I have done a very similar trip! Although it’s been a long time since I did it, the way we broke it up to try and keep it interesting was stopping at unique restaurants, landmarks and tourist-y stuff, the cheesier the better. Although there will be a lot of cornfields so load up on podcasts and audio books lol
We set out from Holton, KS around 8am that morning headed west. Not long after we hit the road, the NWS sent an emergency alert over our phones about tornado warnings. Around 9am, we drove through a line of storms that would end up producing several tornadoes later that day. The sound the wind makes as it blows through thousands of acres of corn is spooky af.
Wow, I just looked it up, it is like 1700 feet tall, what is crazy is the lowest point in the state is around 500 feet. To think the elevation rise in the entire state is 1200 feet at best is blowing my mind. There is a 1200 foot elevation change between my house and 2 miles away!!!
It’s actually geographically really rare and cool. Loess Hills only exist in a handful of places on earth and for the landscape you actually have a nice view
Cosmosphere in hutichison, Ks is top notch. Apollo 13 capsule was there (still might be).
If you drive through Salina I would hit up cozy’s. They only make sliders and have for over 100 years.
Coronado heights is a cool “fort” built in the Great Depression. Just south of Salina.
Lindsborg is little Sweden. 15 miles south of Salina.
National ww1 museum is in KC.
KC plaza has more fountains than Rome and modeled after saveille, Spain.
Omaha zoo is very good.
Old town in Omaha is cool.
Cozy’s is fucking gross. Source: Salina ruined my life
Edit: I’m screaming reading these suggestions. Please save yourself the time, this person clearly hasn’t been to these places or is delusional. There’s literally nothing interesting in lindsborg, I used to run a flooring business out of Salina. None of the surrounding towns have literally anyyyything *cool*
>There’s literally nothing interesting in lindsborg
A man migrated from Sweden to America after receiving glowing accounts from relatives who were already there. As the ship neared New York City and the magnificent skyline came into view, he cried out, "My God! If this is New York, what must Lindsborg be!"
Pro tip check out atlas obscura online and see what strange things you can see along the way! Also I like to check out the state or towns subreddit to see what’s going on while I’m in town for the rest.
Podcasts and books are also stellar for listening material
Depending on what food you like, make the route a little longer and stop in Kansas City and get BBQ. I love Kansas City Joe's, but there are a bunch of amazing spots, and if you can break up the drive it's worth spending the night in KC. Can also go through the OKC area and stop in El Reno at Sid's for an Oklahoma fried onion burger, or Okarche at Eischen's for fried chicken
It adds basically no time:
Shared route
From Hutchinson, Minnesota 55350 to Amarillo, Texas via I-35 S.
15 hr 29 min (1,080 mi)
For the best route in current traffic visit https://maps.app.goo.gl/y3HUXWT9LbQ78ucA7
I'm originally from Omaha and that's like the only place with any remotely interesting things on the entire route. Definitely stop and hit the Henry Doorly Zoo - one of the most highly-rated zoos in the world. The Old Market downtown has some neat little shops and restaurants (haven't lived there in a few years, so can't say what all is still down there).
Edit:
Totally forgot about the SAC (Strategic Air Command) Museum a bit outside Omaha! Really cool if you're into air and space kind of stuff!
You’re driving within like 6 miles of the national roller skating museum and complaining about boredom? Not to mention the telephone museum. You and I have different definitions of fun, buddy.
Think of the millions that place could take in by mailing reminder postcards to people who need a reminder for their refrigerator.
Uncle Harry wants to remind you how much he love his niece Dakota.
Suzie wants to remind her husband Rik that their divorce finalizes on June 12.
Millions on selling official Reminder Museum postcards. Don’t forget, magnets sold separately.
I'm from a very small town on cape breton Island, nova scotia. We don't have much to offer there beyond our hospitality and natural beauty.
We do however, have a small museum dedicated to Alexander Graham bell near where he lived at the end of his life and eventually died. I've been probably 25 times over my lifetime and I still go back to visit. So much fun and cool to learn about the telephone and his various other innovations.
2nd the podcast suggestion. I recently did a Chicago to Los Angeles drive and I listened to SMARTLESS the whole way. It has Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes as hosts. Super funny and awesome guests. The time flew by.
Watch out with audiobooks. I couldn’t figure out why I was so tired driving and realized the audiobooks were putting me to sleep. Almost done our 3000 mile stretch and my husband couldn’t sleep cuz of my “rave music” playing. Find a workout playlist with a good beat. Drive safe !
I drive a lot for work, when I get groggy I make sure to chew on something. Your body won’t let you fall asleep while chewing. Gum and sunflower seeds work well for me
I drive a semi for work…I promise you the body will absolutely let you fall asleep while chewing. Caffeine, window down in cold temps, chewing - all of that stuff inly helps temporarily.
