We don't like long drives with our motorhome since driving a big rig and towing a car is a lot more taxing than driving a car. Since we are retired, we have no deadlines to meet (except for camping reservations). Therefore we broke up the 12 hours of driving to Rock Springs with three overnight stops. These 3-4 hour segments allow and unhurried trip with plenty of time to stop for lunch. And the early afternoon arrival allows time to sit outside in the late afternoon/evening hours to enjoy perhaps a BBQ and an adult beverage.
Our first stop was Kearney NE. We considered overnighting in the parking lot for Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. After briefly touring the monument and gift shop, we decided that the parking lot had too much road noise from I-80.
Studying our camping apps, we found that Kearny’s Buffalo County Fairgrounds allows camping. The fairgounds "campground" is a large gravel parking lot with 30amp electric outlets attached to the half-dozen street light posts scattered around the lot.
Although barren, the lot was very quiet and the electric hookups provided all-night air conditioning. It was a good bargain at $15.
The next day, we exited Nebraska and stopped at the Pine Bluffs RV park. We had planned to use a free camp site near Kimball NE. The summer heat wave however, convinced us to pay for a commercial campground. Unfortunately the Pine Bluffs park raised it's nighly rate to $60 (from the previously reported price of $30). The park host claimed that it was because of July's rodeo season. The $60 dollar rate was resort caliber pricing. The park had full hookups, but was certainly not a resort with no amenities other than showers and laundry. We would not stay here again.
Traveling west from Pine Bluffs we found a rest area just east of Laramie WY that is dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. This section of I-80 was part of the original coast-to-coast Lincoln highway.
The location was also on the route of the first telephone line across Wyoming.
The rest area was one of the better ones we have stopped at.
Our next stop was Rawlins, WY. I had made reservations at the Red Desert Rose campground. It was an impressively maintained park. It was not a resort with somewhat narrow pull-thru full hookup sites. However, amenities included showers, laundry, minature golf, kids playground, a fairly large dog park, and surprisingly, a free loaner car available for shopping trips. Quite a bargain at $28.00. No rodeo pricing here. We would definitely stay again.
On July 18th we made our final leg of the trip to the Escapees Rally at Rock Springs.
