Alignment: SD-45 near Gann Valley to US-81 east of Oldham

History and Notes: Designated in the late 1940's, this route ran parallel to and between US-14 and SD-34. By 1954, only the segment between SD-25 and US-81 remained, and this was dropped between 1965 and 1970. The segment of the original alignment between US-281 and SD-37 was designated as SD-224 in 1976.

Alignment: I-29 at Exit 114 to SD-13 at Flandreau

Distance: 12 miles

Intersecting Interstates: I-29 west of Flandreau

History and Notes: Route assigned around 1970.

Alignment: BIA-41 east of Slim Buttes to Pine Ridge (US-18)

History and Notes: Part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) highway system; runs through the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Alignment: Badlands Visitors Center to Manderson (BIA-28)

History and Notes: Part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) highway system; runs through the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Alignment: Wyoming border (WY-24) west of Belle Fourche to Minnesota border (MN-30) southeast of Flandreau

Distance: 431 miles

Freeway: Whitewood to Sturgis (co-sign with I-90)

Multi-lane Segments: Pierre; 3 miles east of Woonsocket to 4 miles east of Forestburg (co-sign with SD-37); Madison to SD-19 (co-sign with US-81)

Intersecting Interstates: I-29 at Colman; I-90 at Whitewood and Sturgis

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with I-90 and US-14 from Whitewood to Sturgis; with SD-79 from Sturgis to 4 miles east of Sturgis; with SD-73 from Howes to Billsburg; with US-14 from SD-63 to Pierre; with SD-47 from Stephan to Ft. Thompson; with SD-37 from 3 miles east of Woonsocket to 4 miles east of Forestburg; with SD-25 from 1 mile east of Roswell to 1 mile west of Howard; and with US-81 from 1 mile northwest of Winfred to Madison

Lewis and Clark Trail: Pierre to SD-50

History and Notes: In 1929, the western extent of SD-34 was at the SD-45 junction north of Gann Valley. By the early 1950's, the road was extended west to end in Pierre. A further extension was made around 1961, when it was extended past SD-73 and absorbed the former SD-24 to the Wyoming border.

The VFW name designation was passed by the South Dakota legislature in 2000.

In spring 2003, grading began on SD-34 to widen it 4 lanes, from 3 miles east of Woonsocket to 13 miles southeast of Woonsocket, on the multiplexed section with SD-37. This was completed in October 2004.

The segment of SD-34 from SD-63 to Ft. Pierre is part of the Native American Scenic Byway, which runs north into North Dakota and south to Chamberlain.

Attractions Along the Way: Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (Sturgis); Poker Alice House (Sturgis); Fort Meade Cavalry Museum (Sturgis); Sturgis Motorcycle Museum (Sturgis); Bear Butte State Park (northeast of Sturgis); Fort Pierre (Ft. Pierre); Verendrye Monument (Ft. Pierre); State Capitol (Pierre); South Dakota Discovery Center and Aquarium (Pierre); South Dakota National Guard Museum (Pierre); World War II Memorial (Pierre); Oahe Dam (north of Pierre); Lake Herman State Park (Madison); Prairie Village (Madison)

Links: Mr. Yamamoto's SD-34 Page

Alignment: SD-42 southwest of Emery to SD-50 east of Tyndall

History and Notes: Designation in place by 1936, replacing SD-27. The segment south of US-18 was renumbered as a part of SD-25 in 1976; the northern segment is currently an unnumbered county road.

Alignment: SD-79 south of Hermosa to (ALT US-16 at east edge of Custer State Park

Distance: 18 miles

History and Notes: Original alignment of SD-36 (1926) had the road extending along the current ALT-16 and US-16, ending at the Wyoming border. This was trimmed back around 1935. The road also served as US-216 in 1934.

