Road trip through Nebraska and Ozarks. Any suggestions?

[mountainsoft]

I'm just starting to make plans for a road trip next year. We'll be driving down from the black hills in South Dakota into Nebraska. Unfortunately, other than "car henge" I haven't really seen much of interest in Nebraska. We're not really into historical places, and try to avoid cities. We prefer seeing natural scenery but I haven't found a whole lot to see in Nebraska, other than maybe chimney rock (which seems like a quick stop at best). Possibly stop at the "archway" but I'm not seeing much of interest there other than the historical stuff? Any scenic places we may want to visit in Nebraska that I am missing? Paved roads only, I've seen a few places that sounded interesting, but don't want to drive dirt roads in my small car. Avoiding large cities and interstate highways as much as possible.

I'm also hoping to visit the Ozarks, but that's kind of a large area. We have no interest in the music or theme park vibe around Branson, nor do we want to hang with the party crowds around Lake of the Ozarks. Something like short hikes, riding nice trails on rented ebikes, or maybe kayaking somewhere (beginner level, no whitewater, no crowds, scenery oriented). I've found lots of caves in the area, not sure which ones would be most interesting.

Thought I would ask for suggestions from folks familiar with the area.

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

I am not exactly sure where this is, but I believe I took it on the Brdges to Buttes Highway, a couple of hours west of Carhenge.

 

[audreyh1]

Nebraska: we enjoyed Omaha, nice city. We were following the Lewis and Clark trail and they had some sites in the area. We camped (motorhome) in a nice wooded park near the river. A huge find for us was the Karl Bodmer collection at the Jocelyn Museum of Art. Drawings and watercolors from the 1830s, depicting Native American and trapper life as it was along the same trail Lewis and Clark followed. Really worth seeing,

The Ozarks - fabulous. We’ve visited a couple of times and stayed at various parks both Arkansas and Missouri. Lots of hiking, views and often water including lakes. So many great places including Buffalo National River and Onagonda Cave State Park. Magazine Mountain, the highest I believe, is spectacular. They have a lodge at the summit. Petit Jean State Park was another memorable location.

 

[Mark1]

Maybe kayak the Niobrara River near Valentine. It has been on my to do list a long time, which means it likely won't get done.

 

[ArmchairMillionaire]

Be careful driving across streams in the Ozarks if your travels take you down unpaved roads with stream crossings.

They can be deeper than they look.

Ask me how I know... Thank you to the guy with the Dually Dodge who unhooked his horse trailer to pull us out. Once we took out the control module from under the seats and put it on the roof to dry out for a few hours, after re-installing it we were able to get the SUV running. First on 3 cylinders... then on 4, which was enough to get us up the hills back to the paved road... then on 5, which was enough for us to get back on the freeway... and finally back on all six cylinders in time for us to return it to the airport.

Good thing it was a rental.

 

[Gumby]

My family lives in Missouri (as did I, until I left home to join the Navy 48 years ago).

The Missouri Weinstrasse, which is State Rte. 94 along the Missouri river from Hermann to Weldon Spring, is quite an attractive area. There are numerous wineries and B&Bs, and the former MKT/Rock Island railroad tracks have been transformed into the Katy Trail, so you can bicycle from one stop to the next if you wish. Actually down further in the Ozarks is Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, which offers lots of hiking on and around Mt. Taum Sauk, as well as Meramec Caverns.

https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/30/travel/tasting-tour-of-a-midwest-rhineland.html?unlocked_article_code=1.zk8.dOz-.ULADrMpupAYu&smid=url-share

Katy Trail/Rock Island Trail info

Trip planning tools and info for the Katy Trail, a 239-mile biking and hiking trail crossing Missouri from St Charles to Clinton. The Rock Island Trail intersects the Rock Island Trail in Windsor, and will eventually intersect on the east end as well, forming a loop around central Missouri.

bikekatytrail.com

Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park | Missouri State Parks

Looking for a unique destination? Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park offers ancient beauty!

mostateparks.com

Meramec Caverns - Missouri's Buried Treasure

Meramec Caverns, Stanton Missouri, is the largest commercial cave in the state of Missouri. Missouri is known as the Cave state, hosting home to more than 6,000 surveyed caves. Meramec Caverns is open year round, offering a fun, affordable vacation for all visitors. We can accommodate groups of...

www.americascave.com

 

[braumeister]

A couple of offbeat but interesting places in Nebraska:
Royal has the Ashfall Fossil Beds.
Scotia has the Happy Jack Chalk Mine

 

[youbet]

Possibly a bit out of your way, but if you can make it to Austin, Minnesota, the Spam museum is a wonderful experience and an eye-opener!

Austin is right on I90 if that's how you're routing your trip.

 

[Jimmie]

My DW is from MO. Lots of fun walking trails around Lake of the Ozarks & Mark Twain National Forest. Ha Ha Tonka State Park has interesting caves & castle ruins to explore. You won't find many partying folks around the Ozarks this time of the year. Check out alltrails.com for specific info on the walking trails. Also, ebike rentals will be hard to come by with winter season closing in. There's some craft wineries that we like to visit in the area too. As far as places to stay, we like The Lodge of Four Seasons at Lake of the Ozarks & there's really nice family-owned cabin resorts in the Mark Twain National Forest (e.g. Brushy Creek Lodge). Have fun!

