Tangento Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 (edited) Greetings all, my first post. All statements, phrases or sentences which amount to requests for advice will be in bold type. We are leaving MN early on June 7th. I have allowed 4-5 days for the trip to California. Tips regarding easily accessed, safe stretches of abandoned US Highways are of utmost importance throughout this trip. I am driving my 8 year old daughter out to Cali for the second time in her young life. The first was tainted a bit, as we had to bring her mother (my ex) along. We got along great and all, but she happens to be one of these "why do you want to see these stupid old roads?" types, as well as being a "we need to hurry up & get there" kinda people. My daughter and I, we're quite the opposite -- and this time we go solo. Last time, we took the Interstates all the way there, and the highlight was definitely I-70 through Glenwood Canyon, Colorado. Anyone who hasn't yet driven that stretch of Highway needs to get serious about doing so. So, here are the basics of the trip so far: I HAD planned on taking US 212 all the way to Yellowstone, but I believe that would require more time than we can really spend on leg 1. I have opted instead to use I-90 for the majority of the way to Black Hills country, and stay our first night somewhere near Mt. Rushmore. Keystone seems to be the place to be, however Rapid City or any of the surrounding towns could work. I have never been anywhere near this area, so any and all advice would be appreciated. From there, I need a good route (balancing scenery with efficiency) down to Moab, Utah. We want to see Arches for sure, and whatever else we can squeeze in. Other than those two destinations, we plan to hit Calico Ghost Town in the Cali Desert. Anyone who wants to help fill in the blanks, feel free to join in. Edited April 20, 2009 by Tangento Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Burr - hester_nec Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 (edited) Definitely include Mt Rushmore in your list - and while you're there try to take in the Crazy Horse Memorial as well. A drive up thru the Needles is awesome - my daughter (quite a bit older than your daughter) and I took a bus tour from Rapid City that went to Rushmore, the Needles, Custer and Crazy Horse. I've not driven it, so cannot tell you what it's like - but U S 14 crosses Minnesota/South Dakota from south of Minneapolis to Rapid City. You could follow 14 all the way into Idaho and pick up 20 in Idaho Falls. Or follow U S 16 over to Newcastle, WY, then south on 85 to Cheyenne and pick up U S 30 west from there. Just a few suggestions. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN Edited April 13, 2009 by Alex Burr - hester_nec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keep the Show on the Road! Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 First, WELCOME! Before I dig through my aging brain for my own suggestions, I wanted to let you know that one of the luminaries here is chief photographer for the South Dakota tourist department. Chad goes by CHADSDPHOTO here. He has posted some of the gems of the area you will be going through on the forum. And he has a blog at http://www.dakotagraph.com American Road Magazine has covered the South Dakota area you are visiting and I would get the appropriate back issues from their store. That said, I will now start the brain in motion and get back here when it has warmed up. Then I want to talk to you here about becoming the National Parks Highway Association Minnesota Director!!! Dave Keep the Show on the Road! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keep the Show on the Road! Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 I’ll call this very very preliminary route the “Old trails, Red Rocks and Dinosaurs” version. It takes you from Mt Rushmore to Ft Laramie on the old Oregon trail, along the Lincoln Highway, through Flaming gorge to Dinosaur National Monument, Arches, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Route 66, into LA. It can readily be modified to skip the Dinosaurs and see the Rocky Mountains, and probably save a little time. What are your thoughts and your daughter’s interests? HERE is the route on a video. Dave Keep the Show on the Road! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Rowland Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 It can readily be modified to skip the Dinosaurs and see the Rocky Mountains, and probably save a little time. I recommend skipping Dinosaur National Monument since the Visitor Center is closed. We stopped by there in July 2006 just after closing it, and all we could see at the park were the petroglyphs. They hope to open a new visitor center in a couple of years--I recommend waiting until then. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keep the Show on the Road! Posted April 13, 2009 Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 I recommend skipping Dinosaur National Monument since the Visitor Center is closed. We stopped by there in July 2006 just after closing it, and all we could see at the park were the petroglyphs. They hope to open a new visitor center in a couple of years--I recommend waiting until then. Chris Chris, Thanks for that reminder. I was hoping it had reopened, but a quick check says no. So then the suggested route goes over the Rockies via Loveland. And I think one could follow part of the Lincoln Highway "branch" along the route between Cheyenne and Loveland....I need to check. There is also a section of the Midland or PPOO in Utah to be followed on the way to Moab.. But lets see how Tangento likes the general route. Oh, BTW, the route via Loveland was noted as an alternative on the Video. It is a couple of hours shorter, follows the interstates more, and is still 31 road hours. Dave Keep the Show on the Road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangento Posted April 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2009 Wow guys, thanks for the awesome welcome and responses. I've only just read your suggested route, and it already sounds excellent. I will take some time to look at the video, the pics and a map and see how it feels. On the good news front: I just got the official "ok" from my ex-wife, and my boss actually thanked me for asking for 2 weeks off in June. He says it's a slow period, and it will help him avoid possible layoffs. See that? My road trip is already helping the economy! Oh yes... as far as my daughter's interests go, they are quite a bit like my own: old/ weird abandoned towns and roads, (esp. US Highways) along with a good dose of geological & historical wonders of the West. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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