Attractions Along the Way: Custer State Park (east of Custer); Black Hills Playhouse (northern part of Custer State Park); Flintstones Bedrock City (Custer); Custer County 1881 Courthouse (Custer)

Links: Mr. Yamamoto's SD-36 Page

Alignment: North Dakota border (ND-1) north of Hecla to Nebraska border (NE-14) at Running Water

Distance: 242 miles

Multi-lane Segments: Huron to Mitchell

Freeway Segments: Mitchell (co-signed with I-90)

NHS: Huron to Tyndall

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with SD-10 for 2 miles northeast of Houghton; with SD-20 for 3 miles south from Conde; with US-212 for 5 miles west from Doland; with SD-34 from 3 miles east of Woonsocket to 4 miles southeast of Forestburg; with I-90 for 2 miles through Mitchell; with SD-50 from 1 mile west of Tyndall to 5 miles west of Tyndall

Spurs and Alternates: TRUCK SD-37 in Huron

Lewis and Clark Trail: Segment multiplexed with SD-50

History and Notes: Alignment in place by 1927. The Huron to US-18 segment was co-signed as US-281 in the early to mid 1930's.

A new bridge across the Missouri River opened in 1998. Local residents had lobbied for the bridge for decades, as there was no crossing point for 40 miles in either direction.

SD-37 was realigned in the Mitchell area in 1999. Instead of going through town as in the past, it extends along the west edge of town to I-90, then multiplexes with I-90 to exit 332, before continuing south as before.

In spring 2003, grading began on SD-37 between SD-34 and the Davison/Sanborn county line, to add an additional set of 2 lanes. This is part of the "Eastern Dakota Expressway" project. This was completed in October 2004.

Dale Sanderson informed me of a "TRUCK" alignment in Huron:

There's a "Truck 37" in Huron. Heading south on mainline 37, traffic is routed west on US 14 one mile to Lincoln Av; south on Lincoln two miles; then there's a broad curve to the east and it becomes 21st St; in one mile is the reconnect with mainline 37.

Attractions Along the Way: South Dakota State Fair (Huron); Dakotaland Museum (Huron); Pyle House (Huron); Corn Palace (Mitchell); Soukup and Thomas International Balloon and Airship Museum (Mitchell); Dakota Discovery Museum (Mitchell); Enchanted World Doll Museum (Mitchell); Prehistoric Indian Village (north of Mitchell)

Alignment: US-18 north of Tripp to SD-37 south of Tripp

Distance: 1 mile

History and Notes: One of the few remaining "suffixed" state routes, this was a former alignment of SD-37 through Tripp. Designation created around 1960.

Alignment:
Segment 1: SD-37 at Springfield to Mike Durfee State Prison south of Springfield
Segment 2: SD-37 north of Running Water to Missouri River at Running Water

History and Notes: Segment 1 leads to the former University of South Dakota at Springfield, which became a prison in 1984. Segment 2 was the former south end of SD-37 before construction of the new bridge to Nebraska in 1998.

Alignment: Business Loop I-90 in Mitchell to I-29 northwest of Sioux Falls

Distance: 61 miles

Intersecting Interstates: I-90 near Buffalo Ridge; I-29 northwest of Sioux Falls

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with SD-19 through Humboldt

History and Notes: Original route from 1926, but was a bit bit further north, especially in the segment west from SD-19. The original west end was a few miles north of Alexandria at the US-16 junction; the east end was at the Iowa border, about a mile west of the Minnesota border at the old town of Benclare. The routing was straightened out in the 1940's and 1950.

Around 1940, SD-38 was realigned southeast from Sioux Falls to enter Iowa about a mile west of Benclare. This configuration remained in place until around 1995, when the east end of SD-38 was truncated to I-29. The old alignment between Sioux Falls and the Iowa line was replaced by a SD-42 extension.

The westward extension to Mitchell occurred in the late 1960's, after US-16 was realigned onto the newly constructed I-90.

Attractions Along the Way: Corn Palace (Mitchell); Soukup and Thomas International Balloon and Airship Museum (Mitchell); Dakota Discovery Museum (Mitchell); Enchanted World Doll Museum (Mitchell); Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum (Sioux Falls); Washington Pavilion of Arts and Sciences (Sioux Falls); USS South Dakota Memorial (Sioux Falls); Center for Western Studies (Sioux Falls); Sioux Empire Medical Museum (Sioux Falls); Old Courthouse Museum (Sioux Falls)

Alignment: Northern junction of I-29/SD-38 to SD-38, running along north and east sides of Sioux Falls

History and Notes: Designated around 1955, but decommissioned in 1994. This route is now unnumbered (except for the previous multiplexed segments).

