Crossing the Dakotas

[dxhall]

I am thinking of attending the Grand Marias rally in Minnesota this summer.  After looking over my Rand McNally, though, I see that between Colorado and northern Minnesota are the Dakotas, which appear to be about 500 miles of boredom and discomfort.  Is there an interesting route across the Dakotas?  I don’t see one.

[PeteS]

I have done a few but no expert. No interstates and skip US 2. Last trip we did US 212 all the way across S. Dakota. One stop light between Belle Fourche and Watertown and little traffic. Also have done a few north south roads in North Dakota along the Missouri. Others can fill you in better.

Pete

[mondtster]

The term "interesting" can mean different things to different people. Both states have some nice scenery and some fairly remote areas (my kind of place). 212 across SD wouldn't be too bad but I'd probably do 14 instead. Or take the interstate if you need to make up some time.

[Motormike]

North Dakota? Meh, pretty flat, but no worse than crossing Kansas, which I've done plenty of times.  South Dakota..plenty to see.  While the eastern part of the state is farmland, the Black Hills offer some of the best scenic riding in the country.  There's a reason 250,000 Harley riders show up there each August!

[BRG-BIRD]

A friend and I came back from Deadwood via 212 and ran pretty hard and saw little traffic. The scenery isn’t terrible west of the Missouri River but flattens out once you get east of it. Minnesota (where I’m originally from) has quite a bit of prairie south (and west) of I94 but it gets better as you go north. North Dakota doesn’t seem to have an easy way across other than the interstate.

Bring lots of warm clothes for Grand Marias, you may need them

[fotoguzzi]

I'd take US 12 one direction and 212 the other. But if you want to go fast you can go 90mph the whole way on I90.

[Seventy One]

I've crossed SD on 212, 30 and I-90.

Unless you're in a big hurry, I advise a combo of all three. 30 is pretty bad between Sturgis and Pierre. Try to work in some hwy 44. SD is what you make of it.

[Travlr]

>between Colorado and northern Minnesota are the Dakotas, which appear to be about 500 miles of boredom and discomfort.

You're correct sir!  Just grin and bear it.

Mike

[LowRyter]

There's always Nebraska or Kansas.

[Ncdan]

I visited the Dakotas a few years back.
We based in Wall SD and made day trips from there for 3 days before moving on. Best I remember we were on most of the roads that were mentioned here and to be honest, every where we road was delightful, scenic and interesting.
It’s probably going to be an experience of what you make of it.

[John A]

There's always Nebraska or Kansas.

    The Great Plains. It’s only crazy people who cross it but it’s after crossing it that they show the signs.

[Moparnut72]

I rode across SD once. It was so boring I was starting to nod off. I had to stop and take a quick nap on the side of the highway. A highway patrolman woke me up to see if I was still alive.    On the same trip going back home, Conn to Colo, it took me a week to cross Kansas or at least it sure felt like it.
kk

[bacongrease]

    The Great Plains. It’s only crazy people who cross it but it’s after crossing it that they show the signs.

 

  Mosey across N. Neb,  hwy 20,
 along the Missouri?

 

[PeteS]

I enjoyed 212. 90 was as boring as it gets except for the badlands and the Black Hills. Both worth checking out. North Dakota has Teddy Roosevelt Park with its own version of the Badlands and finding local roads that follow the Missouri will break up the monotony. If you see black clouds ahead start looking for shelter. The worst 30 minutes of my riding life was stuck in a frog strangler thunderstorm in western North Dakota, no shoulder, trees, driveways, nor bridges and visibility less than ten feet.

Pete

[twowheeladdict]

The bike makes the difference.  I would not ride on expansion joint interstates unless I have a bike with real plush suspension settings.  Boring roads are best ridden on a bike with wind protection and a nice sound system. 

If on an adventure bike, set the GPS to shortest distance and pick a random via point.  You might discover something interesting. 

I have not crossed either state east to west or west to east on a motorcycle but have gone north to south and south to north on the western and eastern ends.  I crossed SD west to east pulling a travel trailer. 

[Tkelly]

Try 20 east Nebraska12 across Nebraska,enjoyable ride,or talk to Roge Pritzel hehws done the trip many times.

