We are planning a trip to Montana this summer. Haven't decided on the exact location yet, but we're looking at the Ennis/Virginia City area. I'm looking at potential routes, and it's basically 3 options. Kansas (I-70), Nebraska (I-80), or South Dakota (I-90). The girls want to see the Little Bighorn Battlefield, so we will be hitting I-90 in Montana and head west from there. I'm not crazy about the Kansas route simply because it means interstate the entire trip. If we take the Nebraska route, we can at least break off the interstate at Ogallala and take hwy 26 into Guernsey, Wyoming and maybe stop off to see the Oregon trail wagon ruts and signature cliff. If we take the South Dakota route, then we could break off the interstate and take hwy 212 to the battlefield. I prefer not to run the interstates when I'm towing the camper if I don't have to, just because of traffic and the fact that I prefer a more leisurely pace. But in this case, I will have to in order to make some time since we'll have only 2 1/2 to 3 days to get there. But if I can find a road or two that will let me get off the interstate for a while and still make decent time, that would be great. I know I will have to be somewhat flexible because of potential weather and/or road construction. I'm leaning towards the Nebraska route, but I thought I'd get some pro and con opinions from some folks who have traveled these routes. Or is it really just 6 of one and half dozen of the other?

I'm no help at all on the routes you are looking at, but we are planning a trip to Ennis and Virginia City this summer, too. What timeframe are you looking at? Maybe we will see you there!

Murphsmom wrote:I'm no help at all on the routes you are looking at, but we are planning a trip to Ennis and Virginia City this summer, too. What timeframe are you looking at? Maybe we will see you there!We will be arriving on July 3rd and staying for 4 days. When are you going and where will you be staying? Someone from that area recommended Ennis RV Village. I checked out their website and it looks pretty nice. What kind of activities will you be doing in the area? We want to see the ghost towns and maybe a little rock hounding. Plus its close enough we can spend a day or two in Yellowstone if we want to. Other than that, I'm still researching things in the area to explore.

A possibility to avoid some of the interstate and see some of the local areas is: take I70 to Topeka, KS, north on US 75 to US 36, west on US 36 to US 83. North on US 83 to North Platte, NE. The Holiday RV Park in North Platte is an easy in, easy out park that is nice. West on I80 to catch US 26 west toward Scottsbluff and then over to I25. North on I25 to I90 and then west. This route has lots of interesting places that are worthy of a stop but the roads are such that you can make decent time. It also goes by a couple of the places you specifically wanted to visit. We have done this route several times on our way to Montana. Another possibility is to stay on I70 to US 83, but you miss some interesting spots this way.

jrs1871 wrote:A possibility to avoid some of the interstate and see some of the local areas is: take I70 to Topeka, KS, north on US 75 to US 36, west on US 36 to US 83. North on US 83 to North Platte, NE. The Holiday RV Park in North Platte is an easy in, easy out park that is nice. West on I80 to catch US 26 west toward Scottsbluff and then over to I25. North on I25 to I90 and then west. This route has lots of interesting places that are worthy of a stop but the roads are such that you can make decent time. It also goes by a couple of the places you specifically wanted to visit. We have done this route several times on our way to Montana. Another possibility is to stay on I70 to US 83, but you miss some interesting spots this way.Sounds interesting, I'll check that out, thank you.

Our trip planning is easy haha...When going South all roads go through Gatlinburg TN...When going East all roads go through Gatlinburg TN and Myrtle Beach...When going West all roads go through Gatlinburg TN and Wichita Falls TX...Haven't gone North yet but will figure out some way to get to Gatlingburg TN I imagine...Always got to get my Cherokee Indian Spirit Blessings fix somewhere in the camping season... Needless to say we are RV Campers not RV Travelers...Not much you can do if you only have a few days available...Roy Ken

Missouri to Montana | Good Sam Community

CloudDriver
Explorer
Mar 30, 2016
I forgot to mention Fort Laramie National Historic Site in my previous post. A number of the original buildings have been restored/reconstructed and we found it to be a very interesting stop. I recall that there was a campground just as you turn off route 26 onto the road to the fort. Never stayed there though.

As a FYI, we have also used Country View Campground in Ogalalla several times on the way west or east.