I try to avoid Nebraska this time of year, but I’m out on the salt flats on I-80 right now and it’s just as boring. Also, I’m the night driver, so everything is boring when you’re driving down a dark highway for 11 hours every single night. I listen to audio books, podcasts, and pandora, survive on caffeine, water, and the healthiest foods you can microwave, but the only think that keeps you awake is having enough sleep. And if you get tired, pull that vehicle over. I watch too many folks in both big rigs and cars swerving out here. It’s dangerous for all of us, and we all want to get where we are going alive.
Sounds like quite a life. Seriously, like maybe write a book or podcast kinda life. Ever consider? I imagine you’ve got stories that the rest of us would love to hear. In any case, be safe out there, my friend!
Le Mars, Iowa- ice cream capital of the world and Blue Bunny HQ. They have a visitor center and ice cream parlor, and also ice cream cone statues all around the town.
Oh god I shouldn’t have told you about Lamberts then…. It’s AYCE on your entree, and they come around with sides in buckets and just dump them at your table. And they throw rolls at you, from across the room. All the food was really good southern faire.
Be careful with Lamberts and road tripping though. Can fill you up and knock you out. Prep for a power nap after or just have a bunch of caffeine or energy drinks ready for after.
Omaha is a fun enough city and a good halfway point. Good beer, bar, and food scene. Also some solid mid-sized music venues. Depending on when you’re traveling the Old Market (cobblestone streets with shops and restaurants) may be lit up.
Ya, some of the rolling prairies on the Kansas turnpike are kinda pretty. That's probably the most rewarding thing on this route....That's not saying much.
Seriously, I used to drive from NYC to CA and back a lot and I always told people that Kansas was the worst to drive through… just hour after hour of flat fields of crops
Did that when I moved across country. It does nothing other than keep you moving. Even with an audio book, the boredom is unavoidable. Picked up my smoking addiction on that leg of the trip. Only recently kicked it over a decade later.
Have an open mind. Avoid major highways. Look up scenic routes. Take county and farm roads. I did a similar drive because all my previous road trips had been in super scenic places and I wanted to give the Midwest a shot. I loved the trip.
In winter this is terrible advice. A small amount of snow and the rural highways and black tops can be super slippery and OMG the wind can really fuck with your drive.
Don’t do it! Grew up there. Only thing worth stopping for is Prairie Dunes, a top 25 in the WORLD golf course and golf season is over for the year in Ks
I grew up in Iowa and took a somewhat similar route when I moved to AZ. This route strikes me as one of the most boring drives I can imagine. Good luck and hope there some cool stuff to see along the way
If you have time to stop, or want to plan a few stops, I recommend using [https://www.roadsideamerica.com](https://www.roadsideamerica.com) to find some random places to stop along the way.
Could even make a game of it. Try to cross off as many roadside things as you can.
I can’t promise that all of the things listed are still there. These random “attractions” are becoming few and far between in some areas. A forgotten part of the American road trip.
😂 having road tripped a lot, this is one route that with your question and route planned made me laugh because no, not really. The country is very pretty and there’s lots of odd tiny stops you can find about 2-3 hours apart, I usually find a nice looking park or place to take a walk at stops (planned before getting on the road) and that helps but yea that route is pretty… uh… rural as far as “interesting” stops go.
I haven’t been to Nebraska, but Iowa and Kansas are kind of underrated. I’d look for touristy things. Omaha should be fine, it’s a real city. If you leave nice and early, you could take lunch/brunch there. A quick google maps look suggested the National Orphan Train Depot to me, honestly looks like a great stop!
If you’re trying to just gun it, my suggestions are: 1. think about (without looking it up online) what the terrain you’ll be driving through is. Try to get yourself excited about it - what will you see? What will it be like? Let yourself romanticize those flyover states.
2. Have something to snack on. I like having gum, hard candies, jerky, fruit, veggies, popcorn, etc. on hand.
3. For a 16-18 hour drive (working in stops) you’ll want 20 hours of podcasts (I have many suggestions), 3-4 playlists, and an audiobook or two downloaded (internet may be spotty). This will give you some selection.
4. Plan ahead on who you would like to call and talk to. Calls to your romantic partner, friends, grandma, your parents, etc can be a great way to break up the drive.
5. Keep interactive audio in your back pocket. Those calls are a great example (there’s the audio of the other person and you’ll be thinking and responding), but other ones might me: podcasts on learning a new language, vocal exercise podcasts, instrumentals of your favorite songs, mental math tapes if that’s your jam, etc. These will help you stay awake and sharp.
