Return Route from Custer SD to Austin, Texas

[cgaskins]

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

[TexasShadow]

I think we did use 83 last fall, through Perryton and yeah, it was busy and they were re working the road through town, but I don't recall a long stretch of highway being rough...but could be because of the oil/gas boom and all the heavy trucks using it.

[cgaskins]

Thanks all. I am going with Option A.

-Chris

[Dadio24]

Option A I have done...not a bad route. Many shorts stops. 287 is a great road. Hope you have been able to stay above the water line these days in Austin.

[greg121]

Canadian TX has a small rv park at the fair grounds on the north side of town

Shadow have you been on 83 south of Perryton in the last 3 years? Whats the road surface like? I've been avoiding that stretch of road since a trip where the copilots windshield visor shade bounced off (what excitement). I'd like to put it back in the possible route category.

cg - I note you're headed to Country Acres - thats no longer a Passport park if it makes a difference.

[TexasShadow]

Hi,
we've taken the 385 route several times. it isn't heavily traveled. the little towns are easy to get through. Some of them have little parks big enough to hold you for lunch or even overnight.
Burlington has an old Carousel..one of three real ones left in the country, I think. I haven't seen it yet but have promised myself to make the effort next time.
We go all the way down to highway 50, hook a left and go to Garden City KS then take 83 south to Childress where you can get 287 over to Wichita Falls and south on 281.
If you're tired before you get to Garden City, there is a dinky little rest stop along the way..we've stayed overnight there a couple times.

Canadian TX has a small rv park at the fair grounds on the north side of town just after crossing the river. Elec and water and dump station.

South of Shamrock TX, (south of Lutie)just before crossing the Salt Fork of the Red River, there is a county rv park combined with rest stop. very nice, but watch out for sticker burrs if you have a dog.

[Thom02099]

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.

[cgaskins]

Here is the route in question...

Google Maps Route