Road suggestions between Flint MI & Des Moines IA

[Madmudder]

Hey all
I am looking for some good road suggestions between Flint MI & Demoines IA.
Any & all suggestions greatly welcome

[Cav47]

Text incoming.

But there is a decent small section of fun road not too far off interstate 80 near Ottawa Illinois. Starved Rock Stste Park has some interesting roads.

Just depends on how much time you have and how fast you need to get out there.

[bigjohnsd]

One cornfield looks a lot like another, JSNS

[wheatonFJR]

I80 is beautiful this time of year.

You haven't set a time frame of how much wandering you want to do. Technically, the Mackinac bridge and southren Indiana and SW Wisconsin is "between" those two points. I'd recommend visiting all three. Tell us how much time you want to take between your two points.

If I'm not going through too many cities, I'd rather take state and county roads instead of interstates, eat at diners-not McRestaurant, go past people's front yards-not past interchanges.

If yer looking at adventure and people and unknown, it happens around you...but rarely on the vanilla interstate. It's not about cornfields, it's about places, towns, farms, drive ins...

[Madmudder]

leaving June 10th noonish & plan to be in des moine for 5:30 arrival June 11th stopping over night somewhere along the way, Any suggestions? heading for Montrose CO.

[baowow]

If you end up on US20, just west of the town Elizabeth, IL is Scales Mound Road. Turn right onto it and head north for a bit, nice long sweepers. Then, you'll encounter Stage Coach Trail. Turn left onto Stage Coach and stay in this road. Be careful of the blind left curve after a hill not long after you turn left onto Stage Coach....

Crap just realized you said Des Moines. That's a bit more to the south. These roads are a bit further north near the Illinois Wisconsin border. Stage Coach will take you to Galena where you can stop for a bite in a nice small town if your stomach is calling out. From Galena, you can take Blackjack road south towards Savannah/Sebula. It follows the river and then you can link up to 84 or 52 to get back to I80.

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[Madmudder]

Thanks baowow
Ended up in Ottawa I’ll just off of 80 coming through the rain yesterday so I am to far south to give it a try but will keep it in mind on return

[baowow]

If you're in Ottawa, take 71 West and ride through Starved Rock State Park. It's along your route and will be worth it. Much better than the slab I80.

When you're finished going thru the state park, you'll end up on 178. You can either take that North back to I80 or south back to 71, then right turn onto 71 to head west and it'll become 351 taking you back to I80.

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[Madmudder]

Thanks making that a route now

[0face]

IF your going to Montrose CO. Just blast there. You won;t be missing much.

[CraigRegs]

I'm late seeing this, and guessing you're already in DM. If you have time to enjoy the ride home, this will run you parallel to I-80, but on more enjoyable 2-lanes, through small towns. If you want to eat your way down the road, stop at Goldies in Prairie City for an award-winning tenderloin. Then pie at the Coffee Cup Cafe in Sully. Refresh with a fruit cup or smoothie at Maria's Mango Landia or authentic tacos at El Sarape in West Liberty. Then wind along the Mississippi before the route ends where you can jump back on I-80. There's nothing to see in Illinois (as you've seen).

https://goo.gl/maps/ErAebd9j4pA2

If you need any other recommendations while you're here, message me here.

[CraigRegs]

I see you're heading on west.

Another sight-seeing route. Stop in Winterset at the Northside Cafe for pie. From there west, you're on your own for eats, but across NE, Hwy 34 to Hwy 30 (old Lincoln Highway) pretty much parallels 80, but actually gives you something to see. Great brewpub with good food in Gothenburg NE.

https://goo.gl/maps/3R3G9EznFKv

[BikerGeek]

One cornfield looks a lot like another, JSNS

Ahem.

Really?

[BikerGeek]

Tim - on your way back east, if you're looking for a good place to eat, go to Litchfield, IL. It's between St. Louis and Springfield. In Litchfield, right on Old Route 66, is a place called the Ariston Cafe. Go there. It's very history and the food is good.

There's a museum / Route 66 Welcome center next door, but depending on when you're there, it may not be open. We've stayed in Litchfield 3 or 4 times now and it was only open the last time we were there (on our way home from NAFO in, coincidentally, Montrose).

[Madmudder]

Marty I like your way of thinking but the suggestions broke up the monotony
Geek where did you get the photo of all the situpons
Craig Regis I’ll definately consider those on the way back if I return this way.

[Madmudder]

We made it to Avoca iA and are shooting for Denver tomorrow if not further depending on route taken
Any roads to consider? We are at I80

[wheatonFJR]

We made it to Avoca iA and are shooting for Denver tomorrow if not further depending on route taken
Any roads to consider? We are at I80

See Craig's post above...

[Steel_Gin]

Safe Travels and enjoy every mile!!

Someday it will be my turn to go on an epic motorcycle vacation. In the mean time I'll jockey this desk.

[FJRPittsburgh]

Tim, Enjoy your adventure and be safe. Looks like you're going to have an epic trip!

[Madmudder]

We made it to Idaho springs co. We are now in the foothills and have a day of playing then over to montrose for ride the Rockies
Thanks to all who provided ride options to get here. I’ll post some photos tomorrow night when we get in