[drdwb]

Be aware the wind never blows hard in the Dakotas, It sucks, usually from the North or South at 50 mph, starts around 10:30 am and sometimes drops back down around 6-7 pm. So get up early to get across. Far Western Mn isn’t much better but once your into the lakes area and trees you can relax. Same thing going West in SD once you get A bit West of Wall it tends to mellow somewhat. Done this countless times over the last 45 years. I do like going from East to west on 212 coming into the Northern Black hills and going south through the hills avoiding Rapid City usually through Sturgis or Spearfish than Sothwest from Custer through Wyo to Colo.

[PeteS]

Loop up to Canada and come down onto MN.

Pretty flat from east of Winnipeg to Calgary. Only the curvature of the earth keeps you from seeing one city from the other.  Off the Trans Canada its a bit better but its not huge improvement. Best rides will be on local roads vs state and federal highways.

Pete

[Gino]

Although I’m from Scotland I have crossed the Dakotas twice, plenty to see and nice roads if you look, Interstates are almost all boring everywhere 

[Anomaly]

Hmmm, I guess I'm wired differently-- I crossed both Dakotas on US 2 and thought it was a great trip. Of course, I was in my 1953 Chevy wagon, with my two young (at the time) kids and we had a lot of fun.

[travelingbyguzzi]

The only real elevation relief is along the missouri river. I would probably take a more direct route to my destination and spend my extra time around the perimeter of the great lakes.
A strong beer culture in WI and MN. Lots of breweries to visit.
Maybe take a ferry ride across one of those giant lakes.

[PeteS]

I-90 South Dakota, 1972. I don't think much has changed except the traffic.





Pete

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I've driven across it 4-5 times, usually I-90 just to get it over with ASAP

Terrible drive. nothing to see, nowhere worth stopping, barely anywhere to eat.  12 hours of torture. I cant imagine doing it on a motorcycle.

I-90 is the fastest way to cross, but certainly the worst way...  if there is a more boring route, I sure don't want to find it.

[twowheeladdict]

I-90 South Dakota, 1972. I don't think much has changed except the traffic.





Pete

That could be a photo of Jay Leno riding in 2022.

[PeteS]

That could be a photo of Jay Leno riding in 2022.

I think Jay weighs about half again as a much as much as that guy. I was about 160 back then.

Pete

[John A]

My first time across SoDak was in ‘77 on a new to me ‘71 Ambassador. I was coming off leave in Minnesota  and headed for Beale AFB , my new base in northern CA, where they had SR71’s and U2’s. I ran out of time so I was going as fast as I could with high winds, riding in a crosswind crab on the freeway. I had to get uncomfortabley close to semi’s going past as the wind hit like a wall as soon as I was past. They were running maybe 40 or 50. I didn’t have a problem with the scenery for I was concentrating on staying on the road. I made good time and was able to get off the freeway in western SoDak. The wind blew me and the bike over before I got the lousy kickstand down at a stop in Wyoming and I took two lane roads the rest of the way, arriving at the back gate of the base at 23:30, a half hour before it closed for the night. Out in the middle of nowhere I was lost and tired. The Ambassador was flawless

[Ncdan]

Good story JA.
That was back when bikes were simple and men were men👍

[John A]

Good story JA.
That was back when bikes were simple and men were men👍

Thanks, Dan, that trip sold me on Guzzi’s alright.

[Scout63]

My first time across SoDak was in ‘77 on a new to me ‘71 Ambassador. I was coming off leave in Minnesota  and headed for Beale AFB , my new base in northern CA, where they had SR71’s and U2’s. I ran out of time so I was going as fast as I could with high winds, riding in a crosswind crab on the freeway. I had to get uncomfortabley close to semi’s going past as the wind hit like a wall as soon as I was past. They were running maybe 40 or 50. I didn’t have a problem with the scenery for I was concentrating on staying on the road. I made good time and was able to get off the freeway in western SoDak. The wind blew me and the bike over before I got the lousy kickstand down at a stop in Wyoming and I took two lane roads the rest of the way, arriving at the back gate of the base at 23:30, a half hour before it closed for the night. Out in the middle of nowhere I was lost and tired. The Ambassador was flawless

Best short story this side of Maynard.

[Tkelly]

In my experience the wind was only a major factor on the interstate,where it is definitely painful.