U.S. Route 85
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 85 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1479 miles (2,380.2 km) in the Mountain - Northern Plains states of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the United States-Mexico border in El Paso
, Texas
, connecting with Mexican Federal Highway 45
. The northern terminus is at the United States-Canada border in Fortuna
, North Dakota
, where the route continues north as Saskatchewan Highway 35
. In both the United States and Saskatchewan
, Canada
the route is known as the CanAm Highway
.
|TX
|21
|34
|-
|NM
|483
|777
|-
|CO
|310
|499
|-
|WY
|256
|412
|-
|SD
|154
|248
|-
|ND
|255
|410
|-
|Total
|1479
|2380
|}
The highway passes through Texas
, New Mexico
, Colorado
, Wyoming
, South Dakota
, and North Dakota
.
, beginning at the Santa Fe Street Bridge
, and following Santa Fe street, then Paisano Drive westward, along the Rio Grande
until Paisano Drive ends where it joins with I-10, about 14 miles (22.5 km) before both reach the New Mexico border. The route is concurrent with Interstate 10 for the remainder of its route within Texas.
The original route of US 85 in Texas had the highway concurrent with Doniphan Drive (after Paisano Drive), and parallelling the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
through the Mesilla Valley
communities of Canutillo
, Vinton
and Anthony
before crossing the Texas/New Mexico state line in Anthony, New Mexico
, then following the road which is now New Mexico State Road 478 up the Mesilla Valley to Las Cruces
. This route is marked as Texas State Highway 20 north of the intersection with Mesa Street/Country Club Drive.
U.S. 85 in New Mexico is entirely concurrent with Interstate Routes. For the first 20 miles (32.2 km) it shares its route with I-10, then continues north for the remainder of its length in New Mexico concurrent with I-25. It is not signed. US-85 was de-signed in segments between 1970 and 1990 as I-25 was built through the state. I-25 between Bernalillo
and a point just south of Santa Fe
was built over the old US-85 alignment. I-25 was also built directly over US-85 from east of Santa Fe to Las Vegas
and from US-64 to the Colorado border at Raton Pass
.
The original route from Anthony
to Las Cruces
is now signed as New Mexico State Road 478. The original route from Las Cruces to Hatch
is now signed as New Mexico State Road 185; New Mexico State Road 187 south of Truth or Consequences
(T or C); New Mexico State Road 181 north of T or C; New Mexico State Road 1 from Redrock to Socorro
; New Mexico State Road 314 from Belen
to Albuquerque
; New Mexico State Road 313 from Albuquerque to Bernalillo; New Mexico State Road 14 and New Mexico State Road 466 through Santa Fe; and New Mexico State Road 445 from Maxwell to US Route 64 Remnant US-85 signs can still be seen on Fourth Street in downtown Albuquerque, the original route through the city before I-25 was built.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation has removed US-85 from its route logs, but the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) retains US-85 on a concurrent alignment with I-10 and I-25 to maintain continuity with signed segments in Texas and Colorado.
from New Mexico concurrent with I-25
but is not signed. US-85 leaves I-25 at Exit 128 and follows Santa Fe Avenue through Fountain
before turning west briefly onto Lake Avenue, then turning north following Nevada Avenue through Colorado Springs
before rejoining I-25 at Exit 148. Approaching the south side of Denver
, US-85 again leaves I-25 at Exit 182. From there it heads west and north as a two lane rural highway. It becomes an expressway near Chatfield Lake and the southern Denver suburbs of Littleton
and Englewood
. It continues north through Denver for a few miles before once again joining with I-25 at mile marker 207. There it becomes a concurrency with U.S. Route 87
as well as I-25 and heads north through downtown Denver. At exit 214 U.S. 85 turns east and becomes a concurrency with Interstate 70
and U.S. Route 6
for about a mile where it exits with U.S. 6 and heads northeast through Commerce City
. In just a few miles the U.S. 6/U.S. 85 concurrency merges with Interstate 76 at mile marker 9. They travel concurrently for 3 miles (4.8 km) until exit 12 when U.S. 85 becomes an expressway and continues north out of the Denver area through Brighton
. From there it parallels I-25 for about 75 miles (120.7 km) passing through Fort Lupton
, Platteville
, Evans
, Greeley
, and Eaton
before crossing into Wyoming
.
