Lincoln, NE to Mitchell, SD route question.

Foothills Jim

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Apr 23, 2018
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NC Foothills
I'm headed up to Mitchell, SD after leaving Lincoln and my Garmin RV 770 GPS shows taking I-80 east through Omaha to I-29 instead of just going up 680 over to I-29. I'm sure I went on 680 years ago from Sioux Falls to Lincoln with no issues other than a bit of congestion. Any reason to avoid 680 towing a 36' 5th wheel? I'd be departing Lincoln on a Tuesday morning.
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Would Highways 77 north to 81 to 18 into Mitchell be a terrible route? Thanks.
 
Depends, you want fastest or nicest? Fastest is interstate. Nicest way would be hwy 34 north to NE 79 to NE 92 west to US 81 to 90 west to Mitchell. This is a shorter but slower route. Choice depends on your priorities. Hope this helps.
 
Depends, you want fastest or nicest? Fastest is interstate. Nicest way would be hwy 34 north to NE 79 to NE 92 west to US 81 to 90 west to Mitchell. This is a shorter but slower route. Choice depends on your priorities. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your input. I've ridden motorcycles and pulled trailers up I-29 quite a few times and I find it mostly boring so thought I'd try something different.
 
Thanks for your input. I've ridden motorcycles and pulled trailers up I-29 quite a few times and I find it mostly boring so thought I'd try something different.
Well, it is Nebraska and South Dakota, so "mostly boring" pretty much covers most of area up there. :) My brother, who married a woman from South Dakota often used to say "The only windbreak between Canada and Nebraska is a 3-strand bobwire fence.". :)
 
Thanks for your input. I've ridden motorcycles and pulled trailers up I-29 quite a few times and I find it mostly boring so thought I'd try something different.
Well, it is Nebraska and South Dakota, so "mostly boring" pretty much covers most of area up there. :) My brother, who married a woman from South Dakota often used to say "The only windbreak between Canada and Nebraska is a 3-strand bobwire fence.". :)

But if you're not in a hurry, any two lane has to be more scenic than the interstates. Scenic being a relative term. :)
 
Well, we're in Lincoln right now, so I put in Corn Palace as a destination and in does, indeed, suggest up I-29 as the fastest route. The shortest route goes up through Norfolk and Yankton. That's the route I'd look at first. Personally, I don't really want to tow anything around Omaha, although I'm likely going to do just that next week.

Are you in Lincoln now? If so, where? We're at what used to be known as the Lancaster Event Center, now called Sandhills Global Event Center.
 
Are you in Lincoln now? If so, where? We're at what used to be known as the Lancaster Event Center, now called Sandhills Global Event Center.

That's exactly where I'm headed, Sandhills Global Event Center. I won't be there until August. Stopping in Lincoln to see a friend on my way to Oregon. Stopping overnight at Cabelas in Mitchell. That Cabelas has a big lot to overnight unlike most of them that have side by side parking slots for RVs. I stayed there several years ago.
 
I have done both I-29 and 18 and 81 roads. I head south to the gulf coast of Texas from the very, very upper part of Minnesota, then back north for the summer.
I get on I-29 about 45 miles from the Canadian boarder, and can ride it till about the end, jumping off before getting to congestion. 18 and 81 are relaxing, no problem finding fuel, diesel or gas.

I-29 starts at 75mph hear in upper ND then goes to 80mph then somewhere drops to 70mph.
 
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I get them mixed up, ill edit, thanks... I never stay on 29 that far, i will jump off like i always try to, before going through a big city.
 
Thanks for your input. I've ridden motorcycles and pulled trailers up I-29 quite a few times and I find it mostly boring so thought I'd try something different.

Looking at my gps, it shows I-29 as being 306 miles and taking 4:21. Keep in mind that it is calculating freeway speed which most of us don't do when towing. The route going up 81 thru Yankton shows 262 miles but it is longer. according to the gps a whole 3 minutes longer. But usually the side roads are a lower speed limit which is doable when towing. So 40 miles shorter and not much time difference makes 81 look like the better route and also more scenic than the interstate. But keep in mind that the interstate will likely have more services. Keep us posted on which route you take and how it works out.
 

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