WI to HWY 85 - Which Route?

[zulutron]

We plan to start back to CA from WI next July. Not in a hurry. Here are the routes . . .

 

[Mr Lars]

Where in WI is your start, and where in CA is the finish?

 

[CharlesinGA]

Where is your starting point? You stated in the title WI, but it looks like Big River Resort in Wabasha, MN.

 

[CharlesinGA]

I would skip the green route (14) to Wall SD, unless you like seeing fields of sunflowers all the way. Good road when I drove it in 2022 from Watertown SD, but annoying in that it goes straight, then makes a turn, goes straight, another turn, and so forth.

The yellow route (I-90) is great except for the bridge transitions. Whump-Whump at every bridge, very annoying but a nice route. Takes you right by the Badlands NP, and the Black Hills. If you have not been to the hills, its worth a weeks time to visit. Here is a link to my travel blog of my 2017 Eclipse trip that included the Black Hills, it has lots of links in it. PDF format, click the DOWNLOAD button on the right after you follow the link.
Dignity of Earth and Sky where I-80 crosses the Missouri River at Chamberlin
Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center also at Chamberlin
Left Tailrace Campground COE at Ft Thompson just north of Chamberlin. Spent the night there, its in the middle of the river just below the dam. Very peaceful place.
The Journey Museum at Rapid City. If you don't do anything else, stop there to see what you are missing in the Black Hills

The Red route I do not know, but it takes you to Theodore Roosevelt NP at Medora, ND.

The orange route (I-80) is kinda boring thru Nebraska but nice road. There are numerous small town museums which are worth visiting if you have time. Not far off the interstate in most cases.
Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum SW of Omaha about half way between Omaha and Lincoln.
Pioneer Village at Minden (has a campground)
The Archway at Kearney
Nebraska Prairie Museum at Holdrege also a Harvest Host site.
Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park Museum at North Platte
Cody Park also at North Platte, has a small railroad museum and a locomotive, plus a city campground
Golden Spike Tower at the UP rail yard in North Platte (Harvest Host members can stay here)

The purple route (US20) goes thru the north edge of the sandhills and a lot of nothing. However at Chadron you will find..............
The Museum of the Fur Trade just east of town, well worth the visit.
Fort Robinson State Park on 20 at Crawford (has campground)

Charles

 

[zulutron]

I would skip the green route (14) to Wall SD, unless you like seeing fields of sunflowers all the way. Good road when I drove it in 2022 but annoying in that it goes straight, then makes a turn, goes straight, another turn, and so forth.

The yellow route (I-90) is great except for the bridge transitions. Whump-Whump at every bridge, very annoying but a nice route. Takes you right by the Badlands NP, and the Black Hills. If you have not been to the hills, its worth a weeks time to visit. Here is a link to my travel blog of my 217 Eclipse trip that included the Black Hills, it has lots of links in it. PDF format, click the DOWNLOAD button on the right after you follow the link.

The Red route I do not know, but it takes you to Theodore Roosevelt NP at Medora, ND.

The orange route (I-80) is kinda boring thru Nebraska but nice road. There are numerous small tow museums which are worth visiting if you have time. Not far off the interstate in most cases.
Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum SW of Omaha about half way between Omaha and Lincoln.
Pioneer Village at Minden (has a campground)
The Archway at Kearney
Nebraska Prairie Museum at Holdrege
Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park Museum at North Platte
Cody Park also at North Platte, has a small railroad museum and a locomotive, plus a city campground
Golden Spike Tower at the UP rail yard in North Platte (Harvest Host members can stay here)

The purple route (US20) goes thru the north edge of the sandhills and a lot of nothing. However at Chadron you will find..............
The Museum of the Fur Trade just east of town, well worth the visit.
Fort Robinson State Park on 20 at Crawford (has campground)

Charles

Just what I'm looking for. Tx. Any opinion on north most HWY 2 route?

Here's our trip out.

 

[Jackiemac]

Here's our trip out.

If you want to avoid the nightmare that is Las Vegas, and you have a National Park pass, you may want to consider this route.

Mesquite to Boulder City (via the drive through Lake Mead Preserve). Searchlight then your next destination near Lancaster. This would avoid all of the crazy traffic and be a beautiful drive.

I had to force Google to take me through Lake Mead by adding Redstone Picnic Area as a stop. Not sure how much extra time that adds for you but I can assure you it greatly reduces stress!

 

[UTTransplant]

While I don’t consider driving through Vegas very stressful, the route Jackie identified is usually the one we take because it is so pretty! I think Lake Mead has a visitor pass fee, but if you have an America the Beautiful pass it is covered.

 

[Jackiemac]

While I don’t consider driving through Vegas very stressful, the route Jackie identified is usually the one we take because it is so pretty! I think Lake Mead has a visitor pass fee, but if you have an America the Beautiful pass it is covered.

I get stressed with the narrow lanes, roadworks and crazy drivers.

There is a fee hence my park pass comment. If you don't have one then it's an expensive journey.

 

[Kirk]

Any opinion on north most HWY 2 route?

I have been over that route, or most of it and while there is a great Scandinavian Center that is worth some time in Minot, ND, there is not a lot more. I would only recommend it if you have traveled all other options and are bored by them.