Anytime I take a ride in the car, I’m usually scoping out the license plates on the vehicles around me to see how many states and provinces I can spot.  Just going about a mile through Deadwood I spotted Saskatchewan, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, New York and Nebraska.

I wouldn’t be surprised to find all the states before the summer ends. The time of year for summer road trips is here, and we can only expect the roads to get busier. There are still plenty of big events, including the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, that will undoubtedly attract a pretty good amount (meaning a couple thousand) of visitors from all over.

It always feels like the increased traffic comes along with an increase in road construction. For anyone hopping into their campers, packing their cars or taking out their motorcycles, here are some helpful sites to plan your road trip route to the Black Hills.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation Website has a map of road construction sites throughout the entire state. They’ve got a description of the work being done, any delays involved and the expected date of completion. Safe Travel USA also provides the locations of road construction along with weather and traffic conditions. And let’s not forget about America’s Traveler Information phone number, 511.

Safe travels! Hope you enjoy your venture to the Black Hills! I’ll be looking for your license plate soon.