Needles Highway

[scarletbison]

Currently sitting outside Devils Tower and going to hike it tomorrow. Wife wants to know if we can take Needles Highway in our AI. We have the 24.5 ‘ EXT model.

Any thoughts?

[Schmitte]

We did that drive in early June. Great fun, especially watching the look on people’s faces when we would go though the tunnels. Plenty of clearance on Needles and Iron Mountain. I avoided the Hood Tunnel on HWY 87 as there was only 1” clearance on the height
This is Needles Eye

[Tronadora]

Yes, highly recommend Needles Hwy. Very scenic. The passage through the Eye of the Needle is self regulated... people get out and watch for whether it's clear for your direction to send a few vehicles, or one at a time... there's no rules. Like Schmitte, we had to avoid the one tunnel... they post signs with width and height limits ahead of time so you can avoid that one tunnel.

[VanDiesel]

Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Tunnels are OK with Airstream Interstate Lounge with Winegard dish on top...

My original post is included and my follow up after the trip confirming the clearance.

ORIGINAL POST:
Tunnel width and height restrictions on Needles Highway, Black Hills South Dakota. I have read most of the posts here and on other web pages about width restrictions, but none really address the height restrictions completely.

There are a few web posts out there that say that they have made it through the Needles Tunnels with a Class C and claim the lowest tunnel height of 11' 3".

I have rode through the Black Hills on my Harley many many many times, but never in an RV. Those familiar with the Black Hills they give you a paper map as you enter them. This Map lists the lowest tunnel height as 9'8".

My Class B with all the stuff on top is 9'10".

I've seen the videos of the tour buses going through and called the companies and asked the height of their buses, but they haven't measured them and didn't know.

Can anyone confirm that they have made it through ALL of the Needles Highway Tunnels with an RV that is 9'10" or higher?

FOLLOW UP POST:
UPDATE to earlier post: I finished the trip through the Black Hills, including both the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road. My Class B Airstream Interstate Lounge (Mercedes Sprinter Base) has a height of 9'10" with all the stuff on top (AC, Winegard...)

I easily cleared the height of all tunnels with no problems.

I had no issues with width as sprinters are narrow and easily fit through all the tunnels.

I hope this helps future travelers.

[s1000pre]

I watched a coach go through the tunnel at the top...you shouldn't have any issues.

[Dennis C]

Go slow! I went through it last fall with just my truck, and it was tight! I think an Aiestream could make it through, but you’ll need to be careful and watch the sides carefully as you go.