West - CO, WY, SD Road Trip

I've booked a long weekend road trip for Easter - Friday to Tuesday. I'm flying in/out of DEN. I plan on hitting the casinos in Cripple Creek, Black Hawk and Deadwood - probably in that order. I'm not really into major tourist attractions, but will do quick hits of Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower, etc.

My initial thoughts are:
Friday - Cripple Creek
Saturday - Black Hawk
Sunday - Somewhere in WY
Monday - Somewhere in SD
Tuesday - Get back to DEN for a 4pm flight

I'll probably do same day bookings - I like to stay flexible on where I end up any given day. I will also monitor the weather which could change my plans.

What are the most scenic drives to link these cities together? I'll have a typical midsize rental, so off-roading is not an option, but I would like to get off the interstate.

Any recommendations on a cheap (but clean) motel along the way? Again I would like to get away from the corporate chains, but don't need some luxury resort in the mountains.

Any good brewpubs or other interesting bars along the way?

Be prepared to be shocked at the hotel room rates in Black Hawk. The drive from Black Hawk to Boulder is very scenic (Peak-to-Peak Highway).

I'm not sure if New Belgium Brewery offers tours on Sundays, but that would certainly be worth a stop.

The drive from Black Hawk to Boulder is very scenic (Peak-to-Peak Highway).
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Or instead of going to Boulder, take 119 north to Nederland (from Blackhawk), then take Hwy 72/7 up to Estes Park. Also very scenic but a longer drive.

I would certainly advance-book your hotels in Blackhawk. The town can sell out pretty easily. I can't speak for Cripple Creek.

The Best Western in Lusk, WY might work for your overnight near Devils Tower. Good, small town motel.

Would I be better off reversing the direction and hitting black hawk - cripple creek on Sunday - Monday?

If you make it to Estes Park, take few minutes and wander around the Stanley Hotel.

www.stanleyhotel.com

I would certainly advance-book your hotels in Blackhawk. The town can sell out pretty easily. I can't speak for Cripple Creek.

I cannot speak for Cripple Creek, either (I have yet to hear a Denverite tell me that it's worth it to drive down there).

Ameristar is offering 2-for-1 nights. April 8-10 would be $99 + tax. Otherwise, rack rate (since it's Easter weekend) is $179/night. That said, I'm not sure even one night in Black Hawk is worth it.

Before the Ameristar was built (which I believe doubled the number of hotel rooms available), it was common for all hotel rooms to be sold-out on the weekends. Now, it doesn't seem to be as big of an issue.

IIRC, there is a new large casino hotel in Central City (next to Black Hawk), so you may want to expand your search to include Central City. And there is a rivalry between Black Hawk and Central City for the gamblers. There are a few places where the signage is almost misleading to keep you from going to the casinos in the other town.

Leaving Black Hawk toward Wyoming, you can go up 119 to Nederland to Boulder and then out to I-25 (either on Baseline Road or follow 119 into Longmont and onto I-25) or take 119 to Nederland and then onto Estes Park (see HawaiiTrvlr's note). From Estes, you can go east to Loveland (just south of Fort Collins) and pick up I-25 there.

From Fort Collins, 287 north is more scenic than I-25, but it puts you a bit west of I-25 when it hits I-80. If you are an Abe Lincoln buff, there is a significant marker on I-80 between I-25 and 287.

Between Cheyenne and SD, I don't know whether Hwy 18 would be any more interesting than I-25, which is pretty boring as I recall.

You have a lot of miles ahead of you. Just make sure your rental car has unlimited miles.

If you are doing this as a casino run..... Riverton, WY has a casino.
It would not be easy to get to Riverton from South Dakota though. If you did end up in Riverton it is probably a 6-1/2 to 7 hour trip with no stops from Riverton to DIA.

Would I be better off reversing the direction and hitting black hawk - cripple creek on Sunday - Monday?

Exactly what I was thinking before I got down to reading your post above.

You have a very aggressive driving schedule planned for such a short span of time, especially since you plan to spend time sightseeing along the route and hitting the casinos in three different towns. Having driven everywhere you mention, I would definitely reverse the initial route you posted, to ensure you stay your last night somewhere within a few hours' drive of the DEN airport....just in case.

Thus, I'd suggest you plan to stay your last night in either Cripple Creek (approx 2.5 hours from DEN) or Black Hawk (somewhat less than 2 hours). Both Colorado casino towns will be significantly more crowded from Friday evening thru late Sunday afternoon, if you were to visit them then. Also, rooms in both towns are cheaper if booked starting on a Sunday night. My suggestion would be to stay Sunday night in BH (on the way back down from SD/WY) and Monday night in CC. You could then plan a few hours sightseeing in and around Colorado Springs, either Monday afternoon, or Tuesday morning, prior to heading up to the airport.

As mentioned in an earlier post, you might want to prebook your hotels in both BH an CC, since you know you will be overnighting there. As was also mentioned, I'd strongly suggest you splurge and take advantage of rate at the Ameristar Casino in BH, available on either the Sunday ($109+tax) or Monday ($99+) nights you'd be in Colorado, if you reverse your itinerary. The rooms there are some of the largest/nicest you will find anywhere at that price.

Happy travels

Thanks for the tips. I'll head up to SD first. Is there anything in western Nebraska that would be worth seeing if I headed up US 385?

Thanks for the tips. I'll head up to SD first. Is there anything in western Nebraska that would be worth seeing if I headed up US 385?

Can't help you there...the last time I was in that area of Nebraska was some 45 years ago. Will let my neigbors in that state comment on the above.

Thanks for the tips. I'll head up to SD first. Is there anything in western Nebraska that would be worth seeing if I headed up US 385?

There are some nice badlands areas near Chadron, NE. You are likely better off just getting up to the Black Hills in SD and seeing Mount Rushmore that afternoon.

You can stop in Sterling, CO on your way to SD, where there is a nice little museum about 1/2 mile north of I-76 - the "Overland Trail Museum." Stretch your legs for a few minutes and walk around.

What would be a good city to spend Saturday night in if I stay Friday in Deadwood and Sunday in Black Hawk? I'm thinking I would like to do the Happy Jack road scenic drive between Cheyenne and Laramie on Sunday morning, then head through the mountains towards Black Hawk via US-287, Estes Park, Nederland, ...