling the Minnesota state line, entering the town of Gary, South Dakota as Herrick Street.

[3] The speed limit is 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) from Highway 22 to the Gary city limits, and 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) within the city of Gary.

The entire route is in Deuel County.