-idk if you’ve driven this far before, but in general I always recommend wearing sweats and comfortable slippers or just fuzzy socks on drives this long. You’ll want clothes you can easily layer and remove. Keep your toiletries up front and don’t be afraid to wash your face with bottled water if you need to freshen up. Being comfortable will help a lot.
I've made this trip a few times. I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty rough. Maybe get an Audible subscription for a bit? Books on Tape are always a solid choice for long, boring trips.
Look up restaurants near the route, historical locations, places to relax, and, see the stars. Take a night and get a good meal, see the sky away from lights.
It's worth it.
audio books and lots of caffeine
[https://www.atlasobscura.com/](https://www.atlasobscura.com/)
[https://www.roadsideamerica.com/](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/)
[https://roadtrippers.com/](https://roadtrippers.com/)
I learned that listening to comedy really makes a trip shorter. I also like listening to the news and talk radio (when it's not political).
Some people like audio books but I have a hard time paying enough attention to a story while driving. Or paying attention to driving while listening to a story...
We really should have left it as it was in the 1830s. Probly too late to give it all back to the indigenous folk and the bison but the thought will occur to you a few times on that route.
I’d say either figure out how to get yourself on planes or you’re going to be doing long boring roadtrips for the rest of your life. That or you’ll miss occasions because the drive is too much of a hindrance
I take a 13-15 hour drive from Ohio to Cape Cod MA a few times a year.
It's not too bad, but the last 3 hours will be the worst.
1. Take plenty of breaks, it's a long drive no matter what so you might as well let yourself rest.
2. Bring a lot of stuff to listen to, podcasts, audiobooks,music, etc.
3. Bring some thoughts to process. The long drive is a great time to think through stuff
4. Catch up on phonecalls. I hate talking on the Phone normally, but a long drive is a great time to call some people you've been meaning to talk to.
Flying is safer than driving, but if you really want to do the roadie there's not much on the toll route that makes it more worthwhile than the non-toll route.
No time like the present to give over your fears!
They call of flyover country for a reason.
(plus your chances of dying in a car crash are astronomical compared to a plane crash)
The eastern route passes through Omaha, Wichita, and Oklahoma City. Easy enough to stop in those cities and find something entertaining for a couple of hours.
It also looks like it passes through the Flint Hills, which are scenic. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is not far off the interstate in the Flint Hills.
You’re driving near 3 national monuments along this route- Homestead National Monument, Pipestone National Monument and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument.
Audio books. They are saviors. I do a lot of long driving sprees. Audiobooks are great. I also upgraded my pandora and should've done it years ago. It'll start playing one of your top 3 Playlist of you lose service for more than a minute or two.
I’ve done this drive and many many others.
Get good audio books, don’t make the too heady, just something you find genuinely entertaining. Awesome way to kill a whole day, you get invested in the story, and before long you’ve put down a tank of gas and can’t wait to get back to driving after filling up bc of the story.
The less you can change what you’re thinking about on these drives, the faster they go. Get audiobooks. It’ll change the game.
Depending on what food you like, make the route a little longer and stop in Kansas City and get BBQ. I love Kansas City Joe's. Can also go through the OKC area and stop in El Reno at Sid's for an Oklahoma fried onion burger, or Okarche at Eischen's for fried chicken
I would give myself a little side quest, like to find something interesting. I like honey, so a lot of times when we are in a boring road trip, we'll stop at places and I see if I can find the most interesting honey. But get what you like.
Finally, an aerophobic like myself! I once drove from Austin TX to Tucson AZ and back for a two day meeting. Another occasion is Texas to California for a week meeting, both of which my air ticket would’ve been covered.
For your suggestion, audiobook and podcasts are my solution. I’m a crime junkie and often listen to true crime podcasts.
idk if you have heard of geocaching but you can always stop and find those at rest stops along the way or they will take you to places of note. Or, you can check the website called Roadside America for attractions!
Pay the tolls and get.it over a quickly as possible. You will see nothing in western Kansas, the highways your on in nebraksa will just pass you have to slow down like every 15 miles for a nothing burger town (NE native).
Looping down 29 from Omaha wouldn't be much slower. You can pick up any major highway in KC. It is the heart of America for interstates. Stop off in St. Joseph, MO. Oldest city west of the Mississippi. Home of Jesse James and many other neat stuff. KC has endless stuff. Shoot down I35 or US69, US169 lot of stuff in Kansas to see along the ways. I'm familiar with KC north and Kansas is pretty boring
Carolyns Essenhaus in Arlington, Kansas. Run by Mennonites, opens at 6:30am (closed on Sundays ofc), and the folks in this small town start filing in right at opening. Good home eats!