. In Cheyenne it joins with Business Route 87, and a mile later with Interstate 180
until it meets with U.S. Route 30. The segment with I-180 is the only fully at-grade interstate route in the U.S. http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-180_wy.html At exit 12, it joins with I-25 and U.S. Route 87 in a concurrency for 5 miles (8 km) until US 85 leaves at exit 17 and travels northeast towards Meriden
. From there it heads north to Torrington
, where it meets with U.S. Route 26 and concurrencies for 10 miles (16.1 km) until Lingle
, and 47 miles (75.6 km) later it meets U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 18 at Lusk
. It shares the next 47 miles (75.6 km) with US 18 and 33 miles (53.1 km) later meets U.S. Route 16 near Newcastle
. From here it is 29 miles (46.7 km) until it enters South Dakota
in the Black Hills
.
section of U.S 85., with the exception of two concurrencies
with U.S. 14 Alternate and a concurrency with Interstate 90
, is defined at South Dakota Codified Laws § 31-4-181.
U.S. 85 enters the Black Hills
from Wyoming and travels northeast until it meets with U.S. 14 Alternate east. The two routes form a concurrency from there until I-90 where U.S. 85 overlaps for 8 miles (12.9 km) while heading west. At exit 10 U.S. 85 heads back north towards Belle Fourche where it crosses U.S. 212. From there it continues to North Dakota
passing only through the small towns of Redig
, Buffalo
, and Ludlow
.
in the southwest part of the state. The first city on its route is Bowman
at the junction of U.S. Route 12
. Continuing north, it passes between North Dakota's two highest points, White Butte
and Black Butte. Near Amidon
it heads east for 9 miles (14.5 km) before going back north along the Little Missouri National Grassland
for about 125 miles (201.2 km). Near Belfield
it junctions with Interstate 94
. After forming a concurrency with North Dakota Highway 200
, it eventually passes through part of the scenic Badlands
, crosses the Little Missouri river
and passes near the Theodore Roosevelt National Park
(North Unit).
Then, at Watford City it travels west for 16 miles (25.7 km) where it turns back north before Alexander
. U.S. 85 continues north as North Dakota 200 turns west toward Montana. South of Williston
it crosses the Missouri River
. A few miles later it meets with U.S. Route 2
where the two overlap for 19 miles (30.6 km) as an expressway
, which now bypasses Williston to the northwest. After U.S. 2 heads east U.S. 85 continues north to a concurrency with North Dakota Highway 5
. From there it is 7 miles (11.3 km) to Fortuna
where U.S. 85 heads back north for its remaining 6 miles (9.7 km) to the U.S./Canada border.
to then-U.S. Route 66
(now SR 6) in Los Lunas, New Mexico
(south of Albuquerque
) was shown as U.S. Route 466 in an early 1925 plan for the U.S. Highway System. This north–south route was never signed in the field; instead, the route was designated as part of US 85. This proposed routing is often referred to as "US 466 (I)" to distinguish it from the later, signed US 466
.
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, connecting with Mexican Federal Highway 45
Mexican Federal Highway 45
Mexican Federal Highway 45 connects Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, to Panales, Hidalgo.It is located in the north of Mexico connecting Portezuelo in Hidalgo to Ciudad Juárez in Chihuahua...
. The northern terminus is at the United States-Canada border in Fortuna
Fortuna, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 31 people, 17 households, and 8 families residing in the city. The population density was 31.0 people per square mile . There were 39 housing units at an average density of 39.0 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White...
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, where the route continues north as Saskatchewan Highway 35
Saskatchewan Highway 35
Highway 35 is a paved undivided provincial highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from the US Border near Port of Oungre to a dead end near the north shore of Tobin Lake. Saskatchewan Highway 35 SK Hwy 35) is about long. The CanAm Highway comprises Saskatchewan Highways 35,...
. In both the United States and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
the route is known as the CanAm Highway
CanAm Highway
CanAm Highway passes through these states in the United States; Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, as well as the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. The international Can-Am Highway travels along U.S. Route 85 and Interstate 25, connecting Mexico to Canada through...
.
