{{Short description|U.S. Highway in Wyoming and South Dakota}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Use American English|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox road | country = USA | type = US | route = 16 | map = {{maplink-road|from=U.S. Route 16.map}} | map_custom = yes | map_notes = US 16 highlighted in red | length_mi = 489.51 | length_ref = {{efn|Mileage is a summation of each state's length}} | length_notes={{convert|418.874|mi|abbr=on}} in Wyoming<ref name="WYODOT"/><br>{{convert|70.64|mi|abbr=on}} in South Dakota<ref name="SDDOT"/> | established = 1926{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} | direction_a = West | terminus_a = {{jct|state=WY|US|14|US|20}} at Yellowstone National Park entrance | junction = *{{jct|state=WY|US|310|WYO|789}} near Greybull, WY *{{jct|state=WY|US|14A}} in Cody, WY *{{jct|state=WY|I|25|US|87}} in Buffalo, WY *{{jct|state=WY|I|90|US|14}} in Gillette, WY and Moorcroft, WY *{{jct|state=WY|US|85}} in Newcastle, WY *{{jct|state=SD|US-Truck|16}} in Rapid City, SD | direction_b = East | terminus_b = {{Jct|state=SD|I|90|I|190|US|14|US-Truck|16}} in Rapid City, SD | states = Wyoming, South Dakota | browse = {{Us browse|previous_type=US|previous_route=15|next_type=US|next_route=17|route=US}}{{wy browse|previous_type=WY|previous_route=14|route=WY|next_type=US|next_route=18}} {{sd browse|previous_type=SD|previous_route=15|route=SD|next_type=SD|next_route=16}} }} '''U.S. Highway 16''' ('''US 16''') is an east–west United States Numbered Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota, and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The highway's eastern terminus is at a junction with Interstate 90 (I-90)/US 14, concurrent with I-190, in Rapid City. The western terminus is the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, concurrent with US 14 and US 20. US 16 used to extend all the way to Michigan but has been truncated in favor of I-90 and I-96.
==Route description== {{lengths table}} |- |{{abbr|WY|Wyoming}} |{{convert|419|mi|km|disp=table}} |- |{{abbr|SD|South Dakota}} |{{convert|71|mi|km|disp=table}} |- |Total |{{convert|490|mi|km|disp=table}} |} ===Wyoming=== US 16 begins at the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, along with US 14 and the eastern segment of US 20. From the park, the three highways run concurrently to Cody and Greybull. In Greybull, US 14 splits off to the east, while US 16/US 20 heads due south to Basin and Worland. In Worland, US 16 splits off from US 20 and heads east over Powder River Pass on its way to the city of Buffalo. After passing Buffalo, US 16 arches north to the community of Ucross, meeting US 14 again, before arching back south to Gillette. US 16 then runs east concurrently with I-90 between Gillette and Moorcroft before heading southeast to the towns of Upton and Newcastle. The highway then heads east to the South Dakota state line. For most of the way through the state, the highway is a two-lane road. US 16 is {{convert|419|mi|km}} long in Wyoming.<ref name="WYODOT">{{cite web |author1=State Maintenance Engineer’s Office |title=Maintenance Section Reference Book |url=http://www.dot.state.wy.us/files/live/sites/wydot/files/shared/Maintenance/Maintenance%20Section%20Reference%20Book/2017-MaintenanceSectionReferenceBook.pdf |publisher=Wyoming Department of Transportation |access-date=January 2, 2026 |date=October 1, 2017}}</ref>
===South Dakota=== {{Main|U.S. Route 16 in South Dakota}} US 16 is also known as Mount Rushmore Road in western South Dakota. From the state line, the highway travels near Jewel Cave, the fifth longest cave in the world.<ref>{{cite web | title=Jewel Cave National Monument | url=https://www.nps.gov/jeca/index.htm | publisher= National Park Service | access-date=July 29, 2025}}</ref> The highway goes through the city of Custer and shares alignment with US 385. East of Hill City, US 16 splits off US 385. It then becomes a four-lane divided highway, with the two roadways separated by up to a half-mile ({{Convert|0.5|mi|km|disp=output only}}) in some places, including the old gold-mining town of Rockerville, which is contained entirely between the two roadways. In Rapid City, a truck bypass runs along Catron Boulevard and Elk Vale Road up to exit 61 on I-90. US 16 is {{convert|71|mi|km}} long in South Dakota.<ref name="SDDOT">{{cite web|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/bfb29217d19d4d14b8d0e7329cbfa45e|title=State Highway Data Viewer|publisher=South Dakota Department of Transportation|access-date=January 2, 2026}}</ref>