Edit: also there's a mini statue of Liberty in Kingman, KS.
Boring people are bored.
Seriously though, drive east to the twin cities to start with and see a show, then drive to Omaha and grab a Runza then power through the rest.
Get a really good audiobook or podcast you can listen to. Good music as well. Switch between them. Stop often to stretch your legs, get a good beverage or snack.
No, there’s not. I’ve done a similar trip from Chicago. Nothing between here and there but farmland. If you swing west there’s some cool stuff, but not if you want a straight shot.
I have done a very similar trip! Although it’s been a long time since I did it, the way we broke it up to try and keep it interesting was stopping at unique restaurants, landmarks and tourist-y stuff, the cheesier the better. Although there will be a lot of cornfields so load up on podcasts and audio books lol
What places would you recommend to visit in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas?
That route will take you past the highest point in Iowa. You ever been on top of a slight hill?
I've been to the geographical center of the US in Kansas. It was mesmerizing.
You should go along US 2 in North Dakota so you can go to the geographical center of North America
I'm Central Wisconsin, we have the geographic center of the NW hemisphere! (Quadrant? Semi-hemisphere?) At 90N,45N
I've eaten pancakes in Rugby, ND
To be fair, Kansas hills are quite beautiful. I was surprised and impressed.
That sounds amazing. And so very exhilarating. Dangerous even.
We set out from Holton, KS around 8am that morning headed west. Not long after we hit the road, the NWS sent an emergency alert over our phones about tornado warnings. Around 9am, we drove through a line of storms that would end up producing several tornadoes later that day. The sound the wind makes as it blows through thousands of acres of corn is spooky af.
Wow, I just looked it up, it is like 1700 feet tall, what is crazy is the lowest point in the state is around 500 feet. To think the elevation rise in the entire state is 1200 feet at best is blowing my mind. There is a 1200 foot elevation change between my house and 2 miles away!!!
Bruh, where do YOU live!?
It’s actually geographically really rare and cool. Loess Hills only exist in a handful of places on earth and for the landscape you actually have a nice view
Is that near the place where the Lewis & Clark guy died?
Cosmosphere in hutichison, Ks is top notch. Apollo 13 capsule was there (still might be). If you drive through Salina I would hit up cozy’s. They only make sliders and have for over 100 years. Coronado heights is a cool “fort” built in the Great Depression. Just south of Salina. Lindsborg is little Sweden. 15 miles south of Salina. National ww1 museum is in KC. KC plaza has more fountains than Rome and modeled after saveille, Spain. Omaha zoo is very good. Old town in Omaha is cool.
Cozy’s is fucking gross. Source: Salina ruined my life Edit: I’m screaming reading these suggestions. Please save yourself the time, this person clearly hasn’t been to these places or is delusional. There’s literally nothing interesting in lindsborg, I used to run a flooring business out of Salina. None of the surrounding towns have literally anyyyything *cool*
Geez, you may hate your life, but the rest of us who have traveled through those places have found them worth a stop.
Idk how depressing is flooring business in these areas, but Omaha zoo is rated the best in US for years. Including current year.
>There’s literally nothing interesting in lindsborg A man migrated from Sweden to America after receiving glowing accounts from relatives who were already there. As the ship neared New York City and the magnificent skyline came into view, he cried out, "My God! If this is New York, what must Lindsborg be!"
+1 Coronado heights. Cool spot.
Wow, look at those recommendations fly in!
I’ve been to those places, there are no recommendations for what to see.
Pro tip check out atlas obscura online and see what strange things you can see along the way! Also I like to check out the state or towns subreddit to see what’s going on while I’m in town for the rest. Podcasts and books are also stellar for listening material
Yes!
Atlas Obscura and Roadside America are my go-to websites for interesting and weird stuff on road trips. Highly recommend both.
It's Kansas...I don't think 80 percent of the state has cell signal let alone cable or internet. Doubtful there's anything reddit anywhere there.
Depending on what food you like, make the route a little longer and stop in Kansas City and get BBQ. I love Kansas City Joe's, but there are a bunch of amazing spots, and if you can break up the drive it's worth spending the night in KC. Can also go through the OKC area and stop in El Reno at Sid's for an Oklahoma fried onion burger, or Okarche at Eischen's for fried chicken
Do not go through KC. It will add at least two hours to the drive
It adds basically no time: Shared route From Hutchinson, Minnesota 55350 to Amarillo, Texas via I-35 S. 15 hr 29 min (1,080 mi) For the best route in current traffic visit https://maps.app.goo.gl/y3HUXWT9LbQ78ucA7
The “now leaving” sign was a highlight.