Route description
|-|TX
U.S. Route 85 in Texas
U.S. Highway 85 or US 85 is a route in the system of United States Numbered Highways maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation . The Texas portion of US 85 is located entirely within El Paso County beginning at the U.S.-Mexico border between the city of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua...
|21
|34
|-
|NM
|483
|777
|-
|CO
|310
|499
|-
|WY
|256
|412
|-
|SD
|154
|248
|-
|ND
|255
|410
|-
|Total
|1479
|2380
|}
The highway passes through Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, and North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
.
Texas
US 85 in Texas begins at the United States/Mexico border with U.S. 62 and travels north through El PasoEl Paso
El Paso, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, on the border with Mexico.El Paso may also refer to:-Geography:Colombia:* El Paso, CesarSpain:*El Paso, Santa Cruz de TenerifeUnited States:...
, beginning at the Santa Fe Street Bridge
Paso del Norte International Bridge
The Paso del Norte International Bridge is an international bridge which crosses the Rio Grande connecting the United States-Mexico border cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. The bridge is also known as "Paso del Norte Bridge", "Santa Fe Street Bridge", "Puente Benito Juárez",...
, and following Santa Fe street, then Paisano Drive westward, along the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
until Paisano Drive ends where it joins with I-10, about 14 miles (22.5 km) before both reach the New Mexico border. The route is concurrent with Interstate 10 for the remainder of its route within Texas.
The original route of US 85 in Texas had the highway concurrent with Doniphan Drive (after Paisano Drive), and parallelling the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
through the Mesilla Valley
Mesilla Valley
The Mesilla Valley is a geographic feature of Southern New Mexico and far West Texas. It was formed by repeated heavy spring floods of the Rio Grande.The fertile Mesilla Valley extends from about Hatch, New Mexico to the west side of El Paso, Texas...
communities of Canutillo
Canutillo, Texas
Canutillo is a census-designated place in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,129 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Canutillo is located at ....
, Vinton
Vinton, Texas
Vinton is a village in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,892 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Vinton is located at...
and Anthony
Anthony, Texas
Anthony is an incorporated town in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,850 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Anthony is located at ....
before crossing the Texas/New Mexico state line in Anthony, New Mexico
Anthony, New Mexico
Anthony is a city in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA. The population was 7,904 at the 2000 census. It is located on the New Mexico–Texas state line in the Upper Mesilla Valley, and on Interstate 10, 27 miles south of Las Cruces and 21 miles north of El Paso, Texas...
, then following the road which is now New Mexico State Road 478 up the Mesilla Valley to Las Cruces
Las Cruces
Las Cruces could refer to:* Battle of Monte de las Cruces* Las Cruces, California* Las Cruces, Chile* Las Cruces, New Mexico ** The main campus of New Mexico State University...
. This route is marked as Texas State Highway 20 north of the intersection with Mesa Street/Country Club Drive.
New Mexico
Bernalillo, New Mexico
Bernalillo is a town in Sandoval County, New Mexico, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 6,611. It is the county seat of Sandoval County.Bernalillo is part of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and a point just south of Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
was built over the old US-85 alignment. I-25 was also built directly over US-85 from east of Santa Fe to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Las Vegas is a city in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. Once two separate municipalities both named Las Vegas, west Las Vegas and east Las Vegas , divided by the Gallinas River, retain distinct characters and separate, rival school districts. The population was 14,565 at the 2000...
and from US-64 to the Colorado border at Raton Pass
Raton Pass
Raton Pass is a mountain pass on the Santa Fe Trail along the Colorado-New Mexico border in the United States. Raton Pass is a federally designated National Historic Landmark...
.
The original route from Anthony
Anthony, New Mexico
Anthony is a city in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA. The population was 7,904 at the 2000 census. It is located on the New Mexico–Texas state line in the Upper Mesilla Valley, and on Interstate 10, 27 miles south of Las Cruces and 21 miles north of El Paso, Texas...
to Las Cruces
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
is now signed as New Mexico State Road 478. The original route from Las Cruces to Hatch
Hatch, New Mexico
Hatch is a village in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,673 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is experiencing moderate growth, along with its outliers of Salem, Arrey, Derry, and Rincon...
is now signed as New Mexico State Road 185; New Mexico State Road 187 south of Truth or Consequences
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Truth or Consequences is a spa city and the county seat of Sierra County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 7,289. It is commonly known within New Mexico as T or C....
