Forum Discussion

VanDiesel's avatar
VanDiesel
Explorer
Jul 22, 2020

Needles Hwy, Height Restriction.

Tunnel width and height restrictions on Needles Highway, Black Hills South Dakota. I have read most of the posts here and on other web pages about width restrictions, but none really address the height restrictions completely.

There are a few web posts out there that say that they have made it through the Needles Tunnels with a Class C and claim the lowest tunnel height of 11' 3".

I have rode through the Black Hills on my Harley many many many times, but never in an RV. Those familiar with the Black Hills they give you a paper map as you enter them. This Map lists the lowest tunnel height as 9'8".

My Class B with all the stuff on top is 9'10".

I've seen the videos of the tour buses going through and called the companies and asked the height of their buses, but they haven't measured them and didn't know.

Can anyone confirm that they have made it through ALL of the Needles Highway Tunnels with an RV that is 9'10" or higher?
Roads and Routes
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Jul 22, 2020
    The tunnels are curved on the top. Height at fog line which is the low point,
    For some of the rigs I would also concerned about width.
  • Ed_Gee's avatar
    Ed_Gee
    Explorer II
    Jul 22, 2020
    enblethen wrote:
    The tunnels are curved on the top. Height at fog line which is the low point,
    For some of the rigs I would also concerned about width.


    NO. The Needles Highway tunnels being spoken of here are unique.....square hole tunnels....mostly flat on top.....no curve, Single lane, no fog lines.....cut through granite.... Google a picture of the 'Needles Eye Tunnel" to see what is being talked about.

    P
  • jamesu's avatar
    jamesu
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2020
    From a guy who was a NPS Ranger at Mt. Rushmore many years ago as a young man: I have traversed the Needles Hwy in my tow vehicle no problem.

    IF I was camped in that area in a Class A or B I would seriously consider renting a car in Rapid City for the day I wanted to explore the Needles Hwy and the Iron Mountain Road. You will enjoy the experience a lot more.

    There will be plenty of folks trying to explore those “Model T” Hwys in their rigs, and with a rental are you’ll be able to zip around them. The big rigs form inevitable back-ups and clog-points on the Needles Hwy. That awesome, skinny little highway wasn’t designed for today’s big rigs.
  • schlep1967's avatar
    schlep1967
    Nomad
    Jul 22, 2020
    Have a look at google street view for those tunnels and the warning signs as you enter the roads.
  • JAC1982's avatar
    JAC1982
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2020
    We were just on it in June and I didn't pay too close attention to the height, sorry. I did note that while online it says max width is 8'4", the signs there said 8', and there are plenty of warning signs before you get right in front of the tunnel, so you can turn around if needed. I don't recall feeling like the tunnel was excessively low or anything. We went through in a friend's F250 with a slight lift on it.

    To be honest though, I'd probably do what the suggestion above said, which is rent a car for the day. The road itself is narrow and very twisty, and if I were driving, I'd enjoy it a lot more with a car, vs a truck or a van.
  • Wadcutter's avatar
    Wadcutter
    Nomad
    Jul 23, 2020
    enblethen wrote:
    The tunnels are curved on the top. Height at fog line which is the low point,
    For some of the rigs I would also concerned about width.

    Fog Line? What fog line? Have you been there? There are no fog lines at the tunnels on Needles.
    Most of the tunnels are squared at the top. Granted, a few have some varying heights due to the formation of the rocks but what was cut thru by man is squared.

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