The South Dakota section of US 16 is defined at South Dakota Codified Laws § 31-4-138.<ref>{{Cite book |title=South Dakota Codified Laws |url=https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2052620 |access-date=April 4, 2023 |publisher=South Dakota Legislature |language=en}}</ref>
==History== {{see also|U.S. Route 16 in Michigan}} {{unreferenced section|date=February 2016}} [[File:MK01022.jpg|thumb|right|US 16 in the Tensleep Canyon, Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming]] US 16 originally connected Detroit with Yellowstone National Park, including a ferry link across Lake Michigan between Muskegon, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin aboard SS ''Milwaukee Clipper''. In Michigan, the route was in use long before automobiles and was known to white settlers as the Grand River Road, and prior to the designation of U.S. Highways in 1926, had been designated as M-16 in the 1920s from Detroit to south of Muskegon. In 1938, reflectorized discs were placed on US 16 every {{convert|100|ft|m}} from Detroit to Lansing, resulting in fewer nighttime traffic accidents. Other states would later do the same on their roads.
US 16 initially crossed the South Dakota–Wyoming state line west of Spearfish. '''U.S. Highway 216''' ('''US 216''') was commissioned in 1930 as a loop off US 16 to the south between Rapid City and Moorcroft, crossing the state line west of Custer. In 1934, US 16 was moved to the US 216 alignment, while the former US 16 became part of an extension of US 14.
In Michigan, most of US 16 was superseded by I-96 and a segment of Grand River Avenue in Detroit ultimately became M-5. US 16 was later decommissioned in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and eastern South Dakota to its present termini.<ref>{{AASHTO minutes |year=1978S |page=3 |access-date=September 2, 2015 |link=y }}</ref>
Between Rapid City and Dexter, Minnesota, it has been supplanted by I-90. In Faribault County, Minnesota, the highway took on another number as there was already a county highway numbered 16. Residents of the county continued referring to the road as "16" or "old 16" and eventually the county renumbered it as County Road 16 (CR 16). From the county's western border with Martin County, US 16 continued east through the city of Blue Earth as part of 1st Street and Leland Parkway until it briefly combines with US 169/Grove Street. {{Convert|1/2|mi|km|spell=In}} south of that point at the intersection of Grove and 7th streets, CR 16 followed 7th Street and continued east to the border of Freeborn County. Most of the stretch through Faribault County was a relatively narrow two-lane highway with wide gravel shoulders that has been widened at least two times since US 16 was decommissioned. East of Dexter, it is now Minnesota State Highway 16 and State Trunk Highway 16 in Wisconsin. In South Dakota, it was replaced by various state highways (including South Dakota Highway 38, or SD 38, and SD 248) and county roads: generally, in West River, the old alignment was transferred to county responsibility entirely, while, in East River, it remained a state-maintained highway.
An older US 16A in South Dakota has become SD 240.
In South Dakota in 2009, the South Dakota Department of Transportation designated US 16/US 385 between Custer and Hill City, which passes by the Crazy Horse Memorial, now being carved in the Black Hills, as the Crazy Horse Memorial Highway. This segment of US 385 is also a part of the George Hearst Memorial Highway.
