South Dakota Route 83

If you are going into the Badlands the grades on the NP roads are far steeper than anywhere else. Still, no sweat. Did the Badlands NP from Wall eastward a few weeks ago. It is only another road with some short quite steep sections to it.

Update:

It was great and also had its moments. We left Grand Island on Route 281 and then picked up Route 2. That was a wonderful and very easy drive. When we turned on to Route 83, there were a few grades but they will all very short. North of Valentine, the road gets worse and then a lot worse. The last 30 miles into Merdo were really bumpy and had a least 1 - 7% grade (dropped from 65mph to 45mph in less than 1/2 mile) We caught part of the weather that went through Valentine and that didn't help at all. It wouldn't have raised my bloodpressure even a couple of points without the rain and wet roads with a truck climbing up my tailpipe on the down hills.

Thanks again for all of the feedback. We'll probably take the same route down unless someone thinks Route 183 is better. I wish all of the roads that we get to drive were as good as the part from Route 2 to Valentine. It was terrific!

Charlie

The Dismal River hill south of Thedford will be one of the steepest places on that route. It's certainly not bad, though. I've taken that hill at over 125 MPH both ways. Ex patrolman.

Great to hear! A buddy of a long haul trucker recommended the route. The trucker said that he had his truck up to 75mph on one of the downgrades. He made a point of calling us back to tell me that. I asked him about the % of the grade but he didn't know. I prefer to understand what I'm getting myself into.

I'd much rather worry too much than be surprised. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. Badlands, here we come!

Charlie

Flat as a pancake!!

Chas,
Just checked my copy of Mountain Directory West. Nebraska and South Dakota don't even have chapters. You won't have any problems.

You are asking about a NS highway in the middle of NB and SD. The closest mountains are way to the west - the Black Hills. The only grades on US83 are at the river crossings. I bet freeway exit ramps are steeper.

The road to no where