Alignment:
Segment 1: SD-38 near Foster St. to near the intersection of Robert St. and Birch Ave., on the east side of Mitchell
Segment 2: SD-38 to I-90 exit 335 (Riverside Rd) east of Mitchell

History and Notes: Alignment of Segment 1 is inconclusive. This route, probably not marked, is likely to be related to some transportation-related business or other entity (perhaps related to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad in this area).

Alignment: Pactola to Iowa border east of Sioux Falls

History and Notes: Original 1926 routing of SD-40 extended from current US-385 west of Rapid City, then east along current SD-44, through the Badlands (old ALT US-16, now SD-240) to Belvidere, then south and east along current SD-63 and SD-44. Was co-signed as US-83 (now US-183) north to Presho, then along US-16 from Fulton east to the Iowa border. By 1929, the east end of SD-40 was truncated at US-83 (current US-183) near Witten.

In the late 1960's, SD-40 was rerouted to go southeast from the Badlands to SD-73 east of Wanblee. The old alignment of SD-40 between Belvidere and west of Cedar Butte became an extension of SD-63.

In the early 1970's, the entire route was redesignated a a part of SD-44, which had been extending its way westward in the 1950's and 1960's. A new SD-40 was implemented in 1976 about 15 miles further south, in Pennington and Custer Counties.

Alignment: ALT-US-16 at Keystone to Red Shirt (BIA-41)

Distance: 37 miles

History and Notes: This route was designated in 1976. The SD-40 designation had previously been used on what is now SD-44.

Attractions Along the Way: Mount Rushmore National Memorial (Keystone); Beautiful Rushmore Cave (Hayward); Borglum Historical Center (Keystone); Big Thunder Gold Mine (Keystone); 1880 Train (Keystone)

Alignment: Interior to Cedar Falls

History and Notes: This was a spur off the old SD-40 (current SD-44) alignment, on the southeast edge of the Badlands. It linked SD-40 with Alternate US-16, after SD-40 was rerouted southeast from the Badlands instead of northeast. Designated around 1970, it became SD-377 in 1976.

Alignment: SD-40 at Red Shirt to Nebraska border southwest of Pine Ridge

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with US-18 for 2 miles west of Oglala

History and Notes: Part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) highway system; runs through the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Alignment: US-18 near Armour to North Dakota border near Hecla

History and Notes: In place in 1926, the northern half of this route (north from Wolsey) became multiplexed with US-281 in the early 1930's. The multiplexed segments were dropped by 1936, and the north end of SD-41 was truncated to US-16 near Plankinton. The remaining segment, from Plankinton to US-18, was dropped in the early 1950's when the segment of US-281 south of Plankinton was realigned onto SD-41.

Alignment: Segment 1: US-281 near Stickney to Aurora/Davison County line
Segment 2: SD-37 near Ethan to Iowa border (IA-9) near Rowena

Distance: Segment 1: 6 miles. Segment 2: 84 miles.

Intersecting Interstates: I-29 on west side of Sioux Falls; I-229 on east side of Sioux Falls

Multi-lane Segments: Sioux Falls

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with SD-11 from the far east side of Sioux Falls to 2 miles west of Rowena; with BUSN I-29 and BUSN I-229 in Sioux Falls

History and Notes: The original SD-42 was designated around 1936, only consisting of the Ethan to Bridgewater segment. Around 1977, the route was extended east to SD-38 in Sioux Falls, after US-16 was realigned onto I-90.

The segment of SD-42 (then US-16) from near Bridgewater to Sioux Falls was part of the Custer Battlefield Highway, which had mostly followed US-16 across the state.

Around 1994, SD-42 was extended east from its previous terminus at West St. in Sioux Falls, replacing the SD-38 alignment to the Iowa border.

A new 6 mile segment of SD-42, betwen US-281 and the Davison County line, was introduced in the 1990's.

