Eugene, OR to Badlands, SD advice

mythicyeti · 04-27-2013, 04:14 PM

Next month (mid May) I will get out of Eugene, OR and head to the Badlands in SD. This will be my first long trip on the bike (f800gs).

Any advice is welcome but specifically I could use help figuring out what routes to take and what places to stop and sleep. No pricey hotels, I'm camping. Can I ride through the Tetons in mid May?

The trip is about 1400 miles each way. I have 3 full days to ride out and 2 to come back on.

Thanks in advance.

mythicyeti · 04-28-2013, 08:10 AM

100 views and no comments? Did I forget my deodorant or something?

JDowns · 04-28-2013, 04:27 PM

Hi mythicyeti,

I make the ride from near the Badlands to Eugene and back pretty much every year to visit relatives. Two days means you'll be riding sun-up to sundown and then some if you take interesting back roads.

On freeways it takes 26 to 28 hours going the speed limit with 5 or 6 gas stops. If taking backroads and byways it takes twice as long.

While it would be nice to head up the MacKenzie Highway over Hwy 242 to Sisters if it's open, continuing on 26 up through the Ochocos and Picture gorge over to 395 at John Day and North angling over to Pendleton and further north to Clarkston and over Lolo Pass if it's open and through Montana down over the Beartooth pass if it's open to catch the Chief Joseph Highway over to Cody and down through Thermopolis and up over through the Bighorn National Forest, Sheridan with a side trip to Devils Tower, over to Rapid City, down through Historic Lead and over to the Badlands, the sad fact is you don't have time.

Teton pass will probably have snow on the sides of the road but they plow it regularly and it totally depends on the weather if it is safe to head over in May. I believe WYDOT has road cameras so I'd check their website before heading out.

As far as camping, on the way home I would probably stop and sleep next to my bike on a picnic table for a few hours since two days doesn't leave much time to get home and I hate freeways.

I'd suggest more time to wander, but sometimes you have to go with the time available. This plan makes me smile and remember back a few decades. Sounds like something nutty I would have done when I was twentysomething. Not that there's anything wrong with twentysomething folks with big plans and little time.

Best luck,
John Downs

Mr_Gone · 04-29-2013, 11:52 AM

^ ^ ^ This sounds like a pretty good plan.

I was out there late last summer, did just about the same route.

Don't miss Devils Tower. I was mightily impressed.

If you have time, also hit Spearfish Canyon (south of Spearfish); I thought it was worth the ride.

mythicyeti · 04-30-2013, 08:12 AM

Ok, great suggestions and I think I can carve out a 1/2 day more to ride on the way back. So I'm looking at around 500 miles a day. No worries, I just want to be sure I don't miss out on some awesome stretches of road. I'll be out in the Badlands for 5 days photographing and plan on doing a lot of off pavement riding there.

eakins · 04-30-2013, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mythicyeti

100 views and no comments? Did I forget my deodorant or something?

no, but most do some prelim work and post up a intended route w/ google maps or list so others can critique.
don't miss bear tooth pass & hells canyon

mythicyeti · 04-30-2013, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eakins

no, but most do some prelim work and post up a intended route w/ google maps or list so others can critique.

funny you should mention that, I have these bad ass maps on the way that should help. I think some wack company called Butler makes them...

04-27-2013, 04:14 PM	#1
mythicyeti ^OP n00b Joined: Jan 2013 Location: Eugene, OR Oddometer: 4	Eugene, OR to Badlands, SD advice Next month (mid May) I will get out of Eugene, OR and head to the Badlands in SD. This will be my first long trip on the bike (f800gs). Any advice is welcome but specifically I could use help figuring out what routes to take and what places to stop and sleep. No pricey hotels, I'm camping. Can I ride through the Tetons in mid May? The trip is about 1400 miles each way. I have 3 full days to ride out and 2 to come back on. Thanks in advance.

04-28-2013, 04:27 PM	#3
JDowns Sounds good, let's go! Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Bassett, NE Oddometer: 1,686	Hi mythicyeti, I make the ride from near the Badlands to Eugene and back pretty much every year to visit relatives. Two days means you'll be riding sun-up to sundown and then some if you take interesting back roads. On freeways it takes 26 to 28 hours going the speed limit with 5 or 6 gas stops. If taking backroads and byways it takes twice as long. While it would be nice to head up the MacKenzie Highway over Hwy 242 to Sisters if it's open, continuing on 26 up through the Ochocos and Picture gorge over to 395 at John Day and North angling over to Pendleton and further north to Clarkston and over Lolo Pass if it's open and through Montana down over the Beartooth pass if it's open to catch the Chief Joseph Highway over to Cody and down through Thermopolis and up over through the Bighorn National Forest, Sheridan with a side trip to Devils Tower, over to Rapid City, down through Historic Lead and over to the Badlands, the sad fact is you don't have time. Teton pass will probably have snow on the sides of the road but they plow it regularly and it totally depends on the weather if it is safe to head over in May. I believe WYDOT has road cameras so I'd check their website before heading out. As far as camping, on the way home I would probably stop and sleep next to my bike on a picnic table for a few hours since two days doesn't leave much time to get home and I hate freeways. I'd suggest more time to wander, but sometimes you have to go with the time available. This plan makes me smile and remember back a few decades. Sounds like something nutty I would have done when I was twentysomething. Not that there's anything wrong with twentysomething folks with big plans and little time. Best luck, John Downs __________________ South America and back on a 250 Super Sherpa Minimalist Adventure http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=831076 JDowns screwed with this post 04-28-2013 at 04:37 PM

04-29-2013, 11:52 AM	#4
Mr_Gone Innocent Culprit Joined: Jul 2010 Location: Mountain Home, Arkansas Oddometer: 2,509	^ ^ ^ This sounds like a pretty good plan. I was out there late last summer, did just about the same route. Don't miss Devils Tower. I was mightily impressed. If you have time, also hit Spearfish Canyon (south of Spearfish); I thought it was worth the ride. __________________ “There are only three sports: mountain climbing, bull fighting, and motor racing. All the rest are merely games.” — Ernest Hemingway

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04-28-2013, 08:10 AM	#2
mythicyeti ^OP n00b Joined: Jan 2013 Location: Eugene, OR Oddometer: 4	100 views and no comments? Did I forget my deodorant or something?

04-30-2013, 08:12 AM	#5
mythicyeti ^OP n00b Joined: Jan 2013 Location: Eugene, OR Oddometer: 4	Ok, great suggestions and I think I can carve out a 1/2 day more to ride on the way back. So I'm looking at around 500 miles a day. No worries, I just want to be sure I don't miss out on some awesome stretches of road. I'll be out in the Badlands for 5 days photographing and plan on doing a lot of off pavement riding there.