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lvthesunSask's avatar
lvthesunSask
Explorer
Nov 01, 2013

US 83

We are heading to Rockport Texas after the New Year. We would be heading S from the Saskatchewan border. Wondering what the US 83 road s of Minot is like. Is the road in decent shape or quite rough? Any steep grades to watch out for etc. Don't like the idea of going on I-29 but will if necessary. Any other good routes if US83 isnt a good option?. We would be towing a 40' FW
  • Google Maps streetview can show you highway and its shoulders in full detail. My guess is that the shoulder width will vary from state to state.

    In ND I'm seeing 18" or so of pavement outside the 'fog line' (white line on the right side of the lane), with gently sloping grass beyond that. In SD that sloping surface is gravel for about 3'. Manitoba looked the same, except I didn't see a fog line.

    Up north at least, traffic is light enough (and sight distances long) that it would be ok to stop in the traffic lane itself to do something like change a tire. Or at least stop long enough to look at the shoulder on foot.

    For something less urgent, I'd wait for the next farm cross road.

    In Nebraska the paved shoulders are wider. From satellite view they appear almost lane width.

    Overall I don't think driving US83 will be that different from driving a numbered 2 lane highway in Saskatchewan (e.g. 39 or 47).
  • Lots of good info, thanks. Does anyone know if the roads are wide enough that if you have vehicle trouble you have a place to stop. When we came back from California in March we took a secondary road rather than the interstate and we were keeping our fingers crossed in a few places
  • Hi,

    It has been a lot of years but I've driven it south to north from Texas. I found it a good road, but I was traveling in September.
  • So every state capital, except for Juneau, has a divided highway connection to the rest of the country. Dover and Jefferson City are the other ones without full Interstate links.
  • The only think I can add is that there are some stretches of four lane road on this route now.

    From I-90 north to Pierre South Dakota is four lane now.

    From Bismarck to Minot Air Force Base ND (about 8 miles north of Minot ND ) is all four lane, and has been for quite a long time.
  • we have traveled 83 south of Valentine, NE to Junction, TX several times. Good two lane highway, not a lot of traffic. The road on south of Junction is good, too, but have only driven that by car.
    There is a good little county rv park in the town of Canadian, TX, on the east side of the road, just after crossing the bridge into town. cheap, water, elec and dump station.
    There is another little county park about 20 miles south of Shamrock TX just before crossing the salt fork of the red river. out in the country, water, elec. watch out for grass burrs if you have a dog.
    Further south is Garner State Park, a few miles south of Leaky, TX.
  • WE live in western Manitoba and travel south on 83 to Liberal Ks. then angle west to get to Arizona.Road is very good,entirely single lane.There is the main N-S road for this area. Watch weather forecasts at that time of year and you will be fine.
  • It has been several years since we have driven US 83. The route does have any really steep grades south of Minot. Rolling hills of course, as found in the plains.

    We have driven the route from Minot to Bismarck many times. But last time was in 2009.

    Drove the route a few years earlier from Liberal Kansas one summer going up to Minot & returning. No really steep grades all the way. Likewise, I would not believe you'd find any in the OK & Texas sections.

    US 83, The North Dakota Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center between Bismarck & Minot at Washburn. Not sure about overnighting, but neat to visit, nice place to take a break. Pretty vista.

    Not far from Washburn, the Knife River Indian Villages Nat'l Historic Site was very interesting.

    More toward Minot on 83 N, Lake Sakakawea State Park with links to other sites. Also in the area, Cross Ranch State Park.

    Near Bismarck and/or Mandan, ND, Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is interesting. FortLincoln.Com

    We did an overnight at a nice Walmart above Pierre, SD on north side of town.

    Near Valentine, NB,:C Smith Falls State Park. We did an overnight there, as did my son earlier. Neat place. Unique Place. We were traveling US 83. US 20 crosses there as well.

    On the border NB/SD there is an Indian Casino at the state line. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Casino Wacipi. Not far north of Valentine. I believe one can overnight at it. We have never stopped, except for fuel.

    North Platte, Nebraska: the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park and Camping; never stopped there, but driven by on US 83; nice looking campground by the river.

    More Nebraska US 83 Sights.

    In Kansas, Fort Scott Nat'l Historic Site, we did not stop, my son did an overnight at the State Park. Seems like a neat area as well. Lake Scott State Park even has a New Mexico connection. NM pueblo people moved there to get away from Europeans (Spanish).

    Saw the exit for but didn't go to Monument Rocks. It takes some gravel road driving to get to them.

    We did two overnights (going up & coming back) at the Liberal Walmart. A nice large parking lot. Just off US 83 as you enter town southbound.

    There is a city park with RV sites southeast side of Liberal as well. Arkalon Park, but have never been to it.

    More US 83 Kansas.

    Not off US 83:

    In Texas, Near Amarillo: Never been to the state park, but have read about it & would like to make it over there someday. Palo Duro Canyon State Park as well as Caprock Canyons State Park, from what I have read, seem like very neat areas to see.

    Southeast of Amarillo & Southwest of Quanah: Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway would make a neat place to check out. One I would like to see. Has a Bison herd I have read.

    Ditto, Copper Breaks State Park near Quanah sounds pretty cool.

    Free Overnighting: Dumas City Park north of Amarillo. Or the Amarillo Welcome Center. Never been to them.

    What I have on the Abilene area. We found really good steaks at Buffalo Gap Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap, of course.

    As well as Joe Allen's in Abilene.

    This one might be good as well? Lytle Land & Cattle Co.

    Never been to the Buffalo Gap Historic Village, might be good. The area around Buffalo Gap is really neat. A state park there as well. Abilene State Park

    There's a Buck Creek and Abilene RV in Abilene.

    Abilene KOA is located in a former pecan grove near the intersection of I-20 and highways 277/83/84.

    Near Junction, TX: South Llano River State Park adjoins Walter Buck Wildlife Management Area, south of Junction was a nice place. S. Llano River SP.

    The Museum of Western Art near Kerrville is really good, a must see for sure if possible.
    http://museumofwesternart.com/ Should be easy to find RV sites as well. Used to be a state park by the river, but not a state park now.

    I found Cascade Caverns at Boerne to be extremely neat (my first cave) when I was about 12 or 13. Not sure how it would hold up now for me. Ha! Cascade Caverns
    I see they do have camping there now.