U.S. 385 is a very long route, serving the Great Plains between Big Bend National Park in Texas and Lead, South Dakota. The highway was created all at once, in 1959 as a major addition to the U.S. Highway System.
Major Cities
Big Bend National Park, Fort Stockton, Odessa, Andrews, Seminole, Brownfield, Littlefield, Dimmitt, Hereford, Dalhart, Boise City, Lamar, Burlington, Holyoke, Sidney, Bridgeport, Chadron, Hot Springs, Custer, Plumas (Lead/Deadwood)
Eastbound U.S. 16 and Northbound U.S. 385/South Dakota 89
Custer is the seat of Custer County and the western gateway to Custer State Park. The city of Custer was established in 1875, is home to 1,860 people (as of 2000 Census), and is located at a relatively high elevation (5,318 feet above sea level). On average, 19.03 inches of precipitation falls in Custer. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Once in downtown Custer, U.S. 16-385 and South Dakota 89 approach their junction with Alternate U.S. 16, which is signed as U.S. 16A. U.S. 16A travels east into Custer State Park, offering a scenic route through the park via Iron Mountain Road and reconnecting with U.S. 16 near Keystone and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Turn left to follow U.S. 16-385 north toward Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore, and Hill City. Continue straight ahead to follow U.S. 16A and South Dakota 89 east toward Custer State Park. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Eastbound U.S. 16 and Northbound U.S. 385
U.S. 16-385 are signed on this reassurance shield assembly found after the Crazy Horse turnoff. (See "Scenes Pertaining to" for more information on Crazy Horse.) Photo taken 09/03/04.
Northbound U.S. 16-385 leave Custer County and enter Pennington County. Home to 88,565 people as of the 2000 Census, Pennington County occupies 2,783 square miles in western South Dakota. Photo taken 09/03/04.
After crossing into Pennington County, northbound U.S. 16-385 approaches its junction with South Dakota 87/Needles Highway south to Sylvan Lake and Custer State Park. Immediately after this intersection is the junction with South Dakota 244 east to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Keystone. Photo taken 09/03/04.
Scenes Pertaining to U.S. 385
Located east of U.S. 16-385 in Custer County, the Crazy Horse Memorial is readily visible from the freeway. This photo shows the progress of the as-yet incomplete monument. The memorial was started by Korczak Ziolkowski and is still under construction today. For the latest updates on construction and completion dates, see the official web page. Photo taken 09/03/04.
