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I80 between Chicago and Denver

bigdisneydaddy

bigdisneydaddy

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Location
Fenton MI
Any tips on what to avoid, bypasses or things I should stop and see ? I have never been this route before, this is my first trip west.
Thanks
 
When you take 80 accross Nebraska and as you near the small town of Big Springs there will be a turn to take to Denver called I-76. You can either take it and cut off maybe a half hour or continue west to Cheyenne Wyoming and then take I-25 south to Denver. I grew up in this part of Nebraska, now live in Loveland CO just 45 miles north of Denver so I have went down these roads MANY Times.
I dont know where there is construction currently but the drive will be a good one I am sure. People always say it is so flat accross Ne. I beg to differ but I am partial to that being born there. If you need any specifics ask away and I will try to help you
 
its gonna be beautiful i drove out there last year and the weather can change in an instant once you get up in the mountains!
 
Max 10 over through Ill and Iowa. Iowa troopers like to do the double up where you pass one and hammer down and 2 miles down the road after you crest a hill, there's the other. No more than 7 over in construction zones! West of Omaha 80-85 mph straight through. If you take I76 at Julesburg be prepared for.................. NOTHING! but sand hills. As if you didn't already see enough in Nebraska.:eek: If it's windy you might have to play tumbleweed pinball.
Pretty straight shot for the most part. With reasonable stops every so often it's about 15 hrs to Denver from Chicago.
 
Speed wont be a problem, I typically run 65 mph with the trailer. Although this truck would probably pull that trailer right up to the speed limiter I prefer to be a little safer than that, plus the mileage goes down fast after 2000rpm.
 
btfarm said:
Max 10 over through Ill and Iowa. Iowa troopers like to do the double up where you pass one and hammer down and 2 miles down the road after you crest a hill, there's the other. No more than 7 over in construction zones! West of Omaha 80-85 mph straight through. If you take I76 at Julesburg be prepared for.................. NOTHING! but sand hills. As if you didn't already see enough in Nebraska.:eek: If it's windy you might have to play tumbleweed pinball.
Pretty straight shot for the most part. With reasonable stops every so often it's about 15 hrs to Denver from Chicago.
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I dont know what Nebraska and the other states are doing on speed but Colorado is starting to crack down after 5 over. They want your money!! I chuckle at those when they say there is Nothing but sandhills or Nebraska is Flat. I can still say that in the spring you drive accross the Pawnee flatlands from Sterling to Ft Collins and at the right time the cactus are in bloom and it is over 90 miles of many colors and I never tire of it and I live here. I look at every trip I drive as an adventure to see something I dont get to very often and flat, hilly, rain or shine, it is part of a great country and I am going to enjoy seeing it. I am not dinging anyone on this but it just makes me smile when I read peoples interpetation of different states.
When I went the first time to my wifes hometown in northern Wisconsin I dont relish going again. Too many trees and I cant find my bearings on direction. Plus all the rivers and ponds made it hard on someone who dont fish or boat or enjoy anything related to it. But that is my opinion and many here enjoy those things. I will keep my flatter area and enjoy what comes with it.:thumbsup:
 
For sight seeing in Iowa you might want to visit the Amana Colonies. Old World setting with crafts, wine and textiles(Amana Woolen Mills). They have a very large campground up there as well. Amana is located about 10 miles north of I80 at,I believe, exit 225.
Exit 220 has a large factory outlet mall, Tanger Factory Outlet, that the wife(if you have one :smile5:) would probably enjoy.
World's largest truckstop at Walcott, exit 284. They also have a trucking museum with hundreds of restored trucks.
 