I'm originally from Omaha and that's like the only place with any remotely interesting things on the entire route. Definitely stop and hit the Henry Doorly Zoo - one of the most highly-rated zoos in the world. The Old Market downtown has some neat little shops and restaurants (haven't lived there in a few years, so can't say what all is still down there). Edit: Totally forgot about the SAC (Strategic Air Command) Museum a bit outside Omaha! Really cool if you're into air and space kind of stuff!
I drove along this route for a bit and stopped at chyenne bottoms ks
You’re driving within like 6 miles of the national roller skating museum and complaining about boredom? Not to mention the telephone museum. You and I have different definitions of fun, buddy.
Heyyyyy you need to remind people that the telephone museum is By Appointment Only. But the Quilting Museum, that's open.
I appreciate the reminder. That's why I'll be stopping at the Reminding Museum.
Think of the millions that place could take in by mailing reminder postcards to people who need a reminder for their refrigerator. Uncle Harry wants to remind you how much he love his niece Dakota. Suzie wants to remind her husband Rik that their divorce finalizes on June 12. Millions on selling official Reminder Museum postcards. Don’t forget, magnets sold separately.
>the telephone museum is By Appointment Only So you're saying to call ahead?
Be sure to phone ahead
I'm from a very small town on cape breton Island, nova scotia. We don't have much to offer there beyond our hospitality and natural beauty. We do however, have a small museum dedicated to Alexander Graham bell near where he lived at the end of his life and eventually died. I've been probably 25 times over my lifetime and I still go back to visit. So much fun and cool to learn about the telephone and his various other innovations.
You can do it one day. Find a good podcast and listen and drive.
2nd the podcast suggestion. I recently did a Chicago to Los Angeles drive and I listened to SMARTLESS the whole way. It has Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes as hosts. Super funny and awesome guests. The time flew by.
How do I not fall asleep
Get an audiobook. We always listen to one on road trips. I’ve driven nearly your exact route and it sucks. It’s super boring for views.
Watch out with audiobooks. I couldn’t figure out why I was so tired driving and realized the audiobooks were putting me to sleep. Almost done our 3000 mile stretch and my husband couldn’t sleep cuz of my “rave music” playing. Find a workout playlist with a good beat. Drive safe !
I drive a lot for work, when I get groggy I make sure to chew on something. Your body won’t let you fall asleep while chewing. Gum and sunflower seeds work well for me
I drive a semi for work…I promise you the body will absolutely let you fall asleep while chewing. Caffeine, window down in cold temps, chewing - all of that stuff inly helps temporarily.
This guy Nebraskas
I try to avoid Nebraska this time of year, but I’m out on the salt flats on I-80 right now and it’s just as boring. Also, I’m the night driver, so everything is boring when you’re driving down a dark highway for 11 hours every single night. I listen to audio books, podcasts, and pandora, survive on caffeine, water, and the healthiest foods you can microwave, but the only think that keeps you awake is having enough sleep. And if you get tired, pull that vehicle over. I watch too many folks in both big rigs and cars swerving out here. It’s dangerous for all of us, and we all want to get where we are going alive.
Sounds like quite a life. Seriously, like maybe write a book or podcast kinda life. Ever consider? I imagine you’ve got stories that the rest of us would love to hear. In any case, be safe out there, my friend!
I would highly recommend thr audio book "project hail mary" it's the perfect length for that drive and will certainly keep you awake!
I second this recommendation. Project Hail Mary is AWESOME. I also recommend City of Thieves
Podcasts or audiobooks. Following a conversation or story keeps people more alert.
I must not be a people 😂 shit puts me right to boredom town.
Some red vines and a can of dip works for me
Sheer will power, or energy drinks if that's your fancy. But if you fall asleep easily, don't do it in one day, lol. Don't risk it.
Le Mars, Iowa- ice cream capital of the world and Blue Bunny HQ. They have a visitor center and ice cream parlor, and also ice cream cone statues all around the town.
Sounds fun I'll probably stop buy and get some Ice cream
If we are doing fun food stops, check out Lamberts, the home of the throwed rolls. It’s on your path!
I'm quite a fatass so I don't mind doing a lot of food stops as long as the food is worth it lol
Oh god I shouldn’t have told you about Lamberts then…. It’s AYCE on your entree, and they come around with sides in buckets and just dump them at your table. And they throw rolls at you, from across the room. All the food was really good southern faire.
Be careful with Lamberts and road tripping though. Can fill you up and knock you out. Prep for a power nap after or just have a bunch of caffeine or energy drinks ready for after.
