I 80 across Iowa and Nebraska

We prefer to drive route 30 between Grand Island and Ogalalla Nebraska. Route 30 runs more or less parallel to I80. It's a slower drive than I80, but no trucks and speeding cars to deal with. Slower due to a number of small (actually tiny) towns to go through, but the road surface was fine when we went that way back on May 24th. Every few miles we got to watch mile long trains go by.

For train buffs, the Golden Spike Tower overlooking the Bailey Yard of the Union Pacific Railroad is in North Platte.