Please advise about the "interesting stops between Buffalo and Sheridan". Perhaps some things we can add to our list for the next trip.
Cup_fan
Explorer
Mar 30, 2016
Sounds like the Nebraska or Kansas/Nebraska route is probably the way to go, which is what I was leaning towards anyway. If time permits, we definitely want to stop in Guernsey, and it looks like there might be some interesting sights just off I-25 between Buffalo and Sheridan.
Thanks for the campground recommendations, I'm definitely taking notes since I don't know just where we'll be stoping each night, I'll take all the recommendations along this route that I can get.
Bipeflier
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
Just past where you turn to the Wagon Ruts park in Gurnsey, there is a golf course that has a small campground attached. Larson Campground We've stayed there a couple of overnights. Quiet and inexpensive. Also just on down the same road is the Registry Cliffs Registry Cliff/ Wagon Ruts SHS
CloudDriver
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
Cup fan wrote:
jrs1871 wrote:
A possibility to avoid some of the interstate and see some of the local areas is: take I70 to Topeka, KS, north on US 75 to US 36, west on US 36 to US 83. North on US 83 to North Platte, NE. The Holiday RV Park in North Platte is an easy in, easy out park that is nice. West on I80 to catch US 26 west toward Scottsbluff and then over to I25. North on I25 to I90 and then west. This route has lots of interesting places that are worthy of a stop but the roads are such that you can make decent time. It also goes by a couple of the places you specifically wanted to visit. We have done this route several times on our way to Montana. Another possibility is to stay on I70 to US 83, but you miss some interesting spots this way.

Sounds interesting, I'll check that out, thank you.

X2 on this route.

I recall from a previous trip that there is an Indian Casino with a FHU campground along route 75 north of Topeka. On route 36 near Norton KS is Prairie Dog State Park, another possible overnight stop. There is a Prairie Dog town there.

We usually drive route 30 between North Platte and Ogalalla to avoid the I80 truck traffic. If you're interested, the Bailey Yard of the Union Pacific Railroad, the largest rail yard in the world, is in North Platte. X2 on Holiday RV Park in North Platte as a good spot to overnight.

We always use route 26 between Ogalalla and I25. The Oregon Trail wagon ruts at Guernsey are IMO a don't miss, as is nearby Register Cliff. Along 26 you will pass Chimney Rock, which has a nice visitor center. Guernsey State Park is another possibility for an overnight stop.

Wagon Ruts

Walk the ruts to see more ruts.
Murphsmom
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
It could very well be that we will be in Ennis around that time. We have to be back in North Idaho by about the 15th for a wedding.

As far as things we will do...fly fishing is #1 on DH's list. We will also be trying to trace some of his family history (his great-grandfather was living in the area in the 1870s). The other spot we had hoped to see is the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, which is only about an hour from Ennis.

The Ennis RV Park is probably our first choice. One year we were looking at coming up that way and checked out a place right on the river. We could stay there with our dog, but he was not allowed to go in the water. Try doing that with a lab!
RoyB
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2016
Our trip planning is easy haha...

When going South all roads go through Gatlinburg TN...
When going East all roads go through Gatlinburg TN and Myrtle Beach...
When going West all roads go through Gatlinburg TN and Wichita Falls TX...

Haven't gone North yet but will figure out some way to get to Gatlingburg TN I imagine...

Always got to get my Cherokee Indian Spirit Blessings fix somewhere in the camping season...

Needless to say we are RV Campers not RV Travelers...

Not much you can do if you only have a few days available...

Roy Ken
Cup_fan
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
jrs1871 wrote:
A possibility to avoid some of the interstate and see some of the local areas is: take I70 to Topeka, KS, north on US 75 to US 36, west on US 36 to US 83. North on US 83 to North Platte, NE. The Holiday RV Park in North Platte is an easy in, easy out park that is nice. West on I80 to catch US 26 west toward Scottsbluff and then over to I25. North on I25 to I90 and then west. This route has lots of interesting places that are worthy of a stop but the roads are such that you can make decent time. It also goes by a couple of the places you specifically wanted to visit. We have done this route several times on our way to Montana. Another possibility is to stay on I70 to US 83, but you miss some interesting spots this way.

Sounds interesting, I'll check that out, thank you.
jrs1871
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
A possibility to avoid some of the interstate and see some of the local areas is: take I70 to Topeka, KS, north on US 75 to US 36, west on US 36 to US 83. North on US 83 to North Platte, NE. The Holiday RV Park in North Platte is an easy in, easy out park that is nice. West on I80 to catch US 26 west toward Scottsbluff and then over to I25. North on I25 to I90 and then west. This route has lots of interesting places that are worthy of a stop but the roads are such that you can make decent time. It also goes by a couple of the places you specifically wanted to visit. We have done this route several times on our way to Montana. Another possibility is to stay on I70 to US 83, but you miss some interesting spots this way.
Cup_fan
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
Murphsmom wrote:
I'm no help at all on the routes you are looking at, but we are planning a trip to Ennis and Virginia City this summer, too. What timeframe are you looking at? Maybe we will see you there!

We will be arriving on July 3rd and staying for 4 days. When are you going and where will you be staying? Someone from that area recommended Ennis RV Village. I checked out their website and it looks pretty nice. What kind of activities will you be doing in the area? We want to see the ghost towns and maybe a little rock hounding. Plus its close enough we can spend a day or two in Yellowstone if we want to. Other than that, I'm still researching things in the area to explore.
Murphsmom
Explorer
Mar 29, 2016
I'm no help at all on the routes you are looking at, but we are planning a trip to Ennis and Virginia City this summer, too. What timeframe are you looking at? Maybe we will see you there!

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