Route Advice: Custer State Park to Casper, WY please

[Snarkle]

We are totally newbies driving a 25' WB Via. I need a safe, easy route from Custer State Park to Casper (on our way to GT.)

1. I'm thinking Rt 16 to Rt 90 to Rt25 OR
2. Rt 16 Rt85 (toward Lusk) , Rt20, Rt 25

I'm totally afraid of Wy 450.

Leaving in two days and I would appreciate any suggestions for the inexperienced! Thank you!

 

[creativepart]

1. I'm thinking Rt 16 to Rt 90 to Rt25 OR
2. Rt 16 Rt85 (toward Lusk) , Rt20, Rt 25

I'd take US 18 W to I-25 N to Casper

 

[wyocamper-WO]

I would as well.

 

[Snarkle]

I'm curious...why do you prefer 18W?

 

[wyocamper-WO]

Last September we drove home from Custer on 18 in the motorhome, and it's a good, smooth road with light traffic. Once you hit Orin Jct it's a straight shot west on I-25 to Casper. We went south from Custer on 385 like Creativepart's map shows, and it seemed like all downhill for a good part of it.

So 385, 89, 18, I-25. Rt 16 from Custer to Newcastle is pretty hilly and winding in spots but should be fine in a Via. But unless your plan is to stop at Jewel Cave I would go south instead.

 

[Snarkle]

I'd take US 18 W to I-25 N to Casper
View attachment 1332823

What is 385 like?

 

[Snarkle]

Last September we drove home from Custer on 18 in the motorhome, and it's a good, smooth road with light traffic. Once you hit Orin Jct it's a straight shot west on I-25 to Casper. We went south from Custer on 385 like Creativepart's map shows, and it seemed like all downhill for a good part of it.

So 385, 89, 18, I-25. Rt 16 from Custer to Newcastle is pretty hilly and winding in spots but should be fine in a Via. But unless your plan is to stop at Jewel Cave I would go south instead.

"Down hill" in a good way?

 

[Snarkle]

I'd take US 18 W to I-25 N to Casper
View attachment 1332823

I just looked closely at the elevation and gradient of routes 385 and 16 and you are correct, 385 definitely looks like the best route. Thank you!!!

 

[wyocamper-WO]

"Down hill" in a good way?

Yes, as in saving lots of fuel good. Especially if you're lucky enough to pick up a tail wind on the way.

We drove through 16 from Newcastle to Custer in our car just a month after our RV trip and agreed that we were glad we hadn't come that route in the RV. The 385/89/18 route is mostly straight with great Black Hills scenery along the way.

 

[Snarkle]

Yes, as in saving lots of fuel good. Especially if you're lucky enough to pick up a tail wind on the way.

We drove through 16 from Newcastle to Custer in our car just a month after our RV trip and agreed that we were glad we hadn't come that route in the RV. The 385/89/18 route is mostly straight with great Black Hills scenery along the way.

Thank you! That's the way we will go!!!

 

[Waterbug]

We are totally newbies driving a 25' WB Via. I need a safe, easy route from Custer State Park to Casper (on our way to GT.)

1. I'm thinking Rt 16 to Rt 90 to Rt25 OR
2. Rt 16 Rt85 (toward Lusk) , Rt20, Rt 25

I'm totally afraid of Wy 450.

Leaving in two days and I would appreciate any suggestions for the inexperienced! Thank you!

Just so you know, there is more than one Custer State Park. Fort Custer was a major WWII training base, in Michigan. It is still a National Guard base but also an industrial park and State Park. PS Fort Custer in Battle Creek is also the site of a National Cemetery. My father rests there.

 

[MDJDCarter]

We are totally newbies driving a 25' WB Via. I need a safe, easy route from Custer State Park to Casper (on our way to GT.)

1. I'm thinking Rt 16 to Rt 90 to Rt25 OR
2. Rt 16 Rt85 (toward Lusk) , Rt20, Rt 25

I'm totally afraid of Wy 450.

Leaving in two days and I would appreciate any suggestions for the inexperienced! Thank you!

Last year we traveled from Mount Rushmore to Devil's Tower to Yellowstone. Google maps wanted to route us on Wyoming highway 14 or 16 through the Bitterroot Mountains. I was not comfortable with that in our 32' Cambria. Instead we took I-90 to Billings, Montana and then 310 down to Cody, WY. That was all good road. Later, after talking to locals, we made the correct decision. Highways 14 and 16 had steep grades, switchbacks and lots of curves plus bad weather. We got to Cody after dark and stopped at the Walmart for supplies. We asked about parking there for the night. The manager said just go to the west side of the lot with the others. We were one of 5 RV's that night. Very nice and accommodating. Remember to always top off your fuel in Billings and Cody. We did not see see any gas stations in between.

 

[Snarkle]

Just so you know, there is more than one Custer State Park. Fort Custer was a major WWII training base, in Michigan. It is still a National Guard base but also an industrial park and State Park. PS Fort Custer in Battle Creek is also the site of a National Cemetery. My father rests there.

Thanks for that tid bit of info! I will be more specific next time.

 

[wyocamper-WO]

Last year we traveled from Mount Rushmore to Devil's Tower to Yellowstone. Google maps wanted to route us on Wyoming highway 14 or 16 through the Bitterroot Mountains. I was not comfortable with that in our 32' Cambria.

Sorry don't mean to nitpick here, but you meant the Big Horn mountains. The Bitterroots are in western Montana. Actually highway 16 from Buffalo to Worland would be fine for most any motorhome, nothing too steep or winding. Hwy 14 is another story though, doable but not first choice for route. But I also don't know the time of year you were traveling or the weather, which can make a pretty big difference as well.