(T or C); New Mexico State Road 181 north of T or C; New Mexico State Road 1 from Redrock to Socorro
Socorro, New Mexico
Socorro is a city in Socorro County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It stands in the Rio Grande Valley at an elevation of . The population was 9,051 at the 2010 census...
; New Mexico State Road 314 from Belen
Belen, New Mexico
Belen is a city in Valencia County, New Mexico, United States. Belen is Spanish for Bethlehem, and over time has gained the nickname "Hub City" because of the Belen Cutoff of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The Cutoff made it possible for many more trains to travel east and west across...
to Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
; New Mexico State Road 313 from Albuquerque to Bernalillo; New Mexico State Road 14 and New Mexico State Road 466 through Santa Fe; and New Mexico State Road 445 from Maxwell to US Route 64 Remnant US-85 signs can still be seen on Fourth Street in downtown Albuquerque, the original route through the city before I-25 was built.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation has removed US-85 from its route logs, but the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) retains US-85 on a concurrent alignment with I-10 and I-25 to maintain continuity with signed segments in Texas and Colorado.
Colorado
U.S. 85 enters ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
from New Mexico concurrent with I-25
Interstate 25
Interstate 25 is an Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway. I-25 stretches from Interstate 10 at Las Cruces, New Mexico, , to Interstate 90 in Buffalo, Wyoming, .Interstate 25 is the main north–south expressway through...
but is not signed. US-85 leaves I-25 at Exit 128 and follows Santa Fe Avenue through Fountain
Fountain, Colorado
The city of Fountain is a Home Rule Municipality located in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Fountain is located just ten miles south of Colorado Springs and just east of Fort Carson. Fountain and the Colorado Springs suburbs Security and Widefield make up the "Fountain Valley" community....
before turning west briefly onto Lake Avenue, then turning north following Nevada Avenue through Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
before rejoining I-25 at Exit 148. Approaching the south side of Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, US-85 again leaves I-25 at Exit 182. From there it heads west and north as a two lane rural highway. It becomes an expressway near Chatfield Lake and the southern Denver suburbs of Littleton
Littleton, Colorado
Littleton is a Home Rule Municipality contained in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Littleton is a suburb of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area. Littleton is the county seat of Arapahoe County and the 20th most populous city in the state of...
and Englewood
Englewood, Colorado
The city of Englewood is a Home Rule Municipality located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. As of 2007, the city is estimated to have a total population of 32,532. Englewood is part of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area. Englewood is located in the South Platte River Valley east of the...
. It continues north through Denver for a few miles before once again joining with I-25 at mile marker 207. There it becomes a concurrency with U.S. Route 87
U.S. Route 87
U.S. Highway 87 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,998 miles from northern Montana to southern Texas. Most of the portion from Billings, Montana, to Raton, New Mexico, is co-signed along Interstates 90 and 25...
as well as I-25 and heads north through downtown Denver. At exit 214 U.S. 85 turns east and becomes a concurrency with Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
and U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 , also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, a name that honors an American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system, running east-northeast from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Until 1964, it continued south from Bishop to...
for about a mile where it exits with U.S. 6 and heads northeast through Commerce City
Commerce City, Colorado
The city of Commerce City is a Home Rule Municipality located in Adams County, Colorado, United States. Commerce City is a northern suburb of Denver and now the 18th most populous municipality in the state of Colorado...
. In just a few miles the U.S. 6/U.S. 85 concurrency merges with Interstate 76 at mile marker 9. They travel concurrently for 3 miles (4.8 km) until exit 12 when U.S. 85 becomes an expressway and continues north out of the Denver area through Brighton
Brighton, Colorado
Brighton is a Home Rule Municipality in Adams and Weld counties in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the county seat of Adams County. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 31,380 in 2008.-Geography:...
. From there it parallels I-25 for about 75 miles (120.7 km) passing through Fort Lupton
Fort Lupton, Colorado
The City of Fort Lupton is a Statutory City located in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The population was 6,787 as of the 2000 census.-Geography:Fort Lupton is located at ....
, Platteville
Platteville, Colorado
Platteville is a Statutory Town in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,370 at the 2000 census. It is adjacent to Fort Vasquez on U.S. Route 85.-Geography:Platteville is located at ....
