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Rallying Points For The National Meet

Chief

Chief

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I know a lot of people have talked about identifying cities where it would be great if people could meet while on the way to the National Meet and cruise together in a convoy.

Well I've done some pouring over the Interstate maps and mileage charts and here are the best rallying points for those people who are distance driving that are a SOLID one day drive from Rapid City, South Dakota (500 to 700 miles).

Coming from west Texas, New Mexico or Colorado:

Colorado Springs, CO I-25, I-70

Coming from southeast Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, the central Mid-West, the lower Mid-Atlantic and the Southeastern United States:

Omaha, NE I-29, I-35, I-76 & I-80

Coming from the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Western Canada:

Butte, MT I-90

Coming from the Northeastern US or any of the Great Lake states:

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN I-35, I-94, I-90

Coming from Nevada, Utah, California, Arizona:

Salt Lake City, UT I-15 & I-80

Coming from central or eastern Canada:

Fargo, ND I-94 & I-29

All of these cities are within 700 miles of Rapid City, South Dakota. So if you want to rally in one of these cities start sharing it in this thread. I know that I'm willing to meet up with anyone Saturday AM in Butte, Montana to head east on the final leg to Rapid City!
 
Since you have so much free time to look at interstate maps, how about a list of rallying points from two days out? :) Aren't most folks at least two days away?

I'm imagining a nice colored concentric-circle graph showing distance in days as different rings.... Kind of like the UPS ground rate chart... Ahhh to be a cartographer...

Brendan
 
Chief said:
Coming from west Texas, New Mexico or Colorado:

Colorado Springs, CO I-25, I-70
Click to expand...

Hey we could have quite a convoy heading up that way if the Texans get involved by coming through our territory ;D. I like the idea.


 
CoAvZ71 said:
Hey we could have quite a convoy heading up that way if the Texans get involved by coming through our territory ;D. ?I like the idea.
Click to expand...

Most of us would probably hit 35.....well those of us going.

YES Chief, I'm thinking about it now.........happy? >:D

Kim
 
Count me in Chief...Reservation's made at Ramokota Hotel for July 20th thru July 26! Reservation's for 2 queen beds and I will be by myself so if anyone wants to split cost I will consider! If not, that's ok too! Can you say "South Dakota"!? (y)
 
I'll be coming from Southern California through Salt Lake City. I've made reservations at Ramkota, but other than that, the plans are open. A rallying point sounds great!
 
I guess I haven't decided what way is the best but I'm leaving after the wedding and heading out. I'll probably be one of the first ones there but if anyone is leaving early, I'm going saturday night... from Des Moines
 
Haven't decided for sure because I might take the Northern route and visit Yellowstone before going to meet. If not I will meet anyone in Salt lake....
 
wonder91178 said:
Most of us would probably hit 35.....well those of us going.

Kim
Click to expand...

I suppose you're right. Although it doesn't look to me like I35 is all that great for you either because it heads northeast from TX and once it meets with I90, you're 350 miles east of Rapid City :rolleyes:.

You decide ;).
 
CoAvZ71 said:
I suppose you're right. ?Although it doesn't look to me like I35 is all that great for you either because it heads northeast from TX and once it meets with I90, you're 350 miles east of Rapid City ?:rolleyes:.

You decide ?;).
Click to expand...

Here's the way. I doubt anyone will find a way that's a straight shot to the meet....

But if you see a point on the route to stop and meet, lemme know!

;)

Kim
 
Kim,

I think your best bet is to head to Denver on I-70 then take I-25 north into Wyoming and then take the two lane highways into Rapid City. Keeps you on the interstates most of the way and you only go a little way out of your way by tracking west to Denver.

my .02
 
[Here's the way. I doubt anyone will find a way that's a straight shot to the meet....

Hey....Wonder's doing "shadow" pictures on the wall again with a map of the "way" ?



 
shubie and tractman.... We'll be leaving So Cal and pushing through to SLC, UT. our first day out. We just haven't decided whether we're going to hit Yellowstone on the way to...or on the way back...
I believe Congelado from SD and AVKing from the SB area are both going as well...
 
Cindy, what day are you planning to leave. I am thinking if we go to the meet first we willl probably leave on Friday night and go to Mojave or Barstow. Then we could hook up with the Southern crew on your way through Vegas. What is your plan? If we decide to go to Yellowstone first we willleave on Wednesday and drive into Rapid City on Monday night......
Tractman
 
Other than the fact that I will be going to the Nat Meet, my plans are still in the early planning stage. I did Yellowstone a few years back, and although it was a great trip, I am not ready to repeat it yet. We just a family emergency tonight, so it may be a few days before I can back to post. Even if I don't meet anyone in SLC, I still hope to see everyone in SD! The wife is trying to convince me to head south after the meet to Okla and then take the 40 back to southern CA. Out for now.
 
