Community Forums

Nelle9 · 02-25-2018, 05:04 AM

We are looking to take a trip to SD to Mt Rushmore, we would be starting in MA. How long should we plan for this trip and what time of year is best in your opinion. We also would love some routes that anyone has use to avoid big city driving. And the campgrounds that you have stayed in.

Busskipper · 02-25-2018, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelle9

We are looking to take a trip to SD to Mt Rushmore,

we would be starting in MA.

How long should we plan for this trip and what time of year is best in your opinion.

We also would love some routes that anyone has use to avoid big city driving.

And the campgrounds that you have stayed in.

OK - Custer /Black Hill is where you should look, IMHO.

Best time of Year is early Fall - September.

The only way to avoid Cities is to Avoid Cities - Means you need to be prepared to drive some extra miles - BUT - it is well worth the effort.

"A" to "B" drives we will usually do a Wal*Mart for a Couple Days then hit a CG to dump and refill - Until you get West of the Mississippi you are subject to Traffic an just a Pain. RT 36 is my favorite route West.

My personal recommendation would be to get into Pennsylvania - then avoid the toll road (Traffic) and get to Denver and the Rockies then Head North - https://binged.it/2on9XuA - This works for me - as no way I'll get near Chicago and why not see a little of Colorado for a month or two before you visit Custer.

If this is too far off Base then you need to be a little more specific as to what YOU really want - not what I would Do. .

JMHO,

DaveG39 · 02-25-2018, 10:32 AM

I have traveled coast to coast many times. Used to live in MA. Don't know how much time you have but here are a few recommendations I have traveled. MA to north shore of finger lakes to Niagara Falls into Canada then back to US in Sarnia then upper Peninsula of Michigan then to the Dakotas. Either Fargo to Mandan to Medora to Roosevelt NP to Rapid City or Sioux Falls to Badlands to Rapid city.

Rburian · 02-27-2018, 04:03 PM

To bypass Chicago, take I-90 than merge on to I -80 to I-355 North, to I-88 West, to I-39 North which will merge with I-90 West. I live on Cape Cod and travel this route often, it seems confusing, but all these interstates run into each other. Look at a Illinois map and it shows these routes avoiding Chicago.

Nelle9 · 02-27-2018, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rburian

To bypass Chicago, take I-90 than merge on to I -80 to I-355 North, to I-88 West, to I-39 North which will merge with I-90 West. I live on Cape Cod and travel this route often, it seems confusing, but all these interstates run into each other. Look at a Illinois map and it shows these routes avoiding Chicago.

Thank you Rburian, this seems like the mostly route for us after looking at the map as suggested.

Nelle9 · 02-27-2018, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busskipper

OK - Custer /Black Hill is where you should look, IMHO.

Best time of Year is early Fall - September.

The only way to avoid Cities is to Avoid Cities - Means you need to be prepared to drive some extra miles - BUT - it is well worth the effort.

"A" to "B" drives we will usually do a Wal*Mart for a Couple Days then hit a CG to dump and refill - Until you get West of the Mississippi you are subject to Traffic an just a Pain. RT 36 is my favorite route West.

My personal recommendation would be to get into Pennsylvania - then avoid the toll road (Traffic) and get to Denver and the Rockies then Head North - https://binged.it/2on9XuA - This works for me - as no way I'll get near Chicago and why not see a little of Colorado for a month or two before you visit Custer.

If this is too far off Base then you need to be a little more specific as to what YOU really want - not what I would Do. .

JMHO,

I would love to do that route, that would get me to see so much of the country. But alas we are still working, so still tied to vacation time table. Soon, but we will have to wait for a few years yet.

**TonyDi** · 02-27-2018, 08:50 PM

Avoid Chicago at all costs. IMO it has worse traffic than NYC or Washington. You can do it in the middle of the night but that's a whole other thing.

We've made this trip many times and we prefer I-90 to I-70. It's a better road and more scenic.

DrDaveMA · 02-27-2018, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveG39

I have traveled coast to coast many times. Used to live in MA. Don't know how much time you have but here are a few recommendations I have traveled. MA to north shore of finger lakes to Niagara Falls into Canada then back to US in Sarnia then upper Peninsula of Michigan then to the Dakotas. Either Fargo to Mandan to Medora to Roosevelt NP to Rapid City or Sioux Falls to Badlands to Rapid city.

Took this route when we went to Alaska in 2014, take US route 2 west, great trip, lots to see. DO NOT miss the Medora musical https://medora.com/Do/Entertainment/medora-musical/ it is worth it, we also did the Cowboy Pitchfork Fondue https://medora.com/Eat/Family/pitchfork-steak-fondue/ it is worth the trip!!!

George Schweikle · 02-28-2018, 06:43 AM

X2. You do need to go through Toronto but otherwise a very nice route.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveG39

I have traveled coast to coast many times. Used to live in MA. Don't know how much time you have but here are a few recommendations I have traveled. MA to north shore of finger lakes to Niagara Falls into Canada then back to US in Sarnia then upper Peninsula of Michigan then to the Dakotas. Either Fargo to Mandan to Medora to Roosevelt NP to Rapid City or Sioux Falls to Badlands to Rapid city.

Stevec4 · 02-28-2018, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelle9

We are looking to take a trip to SD to Mt Rushmore, we would be starting in MA. How long should we plan for this trip and what time of year is best in your opinion. We also would love some routes that anyone has use to avoid big city driving. And the campgrounds that you have stayed in.

We have done this route twice now, the first time we pushed it a little to get to Rushmore. The first day we drove to Niagra spent a couple days there and then made the mad dash to Rushmore. We stopped at the following cities and used these campgrounds. It was a great trip allow as much time as you can once you get out there.

The mileage was about 1950 from the Boston area to Rushmore.

Niagara Falls, NY
Elkhart, IN RV Campgrounds in Elkhart, IN | Elkhart Campground
Coralville, IA Meadow Lake Campground
Salem, SD https://koa.com/campgrounds/mitchell/
Rushmore, SD https://koa.com/campgrounds/mount-rushmore/

Yosemite77 · 02-28-2018, 07:44 AM

There are 2 good options for bypassing Chicago. Both involve toll roads. As far as which is the best option depends on the time of day (Check traffic on Google Maps). FYI, the Illinois Toll Authority accepts EZPass.
Option 1: I-80 to I-294 to I-290 to I-90
Option 2: I-80 to I-355 to I-290 to I-90 (Rburian’s route)
Option 2 is normally about 20 minutes longer, but traffic will probably be a little lighter. On I-290 opt for the local lanes and look for signs for Rockford.
Some will say to take I-80 to I-39 and REALLY bypass the Chicago area. I wouldn’t do it. It will add an hour to your trip and you’ll be enjoying the company of trucks on a 2 lane section of I-80 for an extended time.