Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming!

[Rand]

Hi,

We are taking a trip in late May and June through Nebraska to the Blackhills and through Wyoming over to Yellowstone. Any thoughts anyone has about great camping spots, sites to see and eateries along the way will be greatly appreciated! (Diane has already given us some great ideas...thanks again Diane).

Randy

[Suz]

I haven't been in that area in about 20 years so all of my ideas would be outdated and no use. I can say, however, that I wish I was the one planning that trip. One of my hopes is to make it back through that area some day. I think I left my heart back there and I need to go find it. I love that part of the country.

Happy adventures!

[Rand]

Thanks Suz,

The last time through for us was by staying in motels and day trips. The Casita puts us out in it where we want to be. We are looking forward to wandering with no real schedule as I retire in 55 more school days:-). We've never really done Nebraska and understand there are some really nice places to see and campgrounds to stay in.

Randy

[Judy N]

One of the Great places to stay is Fort Robinson State Park near Chadron, Nebraska. It is one of the original indian forts that has been restored. They have a very nice campground, plus they also rent out the old officer quarters as guest houses. I don't know if a reservation is necessary; for the campground. More information should be on the Nebraska Game and Parks website.

From there you can easily go up to Hot Springs South Dakota. Swim in the hot springs and visit the Mammoth burial site. Also nice campgrounds at Pactola Reservoir and Sylvan Lake.

On the East side of Nebraska is Mahoney State park. It is overlooking the Platte River on I-10 between Lincoln and Omaha. There is also an air museum nearby(Nebraska being the home of SAC from the cold war era).

Hope you enjoy the trip. Judy N

[shirley munson]

Don't miss the Sandhills. It's more cowboy country than Texas. The Pioneer Memorial across the freeway at Kearney is a little commercial but interesting. U. of N. Lincoln has the best prehistoric animal display. There's more there than futball.
The food at Mahoney Park is WONDERFUL-you don't have to stay there to eat there.

[Nancy]

Ah, the grass is always greener. We are *from* Nebraska for good reason (to us). Glad to read about the food at Mahoney, we will have to do that on our next visit to relatives.

Enjoy Yellowstone. That is the only part of your trip of interest to this sour old person.

When we passed by the South Dakota badlands we did stop at a place to eat that was fantastic. It was attached to a commercial campground. The campground looked a bit sad but the food was exceptionally good. The person at the Badlands park store recommended the place to us. Sorry, I did not write down the name of the place as we don't spend time in SD, ND, or Nebraska.

If you return north we like the Bozeman KOA, and then we hit Theodore Roosevelt Natl park in ND. The Nation park is primitive camping.

Nancy from MN

[BillNKC]

Ah, the grass is always greener. We are *from* Nebraska for good reason (to us). Glad to read about the food at Mahoney, we will have to do that on our next visit to relatives.

Enjoy Yellowstone. That is the only part of your trip of interest to this sour old person.

When we passed by the South Dakota badlands we did stop at a place to eat that was fantastic. It was attached to a commercial campground. The campground looked a bit sad but the food was exceptionally good. The person at the Badlands park store recommended the place to us. Sorry, I did not write down the name of the place as we don't spend time in SD, ND, or Nebraska.

If you return north we like the Bozeman KOA, and then we hit Theodore Roosevelt Natl park in ND. The Nation park is primitive camping.

Nancy from MN

When in NW Nebraska stop in Alliance, and see the world famous Car Hinge, an englishmans attempt to recreate stone hinge with really old cadillacs. Its a site to behold

[Randya]

One of the Great places to stay is Fort Robinson State Park near Chadron, Nebraska. It is one of the original indian forts that has been restored. They have a very nice campground, plus they also rent out the old officer quarters as guest houses. I don't know if a reservation is necessary; for the campground. More information should be on the Nebraska Game and Parks website.

Fort Rob is great, very laid back. Nebraska has hundreds of pay camp grounds, and their park system is pretty good to. Nice clean parks.

Then come on into Wyoming and head for the Big Horns, Lots of forest service camp grounds or just drive off on one of many roads in the forest and camp!

Then head through Worland, where I live, you can run 35 miles south to Thermopolis and camp at Fountain of Youth camp ground and see the state park and hot springs, Fountian of youth has it's own hot spring, and then on over to Yellowstone.

Cody has some neat stuff, Buffalo Bill museum, and several camp grounds. You can either go north to Sun Light basin (over Dead Indian) (stunning views)(lots of forest service camp grounds on the way) and enter the park from the north east, or go straight out of Cody to the west via the North Fork(more camp grounds on the way) to the east gate of the park. Some road construction there but the scenary is nice while you wait. I have never camped in the park (YS) only used the cabins. Lots to see and look at.