Anyone coming from the east coast? I am hoping to arrive in SD on sunday, have reservations at the Ramokota, beyond that, I am wide open for driving route.

Looked at Mapquest, it suggests a more northern route, but if anyone wants to meet up along the way, let me know.
 
I'll be heading out from Omaha. If anyones wants to meet and cruise or just cuise....I'm in. :cool:

Still putting together details..but I'm always up for cruising!!! :B:
 
Hey ChevyThunder, are you located in Omaha? ??? Let me know!

Kim, and other Texans, your proposed route to the Black Hills via I35/I29/I90 is probably the best and easiest. Besides, if you guys come this way I'll be able to join you on the way in, assuming you are planning on arriving in Rapid City on Monday.

There is an alternative way from the Omaha area that involves driving through the Nebraska Sand Hills. It's just a bit longer in mileage, probably adds 2hrs to the day, but is certainly a lot more interesting than I90 across SD. FWIW, the standing joke about SD is that the state tree is a telephone pole - that's about all you'll see on the drive across the state.

IF we were to do the Sand Hills thing, then there is a different way that the Texans and others coming up I35 would want to consider. At Wichita, take I135 to Salina then US81 to York, NE. That puts you on I80 where you head west to Grand Island, NE and take NE2 up through the Sand Hills.

The I135/US81 thing is apparently a pretty good drive. I have a coworker from Texas who uses this route to/from Omaha all the time, instead of I35 (and its tolls) via Kansas City.
 
That route sounds interesting MAB - I will check the options - but at this time I am going to go for either the fastest (best roads, shortest mileage) or the most scenic depending on who in the Fam is going and who wants to meet up where. I would really enjoy hooking up with many AVs and cruising in together.
 
After much study and reading up on listed hook up points - One proposal would be for the journey from Salt Lake city over on I-80 to Hwy 83 in North Platte, Nebraska, also from Denver travel up I-76 to I-80 to Hwy 83 at North Platte, Texans who travel up Omaha can take I-80 over to Hwy 83 and we can all join up there on Sunday. From North Platte to Rapid City is about 340 miles and around 7 hours - therefore meeting in North Platte at say 8 am on Sun. July 20th would put us at the Hotel around 3pm. If you are planning on Volunteering and want to get there on Saturday evening - then a meet time would have to be around 9am on Saturday morning the 19th. I am not sure which day I will be coming through but I am sure of the route. When I find out about volunteer information I will post my trip dates. I will find out information on lodging in North Platte and post it - but I believe that having say 40 or 50 AVs cruise in together from one direction would be fantastic! ;) :D ;D
 
OK I have found a nice and reasonable place to stay right at the I-80 and Hwy 83 intersection.
http://www.firstinns.com/Nebraska/North_Plattehome.htm
Check out their 10% off coupon and print one out I know I am - as soon as packages are announced and I know if I am going to volunteer or not (which I probably am) I will pick a day I will be there and make my reservations. Regardless of the day I go it would still be a convienient and centrally located meet up point for everyone regardless of when they are going up.
 
FWIW, if you're going to go up US83 you've picked one of the most desolate highways in the entire US, deserts included. Just be sure to have a full tank of gas before leaving North Platte (and a full tummy). There's virtually nothing between there and Valentine, and once past there nothing until Rapid City. And oh BTW North Platte traditionally has some of the most expensive gas in the entire state. Especially right near the interstate. If memory serves me correct, there is an annual "unlimited" road race run out of Stapleton each summer - it's that remote around there.

However, that said, there are some positive reasons to stay in the area. La Casita is one of the more renowned restaurants in the state (it's rather small and simple, actually) and if you go one town west to Hershey you can visit Butch's Steak House. Definitely worth the trip.

There's also a major golf course (Jack Nicholas designed, I believe) up at Thedford. North Platte's small airport is no stranger to private jets and celebrities passing through on their way to golf.
 
Thanks for the info - so is 183 any better it is virtually through the same area. I am interested on input from people who know the area.
 
I have been through North Platte LOTS of times on I-80. There are many of the popular hotel chains there like Holiday Inn, Best Western, etc. But we need to check the rates. North Platte itself isn't too bad - it's everything (or lack thereof) north of it that creeps me out ;D.

IMO, we would do best by taking I-25 through all of CO (with a meeting place in Denver :)) up to Wyoming, get off at exit 126, follow U.S. 18/20 to 18/85, then just 18, then choose whatever route we want through the Black Hills to Rapid City.

IMHO, you'll likely be extremely sickened by the way I-76 in CO looks and it's 200 miles worth of travel. I have been on there many times. It makes I-80 in Nebraska look scenic :rolleyes:.

I think no matter what, the way we're going to nationals is to stick to my proposed route because it will save at least us a lot of driving.
 
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