NEEDLES HIGHWAY, SD

Sorry, got my highways backwards. I've only driven 244 to Rushmore, not the needles further south.

I'm not sure about the Needles Hwy. However, do not get the Needles Hwy. mixed up with the Iron Mt. Hwy. I don't believe one could squeeze a full sized TC through the tunnels on it. But I believe they have bypass roads to loop around the tunnels. If I'm remembering correctly.

Photos: Iron Mountain Road - a section of US 16A. Labeled wrong as Needles Highway by me in the post.

YouTube Video and Part 2 YouTube Video

The Scenic Drives are the Best park of seeing the area. IMHO.

Facts on the Needles Hwy.

NEEDLES HIGHWAY
Distance: 14 miles
Expected travel time: 45-60 minutes
Tunnels: Tunnel 5 (Near Needle's Eye), 8' 4" wide by 12' 0" high;
Tunnel 6, 9' 0" wide by 12' 3" high. View map

The Needles Highway is a spectacular drive through pine and spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen and rugged granite mountains.

The road's name comes from the needle-like granite formations which seem to pierce the horizon along the highway.

The roadway was carefully planned by former South Dakota Governor Peter Norbeck, who marked the entire course on foot and by horseback. Construction was completed in 1922.

This is the narrowest tunnel, the Needle's Eye (I think it's the 8'4" one). Use your judgement, but it's pretty tight.

If you go to Custer State Park site, you can find a map of the entire park where both the Needles highway and Iron Mtn. road are located. Both have very short narrow tunnels and the dimensions are given on the map. Both are beautiful scenic drives and shouldn't be missed (even if you have to leave the TC behind.

Ha...just got back from Sturgis and it seemed tight on a Harley.

When we were there a couple months ago, none of the tunnel bypasses were open. Likewise, all the bypasses to the spiral bridges were chained closed.

al

rent a car for the day from custers gulch, they already have passes for mt. rushmore parking & CSPark on them, that is worth $26, car about $50, so your cost to rent ends up $24/ day.
We send a lot of folks there for a car.
Or book a tour on Golden Circle Tours, let them drive and point out all the many special things you might not see.

It is definitely too tight for our camper. We had the camper off-loaded at Horsethief CG and drove the truck.

I have been through those tunnels twice on a full size tour bus with the mirrors out. They only had a couple inches clearance. With daily tours the drivers had lots of experience.