Wisconsin–The Great River Road

Visit bluffs, hiking, camping, fishing, scenic river drives, canoeing, wildlife, limestone bluffs and rocky uplands, and traditional “unprettified” small towns.

Driving route mapAlthough maybe not for everyone, a trip of the Great River Road (GRR) offers much compared to the average interstate. It changes route frequently, crossing the Mississippi River when it can, and dallying in towns all other roads have forgotten. Driving the GRR, road trippers can escape creeping RVs, semi trucks, and endless billboards usually found on other routes. Other rewards include wildlife and local color.

The Great River Road was created in 1938 from a network of state, federal,  and local roads. The drive (also famous as the River Road) forms a single route along the Mississippi. Showing off the 10 states
bordering the Read more . . .

South Dakota–Wind Cave, Rushmore, And The Badlands

See antelope, elk, bison, bear, Prairie Dogs, giant Crazy Horse Memorial underway for 30 years, Mount Rushmore, and amazing rock weathering and erosion.

Hot Springs, SD route mapThe southwest edge of South Dakota is a tourist’s dream. Since the rest of the state is a little flat and unspectacular, both our trips are in the southwest. You begin in Hot Springs, 53 miles south of Rapid City, and drive thirteen miles north on U.S. 385 to the entrance of Wind Cave National Park. It is seventeen miles straight through Wind Cave and Custer State Park to U.S. 16 Alt., but you might want to take the Wildlife Loop Road for the twenty-mile ride around Custer Park. The Prairie Dogs, bear, antelope, elk, bison,  and other woodland friends are out waiting for you. Turn west on Route 16
Alt. to Custer and north9 Read more . . .

South Dakota–The Black Hills

Explore a Devil’s Tower of volcanic magma, Ponderosa Pines, 40 casinos inside Deadwood Gulch, an active gold mine, and winter skiing.

Devil's Tower, WY route mapThe Black Hills drive is a four-hour trip from Devil’s Tower Junction in Wyoming to Custer, South Dakota. Travel north on Route 24 from Devil’s Tower Junction toward Devil’s Tower National Monument. Devil’s Tower is an 867-foot structure formed by a fountain of volcanic magma that cooled and formed over 60 million years ago. There is also a Visitor Center and a 1.3-mile trail around the tower. Read more . . .

Ohio–The Rim Of The World

Enjoy up and down, left to right, rolling driving, spectacular scenery, tranquil farms, old riverboat towns, former strip mines, and a wild animal refuge.

Glouster, OH route mapLocals call the first twenty miles of this journey “the rim of the world.” The journey starts in Glouster, Ohio by taking Route 78 east. The drive is short but can take you several hours to finish. It may be one of the best ever –  up and down, left to right, rolling drives anywhere in the Midwest. You’re in the high hill country of exciting Ohio.

As you head east out of Glouster, the2-lane state highway twists and turns and includes blind, roller coaster-like short juts that keep your speed below the limit and dares your driving skills. The scenic  vistas are spectacular as you drive through the edge of the Wayne National Forest toward the blue Muskingum River in Malta. Try to take enough time from your driving to also glimpse the tranquil and scattered farms throughout this hill section. Read more . . .

Ohio–Amish Country

Drive twisty roads, visit antique shops, taste Amish food, see handmade quilts, Amish furniture, a great old general store, and homemade pies.

Coshocton, OH route mapTwisty roads, lots of antique shops, Amish food, Amish furniture, and handmade quilts will hold your attention on this route. It will take you several hours to drive through the biggest Amish settlement in the entire United States, nestled among the rolling hills of this part of Ohio.

The drive starts in Coshocton, Ohio, where on the west side of Route 16 is the must see ancient restored Roscoe Village. It is full of quaint houses, great candy, shops, and an ice cream parlor. Leave Roscoe Village and go  east on Route 16. In less than a mile, head north on Route 83 to Millersburg, the county heart of Holmes County, the center of the Amish farms and communities. Out of Millersburg, trace Route 39 east as you wind past Amish farms and horse-drawn farm equipment and buggies. In the Amish community of Walnut Creek,  head north on Route 575 to Winesburg, which is filled with shops selling Amish food and wares. Read more . . .