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lrjogs's avatar
lrjogs
Explorer
Jul 07, 2014

best route traveling from wichita, ks, to rapid city, nd

Has anyone done a trip from Wichita, KS, to Rapid City, ND? If so, what is the best route?

4 Replies

  • Good luck in that....since Rapid City is in SOUTH DAKOTA, not North Dakota.
  • Have not done one from Wichita, but have gone up to ND via US 83 which we picked up in Kansas as I remember, or maybe in OK. It was a nice route, no instate traffic to contend with. It will get one to SD & an interstate west will take you to Rapid City.

    What I have on the KS to SD part of the route:

    Near Valentine, NB,:C Smith Falls State Park. We did an overnight there, as did my son earlier. Neat place. Unique Place. We were traveling US 83. US 20 crosses there as well.

    On the border NB/SD there is an Indian Casino at the state line. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Casino Wacipi. Not far north of Valentine. I believe one can overnight at it. We have never stopped, except for fuel.

    North Platte, Nebraska: the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park and Camping; never stopped there, but driven by on US 83; nice looking campground by the river.

    More Nebraska US 83 Sights.

    In Kansas, Fort Scott Nat'l Historic Site, we did not stop, my son did an overnight at the State Park. Seems like a neat area as well. Lake Scott State Park even has a New Mexico connection. NM pueblo people moved there to get away from Europeans (Spanish).

    Saw the exit for but didn't go to Monument Rocks. It takes some gravel road driving to get to them.

    We did two overnights (going up & coming back) at the Liberal Walmart. A nice large parking lot. Just off US 83 as you enter town southbound.

    There is a city park with RV sites southeast side of Liberal as well. Arkalon Park, but have never been to it.
  • take 50 west to Garden City, 83 north to I 70, then west to Burlington, CO, then 385 north almost all the way to Rapid City. Just south of Hot Springs, SD stay right on 79 and it takes you straight up to Rapid City and is a good road.

    At Sidney, NE, there is a Cabela's with RV park and/or Walmart for overnighting.
    9 miles south of Chadron NE is a very nice state park with elec, water and dump.
  • lrjogs wrote:
    Has anyone done a trip from Wichita, KS, to Rapid City, ND? If so, what is the best route?


    We came home last year through KS and SD just after the early blizzard they had in SD. That was surreal.

    Going back to our motorcycling days, we have always liked the US and State Routes when we are travelling. Less traffic and more to see.

    If it's just a matter of you want to get there then just point north on the interstate.