Road Trip recommendations? Nashville to Tahoe

[JediNut]

I am heading out on a road trip from Nashville to Lake Tahoe this summer. I am thinking of taking the Northern route up through South Dakota and Montanna before dropping down to Tahoe. I am planning on 5 days for the drive, but could possibly stretch it into 7 if needed. Of course, there is also the decision of what route to take back home after my stay in Tahoe. Anyway, last year when I did this and went through Moab; I posted some photos here and a few people mentioned things that I should have done. (Like a back way into Arches so I wouldn't have to wait in line!)

So, I figured that I'd check in here BEFORE going and see if anyone had any recommendations. I am not a big camping kind of guy, and I'll have my trusty co-pilot, Finn (part Golden Retriever, part Black Lab, part Husky... but 100% perfect).

Some of the places that are on my list so far:

• Mt. Rushmore (Not 100% sure on this... maybe too touristy)
• Maybe Badlands National Park or The Black Hills in South Dakota
• Beartooth Highway, MT (This is a *definite*)
• Yellowstone National Park (I am 62 and got my LIFETIME pass... so I want to use it!)

That looks pretty light when I type it up.

Any suggestions? Also wondering if anyone uses any particular road trip planning app? I used to use RoadTrippers and loved it, but they ditched their free version and are 100% subscription-based now. Furkot looks interesting, but I haven't had a chance to play with it much.

Anyway... thanks in advance!

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[fog53]

Both Mount Rushmore and Badlands are great choices and e even if it does get a little crowded during the summer it is well worth it. If there is a vacancy I'd recommend Hisega Adventure Lodge in Rapid City SD as a place to stay, 605-342-8444. Great out of the way place with easy drive to Rushmore, Sturgis, and Deadwood. Beartooth Hwy is a very beautiful drive. Yellowstone in the summer is a great time to see the wildlife but you can expect constant slow downs and stopped traffic when folks pull over to view the wildlife. I'd recommend doing a search of VRBOs in Cody, Wy for your stay. Chief Joseph Hwy to Yellowstone has some of the most majestic sights. We normally make the drive yearly from Florida to Cody to see grandkids. This year we're flying out for oldest's graduation.

 

[Just Me]

When you leave Rapid City SD you might want to check this out on your way to Montana. Even if you take 7 days for the drive you are going to miss a lot along the way.

 

[KirkG]

Sounds like a great trip ?? This advice is worth what you paid… I would avoid Mt Rushmore it’s super touristy and crowded. Instead if time is available drive Hwy 16A you get as good if not better views (albeit father away). Stop at Crazy Horse monument super cool the story behind its build in progress. Also the wildlife loop at Custer State park is pretty cool.

Depending on your interest think about going thru Crawford, NE and Fort Robinson after you hit the Black Hills… Fort Robinson was an Army camp from the Indian wars all the way thru WWII. Everything from the Buffalo Soldiers to the place Crazy Horse was killed and a German prisoner camp. At one point it had over 24,000 horses and Mules there and was the first training ground for Military working Dogs (let you put together how they fed the dogs). You can even catch a play at the Post Playhouse. Anyway have a great trip!!! Buffalo Wy is worth a stop as well! Ten Sleep Brewing in Ten Sleep is worth the stop if you partake.

 

[Graygoose2021]

I70, west of Denver is beautiful, if you go that far north.

 

[JediNut]

This is ALL great advice and is going to really make my trip!

I have been thinking that Rushmore might just be nice... from a distance. I didn't think there was much to see at the Crazy Horse Memorial yet (just the face). I'll definitely keep Ten Sleep in mind, sounds great!

FYI... I am playing around with "Furkot" (https://www.furkot.com) to route my trip... so far it seems pretty slick.

Keep those suggestions coming!

 

[JediNut]

I70, west of Denver is beautiful, if you go that far north.

I am heading well North of Denver on the way out to Tahoe... I still have to determine my route back, so maybe ...

Thanks!

 

[JediNut]

When you leave Rapid City SD you might want to check this out on your way to Montana. Even if you take 7 days for the drive you are going to miss a lot along the way.

Yeah... I know I'll miss a lot, but it's all I can really take off from work. I'll take 5-7 days to drive out to Tahoe and then about the same coming back 2 weeks later. I usually take different routes, I haven't figured which way I'll go when I head back East.

 

[PatchManager]

As someone who has been to all of the places you listed a number of times, I don't think you will be disappointed in any of them. Mt. Rushmore is wonderful and I tend to enjoy it more than I expected. They have added a number of short trails, so you can get away from the crowds to some extent. Yellowstone is of course amazing, but you may run into long lines of traffic during the busy times in the summer.

Devil's Tower also has some nice trails.

Your signature is funny.

 

[Aron]

Wow, there are so many options to work with, and many people have offered great suggestions above already. Really, the most difficult part will be figuring out what you're going to have to skip because you're limited on time. (I have spent 7 days in Yellowstone on its own, and I still didn't see it all.)

So many great things to see along those potential routes. In western SD, in addition to Rushmore (I wasn't that impressed, really) and Badlands NP, you have the Minuteman Missile Historic Site, Wind Cave NP, Jewel Cave NP, and Custer State Park. Moving west from there is Devil's Tower (my wife's favorite NPS campground), the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody WY, Beartooth Highway/Yellowstone NP, and Grand Tetons NP. From there I'm assuming that you'd be generally heading SW, so Craters of the Moon NP or Golden Spike National Historic Site (location of the meeting of the two railroads) are kind of along the way. If you want a more interesting route than just interstate driving, you could head southwest from Salt Lake to Great Basin NP, and then follow US 50 (the "loneliest highway") all the way through Nevada.

