Worthwhile Riding in Eastern Wyoming, Western Nebraska?

[Jetpilot5]

I'm looking at maybe riding from Central Illinois out to Custer SD for the National in June.  I'd be taking I-90 across SD to get there and am trying to avoid just doing 1,000 miles of slab to get there, spend a few days, and then riding a 1,000 miles of the same slab to get home.  A loop would be a lot more appealing.  

Is there any good riding to the south of Custer that would let me come home on I-80 or I-70?  Or am I out of luck until I get into North Central Colorado?

Thanks!

[Daniel Kalal]

Is there any good riding to the south of Custer that would let me come home on I-80 or I-70?  Or am I out of luck until I get into North Central Colorado?

Certainly.  US-18 across the bottom of SD, US-20 across the top of NE or NE-2 across the middle of NE are all far more interesting than either I-90 or I-80.  But, if you're looking for winding roads and hairpins--then, no.

[Jetpilot5]

I knew I didn't word that very well.  What I'm looking for is an interesting north - south route that will let me head south from Custer to pick up I-80 or I-70 to head back to Illinois.  That would keep me from taking the same slab out and back to Custer.

Maybe like US 85 in Wyoming or 71 or 385 in Nebraska.

BTW, I love your pictures.

[Daniel Kalal]

What I'm looking for is an interesting north - south route

got it.  Here's a good route:
Take 385 to Chadron.  Scoot east over to Rushville and turn south on 250.  Midway down towards NE-2 turn east on a country road taking you over to NE-27 (at the Mari Sandoz grave marker).  Drop south on NE-27 and east over to Hyannis where you'll turn south on NE-61 taking you into Ogallala and I-80 for you trip back home.  The photograph above is along NE-61, and the ones below are also along this route.  I should note that you may not see any cars along this entire route, but you will see some incredible landscapes that are nearly unchanged from what they were 200 years ago.

[Jetpilot5]

That's what I'm talking about.    That looks a lot more interesting than just jumping back on I-90 and heading east.

Any idea what NE 2 is like from Hyannis to Grand Island?  From there I could make it home in a day and it would cut out an entire day of interstate.

[Daniel Kalal]

Any idea what NE 2 is like from Hyannis to Grand Island?

NE-2 is a nice road through Nebraska.  You could even stop at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey.  Several small towns with good restaurants to listen to the locals.

both of these shots are along the route:

[Jetpilot5]

Thank you very much.  That helps a lot.  

[DredheadV2.0]

Indeed it does.    I was beginning to start thinking about considering maybe making plans for a decent route out that way...

[blakebird]

A few months ago I rode up out of Ft. Morgan (CO) to Kimball (NE) and up to Custer for a weekend's ride around the Black Hills and Badlands.

Kimball/Bridgeport/Alliance/Chadron/Hot Spgs is a nice ride - lots of pretty countryside and cool little burgs.

[speedygeezer]

If you haven't been thru the Badlands, here is an alternate route, which you can take either coming or going.  From Custer go to hiway 44 where it goes SE from Rapid City and follow it until you get to Scenic.  Take 590 - which is a gravel road for some 15 miles - which turns into Sage Creek Rd and then into Rim Rd.  Lots of bison and bighorn sheep along this road.  Follow that to 240 where it turns to asphalt, then to 377 SW to Interior where you hook up with 44.  Take that S to Big Foot Trail and thru Pine Ridge Reservation, S on No Flesh Rd just east of Kyle which runs into BIA-4 and then switches to BIA-2 and into Allen.  There the road becomes #10 and take it S to US 18.  E on 18 to Martin, S on 73 to the NE border where it becomes hiway 61.  Follow this all the way to Ogalalla and I-80.  As Dan suggested, 61 is a great road with lots of elevation changes, many turns and sweepers, and little or no traffic.  Beautiful scenery all the way, except for the roadside trash on the reservation section.  The road there is a bit, um, poorly maintained, so take it easy thru there.  The Badlands are a must-see if you haven't been there.  If you are "gravel-challenged" and prefer to avoid the western stretch of the Badlands, you can get back onto I-90 at Rapid City and take it to Wall and then go S on 240.  

[Jetpilot5]

Thanks for all the excellent suggestions.    Now the trick will be getting that week off from work.  Found out today that there are already two others ahead of me that have requested that week off.    Still holding out hope though.

[Guy]

Is that second pic at the Indian Cafe in Thedford? I stopped there on my way through to Custer last Sept. NE2 is an excellent road. Not very exciting, but very quiet and serene. Beautiful

[Daniel Kalal]

Is that second pic at the Indian Cafe in Thedford?

It's at Mullen, Nebraska.