View source for U.S. Route 212

{{Short description|U.S. Numbered Highway in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox road
|country=USA
|type=US
|route=212
|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=210|frame-lat=45.254|frame-long=-101.735|zoom=4|type=line|from=U.S. Route 212.map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=US&nbsp;212 highlighted in red
|length_mi=949
|spur_type=US
|spur_of=12
|established=1926
|direction_a=West
|direction_b=East
|terminus_a=[[Yellowstone National Park]]
|junction={{plainlist|
*{{Jct|state=MT|I|90|US|310}} in [[Laurel, Montana|Laurel, MT]]
*{{Jct|state=MT|I|94}} in [[Lockwood, Montana|Lockwood, MT]]
*{{Jct|state=SD|US|85}} in [[Belle Fourche, South Dakota|Belle Fourche, SD]]
*{{Jct|state=SD|I|29}} in [[Watertown, South Dakota|Watertown, SD]]
*{{Jct|state=MN|US|71}} in [[Olivia, Minnesota|Olivia, MN]]
}}
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=MN|US|169|MN|62}} in [[Edina, Minnesota|Edina, MN]]
|states=[[Montana]], [[Wyoming]], [[South Dakota]], [[Minnesota]]}}

'''U.S. Route 212''' (US&nbsp;212) is a spur of [[U.S. Route 12|US&nbsp;12]]. It runs for {{convert|949|mi|km}} from [[Yellowstone National Park]] to [[Minnesota State Highway 62 (Hennepin–Dakota counties)|Minnesota Highway 62]] at [[Edina, Minnesota]]. It does not intersect US 12 now, but it once had an eastern terminus at US 12 in [[St. Paul, Minnesota]]. US 212 passes through the states of [[Minnesota]], [[South Dakota]], [[Wyoming]], and [[Montana]]. It goes through the cities of [[Watertown, South Dakota]] and [[Billings, Montana]].

==Route description==

===Montana and Wyoming===
[[Image:US 212 looking southeast into Wyoming.jpg|thumb|US&nbsp;212 looking southeast into Wyoming from Montana]]
{{Main|Beartooth Highway}}

While the official western terminus of US&nbsp;212 is at the [[Northeast Entrance Station|Northeast Entrance]] of [[Yellowstone National Park]] near the Wyoming–Montana state line, some commercially produced maps show the highway within the park itself, contiguous with Northeast Entrance Road, starting from its western end at Tower Junction on the Grand Loop. From the park, US&nbsp;212 heads east through [[Cooke City, Montana]], then crosses the Wyoming state line and re-emerges into Montana approximately {{convert|38|mi|km}} later. The section of US&nbsp;212 between Cooke City and [[Red Lodge, Montana|Red Lodge]] is known as the [[Beartooth Highway]]. Rising to an elevation of {{convert|10974|ft|m}} above sea level at Beartooth Pass, the highway traces the historical route of [[American Civil War|Civil War]] General [[Philip Sheridan]] over the [[Beartooth Mountains]]. In his book ''Dateline America'' published in 1979, the late [[CBS]] correspondent [[Charles Kuralt]] referred to the highway as "the most beautiful drive in America".<ref name="public_roads">{{cite journal |url = http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/06jul/03.htm |title = An Orphaned Highway |date = July–August 2006 |last1 = Kulbacki |first1 = Michael |last2 = McCauley |first2 = Bert |last3 = Moler |first3 = Steve |access-date = August 14, 2008 |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |journal = Public Roads |archive-date = September 17, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080917202554/http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/06jul/03.htm |url-status = dead }}</ref>

[[Image:US_212_looking_west_from_Vista_Point,_Montana.jpg|thumb|US&nbsp;212 looking west from Vista Point towards the [[Beartooth Mountains]]. Along this series of switchbacks, US&nbsp;212 climbs over {{convert|3000|ft|m|-1}} to Beartooth Pass.]]

Running northeast from the Beartooth Mountains, US&nbsp;212 joins [[U.S. Route 310|US&nbsp;310]] before passing into the town of [[Laurel, Montana]]. Here US&nbsp;212 joins [[Interstate 90]] (I-90) eastbound, while US&nbsp;310 ends. Together, US&nbsp;212 and I-90 run east through [[Billings, Montana|Billings]] to the town of [[Crow Agency, Montana|Crow Agency]] between mile markers 434 and 510, a distance of {{convert|76|mi|km}}.<ref name="montana_state_map">{{cite map |author = Montana Department of Transportation |author-link = Montana Department of Transportation |year = 2007 |title = Official 2007–2008 Montana Travel Highway Map |url = http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/docs/2007_2008_mt_highway_map.pdf |format = PDF |scale = Scale not given |location = Helena |publisher = Montana Department of Transportation |access-date = August 12, 2008 }}</ref>

Within the [[Crow Nation|Crow Indian Reservation]], US&nbsp;212 leaves I-90 and runs east and southeast through the high plains of Montana. It is the main east–west road through the [[Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation]]. Southeast of [[Alzada, Montana|Alzada]], US&nbsp;212 recrosses the Wyoming state line; after about {{convert|20.3|mi|km|1}}, US&nbsp;212 enters [[South Dakota]].<ref name="montana_state_map" /><ref>[https://maps.google.com Google Maps] estimate.</ref> For the entire length of US&nbsp;212 in Montana between I-90 and the Wyoming state line, it is also known as the Warrior Trail Highway.<ref name="montana_code">{{cite web |url = http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/mca/60/1/60-1-214.htm |publisher = Montana Legislative Services |title = 60-1-214. Warrior trail highway. |year = 2007 |access-date = August 14, 2008 }}</ref>

===South Dakota===

US&nbsp;212 enters South Dakota near the junction of the Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota state lines, and continues southeast to [[Belle Fourche, South Dakota|Belle Fourche]]. Here it intersects [[U.S. Route 85|US&nbsp;85]], and then continues eastward, skirting the southern end of the [[Belle Fourche Reservoir]].