, Evans
Evans, Colorado
The City of Evans is a Home Rule Municipality located in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The population was 9,514 at the 2000 census, and estimated at 18,842 as of July 1, 2008, by the Census Bureau...
, Greeley
Greeley, Colorado
The City of Greeley is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Weld County, Colorado, United States. Greeley is located in the region known as Northern Colorado. Greeley is situated north-northeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. According to the...
, and Eaton
Eaton, Colorado
Eaton is a Statutory Town in Weld County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,690 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Benjamin Harrison Eaton, a pioneer of irrigation who played a leading role in transforming the arid prairie of the Great Plains east of Colorado's Front Range into...
before crossing into Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
.
Wyoming
US 85 enters Wyoming from Colorado 8 miles (12.9 km) south of CheyenneCheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
. In Cheyenne it joins with Business Route 87, and a mile later with Interstate 180
Interstate 180 (Wyoming)
Interstate 180 is a spur off Interstate 80 into downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming.-Route description:It is unusual for being the only Interstate Highway that is not up to Interstate Highway standards anywhere on its route...
until it meets with U.S. Route 30. The segment with I-180 is the only fully at-grade interstate route in the U.S. http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-180_wy.html At exit 12, it joins with I-25 and U.S. Route 87 in a concurrency for 5 miles (8 km) until US 85 leaves at exit 17 and travels northeast towards Meriden
Meriden, Wyoming
Meriden is an unincorporated crossroads in Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. It is part of the Cheyenne, Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located about 45 miles northeast of Cheyenne.The community was named after Meriden, Connecticut....
. From there it heads north to Torrington
Torrington, Wyoming
Torrington is a city in and the county seat of Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 5,776 at the 2000 census. Torrington is the home of Eastern Wyoming College....
, where it meets with U.S. Route 26 and concurrencies for 10 miles (16.1 km) until Lingle
Lingle, Wyoming
Lingle is a town in Goshen County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 510 at the 2000 census.Former Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Richard V...
, and 47 miles (75.6 km) later it meets U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 18 at Lusk
Lusk, Wyoming
Lusk is a town in Niobrara County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,447 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Niobrara County. The town was laid out in June 1886 by engineers working on the Wyoming Central Railway. It was named after Frank S...
. It shares the next 47 miles (75.6 km) with US 18 and 33 miles (53.1 km) later meets U.S. Route 16 near Newcastle
Newcastle, Wyoming
Newcastle is a city in and the county seat of Weston County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 3,065 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Newcastle is located at...
. From here it is 29 miles (46.7 km) until it enters South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
in the Black Hills
Black Hills
The Black Hills are a small, isolated mountain range rising from the Great Plains of North America in western South Dakota and extending into Wyoming, USA. Set off from the main body of the Rocky Mountains, the region is something of a geological anomaly—accurately described as an "island of...
.
South Dakota
The South DakotaSouth Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
section of U.S 85., with the exception of two concurrencies
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with U.S. 14 Alternate and a concurrency with Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
, is defined at South Dakota Codified Laws § 31-4-181.
U.S. 85 enters the Black Hills
Black Hills
The Black Hills are a small, isolated mountain range rising from the Great Plains of North America in western South Dakota and extending into Wyoming, USA. Set off from the main body of the Rocky Mountains, the region is something of a geological anomaly—accurately described as an "island of...
from Wyoming and travels northeast until it meets with U.S. 14 Alternate east. The two routes form a concurrency from there until I-90 where U.S. 85 overlaps for 8 miles (12.9 km) while heading west. At exit 10 U.S. 85 heads back north towards Belle Fourche where it crosses U.S. 212. From there it continues to North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
passing only through the small towns of Redig
Redig, South Dakota
Redig is an unincorporated community in Harding County, South Dakota, United States. Although not tracked by the Census Bureau, Redig has been assigned the ZIP code of 57776....
, Buffalo
Buffalo, South Dakota
Buffalo is a town in Harding County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 330 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Harding County.-History:Buffalo was established in 1909...
, and Ludlow
Ludlow, South Dakota
Ludlow is an unincorporated rural hamlet in rural northern Harding County, South Dakota, United States. It is located on Federal Highway 85 about 12 miles north of Buffalo, the Harding County seat, and 6 miles south of the North Dakota border. Although not tracked by the Census Bureau, Ludlow has...
