First time across the Plains

[MrMojave]

Planning a little ride this summer from Las Vegas to Minneapolis. I've driven roughly 100,000 miles in the open Southwest in the last 10 years, so I know (just) a bit about roadtrips.

But by most accounts, this is the most challenging drive anyone can make.

The plan, as it stands, is to go up to Denver via I-70, then across on 76 and 80 to Des Moines, then up. That puts me at around 700 miles the first day and 900 the second day.

Personally, I'd like to see Denver for the first time, get there a little early and explore the city for a bit. I'm advised to keep pushing as far as I can, doing all my Denver sightseeing at 65 mph.

But the maps don't indicate much between Denver and Kearney. So begins my slew of questions:

• To Denver... or beyond? And if so, how far beyond? If not, what's to see and do in the Mile High City?

• What's the worst part of the drive – Colorado, Nebraska along the Platte, Nebraska beyond the Platte, Omaha to Des Moines or Des Moines to the Twin Cities?

• Does it go by as I've heard it does? Do miles seem to last more than 5,280'? My mind's saying, if I can do 80-85 on I-40 in Arizona, which is neither straight nor flat, then why shouldn't I be able to do 85-90 on I-80 in Nebraska, which is both?

• Anything along the way worth seeing/doing/eating? Anything in the Twin Cities I should make a point of seeing/doing/eating?

• Any advice on a ballgame in the Metrodome? Seeing as I'm going to be between Albuquerque and Greensboro for the first time, should I (or, is it practical to...) take a day and go down to Chicago?

• Lastly, what's the best way to get from the Twin Cities to Yellowstone – down to I-90(which gives me the added bonus of Mt. Rushmore) or across on I-94?

I was pretty psyched until my parents said to picture the longest, ugliest, most deserted stretch of road you've ever seen (this would be US 95 between Goldfield and Hawthorne, NV) – and make everything around it completely flat.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

I don't know the answers to any of your questions, but I'm ****in' jealous. That sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[buckweaver]

Most challenging drive anyone can make? I beg to differ. I've driven from L.A. to Atlanta. Twice. Once in five days, the other in four days. 2,500 miles, one way. Both trips in the last three years.

Random fact: There are 878 miles from El Paso to Orange, Texas, all on the I-10. Exit 1 is in El Paso. Exit 878 is in Orange. Except for Houston and San Antonio, there is nothing in between ... but rolling hills ... and Lone Star state troopers. I've met them both.

 

[Norman Stansfield]

Definitely take a day out to visit Chicago, if you can.

Avoid I-90 (Dan Ryan Expy) at all costs, though. Major construction.

 

[Norman Stansfield]

Definitely take a day out to visit Chicago, if you can.

Avoid I-90 (Dan Ryan Expy) at all costs, though. Major construction.

Yeah, you may want to avoid taking I-94 through Milwaukee. It's a major cluster**** right now.

Depends on the time of day. Rush hour, yes. Any other time, fairly passable.

I-894 bypass is a quick alternative to avoid the Marquette Interchange.

 

[pallister]

The ride from the Twin Cities to Chicago is a pretty scenic one, but it's quite a haul to stay just one day and come right back.

I don't know the roadways out West, but having driven many mind-numbing stretches of interstate (Illinois, Arkansas, Georgia, etc.), be sure to take along some music. I'd sooner pull my fingernails out with a needle-nose pliers than take a long road trip without a massive amount of loud music.

If you're going with wife and kids and must keep the volume down, then get satellite radio so you can bide your time with many options for listening to sports, politics, etc.

Also, if you can, make the bulk of the trip the first day. If you don't and that day's ride sucks, you are not going to look forward to 900 more miles the next day. I always try to get 2/3 done the first day. That way, I don't have long to reach my destination the second day and I always have time (and energy) to do something when I get there. You drive 900 miles, you ain't gonna be up for doing much of anything when you get where you're going.

 

[Norman Stansfield]

Definitely take a day out to visit Chicago, if you can.

Avoid I-90 (Dan Ryan Expy) at all costs, though. Major construction.

Yeah, you may want to avoid taking I-94 through Milwaukee. It's a major cluster**** right now.

Depends on the time of day. Rush hour, yes. Any other time, fairly passable.

I-894 bypass is a quick alternative to avoid the downtown.

I got stranded going through Milwaukee to Chicago, and traffic was backed up at 10:30 p.m. on a Saturday because 94 was completely shut down. You had to get off and detour.

There are times when they shut down the whole shebang, Doc. You're right about that.

Generally speaking, though, it's not all that bad.

 

[ServeItUp]

The whole of I-76/80 from Denver to Omaha is painful. Get to Denver and call it a night, and enjoy the Mile-High. Catch a game at Coors if the Rox are at home because it's possibly the nicest place to watch ****ty baseball — aside from Wrigley, of course. Plenty to see and do right around Coors, not the least of which is the Tattered Cover bookstore, a great place to kill a few hours (which I'm not sure if you have). Once you get to Omaha you have some civilization, which I'm not sure you want at 85-90 mph. By the way, I don't think the state mounties will have a whole lot of tolerance for a a set of Nevada tags trying to blaze across their state at that speed. Use your best judgement.

