Seattle to Sioux Falls, SD

US 212 is a good highway, will be a little slower than I-90 but you will see lots of open country and probably a few antelope too. Gas and diesel is available in Broadus, MT so you don't need to worry about fuel; however fuel is probably cheaper in Billings or Rapid City.

wirenutz wrote:
I will be taking I-90 almost of the way, except for a little diversion just past Billing, Mt. Well really more like a little town called Crow Agency, but who's ever heard of that place, any ways it's right where HWY 212 breaks off from I-90, has anyone been across this HWY 212 before, what kind of road condition's and fuel stops are out there? It reconnects back to I-90 at Spearfish, SD. Should I just stay on I-90?

We travel that way almost every year. Family in Great Falls. Crow Agency is just a couple of buildings and the site of Custers' last stand. We used US-212 once several years ago. Wont do it again. Nothing out there for me. It is very open range country. On I-90 there will be big towns, rest stops, RV parks. I guess all that is dependent on your schedule and likes. Devils Tower might be worth the time for a side trip if you have the time. When you get to the Crow agency try to imagine it under water a couple years ago when the river flooded real bad. It was 3-4 feet deep over the road. We were thru there a couple days after it receded and damage and high water marks still evident. We are headed back thru there in Oct. Have a safe trip.

"Should I stay on I-90?" I think that depends on how big a hurry you are to get to Sioux Falls and how adventurous you are.

I am an Everett native but years ago I lived for a period of my life in Rapid City. I-90 is the best way to hog out the miles between here and S.D. I have never taken US-212 between Billings and Spearfish, but I have driven quite a few roads over the years which looked straight and flat between 2 points on a map, and I was often rewarded by unexpected scenery and highlights.

If you're in a hurry stay on I-90. If you want to drive through small towns and scenery that most of us will never experience take US-212.

Have no idea about this road, as I have never driven the route.

However, that is a very rural, sparsely populated area of Montana and Wyoming.

There are very good facilities for fueling at both Belle Fourche and Spearfish, South Dakota. Real good truck stop right where US 212 and US 85 merge in Belle Fourche.

I'd say if you have a good cruising range in your rig, go for it. But don't go past Hardin MT at the latest without having a full tank of fuel. Crow Agency smaller, and I do not recall facilities there. Billings has a great Flying J truck stop just west of the I-90 turn south, so you could fuel there also.

Staying on I-90 is 50 miles longer on a 1500 mile trip. I've never taken the shortcut, but I don't imagine it will support x-way speeds, and Streets and trips shows only one gas station on the 212 section. I ran into the same situation between Great Falls and Sweetgrass on I-15 once. Every exit but one said "No Services".