7500+ Mile Roadtrip in Prius about to begin

Your path takes you through Dodge where there is a touristy re-creation of the old west with a few original elements IIRC. Boot Hill, jail, saloon, etc. Shootouts.

You'll also pass through Greensburg which got blown off the map by a twister a few years ago. Rebuilt with "green" in mind. They also have the largest hand-dug well, which I have not seen.

Also, note the scale of the irrigation systems through those high & dry plains. When your kids pass through some day, the Ogallah Acquifer will no longer support it, but it sure grows crops while it lasts.

If you modify your track to angle up to Hutchinson, they have a really impressive Cosmosphere and Space Center with a SR71 Blackbird, lots of Apollo-era items, IMAX, etc. They also have tours at an underground salt mine that is real nice. If you don't need to come to Wichita, just continue east on US-50 over to I-35.

I'm no doubt slighting many worthy attractions, but those came to mind. Mostly, you need to enjoy seeing agriculture.

If you have any particular interests, that might jog my memory.

 

Not that you should miss Wichita...

 

Whatever you do, don't miss the Cosmosphere and Space Center. It is a real pleasant suprise out in the middle of the prairies. A first class museum. As soon as you walk in the entrance as see an actual SR-71hanging from the ceiling in the lobby, you know it's going to be good. Unfortunately the Salt Mine museum wasn't open yet when I went through ther 5 years ago, it sounded interesting too.

There is also a well known US Prairie park or preserve, I think east of there on US 50 that is worth a stop.

We went through there headed west and spent the night in Dodge City because the forcast was tornadoes near US 50 20-30 miles west of Dodge City right about where we had planned to spend the night. We saw on the news that one did run right across the highway there. That was May, July should be calmer.

 

July rain is very limited, but when we get it, just respect the storm cell.

 

Rocky Mountain National Park

I would suggest spending some time in the park and then drive over Trail Ridge Road to Granby. There is a visitor center at the top of the pass, and of course lots of places to hike and see. From Granby take Hwy. 34 south to I-70. After that you could backtrack to Mt. Evans if you like, although it might be anti-climatic after Trail Ridge Road.

Patrick

 

I'm jealous... looks like a great trip... look foreard to seeing the updates on the trip...

 

I haven't seen a trailer hitch used as a rack before. Looks like it will cause a lot less drag than piling crap on your roof.

 

You are sending two small kids and a dog on a flight by themselves?

 

I'm sitting here on break in my office daydreaming of doing something like this when I go on vacation. Uber cool that you are sharing your Prius travel experience with us! Keep the pics coming!

Slick looking cargo rack btw!

 

Have you ever thought of putting the wheel covers back on to see if you could increase a little on the MPG during these long journeys? I'd be curious if it would have saved you a couple of bucks. Are the kids happy so far sitting in the back?

btw...I'm diggin the shot of the rainbow, looks like you and your family are having a good time! Stay safe!

 

When I got back from a 5000 mile trip (including the Yellowstone area), I had to run the car twice through the car wash to get the dirt out. Exterior detailing would be good to get the crap and bugs out of the paint. I think they sell some chemical that takes the bugs out at Walmart.

 

Just take it to the car wash where people not robots work. $7-$12 for an auto wash with hand pre-wash, hand-dry, and hand-pre-clean where they get all that out. Is it worth your time for what they can do in minutes?