Mountain Passes in SD and midwest

[bclan6]

I have the Mountain Directory books, but some states aren't listed. South Dakota, Iowa, Western Kentucky, Missouri.

Are there any passes I need to know about in these states? Nothing is coming up in my searches.

[bclan6]

newk wrote:

bclan6 wrote:

Travelon wrote:
Mountain Passes in Iowa? :h

I have traveled through Iowa and the elevation difference anywhere in the state is 10'. :B

Travelon

I'm from FL and haven't lived in the mountains in 14 years. Anything higher than sea level is a mountain pass to me! Just kidding.

One can never be too careful 🙂

:B
Still for us in mountain states who are familiar with SD and Iowa, it's a question that makes us smile. Both are lacking in mountain passes and coastal highways.


The only steep grades in the hills that come to mind are Strawberry Hill on Hwy 385 just south of its junction with Hwy 14 (between Lead and Deadwood) and the climb on Hwy 16 out of Rapid City towards Rushmore, etc. Strawberry Hill is steeper, I think, and pretty much straight as an arrow. Certainly there are other similar stretches in the Hills, but I wouldn't call any of them passes, just long, steepish hills. (A "pass" to me is the crest of a route over a mountain range. No mountain range, no pass to cross.)

This is good news....thanks 🙂

[newk]

bclan6 wrote:

Travelon wrote:
Mountain Passes in Iowa? :h

I have traveled through Iowa and the elevation difference anywhere in the state is 10'. :B

Travelon

I'm from FL and haven't lived in the mountains in 14 years. Anything higher than sea level is a mountain pass to me! Just kidding.

One can never be too careful 🙂

:B
Still for us in mountain states who are familiar with SD and Iowa, it's a question that makes us smile. Both are lacking in mountain passes and coastal highways.


The only steep grades in the hills that come to mind are Strawberry Hill on Hwy 385 just south of its junction with Hwy 14 (between Lead and Deadwood) and the climb on Hwy 16 out of Rapid City towards Rushmore, etc. Strawberry Hill is steeper, I think, and pretty much straight as an arrow. Certainly there are other similar stretches in the Hills, but I wouldn't call any of them passes, just long, steepish hills. (A "pass" to me is the crest of a route over a mountain range. No mountain range, no pass to cross.)

[bclan6]

Allworth wrote:
They are not in the book because there is nothing to report.

Go for it!

If you create a signature listing what equipment you are using it helps others know how to answer. Mountains are different for a Volkswagen Jetta pulling a 28' Airstream than for a one-ton diesel/Allison pulling a Scamp.

Thought I did that so thanks for letting me know. It's a 34' forest river gas. Don't have toad yet but probably will before trip.

[Allworth]

They are not in the book because there is nothing to report.

Go for it!

If you create a signature listing what equipment you are using it helps others know how to answer. Mountains are different for a Volkswagen Jetta pulling a 28' Airstream than for a one-ton diesel/Allison pulling a Scamp.

[Bumpyroad]

Travelon wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

Travelon wrote:
Mountain Passes in Iowa? :h

I have traveled through Iowa and the elevation difference anywhere in the state is 10'. :B

Travelon

you obviously haven't had to climb the Ocheydan Mound in Iowa yet.
a quick spin on Google Earth gave elev. in Iowa from 973 ft to 1580 ft.
bumpy

I was just yanking the guy's chain, don't let facts get in the way. :W

Travelon

just wanted to mention that the highest point in Iowa is called a "Mound". 🙂
bumpy

[Travelon]

Bumpyroad wrote:

Travelon wrote:
Mountain Passes in Iowa? :h

I have traveled through Iowa and the elevation difference anywhere in the state is 10'. :B

Travelon

you obviously haven't had to climb the Ocheydan Mound in Iowa yet.
a quick spin on Google Earth gave elev. in Iowa from 973 ft to 1580 ft.
bumpy

I was just yanking the guy's chain, don't let facts get in the way. :W

Travelon

[kknowlton]

Iowa is not flat but a giant roller coaster, with very long, sweeping, gradual grades. Nothing to worry about, nothing steep. The bluff areas along the big rivers are probably the steepest you'll encounter, and interstate grades are quite mild.

[bukhrn]

You'll find bigger hills in Kentucky than you will in Iowa, the highest thing in Iowa is the Corn.

[paulj]

SD does have the Black Hills, but few of the roads go up and over them. Some wind through valleys. But unless you want to see certain sights you don't have cross the Black Hills.

SW Wisconsin, and neighboring Iowa/Ill/Minn has old rolling hills. So you will encounter grades when crossing this area. The Mississippi River is in a deep (for the area) valley from Minneapolis to northern Illinois. So roads that drop from surrounding flat lands to the river will have grades. I90 climbs 400 ft on the Minnesota side of the River. The bluffs around Devil's Lake (WI) are about 400ft as well.

There's also a bit of a grade when crossing the Missouri River on I90 in SD.

[sweetnoni]

Some roads in Missouri aren't the best surface wise to travel with bigger RV's, and yes the Needles Highway is a definite no.

[john_bet]

I lived in S.D. for 9 years and towed in the hills also and never found a high pass. I now live in southern Indiana at 800' and go to or thru Rapid City which is at 3300' often. It looks like all flat road all the way there except when you cross the Missouri River and the Cheyenne, River. Go and enjoy the journey. You will love it.

[Bumpyroad]

Travelon wrote:
Mountain Passes in Iowa? :h

I have traveled through Iowa and the elevation difference anywhere in the state is 10'. :B

Travelon

you obviously haven't had to climb the Ocheydan Mound in Iowa yet.
a quick spin on Google Earth gave elev. in Iowa from 973 ft to 1580 ft.
bumpy

[accsys]

The Rapid City, SD area has a couple of roads you wouldn't want to take an RV - the Iron Mountain Road and the Needles Highway - due to some very small tunnels and a few tight switchbacks. You do want to experience both of them with a car/PU however but without an RV.

[GordonThree]

bclan6 wrote:
I have the Mountain Directory books, but some states aren't listed. South Dakota, Iowa, Western Kentucky, Missouri.

Are there any passes I need to know about in these states? Nothing is coming up in my searches.

There are some steep and curvy grades inside Badlands National Park, South Dakota

They're not "passes" though