Directions to Tog from MN

[Turbo11T]

We are leaving friday from mn. Wondering about cutting down from rapid city instead of staying on the interstate as it goes pretty far north. Mapquest gave me these directions

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=But...s&2s=WY&2y=US&2l=43.5336&2g=-109.6297&2v=CITY

But what I am wondering is how are those roads in the winter? Are they known for being bad or anything. Seems like the logical thing to do as it looks like state highways.

Hopefully someone can give a bit of info.

Thanks

 

[Swing2827]

Directions

Turbo, the easiest way to come out here is to mapquest these directions. From your starting Point which looks like is Butterfield, MN to Buffalo, WY. Then do a seperate set of directions from Buffalo, WY to Moran, WY. That way it will keep you on I-90. You do not want to be cutting across south dakota in mid winter. I have made the trip 5 times from MPLS to Tog and that is the easiest and most scenic way to take.

 

[Sally Danger]

Weather dictates our routes. We have wrecked a couple of times trying to drive in real stupid conditions. You can drive through snow as long as it's not too windy. Ice just sucks all around because it's always too windy out there for ice. Snow, Ice and wind. We wont do that any more. We run studs in our trucks and trailers and have still wrecked. Wind is a big issue.

I think the fastest, easiest way from the Metro is 90 to Murdo, south to Nebraska, West on 20? through Chadron to I-25. I-25 west to Casper, 20/26 west to Shoshoni, SW on 26 out of Shoshoni about 8 miles to a street light which is 134, West on 134 to Pavillion then south on 133 to 26 again. This by-passes Riverton and is a good road. 26 west to Dubois and then up the hill to the lodge. In good weather it can be done in 16 -17 hours with food and fuel stops. No dilly-dallying. This is from memory so check a map. I don't think there is a route we have not taken.

 

[cat rider]

That stretch from Hot Springs, SD to I-25 on the mapquest route can get real nasty with windy weather FYI. I'd keep that in mind.

 

[MNpowderfiend]

my experience

We go I-90, to SD 78 south into Hot Springs, SD. Dip south on 18 I think into Lusk, WY, then west to Casper, and follow 20 to Tog, (per Mapquest too). Recommend staying in Tog. We stayed at Riverton once on the way in, I won't do that again.

SD 78 south of Rapid is 4 lanes to Hot Springs. Then 2 lanes to Casper, save for the I-25 stretch.

Both SD and WY 2 lane roads have been well maintained when we have passed through. We ran into some drifting across the road north of Lusk once out of 3 times going this way.

The 2 lanes roads in SD and WY are speed limit 65, so 69/70 mph and no tickets - better than here in MN. Light traffice on the 2 lanes, except around Riverton.

Eric

 

[Turbo11T]

thanks

That stretch from Hot Springs, SD to I-25 on the mapquest route can get real nasty with windy weather FYI. I'd keep that in mind.

This is what I was wondering. If the weather is good will probally definately go this way if not will stay on the interstate until gillete then drop down.

 

[Turbo11T]

Weather dictates our routes. We have wrecked a couple of times trying to drive in real stupid conditions. You can drive through snow as long as it's not too windy. Ice just sucks all around because it's always too windy out there for ice. Snow, Ice and wind. We wont do that any more. We run studs in our trucks and trailers and have still wrecked. Wind is a big issue.

I think the fastest, easiest way from the Metro is 90 to Murdo, south to Nebraska, West on 20? through Chadron to I-25. I-25 west to Casper, 20/26 west to Shoshoni, SW on 26 out of Shoshoni about 8 miles to a street light which is 134, West on 134 to Pavillion then south on 133 to 26 again. This by-passes Riverton and is a good road. 26 west to Dubois and then up the hill to the lodge. In good weather it can be done in 16 -17 hours with food and fuel stops. No dilly-dallying. This is from memory so check a map. I don't think there is a route we have not taken.

Looks like a good route but don't really care to drive through the res at night. No thanks.

 

[Sally Danger]

We were scared the first few times but have gone through at all hours and have never even came close to any trouble of any kind. I have heard all the stories though, just never first or even third hand.

With any kind of weather in the Big Horns I-90 from Rapid to Gillette gets bad.
And then you have the road from Gillette (18?) through Wright to I-25 that can be a bear. We spent two days holed up in Wright during a storm.

We went through Buffalo once, It was the scenic route, It took a long time to go up and around the Big Horns. You still have to drop down to Shoshoni.

The Truckers all go through Hot Springs.

 

[jlebrun_05]

We just came back from dubois on dec 31st and took a few shortcuts on the way home that each shaved off about a half hour. On the way out, get off 90 in gillette and head south on 59 and then head southwest on 387 just before wright. Get on 25 head south to casper, take 20-26 through shoshoni. After about ten miles turn off on 134 and then head south on 133 through kinnear then head west on 26 again. Skipping riverton save alot of time and the roads were good for us on the way home and since they are all 65mph roads, it seemed to be cleared off pretty good.

 

[ccoleman77]

We just came back from dubois on dec 31st and took a few shortcuts on the way home that each shaved off about a half hour. On the way out, get off 90 in gillette and head south on 59 and then head southwest on 387 just before wright. Get on 25 head south to casper, take 20-26 through shoshoni. After about ten miles turn off on 134 and then head south on 133 through kinnear then head west on 26 again. Skipping riverton save alot of time and the roads were good for us on the way home and since they are all 65mph roads, it seemed to be cleared off pretty good.

This guy has it figured out. Good post. Live here and that is the way we would always go