U.S. 16
U.S. 16 runs from the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park east to Interstate 90 and U.S. 14 in Rapid City, South Dakota. The bulk of this route was truncated; it used to continue east to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Detroit, Michigan along the Interstate 90, I-94, and I-96 corridors.
Within South Dakota, one such community along U.S. 16 is Rockerville. A former boom town that owes its history to mining, Rockerville is largely a ghost town today. Since U.S. 16 bypasses the town, its share of the tourist trade mostly dried up. In fact, Rockerville made news when the entire town was listed for sale for $1.1 million:
The property includes 26 acres of the old town, all the buildings, the remaining relics, and camping grounds in the woods. It includes a few hundred yards of frontage with false fronts on either side of the road, but it is still the road less traveled. Each store is platted and can be separately leased, though the roofs may or may not make it through the next winter. And the new owners will have to deal with the ghosts of Rockerville, who are now tourists, as well as miners.
East
West of Custer, U.S. 16 crosses into South Dakota from Wyoming and passes by Jewel Cave National Monument. The first major intersection along eastbound U.S. 16 is with U.S. 385 and SD 89. U.S. 385/SD 89 travel south toward Pringle and Hot Springs. Continuing east, all three routes travel toward Custer.
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East 
North
U.S. 16-385 north continue from U.S. 16A and Downtown Custer toward Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore and Hill City. SD 89 joins U.S. 16A east toward Custer State Park.
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East North
Reassurance shield assembly for U.S. 16/385 posted after the Crazy Horse turnoff.
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Continuing into Pennington County, northbound U.S. 16-385 converge with SD 87 (Needles Highway) south to Sylvan Lake and Custer State Park. Just beyond SD 87 is the junction with SD 244 east to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Keystone.
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East
U.S. 16 eastbound after the northern interchange with U.S. 16A, west of Rockerville and north of Keystone.
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This section of U.S. 16 is built with four lane design standards as an at-grade expressway with access controlled by intersections instead of interchanges.
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U.S. 16 advances a half mile east to Rockerville.
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There are two exits that connect to Rockerville from U.S. 16, but neither exit seems particularly well traveled.
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North of Rockerville, a host of tourist attractions are located along U.S. 16, especially on the west side of the highway.
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Beyond Rockerville, U.S. 16 lowers from the Black Hills. The US highway descends on a steep downgrade toward Rapid City, which becomes visible on the foothills below the Black Hills.
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Throughout this stretch of U.S. 16, a grassy median separates the two lanes in each direction.
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Access along this section of expressway on U.S. 16 is controlled by intersections such as this one.
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U.S. 16 heads north to next intersect U.S. 16 Truck. Signed as U.S. 16T, this bypass route runs east to join SD 79 (Heartland Expressway).
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U.S. 16 Truck, together with the Heartland Expressway (SD 79), offers a bypass to the east of Rapid City. The bypass connects with Interstate 90 at Exit 60, which is also the eastern Business Loop I-90 interchange.
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More of Rapid City comes into view as U.S. 16 continues to descend. A runaway truck ramp is available for vehicles with failing brakes.
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Rounding a bend in the highway, U.S. 16 has a depressed, paved median.
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U.S. 16 shifts from a rural to an urban highway almost immediately after passing under the bridge in the distance.
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Eastbound U.S. 16 enters Rapid City. Founded in 1876, Rapid City has its history steeped in the mining of Black Hills gold and in the tourist trade that keeps the area vibrant in all seasons. Agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, and government also dominate the economy of the region.
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The southern section of U.S. 16 on Mount Rushmore Road passes by a series of strip malls and chain restaurants.
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The cityscape along U.S. 16 changes to a more suburban and residential area north of the commercial area and south of Downtown.
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Downtown Rapid City comes into view north of the Columbus Street intersection.
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Mount Rushmore Road (U.S. 16) intersects Business Loop I-90 in Downtown Rapid City. Business Loop I-90 follows St. Joseph Street eastbound and Main Street westbound.
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U.S. 16 follows Mount Rushmore Road past Main Street (Business Loop I-90) for two more blocks, then turns west onto Omaha Street (SD 44).
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U.S. 16 follows Omaha Street west from Mount Rushmore Road to Interstate 190 north.
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West
Reassurance markers for U.S. 16 west and U.S. 385/SD 89 south posted after U.S. 16 Alternate in Custer.
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scenes
Located east of U.S. 16-385 in Custer County, the Crazy Horse Memorial is readily visible from the highway. This photo shows the progress of the incomplete monument. The memorial was started by Korczak Ziolkowski.
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Photo Credits:
- Andy Field: 09/03/04
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Page Updated Tuesday November 29, 2005.