Whats the best way to sturgis from NH? The last two years we got on I-90 and took it all the way to South Dakota. Didn't know if anyone knew any better ways with less tolls but is still around 30 hours?

 

West.

 

Depends on what you mean by best way.
Slab, fast, slow, back roads, scenic.
On long trips, I like to get there slow and get back home fast.

 

airplane

 

Haven't done this on a bike, but a number of years ago I used to run between Nashua and Rochester, NY in my pickup quite frequently, so I have an alternative for that stretch that cuts out a fair chunk of I-90 without taking up too much extra time.

Where I am now around Rochester NH, I'd take 202 and 9 into Keene, and take 9 across southern VT to the Albany NY area (changes to 7 at NY border). From there I'd run I-90 to Syracuse NY. In Syracuse you can hop off I-90 and grab 481 to 690. Take 690 to 370. You can then take 370 to NY 104, and that will run you to the Rochester area. 481 and 690 aren't any better than the big road, but 370 and 104 are a decent ride through western NY farm country and small towns.

When I was coming from Nashua, I would take 101 across to Keene.

Depending on where in NH you're coming from and how you get to Keene, you may lose more or less time from your I-90 route. When I was running it from Nashua, my best time via the I-90 route was about 6:40 to Rochester with one quick pee/gas stop. Typically averaged 7:00 or so. Typical time for the route I posted above through VT was around 7:30 or so. But the run from Keene to Albany is MUCH nicer - I'm looking forward to doing that run this summer on the bike.

You could also stick with NY 104 all the way to Buffalo if you wanted to, but I suspect you'd probably lose a fair bit of time vs. I-90, and while it's better than the superslab, it doesn't have as much going for it in terms of 'nice ride' material than the Keene - Albany or even the Syracuse - Rochester sections.

Hope that helps a little. Wish I was going with you to Sturgis!

 

You want to eat your cake and have it too. It's going to be 30 hours and boring or 45 hours and, yep, still boring. Once you get past Pennsylvania, it's very hard to find anything resembling an interesting route west. Just get an EZ pass and fly right through the tolls on the interstate and be done with it.

 

Haha........I do want my cake and eat it to. Just looking for a different route than 90. Done it the last two years and just didn't know if anyone knew if there was any secret squirrel routes....lol

 

Can't speak for you but I'm going to take the long way. Visit parts of the neighboring states, and my own, that I've yet to see. Spending as much time in the wind seems to be the best route to me. Have a safe trip.

 

Get out your trusty Atlas and start looking at different routes.

 

i would go thru canada on the way out there and then go down thru texas on the way back...might add a few miles, but you could see some new country.