 

[audreyh1]

Another Ozarks park we really enjoyed was Roaring River State Park in Missouri. Very popular with the fishermen. Great birding and hiking too.

 

[Surewhitey]

Kayak the Buffalo ~Ponca & east. Fabulous day on the river and clear water and bluffs everywhere. Camping is great too. Just check the water level. Ponca at 100 cf/s was near perfect for leisure.

Current Buffalo National River Levels | Buffalo Outdoor Center

Get current water level and floating conditions for canoeing and kayaking the Buffalo National River in Arkansas.

www.buffaloriver.com

 

[imjustawarrior]

I'll just spew out some ideas for Nebraska. I'll leave out history stuff. Some of the stuff is only open during the summer and some only on certain days of the week.

Toadstool Geological Park
Hudson-Meng Bison Kill Bed
Ashfall State Park
Fort Robinson and Trailside Museum
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
Valentine: Old Mill (nice restaurant and bakery)
Ash Hollow State Park
Indian Cave State Park
Omaha Zoo
Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum
Golden Spike Tower
Scottsbluff National Monument

 

[OldShooter]

It's not a straight shot from Western SD, but the Great River Road (Experience Mississippi River | Ten States. One River.) along the Mississippi is an interesting trip. Two lane and wooded with little traffic. Worthwhile stops include Tiffany windows in Dubuque IA, the mostly-dying towns where you've read about Huck Finn, Nauvoo (very interesting Mormon story and historical town), BBQ orgies and historic recording studios in Memphis. Lots of small town picturesque hotels along the way.

Military Interest: Ellsworth Air Force Base SD tour, spectacular Air Force Museum in Dayton OH (https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/)

Coming home there are freeways you can jump on to skip driving the two-lane again.

 

[youbet]

Kayak the Buffalo ~Ponca & east. Fabulous day on the river and clear water and bluffs everywhere. Camping is great too. Just check the water level. Ponca at 100 cf/s was near perfect for leisure.

While we've both kayak'd and canoe'd the Buffalo (day trips), what we really like is staying at one of the resorts near the confluence of the Buffalo and the White rivers. Sometimes using a guide, we'll fish the White for trout some days and go up the Buffalo for smallies on other days. You can also do Crooked Creek.

Of course, paddling and fishing rivers is highly dependent on water levels. If things go against you in that regard, you can always head over to Bull Shoals or Lake Norfork.

 

[MuirWannabe]

Arkansas has some terrific day hikes. Attaching a list of great hikes. Done all of these personally and can definitely recommend. The centerpoint to big bluff goat trail, the hemmed in hollow, and the yellow rock trail are each particularly great. This is actually more the Ouachitas than the Ozarks. But close enough. Also recommend Petit Jean and Mt. Magazine state parks in Arkansas.

8 Incredible Hikes in Arkansas: Complete Travel Guide

Whether you're looking for the best views, coolest waterfalls, or just exploration, these are my all-time favorite hikes in Arkansas.

thefroggyadventures.com

 

[mountainsoft]

Maybe kayak the Niobrara River near Valentine. It has been on my to do list a long time, which means it likely won't get done.

Looks like an interesting option. I will research it further. Thanks.

 

[mountainsoft]

My family lives in Missouri (as did I, until I left home to join the Navy 48 years ago).

I grew up in southern Illinois (Centralia) till I was 11 years old, but never made it to the Ozarks when I lived back there.

the former MKT/Rock Island railroad tracks have been transformed into the Katy Trail, so you can bicycle from one stop to the next if you wish.

I had heard of that one before, but will check it out further.

 

[mountainsoft]

Toadstool Geological Park

I found Toadstool earlier and it looked interesting. But from what I read it's a long dirt road to get there. That's a no go in my Jetta, especially on a road trip. Bummer.

 

[mountainsoft]

Coming home there are freeways you can jump on to skip driving the two-lane again.

We're in Washington state. The plan is to circle North through Montana and the Dakotas, head south to the Ozarks in Missouri, then head back west through Texas, New Mexico, and California before heading home. At least that's the rough idea so far.

 

[audreyh1]

By the way, unless you actually go to Branson you’ll completely miss that vibe in the Ozarks.

Just like avoiding Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in the Smokies - fairly easy to do.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

I found this State Park with cabin rentals to be amazing - Petit Jean Mountain S.P. Arkansas (Ozarks)

Petit Jean State Park

Petit Jean State Park is an Arkansas classic, a natural and historic treasure that has welcomed travelers for decades.

www.arkansasstateparks.com

 

[COcheesehead]

Haven’t been there in a while, but Truman Lake was the quiet alternative to Lake of the Ozarks. Just north of the Ozarks, west of Lake of the Ozarks.

Truman Lake

www.visitmo.com

 

[audreyh1]

I mistyped a couple of names above. Mount Magazine, and Onondaga Cave State Park. Onondaga Cave State Park is not far from Meramac Caverns which we didn’t visit. Onondaga Cave State Park has a lovely cave with guided cave tours.

 

[MC Rider]

I drove through Nebraska once. At night. Suspect I did not miss much scenery. The ozarks have lots of great mountains. I'd try to spend my time there.

 

[mountainsoft]

By the way, unless you actually go to Branson you’ll completely miss that vibe in the Ozarks.

Just like avoiding Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in the Smokies - fairly easy to do.

Good to know. I've never been to the area, so I wasn't sure how easy it was to avoid. A quick look at Google maps made it look like the whole area was a big theme park!