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Travelling the USA and Canada


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Midwest

Colorado • New Mexico • Texas • Oklahoma • Kansas • Missouri • Nebraska • Iowa • Illinois

Colorado • New Mexico • Texas • Oklahoma • Kansas • Missouri • Nebraska • Iowa • Illinois

Midwest – from Denver to Chicago

The Midwest – roughly spoken, the landscape between the Rocky Mountains in the west and the Appalachian Mountains in the east of the American continent – is primarily characterized by the Great Plains, once the habitat of millions of bison and today, with its huge grain fields, the breadbasket of the United States and Canada.

It’s going to be a long journey, and yet we know right from the beginning that, stretching some 1800 km north to south from the Canadian border to famous Route 66, we will see only a small part of this vast region. While on our previous trips we spent a lot of time in the north – highlights include Scotts Bluff in Nebraska, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota or our tour around Lake Michigan – this time we dedicate ourselves to the south. Thus, follow us to a varied, colorful and exciting area far away from the beaten tracks.

Once again, we start our journey in Denver, this time heading south. Castle Rock with its striking rock castle as well as Castlewood Canyon State Park both are worth a stopover before continuing to Colorado’s second largest city, Colorado Springs. The Garden of the Gods with its red rock formations is magnificent, and the historic district of Old Colorado City with its shops and restaurants is also worth a visit.

Heading south, the Royal Gorge Bridge crossing the Arkansas River and the Great Sand Dunes National Park, the only national park on this trip, are our next destinations. We reach New Mexico and – after a detour to the Historic District of Taos Santa Fe, capital of the state and best known from the Western movies of days long gone by. The old town around Santa Fe Plaza, entirely built in the adobe style of the Southwest, and Canyon Road Arts District with hundreds of galleries and sculptures are main attractions of this city.

After a short walk through the dropout village of Madrid we arrive at Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city. Once again, there is a beautiful historic old town with small shops and museums. Just outside is Sandia Peak; a cable car takes us up to almost 3,200 meters.

From now on we follow historic Route 66, next to Lincoln Highway the oldest paved highway to the west coast and today an attraction for tourists with nostalgic preferences. Via Santa Rosa (with the Blue Hole) and Tucumcari, the Midway Point of Route 66 and the Cadillac Ranch we reach Amarillo in the Penhandle of Texas (we had to skip the north of our big Texas tour some years ago). A detour to Palo Duro Canyon, America’s second largest canyon after the Grand Canyon, is of course a must.

The road continues, passing countless abandoned motels, stores and gas stations. It’s the little attractions along the way that keep the camera working; the small towns are called Groom, McLean or Shamrock (in Texas) as well as Elk City, Clinton, Weatherford, Hydro and Yukon (all in Oklahoma). With Oklahoma City, we explore another capital in a state that is new to us. A final stage of the iconic road takes us to Tulsa; on this section, unlike in New Mexico and Texas, a lot of effort has been put into renovating the old buildings next to Route 66.

We leave Route 66 and turn north. In Winfield we visit relatives of friends and are warmly welcomed. Wichita, Topeka, the capital of Kansas with the usual State Capitol, and Lawrence are the next stops. Things get really exciting and a little confusing in the next city. Kansas City in Kansas, a little town, is not very important; Kansas City on the other side of the river, however, is Missouri’s largest city. We are pleased to find public art, great museums and murals, an interesting skyline and last but not least a free streetcar.

The next station is called St. Joseph and is all about the legendary Pony Express. After another two hours, Missouri is gone and we reach Lincoln, the rather small capital of Nebraska with an impressive State Capitol. Omaha, much larger, awaits us the next day. Along with its sister city Council Bluffs on the other side of the Missouri River, there are plenty of historically significant photo opportunities.

One last unknown city awaits us, Des Moines, capital of Iowa. The State Capitol, which can compete with any Italian palace, and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park are further highlights of this trip. In the evening, after a visit to the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk, we look at the Mississippi, the “Old Man River”, for the first time. (We had to cancel our trip along the Mississippi in 2020 due to corona; however, it is still on our bucket list).

The next day we head straight to Chicago, Illinois, where we visit familiar and new destinations. With a wonderful visit to old friends this trip across the middle of the continent ends.

Route Description

Tag/DayVon/FromNach/ToRoute
01Denver Airport (DEN)Centennial045 m / 070 km
02CentennialColorado Springs090 m / 145 km
03Colorado SpringsColorado Springs025 m / 040 km
04Colorado SpringsMonte Vista270 m / 435 km
05Monte VistaSanta Fe200 m / 320 km
06Santa FeSanta Fe015 m / 025 km
07Santa FeAlbuquerque090 m / 145 km
08AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque030 m / 050 km
09AlbuquerqueAmarillo320 m / 515 km
10AmarilloAmarillo080 m / 130 km
11AmarilloClinton235 m / 380 km
12ClintonOklahoma City110 m / 175 km
13Oklahoma CityTulsa140 m / 225 km
14TulsaWichita200 m / 320 km
15WichitaKansas City240 m / 385 km
16Kansas CityKansas City030 m / 050 km
17Kansas CityLincoln230 m / 370 km
18LincolnDes Moines210 m / 340 km
19Des MoinesLe Claire280 m / 450 km
20Le ClaireChicago180 m / 290 km
21ChicagoChicago000 m / 000 km
22ChicagoChicago000 m / 000 km
23ChicagoChicago Airport (ORD)000 m / 000 km
Total3.020 m / 4.860 km

The Journey in Pictures