Ohio to Yellowstone Route Avoiding Chicago

[Jesdst-WO]

Leaving Ohio on September 8th heading to Yellowstone and trying to bypass Chicago traffic and go thru Indiana.
However with the latest round of storms/flooding that has me a bit perplexed on what route to take. Not sure what condition the campgrounds will be in/open. 24' Minnie Winnie.
Anyone make this drive to Yellowstone? any suggestions, Route, stops along the way, recommended campgrounds?
Thanks

 

[Morich]

What is really missing is what YOU want to do! We all have preferences and it looks like you want to avoid Chicago! Another part of the question would seem to be what part of Ohio you are leaving as that is a pretty wide open area! Other than avoid Chicago, is there anything else you want to see/do on a long trip like that? Seems a waste to go that far and not see what might interest you on the way! If for no other reason I would want to spend several days just getting out of the car and there are certainly lots of variety of things to see and do on the way! On our trips West,we have never gotten around to Yellowstone as there are so many nice places to go that aren't as crowded. Now with the massive fee increase, we are not likely to ever fit it in our trips!
One of the nice things about RV travel is also one that makes planning harder! Once we abandon the standard "tourist" stays and things to see, we really have a full range of things to choose from and that is where we run into trouble planning!
So how about the idea of NOT planning so much and just set each day by what you feel like that day?
In my trekking, we have set several trips that never got around to going where we planned as the end because we found too much to do along the way that felt better at the time.

 

[Jesdst-WO]

What is really missing is what YOU want to do! We all have preferences and it looks like you want to avoid Chicago! Another part of the question would seem to be what part of Ohio you are leaving as that is a pretty wide open area! Other than avoid Chicago, is there anything else you want to see/do on a long trip like that? Seems a waste to go that far and not see what might interest you on the way! If for no other reason I would want to spend several days just getting out of the car and there are certainly lots of variety of things to see and do on the way! On our trips West,we have never gotten around to Yellowstone as there are so many nice places to go that aren't as crowded. Now with the massive fee increase, we are not likely to ever fit it in our trips!
One of the nice things about RV travel is also one that makes planning harder! Once we abandon the standard "tourist" stays and things to see, we really have a full range of things to choose from and that is where we run into trouble planning!
So how about the idea of NOT planning so much and just set each day by what you feel like that day?
In my trekking, we have set several trips that never got around to going where we planned as the end because we found too much to do along the way that felt better at the time.

Thanks for the comments, actually leaving from Akron. I'm driving to Yellowstone alone, my wife is flying to Yellowstone and we will spend 5 days there and together we will take 4 weeks heading back. Have some family if Buffalo WY, so I or two days there. From there many stops in SD. I agree, we're not on any type of schedule so just looking for must see places.

 

[RV_Lee]

I would avoid both Illinois and Indiana, go under and then up

 

[Scubadude62-WO]

I'd drop down and take 70 through Indianapolis, then start heading up through Champaign to the Iowa Quad Cities and re-join I-80 there. The decide of you wan to stay on 80 and enter the park from the south, or head up to 90 and come in from the east or north.

I avoid the OH/IN/IL 80/90 tollway as much as possible. Driving around adds only about 2 hours to the trip and maybe a hundred miles or so. I save more in tolls and in fuel expended.

 

[Morich]

Looking at three weeks out, I would not worry the issue of flooding or roads closed but I do favor dropping South and going 70 West but for different reasons. September can be "volatile" for weather as the season changes in high country! It can get too cold for me to enjoy and do it with little warning. But I also like the idea of going West to Denver in areas we like more and then going North through areas we enjoy more than the flat territory. But that circles back around to things like what you drive and how you feel about it. We've grown to avoid staying overnight in Iowa in the summer when the feed lots are full, if you get my drift!

 

[creativepart]

One thing to note about traveling I-70. That road through the entire state of Indiana has a reputation as having some of the worst road conditions in the US Interstate system. I can confirm this opinion for when we traveled the entire length in Indiana last year we feared for the survival of our motorhome. And when we posted about this on some travel websites we received many dozens of posts agreeing with our opinion.