jrsavoie said:
I always stop at Ole's Big Game Resturant in Paxton, Nebraska and the original Cabela's when I travel that route. They are both right off of RT. 80
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The only thing is that is NOT the original Cabelas, That was the first NEW store when they started to expand. The orignal was downtown Sidney near the underpass under the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and that big old red brick building shook every few minutes as the trains went thru town at 65mph +. At one time the trains were between 15-20 per hour in their heyday
But is was the very first new store they built and Oles big game is still an interesting place to stop:thumbsup:
 
radar1053 said:
The only thing is that is NOT the original Cabelas, That was the first NEW store when they started to expand. The orignal was downtown Sidney near the underpass under the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and that big old red brick building shook every few minutes as the trains went thru town at 65mph +. At one time the trains were between 15-20 per hour in their heyday
But is was the very first new store they built and Oles big game is still an interesting place to stop:thumbsup:
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I really used to like the bargain cave at that Cabela's til they opened all the other stores. Their bargain caves don't seem to be so bargainy anymore. I've seen stuff onsale in the staore cheaper than they had it in the so-called bargain cave. IMHO Cabela's and all their made in china shit sucks anymore.
But it's still worth a stop to check out their stores, if for no other reason than the site seeing value. They still have some great stuff not made in china. And if you need or want something, odds are they will have it.
 
If you want to see a couple of real cool things:
Downtown Moline has the John Deere pavilion with all the latest equipment on display and even better is the JD collector's center a block away in the old brick floored factory. Not alot of time to see either and kids really enjoy both. Also the Rock Island arsenal is open for visitors and there is some very interesting history there.
Great food (wholesome family food) at the Iowa Machine shed at the Northwest blvd exit (#292) just as you are getting to the western edge of the metro quad cities area.
 
btfarm said:
If you want to see a couple of real cool things:
Downtown Moline has the John Deere pavilion with all the latest equipment on display and even better is the JD collector's center a block away in the old brick floored factory. Not alot of time to see either and kids really enjoy both. Also the Rock Island arsenal is open for visitors and there is some very interesting history there.
Great food (wholesome family food) at the Iowa Machine shed at the Northwest blvd exit (#292) just as you are getting to the western edge of the metro quad cities area.
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I have been to the Iowa Macine spread when we went to Wisconsin a few yrs back and yep, that food is really good there.:thumbsup:
 
jrsavoie said:
I really used to like the bargain cave at that Cabela's til they opened all the other stores. Their bargain caves don't seem to be so bargainy anymore. I've seen stuff onsale in the staore cheaper than they had it in the so-called bargain cave. IMHO Cabela's and all their made in china shit sucks anymore.
But it's still worth a stop to check out their stores, if for no other reason than the site seeing value. They still have some great stuff not made in china. And if you need or want something, odds are they will have it.
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You said it all right there, most of the stuff is China CRAP and yep they sale things on the floor cheaper than in the bargain cave. It is also said that the company was at one time a leader in the Sidney community and well respected. Now they have to import people from out of state for at least 1 yr contracts to find help. The locals wont work for the money grubbing buttholes
 
World's Largest Truckstop located in Walcott, Iowa. Interstate 80 and Exit 284.
Lots of pull through parking, good restaurantS, and road resources. Plenty of signs announcing it, hard to miss.

Through Nebraska, there's a couple of Bald Eagles that like to buzz the 18 wheelers, at least the gold one I drove, every trip.
 
Don't forget to smile as you pass under the Arch near Kearny, Nebraska. This way you won't have to ask yourself, "WTF is THAT:eek: doing out here in the middle of nowhere?" Of course there's no exit (have to go several miles west) but I understand there isn't much to see anyhow...):h
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/9790
 

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And, of course, Kinze manufacturing at Williamsburg, Ia. There is a 4wd tractor (1/2 red -1/2 green) standing on it's nose hooked to a very large Kinze planter that's WAY! up in the air. Every so often the planter cycles from field to transport mode. They've got a couple of other things out there too. Just about the time you see the big blue Kinze grain cart up on a pole, look to the North side of the highway.
 

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Stopped near there for fuel when passing thru and I know the exact spot you are talking about. Being a welder and my first job was with the Hesston Corp in Hesston KS, I love to see all things that are mechanical and built. I am intriqued every time.

As for the Arch near Kearny, my grandparents are from just down the road and I agree it is a waste of money in my book. You can stop at some of the rest stops along I-80 and the history of what happened near them is more interesting to me. They tell many stories of days gone by
 
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