Forum Discussion

dccamper's avatar
dccamper
Explorer
Mar 05, 2019

North Carolina to Badlands

Planning a 6 week trip out west this summer. Heading to the Custer State Park area first. I was wondering which route was the best to take. Google Maps shows three pretty much equal distances and time for the Custer area from central NC. One goes up north thru Chicago. Southern route goes thru St Louis, Kansas City. Which route has the best road conditions leaving from say Charlotte, NC? We are pulling a 31 ft fifth wheel. Any help appreciated.
Roads and Routes
  • Roy_Lynne's avatar
    Roy_Lynne
    Explorer
    Mar 05, 2019
    Ditto, ditto, ditto. Avoid Chicago at all costs unless you go a 4 in the morning maybe. There appears to be a third option going thru Columbus and Indianapolis.
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Mar 05, 2019
    We avoid St Louis and absolutely stay away from Chicago. If you want to stay on Interstates I'd get on I-74 in Cincinnati, follow that west to I-80 then turn on I-29 up to I-90.

    We actually get on secondary roads off I-64 before East St Louis to Keokuk Iowa, cross the Mississippi there then you can go north on secondary roads to I-80 in Iowa. We actually cut across Iowa on secondary roads all the way west thru Nebraska then up into the Badlands from Nebraska. You see a lot more of the country that way. Go thru Wounded Knee for one thing and past 150 year old forts in Iowa.

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