So, be sure to check road conditions with folks that have traveled your selected route recently.

 

[wyocamper-WO]

I-70 and I-465 through Indianapolis is one of the worst driving experiences I've ever had, the interstates in and around the city are one continuous construction zone and have been for years. Went that route from WY to Pittsburgh to bypass Chicago and it sucked. Coming back I cut north on the east side of the mess and up to Pendleton, then west through Lebanon on highway 32 and hit I-74 way to the northwest. Next time I go back east I'll take that same route both ways. Several small towns and lots of stops along the way, but it beat the **** out of the rolling wreck that is I-465.

PS we were in our car but I think going through that construction mess in our motorhome would have been a nightmare.

 

[Jesdst-WO]

I had no idea about route 70, good to know, Thanks to all. I may try wyocampers suggestion

 

[deckape]

If you don't have a campground near yellowstone , I might suggest Buffalo Crossing in West Yellowstone . 1/2 mile from entrance and full hookups . Park information next door as well as a Bear & Wolf exspeance next door , these allow ranger campfire talks nighty .. Start early ,5:00am to tour park as it gets busy and animals will be easier to see as well as getting into areas of interest. Toured park by car and did north loop one day , then south loop next . Did places we missed on third . Buffet at Yellowstone lodge was good and worth the $$ as everything on the menu was near the same price . Old Faithful will be there when you get there so plan to see it with a thousand of your new friends

 

[Fishin_Fool]

Leaving Ohio on September 8th heading to Yellowstone and trying to bypass Chicago traffic and go thru Indiana.
However with the latest round of storms/flooding that has me a bit perplexed on what route to take. Not sure what condition the campgrounds will be in/open. 24' Minnie Winnie.
Anyone make this drive to Yellowstone? any suggestions, Route, stops along the way, recommended campgrounds?
Thanks

If you do decide to take I-70, my wife and I were just on it in late June. I can say that the freeway all the way across MO was pretty good. Several construction zones but, for the most part, the highway is good. I have found the no matter if you're on an interstate or on county/state roads. If/when you get to a town or city, the roads become really rough and not well maintained. We got back in late July from a 6k+ mile trip and that was one thing that was common no matter what road we were on. Have fun on your Yellowstone trip. We were there in mid June and stayed in Gardiner, MT at the north entrance. Stayed at Sun Outdoors RV Resort. We could see the entire town and the north entrance to the park. Even had Elk roaming through the campground. Buffalo, WY is a nice town off of I-90 and the Bighorn Mountains are spectacular, but LONG steep grades between Buffalo and Ten Sleep, which, btw, is an interesting little town. Stay safe, don't rush and enjoy the changing scenery. That's part of what traveling by RV is all about.

 

[Jesdst-WO]

Looking at two different options, first is 90 West from Cleveland to 24 West and picking up Rt 80 near the Quad Cities, thru Omaha to Rock Springs WY then US 191 to Jackson
Second option, 80 West, connect with 24 West thru Ft Wayne to Davenport-Sioux Falls-Rapid City, Buffalo WY then Jackson, Anyone have any thoughts/comments recommendations?

 

[JR314]

I'd drop down and take 70 through Indianapolis, then start heading up through Champaign to the Iowa Quad Cities and re-join I-80 there. The decide of you wan to stay on 80 and enter the park from the south, or head up to 90 and come in from the east or north.

I avoid the OH/IN/IL 80/90 tollway as much as possible. Driving around adds only about 2 hours to the trip and maybe a hundred miles or so. I save more in tolls and in fuel expended.

I like this route too. I’ve taken it from Indiana. We stayed at a great Corps of Engineers park in Moline, IL on the South side of the river from Davenport, IA. We found ourselves wanting to spend more time there. Plenty of options along the way too, particularly in South Dakota. I would also plan to spend some time in the Tetons. I liked it better than Yellowstone.