Legislation to connect the two segments of SD-42 was introduced during the 2005 legislative session. It appears to have failed, as a 2006 signed statute regarding SD-42 still lists a gap between SD-37 and the Davison/Aurora county line.

Attractions Along the Way: USS South Dakota Memorial, Washington Pavilion of Arts and Sciences, Old Courthouse Museum, Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum, Center for Western Studies, and Sioux Empire Medical Museum (all in Sioux Falls)

Alignment: Pukwana to old US-18 west of Lake Andes

History and Notes: Designated by 1932, and placed on what had been an old alignment of SD-45 when the latter was moved west 6 miles. This was changed to an extension of SD-50 around 1940.

Alignment: US-18 south of Fairfax to Nebraska border (NE-11) south of Fairfax

Distance: 1 mile

History and Notes: Designated around 1976. This road was US-281's original entrance into South Dakota. US-281 was moved about 9 miles east by 1962.

Links: Mr. Yamamoto's SD-43 Page

Alignment: US-385 east of Silver City to I-29 near Worthing

Distance: 382 miles

Intersecting Interstates: I-29 near Worthing

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with SD-79 through Rapid City; with US-83 for 3 miles south from White River; with US-183 from 3 miles east of Witten to 10 miles west of Winner; with US-18 from 10 miles west of Winner to Winner; with SD-50 from 2 miles east of the Missouri River to 7 miles east of Platte; with US-281 from 3 miles south of Corsica to 5 miles north of Armour; with SD-37 from Parker to 4 miles southeast of Parker

Lewis and Clark Trail: Platte to Douglas County line

History and Notes: The original SD-44, in 1926, only existed east of the present US-281 on what is largely now US-18. After US-18 was rerouted south of Parker along the general current alignment (in the mid 1930's), SD-44 remained in place only on the Parker to Iowa segment. By 1957, a second segment was added, from west of Platte to SD-37 near Parkston. By 1962, the segment in between (from SD-37 to SD-19) was added, with a planned extension westward to Winner; the road had reached Lake Francis Case by 1965, and by 1971, it was open to near Dixon (SD-47). Then by 1975, the extension to Winner was added, and SD-44 took over a large part of the SD-40 alignment. This westward extension from Winner utilized SD-40 to near the Washabaugh (now Jackson) and Mellette county lines, then west along a new road to near Potato Creek, north to Interior in the Badlands, then west again along old SD-40 to US-385.

Attractions Along the Way: Black Hills Caverns (west of Rapid City); Chapel in the Hills (west of Rapid City); Dinosaur Park (Rapid City); Museum of Geology (Rapid City); Reptile Gardens (Rapid City); The Journey (Rapid City); Badlands National Park (Interior)

Alignment: North Dakota border (ND-3) south of Ashley, ND, to Platte (SD-44/SD-50)

Distance: 198 miles

Freeway Segments: Kimball to 6 miles east of Kimball (co-sign with I-90)

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with SD-10 from 12 miles east of Eureka to Leola; with US-12 for 5 miles east from Ipswich; with SD-20 for 2 miles west of Cresbard; with US-212 from 5 miles east of Faulkton to 9 miles west of Rockham; with SD-26 for 1 mile in northern Hand County; with US-14 through Miller; with I-90 for 6 miles east from Kimball.

History and Notes: In place by 1927, with the south end near the Missouri River at the intersection of current SD-50 and Charles Mix CR-49. By 1932, it was extended south along what was part of SD-47 to Wheeler. By 1936, it was truncated at Kimball (US-16), with US-281 implemented on the US-16 to Wheeler segment. In the early 1950's, this US-281 segment was relocated to replace the remaining SD-41 several miles east, and SD-45 was extended onto the old US-281 alignment to end at SD-50. Around 1970, SD-50 had been realigned to intersect SD-44 west of Platte, and SD-45 was extended south along the old alignment to Platte, where it remains today.

On the north end, the route has remained in its current configuration since 1936.

