• There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.

South Dakota Hwy 44

Gunner3773

Gunner3773

Member
The wife and I are going to head west this summer to the Black Hills from Minnesota. Has anyone traversed South Dakota via Hwy 44? I would rather not travel I-90, but rather follow the "road less traveled."

Any input would be appreciated.

Gunner
 
Many, many times. Live in Rapid and from Sioux Falls. I try to avoid I-90 any time I travel. Good road and gets better the farther west you go..., unless you are into corn and soy beans! :-) Gas at Platte, Winner and Interior. I think you will like it better than 90! Happy trails!
 
JkRbbt said:
Many, many times. Live in Rapid and from Sioux Falls. I try to avoid I-90 any time I travel. Good road and gets better the farther west you go..., unless you are into corn and soy beans! :-) Gas at Platte, Winner and Interior. I think you will like it better than 90! Happy trails!
Click to expand...

Thanks...just what I wanted to hear!

Gunner
 
Gunner3773 said:
The wife and I are going to head west this summer to the Black Hills from Minnesota. Has anyone traversed South Dakota via Hwy 44? I would rather not travel I-90, but rather follow the "road less traveled."

Any input would be appreciated.

Gunner
Click to expand...

We (three Spyders) traveled Hwy. 44 last year and it is fine and much more scenic than the big slab of I.90. It takes you right into Badlands National Park by Interior, SD.
We got on 44 at Winner, SD as we were coming North from Omaha so don't anything about 44 from Winner to Sioux Falls? We are going to the 3-wheel rally in Deadwood this year and taking the very scenic Hwy. 12 in Nebraska from Sioux City to Valentine, NE (staying overnight). Not decided if we are going North from Valentine to Hwy 44 and on in or taking Hwy 20 in Nebraska west from Valentine to Chadron and then North to Rapid City, etc.
Hope this helps a bit and have a great ride!
BIG F
 
Agree with all of the above, watch your fuel it can be quite a ways from one gas station to another. Watch for deer, they're quite common on that road and worst of all WATCH OUT for the "local" drivers especially around Interior and White River reservations. They pay no attention to stop signs or right of way. Oh and don't speed when you're on the reservations either, they like the tourist revenue. Some really great scenic spots, especially after Interior and down by Scenic. If you want a REALLY scenic side trip go into the Badlands National Park in Interior and take the Badlands Loop. It will take you back out to I 90 if you take it all the way, but if you don't mind a little well maintained gravel road for about 5 miles take Conata Basin Rd S back to 44. Conata Rd is most of the way through the loop so you wont miss much or if you have time go to the end and come back to Conata Basin Rd. If you take the loop back out to 90 you will come out in Wall, a fun stop and you will only be 50 miles from Rapid City. I 90 is very scenic in that part with lots of elevation changes and big long sweepers.
 
Last edited:
I see that St Micheal is north the the Twin Cities. Going home, you might consider Hwy 14, 212, or 12 (actually Hwy 20 out of Buffalo until you meet Hwy 12 at Mobridge). I have traveled them all. Watch you're gas situation, west river, but you will get a great view of the Great Plains! Slower, but much nicer than the Super Slab! Hope you have a great trip! Cheers!
 
GOZFST said:
Agree with all of the above, watch your fuel it can be quite a ways from one gas station to another. Watch for deer, they're quite common on that road and worst of all WATCH OUT for the "local" drivers especially around Interior and White River reservations. They pay no attention to stop signs or right of way. Oh and don't speed when you're on the reservations either, they like the tourist revenue. Some really great scenic spots, especially after Interior and down by Scenic. If you want a REALLY scenic side trip go into the Badlands National Park in Interior and take the Badlands Loop. It will take you back out to I 90 if you take it all the way, but if you don't mind a little well maintained gravel road for about 5 miles take Conata Basin Rd S back to 44. Conata Rd is most of the way through the loop so you wont miss much or if you have time go to the end and come back to Conata Basin Rd. If you take the loop back out to 90 you will come out in Wall, a fun stop and you will only be 50 miles from Rapid City. I 90 is very scenic in that part with lots of elevation changes and big long sweepers.
Click to expand...

Went through that area several years ago. You are in "rez" territory and I always was worried about a break down. Would the :ani29: still be there or in one piece in the event of a breakdown?

Some still have a memory of Wounded Knee. That said, the scenery is awesomely beautiful and you will see a part of the Badlands that the normal tourists do not see.
 
akspyderman said:
Went through that area several years ago. You are in "rez" territory and I always was worried about a break down. Would the :ani29: still be there or in one piece in the event of a breakdown?

