Buffalo Ny to Mount Rushmore

[jepalmer]

I90 all the way?
Cut through Canada and pick up I90 outside chicago?
Take I80 to I26 and then to I90?

Any recommendations on campgrounds for one night stays on the way?

Thanks!

[newk]

shawdowboss wrote:

FC wrote:
We will be leading a caravan of friends this July,from Ontario to Gillette Wyoming, which is just past Mount Rushmore.
From Buffalo I would suggest:
Qew to 403
403 to 401
401 to 402
Cross Border at Sarnia-Port Huron
I 69 to I 94
I94 to I 80 West
I 80 to I 29 north
I 90 to Rapid City.

Don't forget to travel through the Badlands on your trip.

We have already travelled the I90 route through Chicago and Wisconsin and the I 380 to I 35 through Iowa so are trying the new route I 29 this time.
JM2CW

You may want to consider avoiding I29 from 80. Its going through a major rebuild in Council Bluffs with the eastern interchange. Pretty slow last time I was through A few weeks ago. The western side where you go north is better since that work is done. The segment through CB is ok, but can be slow. They will be working on that for a while.

IF you are adventurous try going up to US20 on I35 Out of DesMoines. A lot of 4 lane, about 40 or so miles 2 lane Towards the western end.

You should actually revise your route plan to:

I-80 to I-680
I-680 to I-29

You'll find I-680 towards the western end of Iowa, not too far west of Shelby. At that point I-80 turns to the southwest (towards Council Bluffs/Omaha) and I-680 continues straight west through some scenic hills until it meets I-29. Just stay in the right lane. (Follow the signs.) It'll save you some time and keep you away from the heavy traffic.

[mbopp]

You do realize if you go into Canada you'll need a passport or enhanced drivers licence. Not to get into Canada, but to get back in the US.

[shawdowboss]

FC wrote:
Thanks for the update. We will be going north??? So we might miss the bigger problem??? On our return trip we will be coming to across I 80 most of the way.
Any comments.

Not really as 29 and 80 run together between the western (29 north) and eastern (29 south) about 5 odd miles. In 80 you hit both to go 29 north or just running 80 east-west.

[paulj]

Continue on I90 into Wyoming, and make it a Buffalo to Buffalo trip.

[FC]

Thanks for the update. We will be going north??? So we might miss the bigger problem??? On our return trip we will be coming to across I 80 most of the way.
Any comments.

[shawdowboss]

FC wrote:
We will be leading a caravan of friends this July,from Ontario to Gillette Wyoming, which is just past Mount Rushmore.
From Buffalo I would suggest:
Qew to 403
403 to 401
401 to 402
Cross Border at Sarnia-Port Huron
I 69 to I 94
I94 to I 80 West
I 80 to I 29 north
I 90 to Rapid City.

Don't forget to travel through the Badlands on your trip.

We have already travelled the I90 route through Chicago and Wisconsin and the I 380 to I 35 through Iowa so are trying the new route I 29 this time.
JM2CW

You may want to consider avoiding I29 from 80. Its going through a major rebuild in Council Bluffs with the eastern interchange. Pretty slow last time I was through A few weeks ago. The western side where you go north is better since that work is done. The segment through CB is ok, but can be slow. They will be working on that for a while.

IF you are adventurous try going up to US20 on I35 Out of DesMoines. A lot of 4 lane, about 40 or so miles 2 lane Towards the western end.

[FC]

We will be leading a caravan of friends this July,from Ontario to Gillette Wyoming, which is just past Mount Rushmore.
From Buffalo I would suggest:
Qew to 403
403 to 401
401 to 402
Cross Border at Sarnia-Port Huron
I 69 to I 94
I94 to I 80 West
I 80 to I 29 north
I 90 to Rapid City.

Don't forget to travel through the Badlands on your trip.

We have already travelled the I90 route through Chicago and Wisconsin and the I 380 to I 35 through Iowa so are trying the new route I 29 this time.
JM2CW

[kknowlton]

I-90 through MN has been rough every time we drove on it (last time was 2010, but the first time was 30-some years ago). Lots of frost heaves in the concrete roadway makes for a bucking-bronco ride in many MHs and when pulling TTs. I-80 is the workhorse of the nation, lots of trucks, but the roadway is arguably better in most places. (Some rough spots in Iowa & Nebraska).

Haven't gone thru Canada so can't offer a comparison.

[newk]

If it's a roundtrip, you might consider going through Canada one way. My late wife and I spent our last vacation doing just that. We visited my brother in Minneapolis, then headed through Duluth and up Lake Superior's North Shore. I've been all over the Rockies, Alaska and Pacific Coast, and that North Shore drive rates right up there with the best of 'em -- actually reminded me a lot of Alaska. It was a very pleasant camping trip, but it's been 20 years and I can't remember the exact route we took. We crossed back into the U.S. in NW Vermont, then headed to the Maine coast, and from there followed I-95 to NYC.

We came back west on I-80 all the way, as we had a wedding to attend in Iowa and I wanted to drive through Nebraska for a change. We definitely took the long way, coming and going.

I-80/I-90 would be the shortest. You might ask specifically about the road surface condition of I-90 through Minnesota. The last time I was on it, it was pretty rough, but that's been a couple years now.

[jepalmer]

donn0128 wrote:
I80 route would be best until past Chicago

I80/90 from Buffalo vs going through Canada?

[shawdowboss]

Assuming you follow -80 to 90:

Some Good places to stop - In Indiana off of I-80 is the Indiana Dunes area. The KOA in that area was pretty nice for an overnight.

The Dells area of Wisconsin all have nice campgrounds, but can be full depending on the time of year you go.

South Dakota - Mitchell - Stop there and see the Corn Palace, it's different every year, the KOA there is OK, good for an overnight.

One place to avoid if you can for fuel is Exit 170 (1880 Town) on I-90 in SD. Pricier fuel and not that good of a fuel stop - the campground just down the road on Exit 170 on the other hand is real nice with a small mom/pop restaurant.

If you have the extra time, and don't mind the route, cut north through Canada to Sault Ste Marie and cut through upper Michigan through Wisconsin down to 90. It's about 300 miles further, but enjoyable drive.

[Dick_B]

It looks like a campground directory would be helpful and/or a good GPS that will search out campgrounds when you get close to a planned exit. It's difficult to suggest a campground when we don't know where you will want to stay overnight, ie. what town.

[donn0128]

I80 route would be best until past Chicago