Well, it's that time again.....

Usually I would be asking on this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/west/...oad-trips.html

But a very different challenge this time, so I am coming to the Midwest forum for help

For my friend's and my annual road trip, this year we'll be beginning on a late Sunday evening in mid-February and have until Thursday noon. Will be arriving at MCI (Kansas City) and then my friend will be picking me up to commence our trip.

I had suggested an Ozarks wandering itinerary. He has done the Ozarks to death. He wants to go to the Badlands. I've pointed out that it's 600+ miles and we'd be doing nothing but driving. Which we like, but.....

So I'm looking for interesting alternatives. If you read the thread I mention above, you'll see that we're not into hiking (and it's February!) and generally simply enjoy the road trip aspect, the occasional historical site or marker that we can view National Lampoon Vacation Chevy Chase style and end up in a hotel for the evening to watch "guy videos" replete with car chases and spies.

I've done a tiny bit of research on something like a Platte River wandering or Lincoln Highway, but haven't gotten very far.

With the caveat that of course it's FEBRUARY and the weather may kibosh all plans or cause last minute changes, do you have interesting itineraries for such a road trip? We do need to be back at MCI by noonish on Thursday. We tend to like to drive no more than 300-350 miles per day on interesting roads (interstates if we need to make time, but otherwise, prefer more varied venues).


The availability of no higher than Category 3 Hamptons/Hilton Garden Inns on a route would be a definite plus too.