| Westbound Interstate 90/U.S. 14 and northbound South Dakota 79 reach Exit 44, Junction Meade County Route 4A, Bethlehem Road (218th Street). Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| A rest area with full bathroom facilities is located near Milepost 42 after the Meade County Route 4A (Bethlehem Road) interchange. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| The next exit along northwestbound is Exit 40, Tilford Road (214th Street). Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| Westbound Interstate 90/U.S. 14 and northbound South Dakota 79 reach Exit 40, Tilford Road (214th Street). The cloud cover hovering over the Black Hills in the distance would result in a thunderstorm with drenching rain later that evening. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| All three routes -- westbound Interstate 90/U.S. 14 and northbound South Dakota 79 -- are well-signed along this stretch of freeway. South Dakota 79 will remain merged on the freeway until the second Sturgis interchange. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| The next exit along northwestbound is Exit 37, Pleasant Valley Road. This interchange also provides local access for farms and ranches. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| Westbound Interstate 90/U.S. 14 and northbound South Dakota 79 reach Exit 37, Pleasant Valley Road. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| The next exit along westbound Interstate 90/U.S. 14 and northbound South Dakota 79 is Exit 34, Old Stone Road/Black Hills National Cemetery. Buried at the Black Hills National Cemetery include veterans of wars from the Spanish-American War to the Iraq War of today (2005) and beyond. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| The next exit along northwestbound is Exit 32, Junction Business Loop I-90, Junction Avenue, the main route into the city of Sturgis. Known as the "Key City to the Black Hills," Sturgis was founded in August 1876 and named after Major Samuel D. Sturgis, who was commander of nearby Fort Meade. The city is home to 6,682 people as of the 2000 Census; it is seat of Meade County, northwest of Rapid City. It lies on the eastern slope of the Black Hills along the Interstate 90 corridor. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| Held in August of each year, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally brings thousands of motorcyclists from around the country to Sturgis. During the motorcycle rally, the city of Sturgis swells in size. A motorcycle museum is one of the chief tourist draws to the city year-round. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| The next interchange (Exit 30) along westbound Interstate 90 is major. While Interstate 90 and U.S. 14 remain on the freeway, South Dakota 79 splits off the freeway east into Sturgis. It is joined by Business Loop I-90 and South Dakota 34; the three routes provide direct access to sturgis via Lazelle Street. For the first time in many miles, Exit 30 also connects to a major route into the seemingly impenetrable Black Hills. Alternate U.S. 14 provides this connection by traveling west toward Deadwood and Lead, then reconnects with Interstate 90 via Spearfish Canyon. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| To the east of Sturgis, Bear Butte State Park serves as the northern terminus of the 111-mile Centennial Trail. This trail, which passes through some of the most scenic parts of the Black Hills region, was designated in 1989 in commemoration of South Dakota's 100-year anniversary of achieving statehood. Exit 30 also serves Fort Meade, which was established during the frontier days (1878) to protect nearby settlements from skirmishes with Native Americans. The fort is protected as part of the Bureau of Land Management Fort Meade Recreation Area. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| Westbound Interstate 90/U.S. 14 and northbound South Dakota 79 reach Exit 30, Junction Business Loop I-90, U.S. 14A, South Dakota 34, and South Dakota 79 (Lazelle Street). South Dakota 79 departs here for points north, while South Dakota 34 merges onto the freeway for the first time. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| At the base of the ramp for Exit 30, this shield assembly shows the routes that Business Loop I-90, U.S. 14A, South Dakota 34, and South Dakota 79 take. The two state routes along with the business loop turn east toward Sturgis via Lazelle Street, while Alternate U.S. 14 turns west toward Deadwood and Lead. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| This reassurance shield assembly for Interstate 90, U.S. 14, and South Dakota 34 is posted immediately after Exit 30 (Lazelle Street) in Sturgis. Interstate 90 leaves Meade County and enters Lawrence County. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| South Dakota 34 splits from westbound Interstate 90 and U.S. 14 seven miles northwest of Sturgis. From here, South Dakota 34 travels northwest to Belle Fourche, then changes into Wyoming 24 upon entering that state. The highway ultimately serves Devils Tower National Monument. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| Westbound Interstate 90, U.S. 14, and South Dakota 34 reach Exit 23, Junction South Dakota 34 west to Belle Fourche. The small community of Whitewood is located at this exit, just south of the freeway. After this interchange, Interstate 90 turns from northwest to westbound again. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| The next exit along westbound Interstate 90 is Exit 17, Junction U.S. 85 south to Deadwood, Pluma, and Lead. The federal highway travels southwest through the northern tier of the Black Hills, emerging in Wyoming near Four Corners. U.S. 85 continues south toward Newcastle, Lusk, Torrington, and Cheyenne in the Equality State. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| U.S. 85 north joins with Interstate 90 and U.S. 14 between Exit 17 and 10. The next exit along westbound Interstate 90 and U.S. 14-85 is Exit 14, Junction Business Loop I-90 west and Alternate U.S. 14 south to Spearfish. Alternate U.S. 14 follows Spearfish Creek south through Spearfish Canyon, past Bridal Veil Falls, and merges with U.S. 85 at Cheyenne Crossing to return to Lead, Deadwood, and Sturgis. Alternate U.S. 14 rejoins Interstate 90 and U.S. 14 at Exit 30. This interchange marks the northwestern terminus of Alternate U.S. 14. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| Westbound Interstate 90 and U.S. 14-85 reach Exit 14, Junction Business Loop I-90 west to Spearfish and Alternate U.S. 14 south to Spearfish Canyon and attractions within the Black Hills National Forest. This diamond interchange directly serves 27th Street; turn south to connect to Old U.S. 14 (Colorado Boulevard), which is now the business route. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| Interstate 90 enters the city of Spearfish, which was settled in 1876. Black Hills State University is located here, and the city is a hub for tourist activities in the northern Black Hills region. Spearfish is known as the Queen City due to the "crown" created by adjacent peaks Lookout Mountain, Spearfish Mountain, and Crow Peak. A relatively large city for the area, 12,137 people reside in Spearfish as of the 2000 Census. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| Westbound Interstate 90 and U.S. 14-85 reach Exit 12, Jackson Boulevard in Spearfish. This is not a signed state highway. Use Jackson Boulevard to Black Hills State University, which is located to the west on Jackson Boulevard and then north on University Avenue. In addition to education and tourism, Spearfish has also grown to expand its economic foundation. The Spearfish Economic Development Corporation touts its low tax base with the concept of a "taxation policy built around the word NO." Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| This shield assembly along westbound shows Interstate 90, U.S. 14, and U.S. 85. While most of the Interstate shields in South Dakota are neutered, a few state named shields remain, especially on the approach routes to the freeway. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| U.S. 85 prepares to split from Interstate 90 and U.S. 14 at the west end of Spearfish at Exit 10. In addition, Exit 10 serves Business Loop I-90 south via North Avenue to downtown Spearfish. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| Westbound Interstate 90 and U.S. 14-85 reach Exit 10, Junction U.S. 85 north to Belle Fourche and Business Loop I-90/North Avenue south to downtown Spearfish. U.S. 85 continues north from Belle Fourche toward Williston, North Dakota, then enters Saskatchewan in Canada near Fortuna. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| Now leaving Spearfish, the next exit along westbound Interstate 90 is Exit 8, McGuigan Road. This interchange serves local access to farms and ranches. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| Westbound Interstate 90 and U.S. 14 reach Exit 8, McGuigan Road. There are no services at this interchange. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| This mileage sign, located immediately after the McGuigan Road interchange, provides the distance to three towns in Wyoming: Beulah (11 miles), Sundance (27 miles), and Sheridan (199 miles). Omitted are Gillette in Campbell County and Buffalo in Johnson County. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| The final South Dakota exit is Exit 2, Shenk Lane south to McNenny State Fish Hatchery. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| Westbound Interstate 90 and U.S. 14 reach Exit 2, Shenk Lane. The vast plains and mountains of Wyoming come into view in the horizon. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
| After Exit 2, this is the final reassurance shield assembly for westbound Interstate 90 and U.S. 14 prior to reaching the Wyoming State Line. Photo taken 09/03/04. |
Page Updated November 20, 2005.
