We are planning a trip to the Black hills this summer, and are exploring different route options. I like to stay off the Interstates whenever possible while towing, but we do plan on taking I-29 out of Kansas City to Nebraska City. Then I-80 to Grand Island. We would like to take Highway 2 out of Grand Island to Highway 385 and into the Black Hills from the south. Has anyone traveled this route from Grand Island to the Black Hills with an RV? I've explored this route on Google Earth and it looks to be a pretty good highway with gently rolling hills. I seems as though it would be a nice, leisurely, un-crowded drive with some nice scenery, which is what we would like. (which is also why I don't like the interstates) I would also be open to some different route options, but I am curious about this one.

If you are going through Nebraska City and Grand Island for routing reasons, only, I would suggest cutting off at St. Joe and coming across US 36 to US 83 and then going north to NB 2.

Thanks enblethen for the tip. That is definitely one option, as there a few different ways to get to Grand Island. The route that I was looking at through Nebraska City is only tentative and definitely subject to change. I am more interested in the 2/385 route as to whether this a good highway to tow an RV on and is the scenery worth taking this route.

Yes, 2/385 is a decent road for traveling.

Both Highway 2 and 385 are very good routes both from grade changes and condition. Hwy 2 will take you through the Sandhills region of Nebraska. Hwy 385 is an obvious choice to take you into SD and the Black Hills. This is the route we often take from Omaha (via Hwy 92 to Hwy 2) to the Black Hills. We have camped at Halsey National Forest, and at Chadron and Fort Robinson State Parks. Chadron SP is our favorite for camping because of its RV site choices and scenery. Fort Robinson just to the SW of Chadron, is historic because it exposes you to frontier life on the high plains in the latter 1800's.Enjoy your trip!

Thanks Taviking22, this sounds like a route that we might enjoy then. Thanks for the tip on Fort Robinson, sounds like a place we would be interested in seeing and may warrant a small detour if it's not getting too late in the day when we pass through that area. If we did stop at Fort Robinson, do you think route 71 from Crawford to Hot Springs would be ok to take, or would it be better to back track to 385?

Nebraska routes 2/385 | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

Cup_fan
Explorer
Feb 28, 2014
Thanks Taviking22, this sounds like a route that we might enjoy then. Thanks for the tip on Fort Robinson, sounds like a place we would be interested in seeing and may warrant a small detour if it's not getting too late in the day when we pass through that area. If we did stop at Fort Robinson, do you think route 71 from Crawford to Hot Springs would be ok to take, or would it be better to back track to 385?
taviking22
Explorer
Feb 28, 2014
Both Highway 2 and 385 are very good routes both from grade changes and condition. Hwy 2 will take you through the Sandhills region of Nebraska. Hwy 385 is an obvious choice to take you into SD and the Black Hills.

This is the route we often take from Omaha (via Hwy 92 to Hwy 2) to the Black Hills. We have camped at Halsey National Forest, and at Chadron and Fort Robinson State Parks. Chadron SP is our favorite for camping because of its RV site choices and scenery. Fort Robinson just to the SW of Chadron, is historic because it exposes you to frontier life on the high plains in the latter 1800's.

Enjoy your trip!
enblethen
Nomad
Feb 28, 2014
Yes, 2/385 is a decent road for traveling.
Cup_fan
Explorer
Feb 28, 2014
Thanks enblethen for the tip. That is definitely one option, as there a few different ways to get to Grand Island. The route that I was looking at through Nebraska City is only tentative and definitely subject to change. I am more interested in the 2/385 route as to whether this a good highway to tow an RV on and is the scenery worth taking this route.
enblethen
Nomad
Feb 28, 2014
If you are going through Nebraska City and Grand Island for routing reasons, only, I would suggest cutting off at St. Joe and coming across US 36 to US 83 and then going north to NB 2.

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Nebraska routes 2/385

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