Attractions Along the Way: Prayer Rock (Ipswich); South Dakota Tractor Museum (Kimball); 1935 Stratosphere Balloon Landing (southeast of Kimball)

Alignment: US-18/ US-281 at Pickstown to Iowa border (IA-10) south of Hudson

Distance: 107 miles

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with SD-50 from Wagner to 8 miles east of Wagner; with SD-19 from 4 miles east of Irene to 2 miles south of Centerville

Lewis and Clark Trail: Pickstown to SD-50 near the Bon Homme County line

History and Notes: The original alignment (circa 1936) only included the segment east from US-81. The western portion came into place around 1960.

SD-46 from Pickstown to the east junction of SD-50 is part of the Oyate Trail, which continues east to I-29 east of Vermillion, and west to the Wyoming border.

Attractions Along the Way: Fort Randall Dam (Pickstown); Fort Randall (southwest of Pickstown)

Alignment: West of Hudson to SD-46

History and Notes: A short spur off SD-46, designated around 1970. This was changed to SD-103 in 1976.

Alignment: North Dakota border north of Eureka to Nebraska border (NE-137) south of Burke

Distance: 245 miles

Intersecting Interstates: I-90 southeast of Reliance

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with SD-10 through Eureka; with US-12 for 7 miles west from Bowdle; with SD-20 from Hoven to 3 miles south of Hoven; with US-212 from 1 mile south of Lebanon to 3 miles east of Seneca; with SD-34 from near Stephan to Ft. Thompson; with US-18 from Gregory to Burke

Lewis and Clark Trail: North edge of Crow Creek Indian Reservation to Burke

History and Notes: Originally (circa 1927), SD-47 only extended from Pukwana to Wheeler, along what is now a part of SD-50 and Charles Mix CR-49. By 1932, the route was truncated at SD-45 near Platte, with the segment south of there becoming part of SD-45. By 1936, it had been extended north to Highmore.

Around 1939, the segment south of Pukwana became part of SD-43. SD-47 was rerouted west from Chamberlain to Oacoma, then south to Gregory.

Between 1948 and 1953, the south end of SD-47 was extended along US-18 from Gregory to Burke, then south to the Nebraska border.

Around 1955, the Oacoma to Iona segment was relocated further west, intersecting US-16 near Reliance. North from Reliance, a new road to Fort Thompson was built around 1965, and was designated SD-47W. In addition, SD-47 was extended north from Highmore to US-212, then west to Lebanon, north to US-12, east to Bowdle, north to Eureka. Around 1965, this was extended north to the North Dakota line.

By 1976, SD-47 was realigned again in central South Dakota. The new and improved alignment replaced SD-47W, with the Chamberlain to Fort Thompson segment designated as an extension of SD-50.

Attractions Along the Way: Eureka Pioneer Museum (Eureka); Cathedral on the Prairie (Hoven); Big Bend Dam (Fort Thompson)

Alignment: Reliance to Fort Thompson

History and Notes: A new road built around 1965, the designation was changed to SD-47 in 1976 after the main route was realigned.

Alignment: I-29 west of Spink to Iowa border (IA-403) west of Akron, IA

Distance: 13 miles

Intersecting Interstates: I-29 west of Spink

History and Notes: Designation assigned between 1948 and 1953.

Alignment: SD-47 southwest of Oacoma to US-18 at Colome

Distance: 37 miles

History and Notes: Route assignment given in 1976; was previously designated as SD-147.

Alignment: SD-34 east of Fort Thompson to Iowa border (IA-3) at Richland

Distance: 215 miles

Freeway: Chamberlain to Pukwana (co-sign with I-90)

Multi-lane Segments: Yankton; James River east of Yankton to I-29

Intersecting Interstates: I-90 at Chamberlain and Pukwana; I-29 at Junction City

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with BUSN I-90 from Chamberlain to I-90; with I-90 from near Chamberlain to south of Pukwana; with SD-44 from 2 miles east of the Missouri River to 8 miles east of Platte; with US-18 and US-281 from Lake Andes to 4 miles east of Ravinia; with SD-46 for 8 miles east from Wagner; with SD-37 from 5 miles east of Avon to 1 mile west of Tyndall; with SD-52 for 5 miles between Tabor and Yankton; with US-81 through Yankton