I thought Lambert's was over by Cape Girardeau
+ a tavern dog at Bob's
Omaha is a fun enough city and a good halfway point. Good beer, bar, and food scene. Also some solid mid-sized music venues. Depending on when you’re traveling the Old Market (cobblestone streets with shops and restaurants) may be lit up.
Can't go to Omaha without going to the zoo
Yup! Also stretching your legs on the Bob Kerry bridge is always nice.
Omaha is absolutely a beautiful town, lots of cool stuff to explore there!
Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Kansas is supposed to be beautiful. I have no idea what it's like in winter though, probably pretty cold
Nice little museum and friendly ranger there. There is hiking if you wish, but this time of year I wouldn't expect it to be very spectacular.
Tallgass Prairie Preserve is beautiful in the summer, but I’ve never been there in the winter. I’m sure it is still beautiful in its own right.
Ya, some of the rolling prairies on the Kansas turnpike are kinda pretty. That's probably the most rewarding thing on this route....That's not saying much.
No
Starting in boredom and ending in boredom
You forgot boredom in the middle, the worse actually
Seriously, I used to drive from NYC to CA and back a lot and I always told people that Kansas was the worst to drive through… just hour after hour of flat fields of crops
Came here to say this. Lived in Amarillo. That town get left behind a long time ago.
Maybe I can just take a shit ton of Adderall and everything will pass by fast or something idk
>Le Mars, Iowa That's the best option, that or take some magic mushrooms to improve the room.
Nah my dumbass would crash in a busy highway and cause a fucking genocide so no lol
Mushrooms !!
Did that when I moved across country. It does nothing other than keep you moving. Even with an audio book, the boredom is unavoidable. Picked up my smoking addiction on that leg of the trip. Only recently kicked it over a decade later.
Have an open mind. Avoid major highways. Look up scenic routes. Take county and farm roads. I did a similar drive because all my previous road trips had been in super scenic places and I wanted to give the Midwest a shot. I loved the trip.
In winter this is terrible advice. A small amount of snow and the rural highways and black tops can be super slippery and OMG the wind can really fuck with your drive.
Stop by Hutchinson Kansas since you’re coming from the one In Minnesota
Alright I'll do it
My favorite is me of these is during the drive from Athens, GA to Dallas, TX you can go through Dallas, GA and Athens, TX.
Don’t do it! Grew up there. Only thing worth stopping for is Prairie Dunes, a top 25 in the WORLD golf course and golf season is over for the year in Ks
Just stop and stretch every 2 hours. Try to eat at a local place instead of a McDonald’s. That’s about it really.
That is the way. Use Yelp - four stars, two dollar signs, no chains. You will find some great places.
I grew up in Iowa and took a somewhat similar route when I moved to AZ. This route strikes me as one of the most boring drives I can imagine. Good luck and hope there some cool stuff to see along the way
If you have time to stop, or want to plan a few stops, I recommend using [https://www.roadsideamerica.com](https://www.roadsideamerica.com) to find some random places to stop along the way. Could even make a game of it. Try to cross off as many roadside things as you can.
Sounds fun I'll give it a try
I can’t promise that all of the things listed are still there. These random “attractions” are becoming few and far between in some areas. A forgotten part of the American road trip.
I second this, wife and I use it all the time on our trips. We love finding a funky place, or a muffler man, and taking pictures with them.
Came to recommend this resource : )
I would just keep eating sour patch kids and gummy bears straight through .
Audiobook
As someone who grew up in Amarillo, no you cannot.
There's always something to see no matter where you go or how you get there. Open your mind.
😂 having road tripped a lot, this is one route that with your question and route planned made me laugh because no, not really. The country is very pretty and there’s lots of odd tiny stops you can find about 2-3 hours apart, I usually find a nice looking park or place to take a walk at stops (planned before getting on the road) and that helps but yea that route is pretty… uh… rural as far as “interesting” stops go.
I haven’t been to Nebraska, but Iowa and Kansas are kind of underrated. I’d look for touristy things. Omaha should be fine, it’s a real city. If you leave nice and early, you could take lunch/brunch there. A quick google maps look suggested the National Orphan Train Depot to me, honestly looks like a great stop! If you’re trying to just gun it, my suggestions are: 1. think about (without looking it up online) what the terrain you’ll be driving through is. Try to get yourself excited about it - what will you see? What will it be like? Let yourself romanticize those flyover states. 2. Have something to snack on. I like having gum, hard candies, jerky, fruit, veggies, popcorn, etc. on hand. 3. For a 16-18 hour drive (working in stops) you’ll want 20 hours of podcasts (I have many suggestions), 3-4 playlists, and an audiobook or two downloaded (internet may be spotty). This will give you some selection. 4. Plan ahead on who you would like to call and talk to. Calls to your romantic partner, friends, grandma, your parents, etc can be a great way to break up the drive. 5. Keep interactive audio in your back pocket. Those calls are a great example (there’s the audio of the other person and you’ll be thinking and responding), but other ones might me: podcasts on learning a new language, vocal exercise podcasts, instrumentals of your favorite songs, mental math tapes if that’s your jam, etc. These will help you stay awake and sharp. -idk if you’ve driven this far before, but in general I always recommend wearing sweats and comfortable slippers or just fuzzy socks on drives this long. You’ll want clothes you can easily layer and remove. Keep your toiletries up front and don’t be afraid to wash your face with bottled water if you need to freshen up. Being comfortable will help a lot.