.
North Dakota
U.S. 85 enters North DakotaNorth Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
in the southwest part of the state. The first city on its route is Bowman
Bowman, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,600 people, 702 households, and 419 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,227.8 people per square mile . There were 799 housing units at an average density of 613.2 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.12% White, 0.12%...
at the junction of U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12 or US 12 is an east–west United States highway, running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean, in the state of Washington, to downtown Detroit, for almost . As a thoroughfare, it has mostly been supplanted by I-90 and I-94, but remains an important road for local travel.The...
. Continuing north, it passes between North Dakota's two highest points, White Butte
White Butte
White Butte is the highest natural point in the U.S. state of North Dakota. At an elevation of 3,506 ft , it is a prominent butte in Slope County, in the Badlands of the southwestern part of the state....
and Black Butte. Near Amidon
Amidon, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 26 people, 14 households, and 9 families residing in the city. The population density was 41.2 people per square mile . There were 17 housing units at an average density of 26.9 per square mile...
it heads east for 9 miles (14.5 km) before going back north along the Little Missouri National Grassland
Little Missouri National Grassland
Little Missouri National Grassland is a National Grassland located in western North Dakota, USA. At 1,033,271 acres , it is the largest grassland in the country. Enclaved within its borders is Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is managed by the National Park Service...
for about 125 miles (201.2 km). Near Belfield
Belfield, North Dakota
As of the 2000 Census, there were 866 people, 355 households, and 235 families residing in the city. The population density was 799.8 people per square mile . There were 439 housing units at an average density of 405.4 per square mile...
it junctions with Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
. After forming a concurrency with North Dakota Highway 200
North Dakota Highway 200
North Dakota Highway 200 is a major east–west highway in North Dakota. It runs from Minnesota State Highway 200 at the Minnesota border near Halstad, Minnesota to Montana Highway 200 near Fairview, Montana....
, it eventually passes through part of the scenic Badlands
Badlands
A badlands is a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often...
, crosses the Little Missouri river
Little Missouri River (North Dakota)
The Little Missouri River is a tributary of the Missouri River, 560 mi long, in the northern Great Plains of the United States. Rising in northeastern Wyoming, in western Crook County about west of Devil's Tower, it flows northeastward, across a corner of southeastern Montana, and into South Dakota...
and passes near the Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a United States National Park comprising three geographically separated areas of badlands in western North Dakota. The park was named for U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, in honor of his achievements in conservation as president and for the landscape's...
(North Unit).
Then, at Watford City it travels west for 16 miles (25.7 km) where it turns back north before Alexander
Alexander, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 217 people, 87 households, and 60 families residing in the city. The population density was 150.6 people per square mile . There were 106 housing units at an average density of 73.6 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 93.55% White, 5.99% Native...
. U.S. 85 continues north as North Dakota 200 turns west toward Montana. South of Williston
Williston, North Dakota
-Demographics:Preliminary data from a 2010 housing study indicates that population has grown by nearly 22 percent over the past decade; the actual increase might be much higher. Williston is in western North Dakota's booming oil patch, and adequate, affordable housing has become a concern. The...
it crosses the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
. A few miles later it meets with U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
where the two overlap for 19 miles (30.6 km) as an expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
, which now bypasses Williston to the northwest. After U.S. 2 heads east U.S. 85 continues north to a concurrency with North Dakota Highway 5
North Dakota Highway 5
North Dakota 5 is a mostly two-lane and long east–west highway the touches the northern border of the state and is never farther than about 17 miles south of the Canadian border. The eastern terminus is located about four miles east of Joliette at the Red River where the highway continues...
. From there it is 7 miles (11.3 km) to Fortuna
Fortuna, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 31 people, 17 households, and 8 families residing in the city. The population density was 31.0 people per square mile . There were 39 housing units at an average density of 39.0 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 100.00% White...
where U.S. 85 heads back north for its remaining 6 miles (9.7 km) to the U.S./Canada border.