Spurs and Alternates: Business SD-50 through Vermillion (along original SD-50 alignment, simply labeled "Business Route")

Lewis and Clark Trail: SD-34 to Lake Andes; Wagner to I-29

History and Notes: Original routing of SD-50 (1926) had the route using what is now US-18 from the Wyoming border to Bonesteel, then using current SD-50 to current I-29, and extending south to Sioux City, IA. By 1929, the west end was truncated to US-18 northwest of Wagner. Around 1940, the west end was brought northwest to Pukwana, absorbing old SD-43.

Around 1950, the east end of SD-50 was rerouted off the US-77 alignment, and headed east to the Iowa border near Richland.

In 1976, SD-50 was extended west along I-90 to Chamberlain, then north along what was SD-47 to Fort Thompson, after SD-47 was rerouted over old SD-47W.

"Sunshine Highway" was the original named route of the present-day SD-50.

SD-50 from Pickstown to I-29 is part of the Oyate Trail, which continues west to the Wyoming border. The north end between Ft. Thompson and Chamberlain is part of the Native American Scenic Byway, which runs north into North Dakota.

Attractions Along the Way: Big Bend Dam (Fort Thompson); Akta Lakota Museum (Chamberlain); South Dakota Hall of Fame (Chamberlain); Cramer-Kenyon Heritage Home (Yankton); Dakota Territorial Capitol (Yankton); Lewis and Clark Visitors Center and Gavins Point Dam (Yankton); National Music Museum (Vermillion); W.H. Over State Museum (Vermillion); Austin-Whittenmore Home (Vermillion)

Links: Lewis and Clark Trail information (South Dakota Department of Tourism)

Alignment: Segment 1: Oglala to Oelrichs
Segment 2: Edgemont (US-18) to SD-71 near Rumford

History and Notes: Segment 1 was designated in the mid 1920's, and existed to around 1950, when US-18 was realigned onto this route. Segment 2 existed from 1951 to 1975, and is now SD-471.

Alignment: SD-37 north of Springfield to Yankton (US-81)

Distance: 43 miles

Multiplexing: Shared alignment with SD-50 for 5 miles between Tabor and the Missouri River

History and Notes: Designated in the mid 1950's.

Attractions Along the Way: Lewis and Clark Visitors Center and Gavins Point Dam (Yankton); Cramer-Kenyon Heritage Home (Yankton)

Alignment: US-18, 4.3 miles east of Shannon/Fall River county line, to BIA-41

History and Notes: Part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) highway system; runs through the west edge of the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Alignment: Segment 1: Vivian (I-90/US-83) to SD-44 east of Wood
Segment 2: US-18 west of Winner to 1 mile west of Clearfield

Distance: Segment 1: 33 miles. Segment 2: 15 miles

Intersecting Interstates: I-90 at Vivian

Unpaved Segments: 10 miles south of Vivian to SD-44

History and Notes: 1926 alignment had SD-53 running north-south throughout South Dakota; the segment from Vivian to the North Dakota border evolved into US-83 by 1929, and SD-53 was pulled back to Pierre. The Presho to Nebraska segment was co-signed with US-183. By 1936, the northern end of the route was truncated to Vivian, and then realigned due south to SD-40.

Segment 2 south of US-18 was added between 1965 and 1971.

Alignment: Fairfax to Nebraska border 10 miles east southeast of Fairfax

History and Notes: A short route, implemented around 1927. It originally met NE-18. Around 1953, US-18 was rerouted onto most of this route, and SD-54 was limited to the 1 mile segment north of the border. The remaining segment was eliminated around 1960, when US-281's connection to South Dakota was moved to this road.

Alignment: Presho to near Winner

History and Notes: 1926 alignment which followed current US-183. This was absorbed by US-83 and SD-53 by 1932.

Alignment: Murdo to Nebraska border southeast of Rosebud

History and Notes: Previously known as SD-63, SD-59 was designated by 1927, and multiplexed with US-183 (current US-83). Designation eliminated by 1936.