==Major intersections== Mileage resets at the state line crossing. {{Jcttop|state_col=State|exit|length_ref=<ref name="WYODOT"/><ref name="SDDOT"/>}} {{WYint|exit |sspan=56 |county=Park |cspan=7 |location_special=Yellowstone National Park |lspan=3 |type={{#switch:{{CURRENTMONTH}} |01|02|03|04|11|12=closed |#default=trans }} |mile=0.000 |mspan=3 |road=East Entrance Road (to {{Jct|state=MT|US|20|dir1=west|noshield=y}}) |notes=Continuation into Yellowstone National Park; US 20 resumes in Montana at the park's west entrance (closed winters) }} {{Jctplace|exit |type={{#switch:{{CURRENTMONTH}} |01|02|03|04|11|12=closed |#default=toll }} |mile=none |place=Yellowstone National Park boundary (East Entrance); fees required }} {{WYint|exit |type=concur |mile=none |road={{Jct|state=WY|US|14|US|20|road|Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway|dir1=begins|dir2=begins|dir3=begins}} |notes=US 14 / US 16 western terminus; western end of US 14 / US 20 / Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway concurrency }} {{WYint|exit |location=Pahaska Tepee |type={{#switch:{{CURRENTMONTH}} |01|02|03|04|11|12=closed |#default= }} |mile=2.000 |place=Westbound road closure gate (closed winters)<ref name="nps_roads">{{cite web |title=Park Roads - Yellowstone National Park |url=https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm |website=U.S. National Park Service |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior |access-date=March 17, 2026 |language=en}}</ref> }} {{WYint|exit |location=Cody |lspan=3 |espan=33 |mile=49.410 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|291|dir1=south|name1=South Fork Road}} }} {{WYint |type=concur |mile=50.900 |road={{Jct|state=WY|US|14A|dir1=east|WY|120|dir2=west|name2=16th Street|road|Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway|dir3=ends|city1=Powell|location2=Big Horn Natl Rec Area}} |notes=West end of WYO 120 and Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway concurrency }} {{WYint |type=concur |mile=54.119 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|120|dir1=south|city1=Meeteetse|city2=Thermopolis}} |notes=East end of WYO 120 concurrency }} {{WYint |county=Big Horn |cspan=10 |location=none |mile=85.065 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|30|dir1=south|city1=Burlington}} }} {{WYint |location=Emblem |mile=85.665 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|32|dir1=north|city1=Powell|city2=Lovell}} }} {{WYint |location=none |lspan=2 |type=concur |mile=99.197 |road={{Jct|state=WY|US|310|dir1=west|WY|789|dir2=north|city1=Lovell|location2=Billings|location3=Bighorn Canyon Natl Recreation Area}} |notes=West end of WYO 789 concurrency; US 310 eastern terminus }} {{Jctrestarea |mile=101.530 |restarea=Airport Rest Area }} {{WYint |location=Greybull |type=concur |mile=104.176 |road={{Jct|state=WY|US|14|dir1=east|name1=Greybull Avenue|city1=Shell|city2=Sheridan}} |notes=East end of US 14 concurrency }} {{WYint |location=none |mile=108.960 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|36|dir1=south|name1=Golf Course Road}} }} {{WYint |location=Basin |mile=111.815 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|30|dir1=south|name1=C Street|city1=Burlington}} }} {{WYint |location=none |mile=122.265 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|433|dir1=south}} }} {{WYint |location=Manderson |lspan=2 |mile=122.832 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY-Spur|31|dir1=east|city1=Manderson|city2=Hyattville}} |notes=Officially