Places to Eat off I-80/I-90/I-70
I was hoping to get some advice on places to eat (and anything great to see) on a road trip I'll be taking in a couple weeks. We're driving from NYC to Rapid City/Badlands area SD on I-80 to IL, then I-90 to SD. Going down to Denver for a few days before heading back to NYC, most likely on I-70.
Does anyone have some suggestions on places we need to eat, or sights we need to see, preferably close to the Interstates mentioned above?
Thanks in advance
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9 Comments:
When you get around Toledo, Ohio you can make a side trip in to Tony Packo's. It's not exactly right off the Interstate but it wasn't a bad side trip 15-20 minutes. Lots of famous people have eaten there (including rock stars, presidential candidates etc) and they sign buns which are displayed in cases on the walls. The hot dogs were pretty decent as well.
joeqboo at 11:39AM on 08/10/09
@joeqboo-I agree!
KB in Toledo at 12:02PM on 08/10/09
How funky - Rapid City, SD was one of the cities I liked the feel of when I visited, looking for a city to live.
I'm sure you'll want to just bypass the Cleveland area since it's so close to NY, so I'll just recommend a nice place to stop for lunch (weekdays)/dinner that is easy to get back on to I-80 -- Blue Canyon. They are located in Twinsburg, OH right off I-480. You'd get off I-80 in Streetsboro, right onto I-480. If you're traveling with a GPS, their address is:
8960 Wilcox Drive,
Twinsburg, Ohio 44087
330.486.2583
At the same exit, there is a Sonic.
In Sandusky, there's Cedar Point. Not sure if you'll be up for an amusement park and sunburn. :P
Minneapolis has the Mall of America. It was fun to walk around in a city where the buildings are joined by skyways. Wish I could remember the Thai restaurant I went to near the university...it was really good, but may no longer be there...or 500 of them.
Devils Tower in northeastern WY is pretty cool even without seeing Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It should be on the way if you're taking 25 south to Denver. At least you won't be around during the Sturgis Rally. We were in the area right at that time unknowingly. I don't think I even knew about Sturgis before then. It made looking for a hotel miserable. We didn't find a place (we would want to stay) from MT through SD, so we slept in the car for several days while we were in the area. Oh, if you're into motorcycles, they have a museum there too.
The drive across Kansas always feels long. They have great roads at least. I'd suggest going to Garden City and Dodge, but you'll have to travel ~50 miles or so south of 70. Not sure if you'll find it worthwhile. If you do, Hanna's Corner in Garden is a diner with good food and decent prices. El Charro is pretty good too. Mexican restaurants have to be great in SW Kansas to stay in business.
Cassaendra at 12:09PM on 08/10/09
This is great - thanks! keep it coming
(Devil's Tower looks really cool - might try and hit that up - is 25 the best way to get to Denver from Rapid City?)
Hans_Moleman at 12:15PM on 08/10/09
I've posted this quite a few times, but I swear I don't work for them.
Right on the IN/IL border on I-80, get off at the Calumet exit towards Munster. There's an Edwardo's pizza right there (get the stuffed pizza) or else carry on Calumet Ave. until you hit Ridge Road. Take a right, and look for Schoop's. There's parking around back. Best burgers I've ever had (fresh, griddle-cooked, well seasoned). They also have very good hot dogs and egg salad as well, if you're not in burger mode. I recommend either a double cheeseburger or a 'Mickey' (single meat, double cheese) but they'll cook them how you want with what you want, though there's not a lot of rabbit food. Order a basket of fries to share. And they also have an ice cream parlor next door.
They used to be quite a small chain, but are getting bigger. Here's the website:
http://www.schoophamburgers.com/
Best burger I've ever had.
NotAmerican at 1:37PM on 08/10/09
If you like ice cream, hit up the PSU Creamery in State College, PA. Not *right* on I-80, but really close.
And once you're in Denver, check out Beau Jo's for mountain style pizza. And possibly Red Trolley for the cereal bar and baked goods.
cycorider at 2:17PM on 08/10/09
I-25 is definitely your best bet from Rapid City to Denver. In doing so, you'll go right through my current (and home-)town, Casper, WY. And....you'll want to keep on driving. There are some OK restaurants in my town, I suppose.
For good Mexican, try Don Juan's (on Center Street, which is one of the exits off I-25). They aren't your usual chain restaurant crap, you can get cheek, tongue, and brain tacos (although I don't!) and they are really reasonably priced.
If you feel like a nice Wild West steak, try the FireRock Steakhouse, which is off Hat Six Road. You'll want to take the last exit (to Wyoming Boulevard) and take a left on Second Street, then keep on going past the mall, past Home Depot...and about 3 minutes later it'll be on your right. It's pricey buy very good.
If you are going through here during the day, downtown Casper has the Cheese Barrel, the Cottage, the Market & More, and Gegi's, four low-key high-end lunch places that are tasty.
lo82070 at 5:58PM on 08/10/09
Rapid City, SD is the closest "big city" to where I live. We go there several times a year to shop.
You definately have to eat at the Firehouse Brewing Company (610 Main St.) when you're in town. I've never had a bad meal there and I think their beer & root beer is great, especially Chukkar and Brown Cow Ale. (What they have on tap varies but the selection should be good for awhile because they will have stocked up for Sturgis.) The artichoke dip with the brown beer bread is one of our favorites, as are the nachos, bangers & mashed, chimichanga, shepards pie, california wrap, etc. Last time we were there, the Tuaca tiramisu on the dessert menu was to die for, as is the "stop,drop & roll". Also, not food related, but the shop on the corner by Firehouse- Prairie Edge- is worth a visit. Authentic Native crafts, art, etc. Fjords Ice Cream Factory is good for dessert but I've only been there twice and both in the off-season. We are usually too full after eating at Firehouse!
It's a lot faster to go south out of Rapid City and connect with I-25 either west of Lusk or north of Cheyenne to get to Denver. The highways, even if they aren't 4-lane interstate, are good and fast. I-90 to I-25 takes you much farther west than you need to go, but then you'd miss Casper.
Last time we were in Denver we ate at the Bull and Bush Brewery (4700 Cherry Creek Drive South) and had a great meal with excellent beers. I also got a tshirt with their great logo on it. It's a bit tricky to find if you're not familiar with Denver though. I second the Beau Joes pizza recommendation. I've had the lunch buffet at the one in Old Town Fort Collins.
And I also second the PSU creamery. Worth the detour. I grew up near there. Have fun trip. That's a lot of driving.
mel72 at 10:39AM on 08/12/09
If you head through Salina, Kansas, on I-70 and you like sliders, make sure to hit the Cozy Inn. Fair warning: You'll be smelling like onions afterward, though.
A few hours east on I-70, be sure to stop in Kansas City for Arthur Bryant's barbecue (go to the original location on Brooklyn Ave.). I recommend the burnt end sandwich. Oklahoma Joe's (47th and Mission) is also pretty killer: http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/about/index.htm
Adam Kuban at 8:16PM on 08/13/09