I need some opinions ! I am traveling to S.D. from Ill. in early July and I would like to travel by older highways across Iowa. I just don't want to go by interstate if I can help it. Any help here would be of great help.

 

If I was making that run I would take 30 across Iowa to Denison then 141 to I29.
I would then get off I29 south of Sioux City and take 20 across Nebraska to Valentine.
Then I would take 83 north to 18 west to Pine Ridge, then head north to the Badlands.

I've made this run before, not by bike though.
You could "google earth" the run and see the roads. I think it would be a good trip.
Just make sure you don't pass up a gas station

There's not much scenic out in the Pine Ridge area, but seeing how poor the people out there live certainly gives you something to think about and to be thankful for what you have.

It's a part of America that not many people take the time to see.


Just my thoughts.

 

Very true sad to say, and thanks for the info I'll study the map.

 

I always enjoy 18 across Iowa from Prairie du Chien and 44 across SD. Hwy 44 will take you into the bottom of the Badlands at Interior . Check IDOT and SDDOT web sites for road construction. SD in also notorious for tar and chip coating their secondary roads during the summer. The web site should tell where this is taking place.

 

Will check out Rt 18 also thank you !

 

If you decide to come thru Sioux City - WATCH YOUR SPEED! The city fathers are fighting with Iowa DOT to keep their cash machine cameras on I-29. Apparently a loss of $5M in revenue will hurt the city when the state makes them take the speed cameras out. That's right $5M in speeding tickets issued last year... Hwy 20 from Sioux City to Valentine is a nice quiet stretch with towns sprinkled in fairly often.