Jim&Vicki
Cincinnati,Ohio
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Taking our first trip out West later this year & we're starting to make some plans. We're planning to stay in the black hills area for a week or so while we take day trips out of there.Coming from Cincinnati what route would you recommend? also are there any favorite CGs that we should consider for our western home away from home?
As always thanks for your help in advance
Jim & Vicki
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donn0128
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Are you asking about fastest or scenic?
Fastest would probably be 74 to 80 to 29 to 90 and on into Rapid City area.
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john&bet
North Vernon,in.
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We have made more trips to or from the Black Hills than I can count since '78 from southern Indiana. We have used all the routes you can think of in that time. I think one of the best for us was to take US-50 from our place straight to Us-385 in Colorado and head north from there. We were in no hurry as we had 2 weeks of time to do the round trip. I must say in full disclosure that we were not site seeing in the Hills as we had lived there for 9 years starting in '78. We went for a friends wedding. We left on a sat. morning about noon and got to Rapid on Thursday afternoon. We made no reservations, no millage expectations and stopped when there was some think interesting to see along the way. I keeped a trip report of where we stayed and sites visited, if interested please feel free to pm me. And yes the suggested route is one of our usual ways of going or coming home. You are looking at just about 1200 miles one way. Enjoy.
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Jim&Vicki
Cincinnati,Ohio
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Thanks for the responses so far. As far as which route, we are looking for the fastest to the Black Hills area. Our plan so far is to get there & find a good spot for the Roo (yep we're hook up folks & the more of them the better ) Drop the Roo and explore that area for a 3-4 days & then load up the F150 and head towards the Yellowstone area for 2-3 days. We plan on doing cabins or B&B's during the Yellowstone leg of the trip. Sound do-able?
While traveling we do not hit it real hard. We typically hit the road around 8-9 & travel until 4-5. With that type of driving schedule should we be able to hit Black Hills in 2.5 days?
Again,thanks for all of the expertise from around this great country of ours.
Jim & Vicki
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Jim Shoe
Amelia, OH
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I've done the trip from Cincinnati and agree with Donn on the route, with these additions.
At x-131 off of I-90, take the trip thru the Badlands. The road returns to I-90 at x-110. When you get to Rapid City, take I-190 south thru Rapid City. It turns into US16 and takes you into the heart of the Black Hills. From your pics, it appears that you like hookups, so I'd recommend Rafter J. It's close to Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park. The wildlife loop in CSP is worth a visit. Check out www.travelsd.com for things to see and do in the area. BTW, you'll start seeing billboards for Wall Drugs probably about the time you hit I-29N in Omaha. Fight the urge.
I love the Black Hills and I bet you will, Too.
Retired and visiting as much of this beautiful country as I can.
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aeohio
New Mexico
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When we lived in Cincy we took the same route that donn0128 suggested I forget where we stayed first night, it was an in and out as we were trying to make time. Rafter J looked nice but we stayed at Horsethief CG, it was close to everything and we had no issues. Sioux Falls SD has a neat waterfall area that we stopped at and walked around for a while, kids liked it. Stopped at the Corn Palace, Wall Drug, Badlands. Corn Palace and Wall Drug our tourist trap stuff but we thought they were neat and the kids liked them.
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coloradotallman
mexico
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Check the Travels and Destinations section in Class A Motorhomes of the Forums. Molly928 had a similar request from NY to Black Hills with 3 pages of responses.
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john&bet
North Vernon,in.
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Jim&Vicki wrote:One mapping program takes us 74-80 but then takes 380-218-35 & then on 90. It shows 60 mi. shorter than the 74-80-29-90 route, It apears to be 4 lane all of the way but nothing beats the first hand experience of our fellow travelers.What are your thoughts on that route?
We were basing the 2.5 day travel time off of our trip to Camden Maine a couple of years ago. It was roughly 1,100 mi and took us about 2.5 days driving our normal schedule shown above. We thought we would probably make a little better time since we had flatter terrain & the EB truck having more power than our old T.V which had the 4.6 L engine. Am I close or way off base? (wouldn't be the first time)  I have never used that route so can not comment on it. On our last trip home from out west we were in the Badlands National park on the last leg home. It took us 24 hours of driving it to do it. One day of 300 miles,one of 444,and one of 388. Yours may be different. In the days we traveled from Rapid to here without an RV it took 22 hours of driving. I just checked some old logs of passed trips and found one where we drove from Rapid City to our home in 2 10 hour plus days. I wont do it again unless it is an emergency. My travel speed is between 60 and 65 with our sig. rig. Hope you have a great trip. One thing I forgot to mention, but you may be aware of all ready. You will find 2 time zone changes between here and there which will add or subtract from your driving day. Enjoy.
* This post was
edited 03/11/12 09:15am by john&bet *
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Jim&Vicki
Cincinnati,Ohio
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One mapping program takes us 74-80 but then takes 380-218-35 & then on 90. It shows 60 mi. shorter than the 74-80-29-90 route, It apears to be 4 lane all of the way but nothing beats the first hand experience of our fellow travelers.What are your thoughts on that route?
We were basing the 2.5 day travel time off of our trip to Camden Maine a couple of years ago. It was roughly 1,100 mi and took us about 2.5 days driving our normal schedule shown above. We thought we would probably make a little better time since we had flatter terrain & the EB truck having more power than our old T.V which had the 4.6 L engine. Am I close or way off base? (wouldn't be the first time)
* This post was
edited 03/10/12 08:39am by Jim&Vicki *
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john&bet
North Vernon,in.
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Jim&Vicki wrote:Thanks for the responses so far. As far as which route, we are looking for the fastest to the Black Hills area. Our plan so far is to get there & find a good spot for the Roo (yep we're hook up folks & the more of them the better ) Drop the Roo and explore that area for a 3-4 days & then load up the F150 and head towards the Yellowstone area for 2-3 days. We plan on doing cabins or B&B's during the Yellowstone leg of the trip. Sound do-able?
While traveling we do not hit it real hard. We typically hit the road around 8-9 & travel until 4-5. With that type of driving schedule should we be able to hit Black Hills in 2.5 days?
Again,thanks for all of the expertise from around this great country of ours.
Jim & Vicki In that case take the I-74,I-80,I-29,I-90 route. You will be hard pressed in 2.5 days. As I said you are looking at 1200 miles.That leaves no time to see anything on the way. It will be 350 miles across on I-90 from Sioux Falls to Rapid City. Have a safe trip.
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