Some still have a memory of Wounded Knee. That said, the scenery is awesomely beautiful and you will see a part of the Badlands that the normal tourists do not see.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've seen vehicles by the side of the road with all the windows broken out, I assume they were left there over night and got vandalized.To play devils advocate, I did break down out there quite a few years ago about 20 miles West of Winner, my buddy and I were in my old Ford Bronco prairie dog hunting and I must have gotten a load of bad gas. My fuel filter plugged up and we were stranded by the side of the road, a car load of drunk guys stopped and offered me a ride, but luckily another car going the other way stopped too. I asked the second driver if there was an auto parts store nearby, he said no. but his uncle lived a few miles up the road and said maybe he could help. I took his offer and left my buddy to watch the truck and guns. He took me to his uncles place were I scrounged some hose off an old transmission and the guy wouldn't take any money, plus gave me ride back to my truck and I replaced the filter with the hose and got back on the road. You just never know.
 
Was wondering if you could give my wife and i more info about the 3-wheel rally in SD. Thank you, Craig & Lori
Big F said:
We (three Spyders) traveled Hwy. 44 last year and it is fine and much more scenic than the big slab of I.90. It takes you right into Badlands National Park by Interior, SD.
We got on 44 at Winner, SD as we were coming North from Omaha so don't anything about 44 from Winner to Sioux Falls? We are going to the 3-wheel rally in Deadwood this year and taking the very scenic Hwy. 12 in Nebraska from Sioux City to Valentine, NE (staying overnight). Not decided if we are going North from Valentine to Hwy 44 and on in or taking Hwy 20 in Nebraska west from Valentine to Chadron and then North to Rapid City, etc.
Hope this helps a bit and have a great ride!
BIG F
Click to expand...
 
GOZFST said:
Yeah, I've seen vehicles by the side of the road with all the windows broken out, I assume they were left there over night and got vandalized.To play devils advocate, I did break down out there quite a few years ago about 20 miles West of Winner, my buddy and I were in my old Ford Bronco prairie dog hunting and I must have gotten a load of bad gas. My fuel filter plugged up and we were stranded by the side of the road, a car load of drunk guys stopped and offered me a ride, but luckily another car going the other way stopped too. I asked the second driver if there was an auto parts store nearby, he said no. but his uncle lived a few miles up the road and said maybe he could help. I took his offer and left my buddy to watch the truck and guns. He took me to his uncles place were I scrounged some hose off an old transmission and the guy wouldn't take any money, plus gave me ride back to my truck and I replaced the filter with the hose and got back on the road. You just never know.
Click to expand...

There is good and bad wherever you go. Thankfully, the good usually outweighs the bad. :yes:
 
Hwy 44 and options

We have also taken Hwy 34 west to the Hills. West of Pierre you can continue west on 34 and end up in Sturgis or drop down through Midland and through Phillip, pick up I90 @ Wall and go on into Rapid. 44 is probably our favorite. We also take the 2 lane that follows along I90. It's not really listed on the maps, It's a lot of old Hwy 16. Coming out of Sioux Falls it is listed as Hwy 38, It will take you into Oacoma, then we pick up I90 to Reliance where pick up the 2 lane again and take it into Cactus Flats then I90 again to Rapid or drop down to pick up Hwy 44. We do take I90 a lot just because it is quicker when we are heading out to the cabin. The rough part of the old 2 lane is Mt. Vernon to Plankinton.
A little story, one of our 'adventures'! We took a spur of the moment ride out to Rapid City on a Memorial Day weekend with another couple. This was about 11 years ago. Took off around noon or so on Sunday, headed down to pickup Hwy 44 . We were on 2 wheels at that time. Fueled up at Winner and planned on fueling at Interior but got there just a little after 5:00 pm and they were closed. Debated about heading up to Cactus Flats or Wall and take I90 into Rapid or stay on 44 and go for broke to get into Rapid. Well, we decided on staying with Hwy 44 and ran out of gas about halfway between Scenic and Rapid, just by a ranch, paid $20 for a gallon of gas (I think they call that highway robbery!), but we were at the mercy of the rancher, we were thinking we probably weren't the first ones that had run out of gas on that stretch of highway!! Anyway, we made it into Rapid, got rained in that night and headed back home in the morning. One of our many adventures on motorcycles!! Wouldn't have it any other way!
 
threefingers2 said:
Was wondering if you could give my wife and i more info about the 3-wheel rally in SD. Thank you, Craig & Lori
Click to expand...
We attended the 3wheel rally last year and had a great time! Met some wonderful people. Won't be able to attend this year but am planning on it next year. The Black Hills is an awesome place to ride. We try and get out to our cabin as much as we can. Also do 4-wheeling out there. It's a completely different way to see the Black Hills.
 
Rapid resident.

Been over 44 often. I'm retired so 1-2 days a week the dog and I pick a direction. Went to Carhenge then up by Igloo on the way back last weekend.

Turtle
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

RapidSpyder
Black Hills Rides & routes
Replies
1
Views
3K
pegasus1300
pegasus1300
SLICE
Upcoming Epic Road Trip.
Replies
14
Views
1K
SLICE
SLICE
Scotts8826
Black Hills and more in South Dakota
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
RICZ
RICZ
Wmoater
Any Cicadas in Southern Ohio - St. Louis?
Replies
11
Views
2K
Longlegs
L
O
Did it at last - brought home my next Last Bike!
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
old Timer
O
Back
Top