getowt

Next week, my 24-year-old daughter and I are driving from Columbus, OH to Denver in 2 1/2 days. The first day will be pushing though on the interstate to Kansas City, where we will spend the night. On the second day, we are considering taking Rt. 36 through Kansas, since we like to get off the interstates and it only adds about 45 minutes to the drive. We realize Rt. 36 passes through many small towns, and that is OK with us because we like to get a feel for the area that is not possible on the interstate. (translation: we like to stop for ice cream and/or a swim/walk if we come across a lake/park) We plan to stay in western KS or eastern CO for the second night, and drive the final 2-3 hours on the morning of the third day.

Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge of Rt. 36? Will we be able to find a respectable, clean mom-and-pop motel without making a reservation? (I have a list of motels along the route, but if anyone has a personal recommendation, that would be appreciated.) Is there anything else we should consider when deciding on Rt. 36 vs. I-70? Thanks very much!

(There is a second leg of this trip involving returning through Sante Fe, but that is a topic for another post!)

musicfan

This sounds like a fun way to go...good for you! Luckily the 36 Highway bridge is one of the few currently open crossing the Missouri river due to flooding.

I have been to several of the towns along that route, but not recently. Just out of curiosity, I Googled it and found this website:

http://webpages.charter.net/dnance/colorado/hwy36.htm

And this one, which is very incomplete:

http://us36.org/

We used to (late 60's/early 70's) take a bus from Omaha to central Kansas and the route took us through Belleville and past the Bel Villa motel and as I recall it was a pretty little town and the motel sat on a hill looking over the countryside

Yes, I know you could have just Googled it as well, and I hope some others with more pertinent comments will chime in.

Keith

I've driven several stretches of that route, but haven't stayed in any of the motels. The towns will slow you some, but the highway itself is 65mph, straight and wide.

A couple of cool things to be sure to visit:

Davis Memorial http://www.kansastravel.org/davismemorial.htm
Paul Boyer Museum of Animated Carvings http://www.kansastravel.org/boyergallery.htm


Another route would be to take US24 from Topeka west and pick up I70 again at Colby. This passes through a number of neat little towns.

boom_boom

Driven about halfway across on 36. Didn't stay anyplace along the way, but there appeared to be decent motels in places such as Marysville and Bellville. Good road, traffic, but not real heavy, a lot fewer big rigs.
You could also consider taking I-80 across Illinois and then 30 or 20 across Iowa and Nebraska then join I-70 near to Colorado boarder.

getowt

Thanks for the input! I'll check out the recommended websites for more information. Thanks also for the suggestions of alternate routes; I hadn't considered the others, but will look into them.

How fast does the traffic really move on these interstates? I ask because in the northeast, where I live, it is common for the "fast" lane to move at 85, the "middle" lane at 80 and the "slow" lane at 75! (even when the speed limit is 65 mph) So actual vs. posted speeds will affect our driving time.

Keith

Kansas just raised the maximum speed limit to 75 from 70. I would say that most traffic is about 73-79, but you may find a pocket going a little faster.

On the 2 lane US Higways in Kansas, the limit is 65 and the actualy speed is usually about 67-72.

getowt

Thanks, Keith. Good to have that information. I think we may take Rt. 24 as you suggested, instead of 36 as it looks like there are more lake possibilities along it. Also, I have been enjoying your informative Kansas web site. Have to check it again for ice cream stops and other interesting food spots, although we will need to be disciplined or else we won't make it to Denver in our allotted time frame!

Keith

A good place for ice cream would be the Call Hall Dairy Bar on the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan.

If you take that route, be sure to stop in Cawker City, where they will provided you with a few yards of twine which you can add to the the World's Largest Ball of sisal twine. Follow the twine painted on the sidewalk up the street a block or so and see the reproductions of famous painting with the ball of twine added. The whole thing is a hoot!

getowt

Perfect - exactly the kinds of stops we like! Also seems like we should go to Alma for the cheese, bakery etc.

Keith

We will probably being stopping in Alma tomorrow.

getowt

And how are things in Alma today? Did you have some good things to eat?

logandog

We drove Rt 24 eastbound and found it to be a fairly quick and scenic alternative to the interstate. Our purpose in choosing the route was to see the largest ball of twine in Cawker City. It was a great choice.

Keith

We ate at the Friendship House, 15 miles away in Wamego. The food is good, but the menu is quite limited and didn't work the best fot two of us with food restrictions.

We were in Alma to pick up cheese & sausage at Alma Creamery. We were going to also get some sweets, but the bakery moved a block away and there was no sign on the door where the bakery used to be, so we thought they had closed.

Keith

getowt

Thanks everyone for all your Kansas tips. I leave tomorrow for the first leg, a leisurely 2 day drive from upstate NY to Columbus, then setting out Friday with my daughter for Kansas City. We'll be driving across Kansas on Sat., taking Rt. 24 for part of the way; looking forward to seeing some of the local highlights.

Keith, thanks for the heads-up about the location of the bakery in Alma. Also, thought you might be interested in this article. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/ar...?_r=1&ref=arts