May might be a tad bit early. Go out the south gate and see the tetons and Jackson, then pick a direction and go. Wyoming has unlimited places to go. Half of the state is public land, meaning it is yours as well as mine. Take your time and enjoy.

Get a Wyoming highway map and study it. There are lots of out of the way spots a few miles from the highway and some 40 miles from the highway. If you need a state map get me your address and I will send you one.

Have a great trip!

[Bob Cupp]

One of our favorite places to stay is in the Bighorn Mountains. Like Randya said, you can camp just about anywhere when you get off of the paved roads. From Burgess, take US 14A toward Cody. We have stopped at the Medicine Wheel a couple of times but I heard that the area is closed off part of the time for religious reasons (Native Americans).

West of Medicine Wheel is one of the steepest sections of road I have ever driven on, I believe that it is over a 15 degree grade for something like 20 miles.

Remember to downshift instead of cooking your brakes. My father was a truck driver and always pounded it into our heads that you go down a hill in the same gear that you go up. I have never had hot brakes, but I have been passed by alot of people that I catch up to later with smoke coming out of the wheel wells. I have co0me down that grade 4 seperate times pulling a 2500 lb pop up without any problems.

Have a great time, wish I could go along.

[Bill MacDermod]

Hey guys and gals, great info keep this going, we are planning a trip out to the Oregun/ Oregon gathering from Florida thru Arkansas and Missouri and want to go that way also. If any one has a route to leave Oregon heading back to Florida only on a more Southern direction, jump in and give us some ideas. All our lives has been spent on the east coast and we still haven't seen everything there.

[Kent]

I was watching RV Today, the episode was about Idaho, mainly the South East corner.

Couple of areas to check out or stay that are close to Yellowstone and Grand Teton's;

Red Rock RV Park

Mesa Falls Scenic By Way

Idaho also has spectacular country for scenic drives and camping North of Boise following the Snake River and Salmon River as well as all the way up to Canada.

[Kent]

Snake River

[Lou & Lora E.]

www.pioneerautoshow.com in Murdo, SD is not to be missed if your interested in memorabilia--cars, tractors, the first motor home, rock, guns, etc. going west. stop at Wall, SD. huge story about a depression era drug store turned into an industry including a museum and rv park.
Custer National Park has a herd of Bison carefully maintained at 1000 head.
the Hart Ranch RV Park south of Rapid City is one of the finest in the country. (Terrible Herbst's Lakeside in Pahrump, NV is a distant second.)
Fort Meade, near Sturgis, SD is a very interesting historical sight, if your interested in Civil War stuff and the infamous Custer, who was responsible for the Black Hills gold rush, which alienated a lot of Indians.
then there is Cabela's in Sidney, NB and Mitchell, SD, and if you have to ask who they are, your not interested.
oh, and don't forget that Sturgis, SD is Harly Davidson Mecca in August. beware if you ain't one of them.

[Gigi]

In Nebraska, there is a state forest, yes, a state forest! It's the only one in Nebraska and was planted as a result of Teddy Roosevelt's legislation. There's a campground there at Halsey. I go to the 4-H camp for an art camp that has been held there for over 40 years. The camp is great, lots of camping cabins, and pads for campers.
I don't have the link at hand, but, I think a search will offer it up easily. The drive from Halsey north through the reservation is absolutely gorgeous! I drop south off I-90 at Chamberlain, I think. There's a major road that connects the two. Take time to stop and photograpg the sandhills. They are amazing.

The Badlands are fabulous to see in the early morning when it's cool and the sun is coming up. They are as interesting as many places I've seen. There is a national campground or two, in the Badlands.
Sylvan Lake is very popular, too. There's canoes to rent and it's truly lovely in there. I'd take the kids there anytime.
Mount Rushmore is rather sweet at night when they have the ceremony and flag lowering. Your kids may enjoy that. The ranger tours are quite interesting and tells about the development of Mount Rushmore.
Needles highway is a nice drive, I wouldn't miss that.
If you are into horseback riding, there's lot of opportunitues near Rapid City.

Chamberlain has a good looking campground in the city along the Missouri River. It's a fair sized town with a few eating spots. I recall a good ice cream hut near downtown.

I love the state campgrounds near Pierre. There's one along the river, I think it's called Upper Dam. It is really great, clean, peaceful. I've been there a few times and long to return.

I haven't given you a lot of specifics, I need to dash. But, if you look online or at a map, I am sure you'll find these easily.
Email me if you want more information, I may be able to help.
Good luck!
BTW, make sure you check on when the motorcycle rally in Rapid City happens. It makes it a little busier along Needles and Mount Rushmore, but I've found the family things less so.
Have fun!
Gigi

[Roger H]

The UHaul I had for a few months (formerly Pete M's and now Jack Maloney's) and my Excursion at Kearney...





And the UHaul at the Tipis...