Need Omaha to Chicago route suggestions
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: On my bicycle
Posts: 22
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Need Omaha to Chicago route suggestions
Hey guys,
I'm riding from Omaha to Chicago in a few days, and was wondering if anyone knows the highways and or towns inbetween and what they would suggest. From looking at my maps I was going to take 92 but I don't know squat about the area so i'm open to suggestions!
Ideally the highway I take would have good stealth camping spots, cool towns to pass through, and be somewhat pleasant to ride on.
I'm riding my bike across the world. Checkout my travelogue: www.jackandthecitylights.org
I'm riding from Omaha to Chicago in a few days, and was wondering if anyone knows the highways and or towns inbetween and what they would suggest. From looking at my maps I was going to take 92 but I don't know squat about the area so i'm open to suggestions!
Ideally the highway I take would have good stealth camping spots, cool towns to pass through, and be somewhat pleasant to ride on.
I'm riding my bike across the world. Checkout my travelogue: www.jackandthecitylights.org
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SW Iowa
Posts: 561
Bikes: Waterford 1200, Raleigh Record converted to a single speed, Citizen folding bike, Surly LHT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hiway 92 has a bridge out west of Treynor. Skip that part. That and hiway 6 are both very busy and 6 is narrow most of the way. There is a county road out of Underwood (G30) that's pretty and fairly low traffic. Got to the Iowa DOT web site and download the Iowa bicycle map. It's color coded for traffic count. After you get east of Harlan, hiway 44 isn't bad all the way to Des Moines. There's also the Racoon River Trail from Panora that connects with some trails in Des Moines that will take all the way downtown or up to Saylorville Lake.
I'm not as familiar with eastern Iowa. So someone else with have to chime in on that. Maybe go to the regional forum.
For stealth camping, choose the smaller towns rather than larger. Even small towns usu. have a city park and have no ordinances about camping. Always a good idea to ask the locals first though so no one freaks out, including the local LEO's.
I'm not as familiar with eastern Iowa. So someone else with have to chime in on that. Maybe go to the regional forum.
For stealth camping, choose the smaller towns rather than larger. Even small towns usu. have a city park and have no ordinances about camping. Always a good idea to ask the locals first though so no one freaks out, including the local LEO's.
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: On my bicycle
Posts: 22
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Cool thanks! I'll check those roads out.
I got a good suggestion from a bikeshop today, they told me to check out the RAGBRAI route. I'm super bummed I'm missing that! I can only imagen all the good food...
I got a good suggestion from a bikeshop today, they told me to check out the RAGBRAI route. I'm super bummed I'm missing that! I can only imagen all the good food...
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SW Iowa
Posts: 561
Bikes: Waterford 1200, Raleigh Record converted to a single speed, Citizen folding bike, Surly LHT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Really look at the RAGBRAI route before you do that. It often meanders back and forth to get miles in. That could add quite a few for you.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 828
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The Illinois part could be done on either leg of the Grand Illinois Trail:
https://www.bikelib.org/git/index.htm
https://www.bikelib.org/git/index.htm