As I did last spring, I'm driving west to east starting tomorrow, but taking a northern route.

This year: Vegas, Zion National Park, Salt Lake City, Jackson Hole - Tetons - Yellowstone, Livingston MT, Rapid City - Black Hills - Mt Rushmore, Omaha NE, Hobart IN (where I lived and worked for many years), Clearfield PA, back to Cape Cod.

If anyone has any specific recommendations on that route or during any of those stops, I'm all ears. Any particular must stop restaurants or sights along the way?

Thanks for any suggestions.

If you will be on I-80 near the quad cities please
Give us a heads up ,a day or two in advance .

https://www.buffalobillmuseumleclaire.com/

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bendable,

Enjoy! Try and squeeze in Arches NP.

We've done a few of these trips. Our rules are stay off throughways and no road twice.

Silver Dollar restaurant in Jackson Wy. Off the south west corner of the town square-
Bacon Cheeseburger! The bacon is made from Lamb. GAME CHANGING!!!!

Devils Tower is just west of the Black Hills area and worth the trip. Spearfish Canyon, Custer National Park are some beautiful places!

quote:

Originally posted by Expat:
Enjoy! Try and squeeze in Arches NP.

We've done a few of these trips. Our rules are stay off throughways and no road twice.

Arches and Canyonlands were impressive. And Bryce Canyon. All three I would prefer over Zion. Zion is nice but prefer the first 3.

Bryce is 1 day. Arches is 1 day. Canyonlands is minimum 1 day, probably 2.

I do love the slot canyons near Zion. I forgot the names off-hand but with AWD/4WD, it's pretty easy (with some help with SF members here, a first time like me made it). This is a good half day / 1 day thing.

Thanks guys!

I should have mentioned I saw Zion, Bryce and Arches last year, but seeing Zion again, because it was packed due to school vacation week and didn't get the bus tour. Rather I drove the secondary route through the park on my way to Bryce.

I'll plan on the Silver Dollar in Jackson! Devils Tower....I forgot about that. On the list!

Deadwood back in the day was cool. Have family history there. Turned it into a casino mecca. Have not been back since. But probably be a neat stop since in the neighborhood.

I would suggest going another 1-1/2 hrs west of Livingston to Butte. Everyone should go to Butte to just say they been there. Cool old mining town. Some good Taverns. Go See Our Lady of the Rockies. Between the two stop at Big Timber. There was a good place to eat. Cannot remember the place.

Sounds like a great trip. Enjoy and stay safe.

How much time are you allotting? Can you squeeze in Arches NP, Bryce Canyon NM, and/or Natural Bridges NM (all in UT)? Or the length of UT Route 12?

I'll second Butte. Nations oldest Chinese restaurant is there. The Berkeley Pit is worth a look too as is the mining museum. We spent the night there in the Copper King mansion B&B.

Big Timber is also the home of manufacturer Shiloh Sharps. They have a pretty neat little museum

If you do go that way, just west of Bozeman right on the interstate is Wheat Montana. HUGE wheat operation and the best cinnamon rolls you'll ever taste.

So much to see out there

When you drop down from the Black Hills to Nebraska, stop by Fort Robinson, just a bit west of Chadron. Beautiful place and dripping with the history of the Plains Indian Wars. Then down to Alliance to pick up Highway 2 east through the Sandhills—incredible place, shh, don’t tell anybody.

I just assume you’re stopping by the Little-Bighorn Battlefield Site heading ESE from Livingston.

Another leg could be Glacier NP. Stunning park, but Going To The Sun Road, an epic and scenic drive, won't be open for couple months. Another trip!

Out the northeast of Yellowstone, provided it's open, US Route 212, the Beartooth Highway, is a spectacular drive. It winds its way up to a 10,940 ft. summit, then descends the side of a giant canyon in a series of straightaways and tight hairpin turns.

Oh boy! Wish I had more time. I am spending two nights in Rapid City, so i hope to be able to check out the Black Hills area pretty well.

Driving from Livingston to RC, I had considered a quick backtrack into Bozeman to have a peek, but not sure it'll be worth the time. I have to consider driving time too.

I did drive Rt 12 last year up to Richmond UT where I spent the first night. An incredible drive with views. Maybe one of the prettiest drives I've ever taken.

Butte sounds like a place to see, but I'm afraid I won't have time to go that far out of the way. Another time.

I'll scope out Hwy 2 on the way to Omaha and see if that's doable. Maybe I'll take the bypass Rt 313 around Rt 90 to see some of Bighorn.

Good suggestions! Thanks. Some will just have to be another time.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
Out the northeast of Yellowstone, provided it's open, US Route 212, the Beartooth Highway, is a spectacular drive. It winds its way up to a 10,940 ft. summit, then descends the side of a giant canyon in a series of straightaways and tight hairpin turns.

As of now, it looks like only the west side of the park is open. I can't enter the south after Tetons, so have to circle around the go in the west side. I can see Old Faithful. I was planning to exit north, but if roads are open, I'll spend some time driving around Yellowstone.

Mammoth Site, Hot Springs, SD; Devils Tower, WY, NW of Rapid City.

Just a few off the top of my head...

Circle E Drive-In Murdo SD (off I-90, 140ish miles east of Rapid City). Locally sourced beef for their burgers, french fries fried in beef tallow. Really good burgers and fries!

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (east of Rapid City off I-90) Open Tuesday-Saturday (It's been closed every time I drive by).

Badlands National Park (east of Rapid City off I-90)

Custer State Park

Needles Highway (SD Highway 87, 14-mile scenic drive in Custer State Park)

Wind Cave National Park

Jewel Cave National Monument

If you're driving through Montana you can checkout Glacier Natl Park Going to the Sun road if it's open. You can also checkout Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Scenic Byway but check to see if those roads are open. I know the roads at higher elevations aren't maintained through the winter and might not be open yet.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
https://www.traveliowa.com/16-...ric-lincoln-highway/

I was going to take Rt 80, but that parallel road might be perfect. Thanks!

My wife is from Hobart and still has family there. Some good eats:

Gelsosomo's Pizzeria

Lincoln Carry Outs for sandwiches (not as good as an East Coast sub, but popular)

Koney King hotdogs in Gary. Go only in daytime. Try a couple of chili cheeseburgers.

If you want to try a Chicago area staple, go to one of the local Buona Beef restaurants and try an Italian Beef or combo beef and sausage. I like mine with marinara sauce. Portillos is more popular (and busyer, but I prefer Buona's food and atmosphere).

Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook IL for the buffet lunch if you are going around Chicago on 294.

Mount Baldy National Lakeshore is a great way to spend a few hours on Lake Michigan in Indiana.

The Chicago architectural boat tours are interesting if you are interested in Chicago.