Omaha to Mt Rushmore route through Nebraska?

[Travel_glampers]

What is the quickest/easiest way to go from Omaha to Mt Rushmore while towing a 34-ft fifth wheel? We have driven the interstate 29/Interstate 90 route before, and are fine with it, but I was wondering if there might be a quicker non-interstate route through Nebraska. We will be making the trip in June 2021 and are just trying to maximize our time in the Mt Rushmore/Black Hills area.

[bukhrn]

sljohnson1938 wrote:
i would take I29 North to I90 West. might not be shorter than others routes, but when you take interstates you can usually travel faster, less small towns to go thru. Got to be faster and easier driving.

X-2, we did that in 2015, and would again, per Google maps, I29 -I90 route 7 hrs. 51 minutes, Omaha to Alliance & up 385, 9hrs 10 minutes, of course either way can be +/- depending on the driver.

[Veebyes]

Drive the roads that used to be the major roads before the interstates were built. Yes they are a little slower however generally the traffic is light & the roads are much better. Having to slow down for a town with a few lights is no big deal & provides a nice change from the mind numbing monotony of an interstate.

[Bob806]

https://sandhillsjourney.com/

We are going to drive this in July 2021 on the way out west. Might as well get off the interstate and enjoy the views, something we don't mind doing at all.

[BarabooBob]

My personal preference is to stay off the interstate highway system and stop at the little towns to talk to the locals and see what most people fly past. It is all about the journey AND the destination. But I am retired and can stay on the road as long as I want.

[sljohnson1938]

i would take I29 North to I90 West. might not be shorter than others routes, but when you take interstates you can usually travel faster, less small towns to go thru. Got to be faster and easier driving.

[Mayor30]

WE did it in reverse from Mt Rushmore to North Platte. 385 south to Rt 2 to 97 to I-80. Roads were good. At that time there wasn't much in gas stations along the way but were were able to get gas around Alliance.

[Travel_glampers]

Thank you all for your help. It will make our planning easier.

[hornet28]

RoyF wrote:
I recommend US 2 across western Nebraska. Good scenery (Nebraska sand hills) and little traffic. There are several towns along the way with city-operated rv campgrounds that are nice as well as inexpensive.

US 2 connects to I-80 at Grand Island, Neb.

Then north on US 385, also a fast road. That takes you close to Mt Rushmore.

Neb 2. U.S.2 is in the north, it goes from Maine to Washington

[azdryheat]

Non-interstate routes, in my experience, have never been faster.

[TexasShadow]

ditto to RoyF post.
If you use 385, there will be a fork in the road north of Alliance, with 385 to the left and 79 to the right. Left will take you through Hot Springs, and then through Custer which has a lot of rv parks and Custer State Park (a real gem)
79 to the right will take you to Rapid City.

[RoyF]

I recommend US 2 across western Nebraska. Good scenery (Nebraska sand hills) and little traffic. There are several towns along the way with city-operated rv campgrounds that are nice as well as inexpensive.

US 2 connects to I-80 at Grand Island, Neb.

Then north on US 385, also a fast road. That takes you close to Mt Rushmore.

[Dick_B]

If you really want to maximize your time there take the bus tour of Rushmore and Crazy Horse.