Planned Road Trip

[ATitus]

Hello all my fellow Spyder Lovers, a buddy and I are heading out real soon leaving Indiana and heading through Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada. Linking up with US 66 in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. We plan to see all we can and what we miss, we'll catch on the next "go round"! I'm looking for any tips, best practices or words of wisdom you all may want to provide, seeing as my longest trip to date has been 230 miles! lol!! Thanks........

 

[Mazo EMS2]

Not sure what part of WI you plan to go through, but some of the more popular, touristy, small towns are Lake Geneva, New Glarus, Mt Horeb, and Wi Dells. There is always Spring Green too, where you'll find The House On The Rock on Hwy 23. Personally I would stay way clear of Madison. Traffic is horrible there and the crime is even worse. Another nice ride might be Hwy 11 west toward Dubuque, and then up Hwy 35 along the Mississippi River. Take the old steel grate bridge across the Mississippi into Lansing IA. Or, stop in Cassville and ride the old gas powered ferry across into Iowa, then a cruise up to Pikes Peak, right across the river from Prairie Du Chein, WI. I think Pikes Peak is in McGregor IA. It's a nice overlook of the Miss River. The western part of WI is awesome. Then head west.....

 

[Navydad]

Stay off the freeways!! Take the two lane highways, go through and stop in the small towns, eat at the mom and pop greasy spoons. See the REAL America and talk with the good old average Joe's. You will find that this is still a great country full of really great folks in spite of what the media wants you to believe. Spent seven weeks on the road two years back, over 6500 miles and less than 500 on a freeway. Some of the best times I have had.

 

[Mazo EMS2]

Stay off the freeways!! Take the two lane highways, go through and stop in the small towns, eat at the mom and pop greasy spoons. See the REAL America and talk with the good old average Joe's. You will find that this is still a great country full of really great folks in spite of what the media wants you to believe. Spent seven weeks on the road two years back, over 6500 miles and less than 500 on a freeway. Some of the best times I have had.

^^^DITTO^^^
We avoid the freeways whenever possible. We like stopping at little "dives" too. Some of the best food, and the local "chat" can be pretty interesting

 

[SpyderAnn01]

When you're heading to NV from UT get off I15 st the Overton/Logandale exit and ride through Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Nice curvy roads and spectacular scenery. Stay on it all the way to Boulder City then hit Hoover Dam before heading to AZ.

 

[Big F]

Hello all my fellow Spyder Lovers, a buddy and I are heading out real soon leaving Indiana and heading through Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada. Linking up with US 66 in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. We plan to see all we can and what we miss, we'll catch on the next "go round"! I'm looking for any tips, best practices or words of wisdom you all may want to provide, seeing as my longest trip to date has been 230 miles! lol!! Thanks........

DO NOT MISS the roads between Rapid City and Mt. Rushmore!!!! Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road are absolutely awesome to ride!!!!!! There are several others in that area but those two stand out.
Happy and safe riding to ya!
BIG F

 

[Highwayman2013]

Hello all my fellow Spyder Lovers, a buddy and I are heading out real soon leaving Indiana and heading through Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada. Linking up with US 66 in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. We plan to see all we can and what we miss, we'll catch on the next "go round"! I'm looking for any tips, best practices or words of wisdom you all may want to provide, seeing as my longest trip to date has been 230 miles! lol!! Thanks........

See if you can work Rt 12 in Utah into your route. Great ride from Torrey to Bryce Canyon through Grand Staircase Escalante.

 

[Arion]

I agree with Big F about Mt. Rushmore and the Iron Mountain Highway - both are worth visiting. And if you ride Iron Mountain from the south toward Mt. Rushmore every time you ride into a tunnel you'll see Mt. Rushmore framed in the exit of each of the tunnels. Spearfish Canyon is another great ride. It was the location of the winter Indian camp near the end of the film Dances With Wolves. Since we lived in Rapid City, the Crazy Horse Memorial has progressed in leaps and bounds and some say it's now more impressive than Mt. Rushmore. Haven't seen it since 1996 so I can't confirm the accuracy of that opinion.

Depending on what part of Nevada you're planning on riding through, US Highway 50 is memorable. It's described as the loneliest road in America, and we think it probably is. Stop for fuel and a meal in Eureka, about mid way between Reno and the Utah state line. It's billed as "The Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road in America." Spoiler alert - it's the only town on said road! Scenery is eerie but really amazing and you'll find scattered remains of Pony Express and Butterfield Stage Company stops in the middle of absolutely nowhere!

What else? Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming (remember Close Encounters of The Third Kind) and Little Big Horn National Monument in Montana (Custer's Last Stand) are also worth visiting. In Utah, the town of Moab is pretty interesting and rather a campy destination for the young outdoor activity set. You'll see three types of people there, dirt bike riders, mountain bicycle riders, and hikers and each group can be identified out by their almost-identical distinctive outfits. Have lunch at the Love Muffin Café on North Main Street and be entertained by observing members of the three different groups as they stroll up and down the street.

Sorry if this it too much information. My wife tells me I'm genetically incapable of short answers. Oh well.

 

[Mazo EMS2]

DO NOT MISS the roads between Rapid City and Mt. Rushmore!!!! Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road are absolutely awesome to ride!!!!!! There are several others in that area but those two stand out.
Happy and safe riding to ya!
BIG F

^^Ditto again^^^ We just rode this area two weeks ago and loved it. Hit Spearfish Canyon Rd, Nemo Rd, and VanOcker Canyon Rd out of Rapid City too if ya have time. Don't bother doing the Wildlife Loop in Custer, waste of time in my opinion.