WYO 31 Spur;<ref name="WYODOT"/> signed as WYO 31<ref>{{google maps |title=Google Streetview: 1938 US-20, Manderson, Wyoming |url=https://www.google.com/maps/@44.2659766,-107.9704167,3a,75y,95.8h,70.59t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1suI5AVODnAKBliLM78774cA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D19.409975719954474%26panoid%3DuI5AVODnAKBliLM78774cA%26yaw%3D95.80131148585585!7i16384!8i8192 |access-date=February 18, 2026 |language=en |date=August 2025}}</ref> }} {{WYint |mile=123.436 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|31|dir1=east|noshield=y}} |notes=Unsigned }} {{WYint |county=Washakie |cspan=6 |location=Worland |type=concur |mile=142.079 |road={{Jct|state=WY|US|20|WY|789|dir1=west|dir2=south|name2=Big Horn Avenue|city1=Thermopolis|location2=Hot Springs State Park}} |notes=East end of US 20 / WYO 789 concurrency }} {{WYint |location=Ten Sleep |mile=168.500 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|434|dir1=south|city1=Big Trails}} }} {{WYint |location=none |lspan=4 |mile=172.117 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|436|dir1=south}} }} {{WYint |mile=175.978 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|435|dir1=east}} }} {{Jctplace |mile=176.079 |place=Eastbound road closure gate (weather depending) }} {{Jctplace |mile=191.489 |place=Eastbound road closure gate (weather depending) }} {{Jctplace |state=WY |county=Johnson |cspan=8 |location=none |lspan=3 |mile=197.500 |place=Powder River Pass }} {{Jctplace |mile=205.566 |place=Westbound road closure gate (weather depending) }} {{Jctplace |mile=230.069 |place=Westbound road closure gate (weather depending) }} {{WYint |location=Buffalo |lspan=3 |type=concur |mile=233.988 |road={{Jct|state=WY|BL|25|US-Bus|87|dab1=Buffalo|dab2=Buffalo|dir1=south|dir2=south|name2=Main Street|city1=Casper}} |notes=South end of I-25 BL / US 87 Bus. concurrency }} {{WYint |type=concur |mile=234.395 |road={{Jct|state=WY|BL|25|BL|90|US-Bus|87|dab1=Buffalo|dab2=Buffalo|dab3=Buffalo|dir1=north|dir2=west|dir3=north|name2=Main Street}} |notes=North end of I-25 BL / US 87 Bus. concurrency; south end of I-90 BL concurrency }} {{WYint |mile=234.990 |road={{Jct|state=WY|I|25|US|87|city1=Sheridan|city2=Casper}} |notes=I-25 exit 299 }} {{WYint |location=none |lspan=2 |type=concur |mile=236.517 |road={{Jct|state=WY|I|90|BL|90|dab2=Buffalo|city1=Sheridan|city2=Gillette|dir2=ends}} |notes=I-90 exit 58; east end I-90 BL concurrency }} {{Jctplace |mile=236.695 |place=Eastbound road closure gate (weather depending) }} {{WYint |county=Sheridan |cspan=2 |location=Ucross |type=concur |mile=252.255 |road={{Jct|state=WY|US|14|dir1=west|city1=Sheridan}} |notes=West end of US 14 concurrency }} {{WYint |location=none |mile=279.196 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|341|dir1=south|city1=Arvada}} }} {{Jctplace |state=WY |county=Campbell |cspan=8 |location=none |lspan=2 |mile=319.685 |place=Eastbound road closure gate (weather depending) }} {{WYint |type=concur |mile=322.648 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|59|dir1=north|location1=Broadus}} |notes=West end of WYO 59 concurrency }} {{WYint |location=Gillette |lspan=4 |type=concur |mile=329.930 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|50|dir1=south|BL|90|dab2=Gillette|dir2=west|noshield2=y|to3=y|I|90|name2=Skyline Drive|city1=Buffalo|city2=Moorcroft}} |notes=West end of BL 90 concurrency }} {{WYint |type=concur |mile=331.731 