Twin Cities to Yellowstone on I-35 to I-90 and then across. Then, when you get to Buffalo, Wyo., get off the road and take U.S.16 over the Bighorn Mountains to Worland. One of the five most scenic drives ever. Stay on 16, which takes you right into Yellowstone; no four-lane road anywhere near Yellowstone, which is something to keep in mind. And as long as your out there, you might as well see the Big Tits — I mean, Grand Tetons — south of Yellowstone around Jackson.

Drive safe and enjoy!

 

[Armchair_QB]

The only bad stretch you'll find when driving in Nebraska is the part from the Colorado state line to the Iowa state line. Other than that, it's not bad.

Rosie can probably give you all kinds of fun ideas for your time in the Twin Cities. As far as a Twins game goes, you can pretty much walk up and get any seat you want on a weeknight.

If you want to go to Chicago for a day I'd recommend looking into a cheap flight rather than drive. It's a haul to just go for a day and Wisconsin state troopers can be real *******.

 

[Lucas Wiseman]

I drove the entire length of Nebraska on I-80 and it sucked. The only interesting part is that there is this random huge building that goes over the interstate at one point. Not sure what the purpose of it is but I guess you can use a radar gun to see how fast cars are going? Kinda strange if you ask me.

 

[micropolitan guy]

I-94 is better than I-90, IMHO. Up through Minnesota lake country to Fargo, lots of sunflowers, etc., in eastern ND, then far more scenery once you get out of the Red River Valley past Valley City and past Jamestown and head toward Western ND. Lots of buttes, etc., once you get past Mandan. (Fort Abraham Lincoln in Mandan is interesting if you're into Custer).

The ND Badlands are better, more diverse and colorful than SD's. Medora is kind of a tourist trap, but can be interesting for an hour or so, and there are several loop trips through Teddy Roosevelt NP that don't take long but show the Badlands off well.

Eastern Montana isn't as bad as you might think, rolling hills, etc., and the truck traffic will be much less than on I-90. Then cut down to Yellowstone just past Billings, through Red Lodge; Sawtooth Pass/Cooke City are scenic . Laurel might be the ugliest city in Montana, though.

You can probably drive 80-85 in ND and Montana without much problem, as I believe the posted speed limit is 75..

 

[writing irish]

Read "Great Plains" by Ian Frazier.
Or "Great Plains" by Walter Prescott Webb.
The former is great travel lit, the latter is a classic history.

 

[Bubbler]

MPLS-St. Paul to Chicago is a six hour haul in no traffic/ no construction ...

Six hours? It can be done, but in the same way a perfect game can be done in baseball. Doesn't make it at all likely it will happen. And no way traffic doesn't come into play, unless you're driving at 2 a.m.

If you're driving from the Twin Cities to Chicago, there's no reason to drive through Milwaukee, just keep going down I-90 via Rockford. Unless you want to see one of America's finest cities.  :D

And, yeah, I-94 is extraordinarily ****ed up right now in downtown Milwaukee, but its worth dealing with to get to the shrine they built in my honor on the lakefront. I was born at a hospital on the lake and they built this water tower nearby to commemorate me. Milwaukee being intuitive as its always been, they built it 90 years in advance. Looks like a castle.

 

[micropolitan guy]

If you do go I-90, I'd take a short sidetrip to Devils Tower at Moorecroft/Sundance, and I'd  second Serve's recommendation to get off at Buffalo.

It's a nice drive up through Worland, Greybull, Cody, etc., with Ten Sleep as an added bonus (!). Just make sure you get gas in Gillette if you're running low because it's a long stretch of no gas to Buffalo.

The Buffalo Bill Cody museum in Cody is spendy, but worth seeing once.

 

[MileHigh]

There is nothing beyond Denver, so call it a day when you get there. It's going to take you about 10 hours to get there from Las Vegas. And after driving four hours through the mountains, you'll need a break. There is a lot to do here and your drive from Grand Junction to Denver will be the best part of your trip. PM me if you want/need specific things to do.

 

[Hammer Pants]

Are Coors and Coors Light the only thing you can drink at Coors Field? If so, I would totally not go in protest.

 

[finishthehat]

I drove the entire length of Nebraska on I-80 and it sucked. The only interesting part is that there is this random huge building that goes over the interstate at one point. Not sure what the purpose of it is but I guess you can use a radar gun to see how fast cars are going? Kinda strange if you ask me.

Isn't this the one featured in About Schmidt? It's apparently some kind of Plains museum.

 

[MileHigh]

Are Coors and Coors Light the only thing you can drink at Coors Field? If so, I would totally not go in protest.

Definitely not.

 

[Oz]

Des Moines to the Cities actually ain't bad this time of year -- though that's not the route I'd take. I'd roll through Nebraska until I hit I-29 north, take that up to 90 and head East. Just me though.

Drove I-29 once from Kansas City to Fargo. Gorgeous, gorgeous drive.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Are Coors and Coors Light the only thing you can drink at Coors Field? If so, I would totally not go in protest.

Definitely not.

That would be like Busch Stadium only selling Busch and Busch Light.