Black hills /Mt. Rushmore area

[JoeTTran]

Hello all: When searching information about the area, noticed several tight tunnels ! can people like me have on a truck camper travel and see things in the area or I need to have a small car to get around? Thanks

[JoeTTran]

Thank you everybody,I get the picture and plan accordingly : My TC is 12'6" tall and almost 8'0 wide.Sure not going to risk that!

[ADAD437]

DesertHawk wrote:
I'm not sure about the Needles Hwy. However, do not get the Needles Hwy. mixed up with the Iron Mt. Hwy. I did.

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.

An Old Post

there are no bypass roads around the tunnels.if you go to the sd parks web site and request a TATANKA magazine there is a detailed map on the back with tunnel high and wide.

[B_Sjulestad]

You are on vacation, don't take the chance going through with your TC and ruin you trip. Use a car, leave TC at campground or take the tour bus.

[NCWriter]

No problem last summer driving a Sprinter class B through all the tunnels. Fun drive.
We are 9' 6" tall, 7’ 2" wide if that helps.

[Luke_Porter]

I have been through those tunnels with a dually tons of times. But, you might leave the camper at the campground.

[Dick_B]

If you can afford it take the Grayline bus tours and leave the driving to the experts. One tunnel has about 1/2 inch on each side of the bus.

[DesertHawk]

I'm not sure about the Needles Hwy. However, do not get the Needles Hwy. mixed up with the Iron Mt. Hwy. I did.

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.

An Old Post

[GordonThree]

Can't say about your TC specifically or how brave you are. When I drove the Needles, people were driving their motorhomes and truck campers through the tunnels, despite warning signs not to. There's more than one video on youtube about RV'ers in trouble on the Needles.

I have a map of the road, with the ht / wt of each tunnel listed, but I'm not finding it online...

strike the above, here's the map:

http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/docs/custer-map.pdf

Edit - Looking at the post below, looks like I made the same mistake, or rather, lumped the Needles and Iron Mtn. together (should drive both if you can!)

[janstey58]

Only on the Needles Hiway, would not drive an RV on that road. Definitely drive it in a car though, wow!