Is 14 Slow as death? Is i-90 better?

[keener]

Is the Super Slab the way to get across SD from MN, or is 14 (Northern Route) a bit more scenic (for South Dakota)?

My thoughts are that 14 would feel like a slow, stop and go death.

What is your expirience?

[TLMitchell]

Originally Posted by keener

Is the Super Slab the way to get across SD from MN, or is 14 (Northern Route) a bit more scenic (for South Dakota)?

My thoughts are that 14 would feel like a slow, stop and go death.

What is your expirience?

Never been across 14 but 18 across the south side of the state is nice. Not much traffic, small towns, a few interesting things to see and in some spots some magnificent desolation.

I-90 has got to be the dead-last worst! Not only do you have the usual trucks blowing you all over the road but the trailer brigade passing you blows you around and then pulls in 6 inches in front of you. You'd think those that ride would know better. But I s'pose if they knew anything they'd be riding instead of unloading at the last rest area before Rapid City and then riding into Sturgis like they just completed a big ride.

[Dr.Hess]

If you need to make time, 90 is the way to go. I haven't had trouble with the trailers, but then we are usually moving pretty good. I've taken 90 to 83, north to Pierre for the night, then across 14 to Wall. It's an interesting trip, certainly. There isn't much there between Pierre and Wall. I wouldn't say stop and go at all, just 2 lane road between very slightly wide spots in the road, and _maybe_ one gas station the whole way. We also once went from Chaimberlain north along the Missouri River through the Res and on into Pierre the back way. That was real scenic, if also desolate and a bit of dirt road.

You can't avoid the wind crossing the Great Plains anywhere from Texas to the North Pole, so just pick a route and do it.

[huckinfog]

Hwy 14 has a lot of towns in eastern SD, but most are small with out lights and traffic. Hwy 14 in Minn is a little more congested. Once you get past Pierre SD, there is little or nothing but road, you can hook on to SD hwy 34 west of Pierre and it enters Sturgis from the North end.

Hwy 212 is an option. 34 all the way across SD, I think Mn hwy 30, at Pipestone runs into it?

It's a little hard to explain, but if you've been down I90, from Reliance SD west to the badlands, there's a 2 lane county road that runs parrallel to the interstate. I've taken it a couple times and there is nearly no traffic at all on it, it crosses over and runs on the other side when you get to Murdo. It dead ends at cactus flats, you either have to take I90 in from there or come in from the south on Hwy 44.

I90 SUCKS.

[lostdog]

I rode 14 accross Mn and SD a couple of years ago and then 34 into Sturgis. I enjoyed it a great deal and would do it again. In fact am leaning that way this year as well. Either that or 20 accross IL, Iowa and Nebraska to Chadron and then up through the Black Hills. Coming from the Chicago area.

[djdemarce]

We leave from Mankato. Take US 60 W and hook up with MN 30 at Pipestone. MN 30 turns into #34 in SD and it's a nice ride to Pierre, and from there to either Sturgis or Wall.

#34 is 2 lane with a 60 MPH posted limit but we set the cruise at 65 and have never had a problem.

[Antonio Pendejo]

14 then continue to Sturgis on 34. Just make sure you top your tank and don't run it down to reserve. Fuel pumps are far between on 34 and the gas is usually farm gas, 85 octane.
The road is well taken care of with long stretches of like new asphalt. Some interesting little beer stops along the way. I think it was either White Owl or Enning in '06 the local high school was having mud bog pig racing at the little market gas station there. Spent a couple of hours there, the beer was cheap and cold, The locals betting like crazy on their favorite team, after a few pointers from the locals I picked up a few bucks by betting on the right team.
Yea, I say screw I-90, too many bozo's out there have to get their trailer to Sturgis in a hurry. 14/34 is the scenic route.
AP

[Speedie_]

I will usually take hwy 14 on the way out. You can make great time unless you get behind a tractor or truck. Plus the small towns are far apart, but make stops for gas and food easy.

I met a friend who rode up from Denver. He came across I90 and said that he's never seen so much construction as what they saw this year. Alot of 2 lane interstate.

[keener]

The north route of State 14 across SD, I will report as a great alternative to the interstate. We saw VERY LITTLE traffic and the pace as fine. We set the cruise at 68, and rolled into Pierre for the night, then headed to Wall, caught the freeway into Sturgis. Thought the stress, and pace were very nice.

We rode I-90 into Wall from Rapid, and were continually cut off by trailers, bikers in a rush, and Semis from who knows where.

For me 14 was a great alternative, just thought I would throw that into the mix.

The Ramkota Hotel in Pierre was very nice and affordable as well.