Another alternative northern route (for maybe another future trip, since it's pretty far from both Nashville and Tahoe) would be going through North Dakota and Montana to see Theodore Roosevelt NP and Glacier NP, and some cool old ghost towns.

On the return trip, I might suggest heading for a more southern route, where you might be able to see the eastern side of Yosemite NP, Death Valley NP, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon NP, Petrified Forest NP, and Albuquerque, with maybe a swing further south to see Roswell NM (the alien museum is campy but fun) and Carlsbad Caverns NP before heading east towards Dallas.

 

[JediNut]

Wow, there are so many options to work with, and many people have offered great suggestions above already. Really, the most difficult part will be figuring out what you're going to have to skip because you're limited on time. (I have spent 7 days in Yellowstone on its own, and I still didn't see it all.)

So many great things to see along those potential routes. In western SD, in addition to Rushmore (I wasn't that impressed, really) and Badlands NP, you have the Minuteman Missile Historic Site, Wind Cave NP, Jewel Cave NP, and Custer State Park. Moving west from there is Devil's Tower (my wife's favorite NPS campground), the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody WY, Beartooth Highway/Yellowstone NP, and Grand Tetons NP. From there I'm assuming that you'd be generally heading SW, so Craters of the Moon NP or Golden Spike National Historic Site (location of the meeting of the two railroads) are kind of along the way. If you want a more interesting route than just interstate driving, you could head southwest from Salt Lake to Great Basin NP, and then follow US 50 (the "loneliest highway") all the way through Nevada.

Another alternative northern route (for maybe another future trip, since it's pretty far from both Nashville and Tahoe) would be going through North Dakota and Montana to see Theodore Roosevelt NP and Glacier NP, and some cool old ghost towns.

On the return trip, I might suggest heading for a more southern route, where you might be able to see the eastern side of Yosemite NP, Death Valley NP, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon NP, Petrified Forest NP, and Albuquerque, with maybe a swing further south to see Roswell NM (the alien museum is campy but fun) and Carlsbad Caverns NP before heading east towards Dallas.

I forgot about Grand Tetons NP... I might have to try to fit that in... or maybe on the way back!

I was just talking to a co-worker about the Experimental Breeder Reactor and Craters of the Moon NP... so they now have another vote. I always take I-80 between SLC and Tahoe... if it doesn't add too much time, maybe I'll drop down to Hwy-50. My current route takes me out to Twin Falls, ID the south into NV... so I'd miss SLC and easy access to HWY 50. But I-80 in UT/NV rivals I-10 in AZ for the most BORING drive ever!

I have taken the southern route a couple of times, going down the eastern side of the Sierra, all the way down through Death Valley, Vegas, White Sands... so maybe going out and back along the Northern routes might make sense. I like the idea of going further North to Glacier NP and Teddy Roosevelt NP. I leave Tahoe on a Friday... so maybe I'll take the whole following week to come home to Nashville. .

Thanks for the advice!!!

 

[Jmet8]

This is some of things that would be awesome on way back or if you whent out the southern way.
1.. Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Black bear pass. Stay in Ouray..
2. Moab Utah. Arches , Bryce
3. Death Valley to Yosemite whent from 110 degrees to 40 even in like 5 hour drive . See some Red Woods will blow your mind.
Sounds like a fun trip. We took two teens and 7000 miles two weeks no plans and saw all that plus Vegas ,Dallas, Tomstone , La , San Fransico, .

 

[JediNut]

This is some of things that would be awesome on way back or if you whent out the southern way.
1.. Million Dollar Highway in Colorado. Black bear pass. Stay in Ouray..
2. Moab Utah. Arches , Bryce
3. Death Valley to Yosemite whent from 110 degrees to 40 even in like 5 hour drive . See some Red Woods will blow your mind.
Sounds like a fun trip. We took two teens and 7000 miles two weeks no plans and saw all that plus Vegas ,Dallas, Tomstone , La , San Fransico, .

Two years ago I did the east side of the Sierra down to Death Valley, then out through AZ, NM (White Sands, Roswell, etc), into Dallas then up to Nashville.
Last year came across Utah (Moab & Arches), through Denver, etc.

Didn't hit the Million Dollar Highway though... that might be a winner! Thanks!

 

[Calson]

I use Google Maps to do an initial route the entire distance and get a rough idea as to the total miles and total hours of driving. I then break up the route into segments that take no more than 5 hours on average of drive time. At the stops I then decide if that is a good place to spend a night or better to stop sooner or drive an hour longer.

A great deal depends on what you want to see. For me it is wildlife and so I check locations for wildlife and other may want places of interests for train enthusiasts, etc.

Also a big difference in pleasure with scenic routes but they can increase drive time by 50% so that is another value judgement only you can make. At night I figure I may as well be on an interstate but during the day I prefer the scenic route.

 

[lrb_35128]

When coming out of Montana, *IF* you are dropping down to Salt Lake City to catch I-80E you'll be able to cross the salt flats, then consider taking a left onto Hwy-93 @ West Wendover to catch Hwy-50 ("The Loneliest Highway in America"). This would allow you to pass through Middlegate (one of the original pony express waypoints) and on to Reno.

If you're a car guy, the National Automobile Museum [ https://automuseum.org/ ] is worth the stop, if nothing more than to see this copper bodied 1923 Rolls Royce.

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