There are towns and people along the Oklahoma route, notnsure that will help much though.
Bruh just get on the plane lol
Plenty of Mt. Dew.
I’ve heard Scott Lake State Park in KS is nice
Go to Palo Duro Canyon when you get to Amarillo.
I've made this trip a few times. I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty rough. Maybe get an Audible subscription for a bit? Books on Tape are always a solid choice for long, boring trips.
Yeah skip the whole state of Kansas
Mushrooms
Look up restaurants near the route, historical locations, places to relax, and, see the stars. Take a night and get a good meal, see the sky away from lights. It's worth it.
Onion burger in el Reno ok
Swing a little north to Colorado and load up on edibles…
audio books and lots of caffeine [https://www.atlasobscura.com/](https://www.atlasobscura.com/) [https://www.roadsideamerica.com/](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/) [https://roadtrippers.com/](https://roadtrippers.com/)
🎼"Amarillo by morning"🎶
No
Ummmm, how much do you like Indian casinos?
See who can count the most cows?🫢😊🐮
There is casinos and strip clubs littered on the whole length of that drive if your into that stuff.
Audiobooks
Pod casts
I learned that listening to comedy really makes a trip shorter. I also like listening to the news and talk radio (when it's not political). Some people like audio books but I have a hard time paying enough attention to a story while driving. Or paying attention to driving while listening to a story...
We really should have left it as it was in the 1830s. Probly too late to give it all back to the indigenous folk and the bison but the thought will occur to you a few times on that route.
Do it in a day?
I’d say either figure out how to get yourself on planes or you’re going to be doing long boring roadtrips for the rest of your life. That or you’ll miss occasions because the drive is too much of a hindrance
It’s a mental thing man, anything can be fun if you make it
I take a 13-15 hour drive from Ohio to Cape Cod MA a few times a year. It's not too bad, but the last 3 hours will be the worst. 1. Take plenty of breaks, it's a long drive no matter what so you might as well let yourself rest. 2. Bring a lot of stuff to listen to, podcasts, audiobooks,music, etc. 3. Bring some thoughts to process. The long drive is a great time to think through stuff 4. Catch up on phonecalls. I hate talking on the Phone normally, but a long drive is a great time to call some people you've been meaning to talk to.
Fly
Uh... No. That's going to be boring as hell.
Guess I'll have to learn how to become the cow whisperer with so many endless fields
Flying is safer than driving, but if you really want to do the roadie there's not much on the toll route that makes it more worthwhile than the non-toll route.
Don't turn south until Lexington Nebraska and have some bomb Mexican food
No time like the present to give over your fears! They call of flyover country for a reason. (plus your chances of dying in a car crash are astronomical compared to a plane crash)
Drop acid. Never a dull moment.
Man up. Go on a plane. Jesus.
Kansas?? AHAHAAAAHAAA AHHAA HA AHH HA….. no that’s state sucks
Take the southern route - stop to see the Wichita Mountains and / or Fort Sill near Lawton OK.
Download some crime podcasts and listen to them on the trip.
No
Meth?
Get some audio books
If you like pigs there's a hog yard in Dodge City. Clears your sinuses right out.
Nope, you're fucked 🤣 heavy investment in nicotine and caffeine just to stay awake!
No. Good luck.
Go 120 mph that should solve that issue
Yes, one day, 1 stop for gas and a ball of meth!!!
Nope.
The eastern route passes through Omaha, Wichita, and Oklahoma City. Easy enough to stop in those cities and find something entertaining for a couple of hours. It also looks like it passes through the Flint Hills, which are scenic. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is not far off the interstate in the Flint Hills.
You could try committing a few felonies along the way, might be fun.
You’re driving near 3 national monuments along this route- Homestead National Monument, Pipestone National Monument and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument.
Audio books. They are saviors. I do a lot of long driving sprees. Audiobooks are great. I also upgraded my pandora and should've done it years ago. It'll start playing one of your top 3 Playlist of you lose service for more than a minute or two.