History
What is now US 85 from El Paso, TexasEl Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
to then-U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
(now SR 6) in Los Lunas, New Mexico
Los Lunas, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.1% White*2.0% Black*2.5% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*4.2% Two or more races*18.3% Other races*57.9% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
(south of Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
) was shown as U.S. Route 466 in an early 1925 plan for the U.S. Highway System. This north–south route was never signed in the field; instead, the route was designated as part of US 85. This proposed routing is often referred to as "US 466 (I)" to distinguish it from the later, signed US 466
U.S. Route 466
U.S. Route 466 was an east–west United States highway. Though it reached a length of around 500 miles , the route was co-signed with other US routes for much of its length. When California deleted most of its U.S...
.
Major intersections
- Mexican Federal Highway 45Mexican Federal Highway 45Mexican Federal Highway 45 connects Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, to Panales, Hidalgo.It is located in the north of Mexico connecting Portezuelo in Hidalgo to Ciudad Juárez in Chihuahua...
at the U.S.-Mexico border between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad JuárezCiudad JuárezCiudad Juárez , officially known today as Heroica Ciudad Juárez, but abbreviated Juárez and formerly known as El Paso del Norte, is a city and seat of the municipality of Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Juárez's estimated population is 1.5 million people. The city lies on the Rio Grande...
, Chih. - U.S. Highway 62 in El Paso
- Interstate 10Interstate 10 in TexasInterstate 10 is the major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. In the U.S. state of Texas, it runs east from El Paso, near the border with New Mexico, through San Antonio and Houston to the border with Louisiana in Orange, Texas....
and U.S. Route 180 in El Paso - Interstate 25Interstate 25Interstate 25 is an Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway. I-25 stretches from Interstate 10 at Las Cruces, New Mexico, , to Interstate 90 in Buffalo, Wyoming, .Interstate 25 is the main north–south expressway through...
and U.S. Highway 70 in Las Cruces, New Mexico - Interstate 40Interstate 40Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
in Albuqurerque, New Mexico - U.S. Highway 64 in Raton, New Mexico
- U.S. Highway 350 in Trinidad, Colorado
- U.S. Highway 160 near Walensburg, Colorado
- U.S. Highway 50 in Pueblo, Colorado
- U.S. Highway 24 in Colorado Springs, Colorado
- U.S. Highway 285 in Englewood, ColoradoEnglewood, ColoradoThe city of Englewood is a Home Rule Municipality located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. As of 2007, the city is estimated to have a total population of 32,532. Englewood is part of the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area. Englewood is located in the South Platte River Valley east of the...
- Interstate 25Interstate 25Interstate 25 is an Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway. I-25 stretches from Interstate 10 at Las Cruces, New Mexico, , to Interstate 90 in Buffalo, Wyoming, .Interstate 25 is the main north–south expressway through...
south of downtown Denver, Colorado (intersects with I-25/US-87) - U.S. Highway 40 and U.S. Highway 287 in Denver, Colorado (paired together)
- Interstate 70Interstate 70Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
in Denver, Colorado - U.S. Highway 36 and Interstate 270Interstate 270 (Colorado)Interstate 270 is a long highway in the northeastern part of the Denver–Aurora Metropolitan Area in the U.S. state of Colorado. It overlaps U.S. Highway 36 for its entire length. The western terminus of I-270 is at the interchange with I-25 and US 36...
north of Denver, Colorado (paired together) - U.S. Highway 6 and Interstate 76 north of Denver, Colorado (they are paired with U.S. 85)
- U.S. Highway 34 in Greeley, Colorado
- Interstate 80 in Cheyenne, Wyoming
- U.S. Highway 30 in Cheyenne, Wyoming
- U.S. Highway 87 north of Cheyenne, Wyoming
- U.S. Highway 26 in Lingle, Wyoming
- U.S. Highway 20 in Lusk, Wyoming
- U.S. Highway 18 west of Edgemont, South Dakota
- U.S. Highway 16 in Newcastle, Wyoming
- U.S. Highway 14 in Deadwood, South Dakota
- U.S. Highway 385 in Deadwood, South Dakota
- Interstate 90Interstate 90Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
and U.S. Highway 14 in Spearfish exit 10 - U.S. Highway 212 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota
- U.S. Highway 12 in Bowman, North Dakota
- Interstate 94Interstate 94Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
exit 42 at Belfield, North Dakota - U.S. Highway 2 north of Williston, North Dakota