Central Texas to South Dakota

[Txoutlaw]

We have a Trip coming up on May 26th from Central Texas to My Rushmore South Dakota, we have a 31ft Class C and a Jeep as our toad. There's 2 routes I'm looking at US-83 OR US-287.. any recommendations on which might be best?

Thanks

[LandKO]

Which ever route you take, have a safe and fun trip.
We are headed there in mid June from central Arkansas. I am using Trip Wizard to plan routes and campgrounds on the way.

[Mr Sunshine]

Do you have endless time for this trip? Is there a good reason to avoid the interstates? There is so much to do in that area (Spearfish Canyon is a favorite of ours) that you might want to take the fastest route and allow the maximum time there.

You will be smart to make reservations if you haven't already. If you have kids, the KOA in Keystone is great. Without kids, skip that one.

We have been there many times, and love that area to visit. Got hailed on twice on our last visit in Custer Park, and the second time was quarter sized, leaving big dents all over our little toad. Keep an eye on the forecasts.

Enjoy!

[abjbrtd]

From N Tx we prefer 287 to 87 to I25 to 85 (N of Cheyenne).

As mentioned above there is A LOT to do.
Where are you staying?.

[powerboatr]

Originally Posted by abjbrtd

From N Tx we prefer 287 to 87 to I25 to 85 (N of Cheyenne).

As mentioned above there is A LOT to do.
Where are you staying?.

we took 287 into OK then 287 and 87 up to DUMAS and then jumped over to 385 up through OK to limon and 385 and caught 70 over to denver and then grabbed 25 n
this way we avoided the long climbs on 25 north of raton
we spent a week in Cheyenne and then up to Gillette over to devil tower area and custer we left form north east tex

[Chance]

Traveling in that direction we’ve normally taken 287 just north of Dallas and followed it through Amarillo and up to 87, where we take 87 west to Ratón on I-25.

I cant say the other routes aren’t better because I haven’t driven them. I go this way because I love the view of the Rocky Mountains as I travel north on I-25.

Point made above regarding climbs on I-25 north of Raton did not affect me much on way up because we travel light (usually smaller motorhomes and no toad), but the descends certainly got my attention the first time I went that way in a rented large Class C (also without a toad). Auto traffic can move fast, and there are a couple of curves at or near bottom of descends that should be taken slower than normal traffic if driving a motorhome. Other than keeping speed down a bit through this area of I-25, it’s not a bad drive. And it’s scenic if you like snow-covered mountains.

Good luck whichever way you go, and agree there’s much to see in that area. Crazy Horse is a side trip I enjoyed seeing under construction. Saw it twice separated by a couple of decades — was curious if they had made much progress.

[Txoutlaw]

Thanks for the Responses.. we have a 2 month trip planned, will be staying at Big Pines RV park in Custer SD for 2 weeks before hitting Devils tower, Custer Battlefield before visiting Wyoming,Utah and Arizona. So we have plenty of time to Travel.. I'm curious if US-83 might be good. With No Big Rig traffic,etc thanks

[powerboatr]

i was very brief
we left from quitman stayed over night in vernon on 287 just north of wichita falls, local mom and pop place called rocking A rv park, very nice. they even escort you to the site and make sure your all good, then on the other side of dumas and stayed the night in dalhart, https://www.corralrvpark.net/
then limon, then cheyenne, then up to gillette over to devils tower area


iirc...385/287 in CO was dry, dusty and not to bad of a road surface, and one rr track in the middle of now where and BAM there was a fast train.


the little bit in OK was horrible like driving on a rail road tracks thump thump thump. lots of little towns with places to pull off and stretch the legs



in limon we stayed at a KOA...it was the really the only thing there...two closed hotels and a KOA...it was weird
we stayed in lamar on return trip


fuel prices in wyo dropped 30 cents a gallon as i remember


Cheyenne has some awesome museums and the UP rail road depot


corral rv park in dalhart was superbly clean and easy to get settled


i also did the route to ensure i could go around denver and avoid the traffic