Denver to Minnapolis - Camping in Nebraska?

[stromer04]

I am going to ride from my place in Denver to see my family in Minneapolis this weekend,

I am thinking about leaving out of work and getting a couple o hours done on Friday eve and that would get me into wester nebraska. Does any one out there know of good places to camp or reasonable hotels in the North Platte area?

I will be getting in there later in the eve and just needing a simple place to crash, then continue on to MN.

Or I could to all 930 miles on Saturday, but there is a good chance of rain in the forcast.
Any input will help,
Thanks
Ryan

[Cowboy]

There is primitive camping available at Sutherland reservoir, about ten miles west of North Platte.

[Klay]

That is one of my favorite rides. Just pulling off the interstate in Julesburg or North Platte and staying in one of the cheap motels is not a bad idea. What I do is ride toward the old downtown and then turn east or west on the old main road (Highway 30 in North Platte) to look for the old cheaper motels.

A little spot I've stopped to camp for years is at the Ovid exit. (exit 172) If you go south from the exit and ride to the top of the valley to the plateau, after a mile or so, there are some grain storage bins on the left. You can pitch your tent behind the bins where no one can see you from the highway, if my memory is correct. (keeping in mind that this is stealth camping)

A great way to cross Nebraska is to take Highway 30. It slows you down if you're in a car, but it's great on a motorcycle because you can accelerate up to highway speeds so quickly after passing through the little towns. Highway 30 very closely parallels the double-tracked Union Pacific rail lines all the way from North Platte into Iowa. This is one of the busiest lines in the country. That way you miss all the air turbulence and traffic on I80 and get non-stop railroad entertainment across Nebraska.

It's also fun to zigzag your way up through the sand hills.

I love the ride across Nebraska.

[GSbiker]

Originally Posted by Klay

I love the ride across Nebraska.

I can honestly say I have never heard anybody say that before.

[Lobby]

Any of the folks in Central have any advice?

Me? I've never been to Nebraska.

[GSbiker]

I have made the trip across NE over 100 times in the last 50 years. Here is the route I usually take.



As far as camping goes, in almost every small town you will find a city park that allows camping. There is usually running water and a couple bar/grille establishments. I have also camped in abandoned farmsteads along the road. There are also small hotels that can be had for around $30/night if the weather is bad.

Have a great trip. If you are coming through Lincoln you are welcome to crash here in Lincoln or stop for a cup of coffee. You might also look at the tent space list on this site.

[RR1200GS]

Originally Posted by GSbiker

I can honestly say I have never heard anybody say that before.

+1

The first time I read it, I thought it was sarcasm!

[Klay]

Originally Posted by RR1200GS

+1

The first time I read it, I thought it was sarcasm!

No sarcasm! I'm a straight shooter. I don't know how many dozens of times I've drifted across Nebraska on the way between Minnesota and Colorado. It's exquisitely beautiful. I cherish the sights and sensations of traveling and camping across the rural plains, with the honest people, the real people you meet along the way.

Maybe it's a midwestern thing.

[dfc]

My family comes from Ord. been there many times, never on a bike, wanna go. The sand hills and bluffs are beautiful in parts of Nebraska.

[Tallboy]

If you are wanting to go through the vicinity of the North Platte area, you might consider the Lake McConehay (Sp? wrong) just a bit west of there at Ogallala - there is a pretty nice state park campground below the dam on the east side of the outlet "pond". showers and shade. Its a few miles off I-80 to the north.

Unless you are set on riding I-80 all the way across, I'd take off north from the lake up the little state highway toward Hyannis which is on state highway #2. The ride between the lake and Hyannis is a great one. Head east on Hwy2 toward Mullin & Thedford and continue to weave your way North East. Charles Curalt listed NE Hwy2 on his list of best roads to travel.

GSBikers route is a good one, but sounds like its a bit south of where you are wanting to be. I'm on that route, about the halfway point, and I'd offer you a place to stay as well, except I hope to be up in the Sandhills area myself this weekend - sans any real bad weather. (they are calling for a chance of mixed T-storms all weekend.

Good luck on the route. I've yet to ride a boring route anywhere between I80 and the South Dakota line, from the western border to the mid section at least.

[Sparkdaddy]

Originally Posted by Tallboy

If you are wanting to go through the vicinity of the North Platte area, you might consider the Lake McConehay (Sp? wrong) just a bit west of there at Ogallala - there is a pretty nice state park campground below the dam on the east side of the outlet "pond". showers and shade. Its a few miles off I-80 to the north.

Unless you are set on riding I-80 all the way across, I'd take off north from the lake up the little state highway toward Hyannis which is on state highway #2. The ride between the lake and Hyannis is a great one. Head east on Hwy2 toward Mullin & Thedford and continue to weave your way North East. Charles Curalt listed NE Hwy2 on his list of best roads to travel.

GSBikers route is a good one, but sounds like its a bit south of where you are wanting to be. I'm on that route, about the halfway point, and I'd offer you a place to stay as well, except I hope to be up in the Sandhills area myself this weekend - sans any real bad weather. (they are calling for a chance of mixed T-storms all weekend.

Good luck on the route. I've yet to ride a boring route anywhere between I80 and the South Dakota line, from the western border to the mid section at least.

That is where I would stay too (Lake McConaughy). Been across Nebraska from Denver to Iowa more times than I can count.

[GSAnderson]

Niobrara State Park: http://www.stateparks.com/niobrara.html

[rideLD]

Originally Posted by GSbiker

I can honestly say I have never heard anybody say that before.

If you get off I-80 and ride through center or the upper portion of the state it is very scenic and there are even some good roads. Riding across Nebraska on I-80 is almost as bad as riding across Kansas on I-70 or South Dakota on I-90.

[autolycos]

I'm not sure how your plan is, but my suggestion is going to be Denver -> Scottsbluff -> Highway 92 -> Omaha.

Off of Highway 92 at Merna, you can go to Victoria Springs (10 mi from my home town). Decent primitive camping there.

It goes on one side of Lake McConaughy. You will never be more than 1 hour from any metric scoot dealer. You will go by Sidney on the north side. Home of Cabela's.

Loup City also has camping as you cross the Loup River. Ansley has the End Zone which has decent food.

In Broken Bow, you can eat at the Tumbleweed, Bonfire, Elks, and several other fine, family-owned establishments.

Wahoo, about 1 hour west of Omaha has camping and several charming-enough family-owned restaurants.

Highway 92 skirts some of the prettiest hilly country in Nebraska. As majestic as Highway 2 is (92 and 2 share the same 30 miles between Merna and Ansley), Highway 92 contains many of the hidden gems... rivers, hills, curves, prairie, farms, etc.

Good luck on your choice of areas. There are several, but my best suggestion would be to go to a local eating establishment, and ask locals if you can simply camp in one of their pastures. It'll be just as good, and cheaper.

Linky with west piccies. http://www.rockymountainroads.com/ne-092.html

Broken Bow's square



Broken Bow also just had a fire. http://khastv.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=9132

[FatChance]

If you do continue on I80, I highly recommend stopping in Paxton, Nebraska at Ole's Big Game Steakhouse and Lounge. HERE is some information on this old landmark! No trip across Nebraska is complete without visiting Ole's.