Return Route from Custer SD to Austin, Texas

cgaskins wrote:
Howdy! We are headed to the Black Hills, SD in July. I have been investigating my route back to Austin. My goal is to make a long pull from Custer, SD to Lamar, CO.

Right now my plan is to take US 385 South from Custer all the way into Nebraska to Sidney, NE. Looks like pretty good roads up to that point. Then I have a decision to make:

Option A:
Continue US 385 South down to Cheyenne Wells, then West on US 40 to Kit Carson, then US 287 South to Lamar, CO.

Option B:
US 138 West to I76 West to Colorado 63 South. Then US 36 East over to Cope and take CO 59 South to Kit Carson.

I believe Option B is slightly shorter but it is not all on US Highways. I typically try to stick to US Highways in areas I am not familiar with.

I would love to have any advice from others who have made this trek.

Thanks,
Chris

If it were me, I'd go with Option A. You'll have more fuel choices going that way, with fuel in Holyoke, Wray, Idalia, Burlington, Cheyenne Wells, Kit Carson and Eads.

Going with Option B, you'll have fuel available (once south of I-76) in Akron, Anton, and Seibert before hitting Kit Carson. Anton and Seibert only have one gas station each, so you'll have to pay whatever price they are charging at the time.

With Option A, you'll have more fuel choices and more opportunities. Plus it's a good road all the way. I've been on CO 63, but it's been years, so I can't speak to the condition and haven't driven CO 59.