Heading South thru Neb & KS

[Eagle Andy]

Hey Guys we will be heading south on the 22nd of Dec to San Antonio from Miles city Mt . We have been down the usual routes thru Denver or at least around denver east on 70 and south at limon on 287 to Amarillo. Was wondering about going over to Rapid City to 90 and east and then pick up 83 down to San Antonio. Iam not sure if this is a good route any thoughts . We have 4 days of driving and 5 days of finding warm weather lol . Thnks for your thoughts . Andy

[luvrbus]

Would not be my choice at the end of Dec.make sure the heat works, pack the ice skates and your sails are in good shape and the Eagle will probably get about 12mpg with the wind and on the 4th day you should have warm weather lol should be alright for a trucker safe travels my friend


good luck

[Chopper Scott]

It's hard to say what the weather will be like then as one never knows around here in Nebraska. 183 is another route. Probably about the same as 83. Farther east is 81 and that is probably a better road for north south traffic basically but it is farther east. If there are wintry conditions Nebraska's road department is generally excellent. Kansas's is terrible.

[bobofthenorth]

Lots of Canucks heading south from the prairies take 83 at that time of year.  We only went that way once but it was a lot better than I-15.  You don't make as good of time as on an interstate and there's long stretches where there's no doubt you are in cattle country (smell) but it was good going all the way.  I had a customer get hung up in a late spring blizzard one year but that was further north and a lot later than you will be travelling.

[belfert]

I would stick to interstates or other major highways myself where possible when driving in the winter.  These roads will usually get the highest priority for snow and ice removal.

Last winter or the winter before I took a couple hour trip a day or so after a snow storm.  The major highways were just like driving in the summer as they had been well plowed and salted and were dry.  The two lane highways I had to use for the last 30 miles were a different story.  They were covered in snow and ice and where like driving on a skating rink almost.

[David Anderson]

I did 83 from Liberal to San Antonio back in May.  From Perryton TX to Canadian TX was terrible, bordering on dangerous.  Huge potholes, very uncharacteristic for a TX hiway.  We do US 83 from Childress to San Antonio about 5 times per year.  It is a very good road on that segment.   Break off 83 south of Abilene TX to US 84 and go through Coleman,  Santa Anna, then US283 Brady, US87 to Mason, then Fredricksburg.  Fredricksburg is worth a stop.  The Pacific War Museum is there, plus lots of shops on US 290 in town.  

You could do 83 to Perryton, TX70 to Pampa.  Pampa has free 20 amp overnite hookups, then TX70 to Clarendon, US 287 to Childress, then US83 south.  

If you come from farther west Borger TX  has free 30 amp hookups at Huber Park.  That would be down from Dalhart, Dumas, Borger,  then TX 153 through Pampa, TX 70 to Clarendon, US 287 to Childress, then US 83.

I've done all of them.  

Stop in Abilene and visit with Dreamscape.

David

[Eagle Andy]

Thanks All of you , The weather will play a major roll in which direction we will travel , I knew all I had to do is ask  you guys are great thanks again Andy

[luvrbus]

Take your golf clubs Andy if you get snowed in at Valentine Neb like we did for 3 days you can always play golf if you have enough black golf balls lol that is one lonely stretch of hi way with blowing snow or sand no more time that you and the wife have I personally would not chance it in Dec fwiw

good luck  

[gumpy]

We've done 83 north of North Platte in NE several times. It's 2 lane. Not a bad road, but can be a bit narrow up near Valentine. Of course the weather there is unpredictable
especially this far out, so use  your best judgement.

Do not, and I repeat, DO NOT stay in Thedford unless you are deaf! You will not get any sleep after the coal trains start coming through at 1:00 am !!! 

81 is a better road. A lot of it is 4 lane.

We'll be coming across NE and northern Kansas on Dec 22 and 23, heading for CO. Maybe we'll see you along the way.