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|59|dir1=south|to2=y|I|90|city1=Douglas}} |notes=East end of WYO 59 concurrency }} {{WYint|exit |type=concur |exit=128 |mile=333.053 |road={{Jct|state=WY|I|90|BL|90|WY|51|dir1=west|dir2=ends|dir3=east|city1=Buffalo}} |notes=East end of BL 90 concurrency; west end of I-90 concurrency; exit numbers follow I-90 }} {{WYint|exit |exit=129 |mile=334.586 |road=Garner Lake Road }} {{WYint|exit |location=none |exit=132 |mile=338.473 |road=Wyodak Road }} {{WYint|exit |location=none |exit=141 |mile=346.806 |road=Rozet }} {{WYint|exit |county=Crook |cspan=5 |location=Moorcroft |lspan=4 |type=concur |exit=153 |mile=358.981 |road={{Jct|state=WY|I|90|dir1=east|BL|90|dab2=Moorcroft|dir2=begins|city1=Sundance}} |notes=East end of I-90 concurrency; west end of BL 90 concurrency }} {{WYint|exit |espan=14 |mile=359.118 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|51|dir1=west}} }} {{WYint |type=concur |mile=360.186 |road={{Jct|state=WY|US|14|dir1=east|city1=Devils Tower|city2=Hulett|city3=Pine Haven}} |notes=East end of US 14 concurrency }} {{WYint |type=concur |mile=360.384 |road={{Jct|state=WY|BL|90|dab1=Moorcroft|dir1=east|noshield1=y|to2=y|I|90}} |notes=East end of BL 90 concurrency }} {{Jctplace |location=none |mile=360.686 |place=Eastbound road closure gate (weather depending) }} {{WYint |county=Weston |cspan=10 |location=Upton |lspan=2 |type=concur |mile=380.013 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|116|dir1=north|city1=Sundance}} |notes=West end of WYO 116 concurrency }} {{WYint |type=concur |mile=380.317 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|116|dir1=south}} |notes=East end of WYO 116 concurrency }} {{Jctrestarea |location=none |mile=380.986 |restarea=Upton Rest Area }} {{WYint |location=Osage |mile=393.479 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|451|dir1=west|name1=Oil City Road}} }} {{Jctplace |location=none |lspan=2 |mile=405.786 |place=Westbound road closure gate (weather depending) }} {{WYint |mile=405.452 |road={{Jct|state=WY|WY|450|dir1=west}} }} {{WYint |location=Newcastle |lspan=3 |mile=407.127 |road={{Jct|state=WY|US-Byp|16|dab1=Newcastle|dir1=east}} }} {{WYint |mile=408.955 |road={{Jct|state=WY|US-Byp|16|dab1=Newcastle|dir1=west}} }} {{WYint |mile=409.606 |road={{Jct|state=WY|US|85|city1=Sundance|city2=Lusk}} }} {{Jctplace |location=none |mile=413.790 |place=Eastbound road closure gate (weather depending) }} {{jctbridge|exit |river_wide=yes |river= |mile=418.874 |mile2=0.00 |line=yes |bridge=Wyoming–South Dakota state line }} {{SDint|exit |sspan=15 |county=Custer |cspan=2 |espan=2 |location=Custer |lspan=2 |mile=26.46 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=SD|US|385|dir1=south|SD|89|dir2=south|location1=Wind Cave National Park|city2=Hot Springs}} |notes=West end of US 385 / SD 89 concurrency }} {{SDint |mile=26.96 |road={{jct|state=SD|US|16A|dir1=east|SD|89|dir2=north|location1=Custer State Park}} |type=concur |notes=East end of SD 89 concurrency }} {{SDint|exit |county=Pennington |cspan=13 |location=none |lspan=2 |espan=11 |mile=37.49 |road={{jct|state=SD|SD|87|dir1=south|name1=Needles Highway|road|Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway|location1=Sylvan Lake|city2=Custer}} }} {{SDint |mile=37.69 |road={{jct|state=SD|SD|244|dir1=east|road|Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway|location1=Mount Rushmore}} }} {{SDint |location=Hill City |lspan=2 |mile=40.51 |road={{jct|state=SD|US-Truck|16|dir1=east|dab1=Hill City|US-Truck|385|dir2=north|dab2=Hill