Omaha to the Grand Canyon, Kansas Hiways

US 54 has a lot of truck traffic mostly at night. A good road though.

Thanks for all the tips/info! Looking forward to a cool trip!

We have been on several of the routes described by Skip and DesertHawk through Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico. All are good two lane roads. If the Hwy 156 you are asking about is the one from near Ellsworth to Great Bend, it is good two lane road. It is now KS-156 not US-156. Depending on what you want to see and do, US-50, 54, 56, 60, 64, 160, 400 & 412 are all good roads that could be explored as part of your journey West to the Grand Canyon as alternatives to the Interstates.

I suggest you look at the older posts that DesertHawk linked to. Lots of links to lots of great places.

A good option would be to take 81 from Omaha to Salina, I135 Salina to McPherson and 56 west through KS and NM, Clayton and Springer to I25. Then I25 to I40 and west to Grand Canyon. US 81 is four lane part of the way north of Salina, I135 is four lane. Hwy 56 is a good two lane road with passing lanes along the way. The traffic is not unduly heavy. There are RV parks along the way. We have taken those roads several times. We prefer 56 to 54 because there is less truck traffic and the road is in better condition. That is unless they have replaced the section of 54 through OK and TX panhandles. Only caution is through NM there is no fuel stops between Clayton and Springer so plan accordingly.

This older post was about the same route(s), I believe: US 54 Kansas, OK & NM (northern area)

Sites & Sights & Routes on the way to The Canyon, an old post.

Yep, By taking US 54 toward Liberal (could take I-35 down to the 54 to Wichita), then work over to Clayton, NM & on to Springer & I-25 on US 56/64. One would not need to go all the way to Liberal...US 160, then US 83 S to KS 51 to US 56 W.

If you follow US 64 all the way to NM you would be missing I-40 (unless you like interstates), at Raton, keep on 64 to get to Taos, then drop down to Santa Fe or keep on 64 to get over to Chama. On to Farmington/Ship Area on into AZ to US 160 W to US 89 S to Flagstaff & Grand Canyon area. Missing I-25.

Santa Fe is a cool place to visit. Can drop down to it (& I-25) from Taos.

Photos & Discription: US 160 Area

Skip is right on, we always have some wind that is always in the wrong direction, but you could also be lucky and have the wind help you. Have a great trip.

If you take I-80, I-76, I-25, I-40 to Flagstaff, AZ it's 1290 miles and you'll have to deal with Denver traffic, depending on your timing going through.

US81 to 156, 45, 54 is 1167 miles - a little more than 100 miles shorter - no Denver but perhaps slower because of no interstate speeds???

Flip a coin?? Have a good trip whichever way you choose!

It's been a few years since traveling US 156 but as far as I know it's still a 2 lane highway with adequate bridge height for commercial trucking. Not a very busy stretch of highway but it's kept in pretty good condition. US 56 and US 54 are both good 2 lane highways with some passing lanes located every few miles. MOST federal 2 lane highways in Kansas carry a 65 MPH speed limit with some areas near towns slowed to 60 MPH.

Kansas Rest areas are available for overnight parking and along major highways they have special RV circles where you can get away from the noise and lights of truckers. Many have WIFI and free dump stations. Also many small Kansas towns have municipal RV campgrounds that are free or VERY inexpensive and most of them include hook ups (water and electric and a few with sewer).

Good luck / Skip