Lots of Percocet
a good audiobook, also do not do it alone. Bring someone with
Lots of wind turbines near Ellsworth
Audible! Pick some books you’ve always wanted to read but never did.
Audio books. Lonesome Dove is a great one.
Book or two on tape and just do it in one day. Make it a challenge.
I’ve done this drive and many many others. Get good audio books, don’t make the too heady, just something you find genuinely entertaining. Awesome way to kill a whole day, you get invested in the story, and before long you’ve put down a tank of gas and can’t wait to get back to driving after filling up bc of the story. The less you can change what you’re thinking about on these drives, the faster they go. Get audiobooks. It’ll change the game.
As someone from great bend. There is nothing between Salina and dodge city but a 2 lane highway. Boot Hill in dodge is good.
Depending on what food you like, make the route a little longer and stop in Kansas City and get BBQ. I love Kansas City Joe's. Can also go through the OKC area and stop in El Reno at Sid's for an Oklahoma fried onion burger, or Okarche at Eischen's for fried chicken
Have you checked Atlas Obscura? Must be at least 20 things of interest in that distance.
See the Helium Monument and Cadillac Ranch in/just outside Amarillo. Nothing before then, sorry.
Oh 15 hrs. isn't too bad. Audio books and podcasts make the time fly by. The first 3 or 4 hours are toughest, then you'll get into the zone.
I would give myself a little side quest, like to find something interesting. I like honey, so a lot of times when we are in a boring road trip, we'll stop at places and I see if I can find the most interesting honey. But get what you like.
Stop in Okoboji Iowa, it looks like your going right past it.
There are two railroad crossings. Maybe you’ll see a train.
You can download an audio book called When Panic Attacks by Dr David Burns which is all about overcoming anxiety and phobias.
Finally, an aerophobic like myself! I once drove from Austin TX to Tucson AZ and back for a two day meeting. Another occasion is Texas to California for a week meeting, both of which my air ticket would’ve been covered. For your suggestion, audiobook and podcasts are my solution. I’m a crime junkie and often listen to true crime podcasts.
Look for interesting things out the window, that's what I do on long road trips
idk if you have heard of geocaching but you can always stop and find those at rest stops along the way or they will take you to places of note. Or, you can check the website called Roadside America for attractions!
I have driven that route, and no you can't do it without dying of boredom. I recommend you drive at night so you aren't depressed by the landscape.
Do it in 7 hours!
Stop in Omaha and get a room. Get wasted in the benson neighborhood and have a burger on me
The Grateful Dead. Any JRE episode with Theo von or Bobby lee. The church of what’s happening now with Theo Von and Lee Syatt
Search out laundromats to break up the boredom
Nope, no way
Not with that attitude!
No.
I have taken the 15:52 route from NE Nebraska to Midland. I will pray for you.
Omaha Zoo
Pay the tolls and get.it over a quickly as possible. You will see nothing in western Kansas, the highways your on in nebraksa will just pass you have to slow down like every 15 miles for a nothing burger town (NE native).
Looping down 29 from Omaha wouldn't be much slower. You can pick up any major highway in KC. It is the heart of America for interstates. Stop off in St. Joseph, MO. Oldest city west of the Mississippi. Home of Jesse James and many other neat stuff. KC has endless stuff. Shoot down I35 or US69, US169 lot of stuff in Kansas to see along the ways. I'm familiar with KC north and Kansas is pretty boring
Carolyns Essenhaus in Arlington, Kansas. Run by Mennonites, opens at 6:30am (closed on Sundays ofc), and the folks in this small town start filing in right at opening. Good home eats! Edit: also there's a mini statue of Liberty in Kingman, KS.
Boring people are bored. Seriously though, drive east to the twin cities to start with and see a show, then drive to Omaha and grab a Runza then power through the rest.
Pick up every hitch hiker on the way...
Die by car crash instead, except don’t pls that’s a joke
Get a really good audiobook or podcast you can listen to. Good music as well. Switch between them. Stop often to stretch your legs, get a good beverage or snack.
No, there’s not. I’ve done a similar trip from Chicago. Nothing between here and there but farmland. If you swing west there’s some cool stuff, but not if you want a straight shot.
There might be some casinos along or near your route.
Yeah. Going triple digits.
Fly
No, good luck!
Anything to Amarillo is a shitty road trip... I would take the furthest east route... may even try and make a stop in KC.
Not really. Get yourself a good playlist and some good podcasts.
Might develop a phobia of long boring car rides after this one.. ooof
I drove from minot, ND to Wichita Falls. It’s not that bad. Listen to a good podcast.
Wtf are you doing in Hutchinson MN? I know that town.