City}} }} {{SDint |mile=41.06 |road={{jct|state=SD|US-Truck|16|dir1=west|dab1=Hill City|US-Truck|385|dir2=south|dab2=Hill City}} }} {{SDint |location=Three Forks |mile=45.00 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=SD|US|385|dir1=north|city1=Deadwood|city2=Lead}} |notes=East end of US 385 concurrency }} {{SDint |location=Keystone Wye |mile=50.60 |road={{jct|state=SD|US|16A|dir1=west|city1=Keystone|location2=Mount Rushmore}} |notes=Directional-T interchange }} {{SDint |location=none |mile=55.42 |mile2=56.19 |road=Rockerville |notes=Interchange; left exits and entrances }} {{SDint |location=Rapid City |lspan=6 |mile=64.19 |road={{jct|state=SD|US-Truck|16|dab1=Rapid City|dir1=east|I|90|to2=y|road|Catron Boulevard}} |notes=Future single-point urban interchange (SPUI) }} {{SDint |mile=68.77 |mile2=68.85 |road={{Jct|state=SD|BL|90|dab1=Rapid City|name1=St. Joseph Street / Main Street}} |notes=One way pair }} {{SDint |mile=68.98 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=SD|SD|44|name1=Omaha Street|dir1=east}} |notes=West end of SD 44 concurrency }} {{SDint |mile=69.20 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=SD|SD|44|name1=Omaha Street|dir1=east}}<hr/>{{jct|state=SD|I|190|dir1=begins|road|West Boulevard}} |notes=East end of SD 44 concurrency; west end of I-190 concurrency; I-190 southern terminus; exit numbers follow I-190 }} {{SDint|exit |exit=1C |mile=69.57 |road={{jct|state=SD|road|North Street|location1=Civic Center}} }} {{SDint|exit |exit=1A–1B |mile=70.64 |type=concur |road={{jct|state=SD|I|90|I|190|US|14|SD|79|dir2=ends|noshield3=y|noshield4=y|location1=Gillette|city2=Sioux Falls}} |notes=Trumpet interchange; US 16 eastern terminus; I-190 northern terminus; east end of I-190 concurrency; signed as exits 1A (west) and 1B (east); I-90 exit 57 }} {{Jctbtm|col=8|keys={{#switch:{{CURRENTMONTH}} |01|02|03|04|11|12=concur,closed |#default=concur,toll,trans }} }}
==See also== ===Related routes=== * ''U.S. Route 116'' * ''U.S. Route 216''
===Special and suffixed routes=== *U.S. Route 16A in South Dakota *Special routes of U.S. Route 16
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|U.S. Route 16}} {{Attached KML|display=title,inline}} *[https://www.usends.com/endpoints/us-10-us-19/16 Endpoints of US 16] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120302222423/http://www.public.iastate.edu/~pmjohns/hwgs/ Highways and Gas Stations- US Hwy 16 Page] *[http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~23819~920004:Texaco-road-map-North-Dakota,-South 1937 South Dakota Transportation Map] *[http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/mdt/id/222/rec/5 1930 Minnesota Transportation Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230012300/http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/mdt/id/222/rec/5 |date=December 30, 2014 }} *[http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/maps/id/625/rec/15 1937 Wisconsin Transportation Map]
{{US Highways}} {{Authority control}}
Category:U.S. Route 16 16 16 16 Category:Transportation in Park County, Wyoming Category:Transportation in Big Horn County, Wyoming Category:Transportation in Washakie County, Wyoming Category:Transportation in Johnson County, Wyoming Category:Transportation in Campbell County, Wyoming Category:Transportation in Crook County, Wyoming Category:Transportation in Weston County, Wyoming Category:Transportation in Custer County, South Dakota Category:Transportation in Pennington County, South Dakota