Wyoming Highway 24

Wyoming Highway 24 (WYO 24), also known as the Bear Lodge Highway, is a 46.72-mile (75.19 km) state highway in Crook County, Wyoming, United States. that connects U.S. Route 14 (US 14) in Carlile Junction with South Dakota Highway 34 (SD 34) at the South Dakota state line. The route passes through the northern portion of the Bear Lodge Mountains, part of the Black Hills National Forest. The highway also passes by Devils Tower National Monument.^[1]

WYO 24 northbound toward Devils Tower, June 2004

Wyoming Highway 24
Bear Lodge Highway
WYO 24 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by WYDOT
Length	46.26 mi (74.45 km)
Existed	1961–present
Major junctions
West end	US 14 at Carlile Junction
Major intersections	WYO 110 at Devils Tower WYO 112 in Hulett WYO 111 in Aladdin
East end	SD 34 at the South Dakota state line
Location
Country	United States
State	Wyoming
Counties	Crook
Highway system
Wyoming State Highway System Interstate US State
← WYO 22 → I-25
← WYO 487 → WYO 530

Route description

WYO 24 near Devils Tower, August 2011

WYO 24 is begins at US 14 in Carlile Junction (also known as Devils Tower Junction). From its western terminus, it travels in a north–south direction, although the route is signed east–west. It is mainly a two-lane highway from US 14 to near Devils Tower National Monument. When it gets to Devils Tower, it spawns a short spur, Wyoming Highway 110 (WYO 110). After passing by WYO 110, it curves northeast-southwest. The road reaches Hulett, where it intersects Wyoming Highway 112. In Hulett, WYO 24 is dubbed Main Street and A Street. Moving on, WYO 24 curves to the signed east–west orientation, but curves northwest-southeast. WYO 24 passes by some gulches, most notably Reservoir Gulch and Lucky Gulch. WYO 24 then turns south, then generally follows the east–west orientation. It then intersects Wyoming Highway 111 a short time later. There are no further major junctions and towns on the route, as WYO 24 crosses the state line and becomes SD 34.^{[citation needed]}

History

WYO 24 was not in the original State Highway grid until 1961. The predecessor to this route was Wyoming Highway 514.^{[citation needed]}

In 2018, the speed limit on WYO 24 near Devils Tower was reduced from 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) to 45 mph (72 km/h) due to higher traffic volumes during peak travel seasons and the road's history of collisions.^[2] The monument had its highest visitor count in 2021, which saw traffic jams from the entrance that slowed a section of WYO 24.^[3]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Crook County. ^[4]

Location[4]	mi[5][6]	km	Destinations	Notes
Carlile Junction	0.00	0.00	US 14 north – Sundance, Spearfish (South Dakota) US 14 south – Moorcroft, Gillette	Western terminus; T intersection
Devils Tower	5.98	9.62	WYO 110 west (Devils Tower Monument Road) – Devils Tower	Eastern terminus of WYO 110; T intersection
Hulett	14.79	23.80	Bridge over Belle Fourche River
	15.13	24.35	WYO 112 north (Hulett–Alzada Highway) – Alzada (Montana)	Southern terminus of WYO 112; T intersection
	15.35	24.70	Bridge over Belle Fourche River
Aladdin	39.26	63.18	WYO 111 south – I-90/US 14	Northern terminus of WYO 111; T intersection
​	46.26	74.45	South Dakota State Line	Eastern terminus
			SD 34 east – Belle Fourche, Sturgis, Pierre	Continuation east beyond eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

• U.S. Roads portal
• Wyoming portal

• List of state highways in Wyoming

References

1. O'Clair, Jim (September 23, 2018). "Wyoming's Highway 24". Hemmings Motor News. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
2. "Reduced speed limit in effect near Devils Tower". The Sheridan Press. May 25, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
3. Cook, Hugh (February 4, 2022). "Devils Tower experienced a record 2021, and officials are planning for a future of increased tourism". Wyoming Public Radio. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
4. Geography Division (2016). "Wyoming Governmental Unit Reference Map". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
5. "Reference Marker Book" (PDF) (Map). dot.state.wy.us. Wyoming Department of Transportation. November 2004. p. 168. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
6. "WYO 24" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved February 15, 2014.

External links

Template:Attached KML/Wyoming Highway 24

KML is from Wikidata

• Wyoming Routes 000-099
• WYO 24 - SD-34/South Dakota State Line to WYO 111
• WYO 24 - WYO 111 to WYO 112
• WYO 24 - WYO 112 to WYO 110
• WYO 24 - WYO 110 to US 14