It continues east, passing the town of [[Nisland, South Dakota|Nisland]], until connecting with [[South Dakota Highway 79]] (SD&nbsp;79) south of [[Newell, South Dakota|Newell]]. It runs north into Newell, then turns generally east again, passing through the town of [[Faith, South Dakota|Faith]] and entering the [[Cheyenne River Indian Reservation]]. US&nbsp;212 then passes through [[Dupree, South Dakota|Dupree]] and [[North Eagle Butte, South Dakota|North Eagle Butte]], finally crossing the Missouri River.

Continuing east, it then intersects (and is co-signed briefly) with [[U.S. Route 83|US&nbsp;83]] near [[Gettysburg, South Dakota|Gettysburg]] and then continues eastward, passing through Gettysburg, [[Seneca, South Dakota|Seneca]], and [[Faulkton, South Dakota|Faulkton]]. It intersects with [[South Dakota Highway 45|SD&nbsp;45]], where it is cosigned for a brief southern leg, before turning eastward again and passing through [[Rockham, South Dakota|Rockham]], [[Zell, South Dakota|Zell]] and [[Redfield, South Dakota|Redfield]], where it intersects with [[U.S. Route 281|US&nbsp;281]].

Continuing east, US&nbsp;212 passes through [[Clark, South Dakota|Clark]], before entering [[Watertown, South Dakota|Watertown]], following 9th Avenue SW. Just east of Watertown, it intersects with [[Interstate 29|I-29]] and continues east of the Minnesota state line. 
[[Image:Hwy212.jpg|thumb|US&nbsp;212 near Carpenter, South Dakota]]
[[Image:US 212 sign nearly buried in snow.JPG|thumb|right|US&nbsp;212 sign nearly buried in snow during late May 2009 in Wyoming]]
Legally, the South Dakota section of US&nbsp;212 is defined at South Dakota Codified Laws § 31-4-206.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=31-4-206|title = South Dakota Legislature}}</ref>

===Minnesota===
{{Main|U.S. Route 212 in Minnesota}}
The {{convert|160|mi|km}} of US&nbsp;212 in Minnesota are officially designated Minnesota Veterans Memorial Highway. Yellowstone Trail is the original name designation for this same stretch of US&nbsp;212 from the auto trail days. Yellowstone Trail was one of the first designated names written into law in the state.

The route in Minnesota connects the cities of [[Montevideo, Minnesota|Montevideo]], [[Granite Falls, Minnesota|Granite Falls]], [[Olivia, Minnesota|Olivia]], [[Glencoe, Minnesota|Glencoe]], [[Norwood Young America, Minnesota|Norwood Young America]], and the southwest suburbs of [[Minneapolis]].

Legally, the Minnesota section of US&nbsp;212 is defined as Routes 155, 12, 187, and 260 in Minnesota Statutes §§ 161.114(2) and 161.115(86), (118), and (191).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/161.114|title=Sec. 161.114 MN Statutes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/161.115|title=Sec. 161.115 MN Statutes}}</ref>

==Major intersections==
;Montana (western segment)
: Northeast Entrance Road at the [[Northeast Entrance Station|northeast entrance]] to [[Yellowstone National Park]], west of [[Silver Gate, Montana|Silver Gate]]
;Wyoming
: No major intersections
;Montana (eastern segment)
: {{jct|country=USA|US|310}} north-northwest of [[Edgar, Montana|Edgar]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Laurel, Montana|Laurel]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|90|US|310}} in Laurel. I-90/US&nbsp;212 travels concurrently to [[Crow Agency, Montana|Crow Agency]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|87}} in [[Lockwood, Montana|Lockwood]]. The highways travel concurrently to Crow Agency.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|94}} in Lockwood
;South Dakota
: {{jct|country=USA|US|85}} in [[Belle Fourche, South Dakota|Belle Fourche]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|83}} west of [[Gettysburg, South Dakota|Gettysburg]]. The highways travel concurrently for approximately {{convert|0.9|mi|km}}.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|281}} in [[Redfield, South Dakota|Redfield]]. The highways travel concurrently through Redfield.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|81}} in [[Watertown, South Dakota|Watertown]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|29}} in Watertown
;Minnesota
: {{jct|country=USA|US|75}} south of [[Madison, Minnesota|Madison]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|59}} west-southwest of [[Montevideo, Minnesota|Montevideo]]. The highways travel concurrently to Montevideo.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|71}} in [[Olivia, Minnesota|Olivia]]. The highways travel concurrently through Olivia.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|494}} in [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota|Eden Prairie]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|169}} in Eden Prairie

==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|U.S. Roads}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
{{US 12}}

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{{wy browse|previous_type=WY|previous_route=211|route=[[State highways in Wyoming|WY]]|next_type=WY|next_route=212}}
{{mt browse|previous_type=MT|previous_route=200S|route=[[List of Montana numbered highways|MT]]|next_type=US|next_route=287}}
{{sd browse|previous_type=SD|previous_route=204|route=[[List of South Dakota numbered highways|SD]]|next_type=SD|next_route=214}}
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[[Category:United States Numbered Highway System|12-2]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Montana|12-2]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in South Dakota|12-2]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Wyoming|12-2]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 12|2]]