Chicago to Denver in a Model A

[1955Buick]

Hello folks hope all is well. I am debating taking my Model A from Chicago to Denver in August of 2025. I was wondering if anyone has done this trip and can share a route they enjoyed. Looking for back roads with limited truck traffic. I was thinking 200-250 miles per day.



Any suggestions on sites and towns to see on the way?


Also looking for some local Model A clubs and events if possible.


Thanks for sharing any input you may have.


Bob

[ModelA29]

Uphill - ship it to Denver and coast home......


When I look for Model A routes I check the bicycle icon on Google maps. Some NAV programs will allow you to select no freeways.


https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Chic...oASAFQAw%3D%3D


Then go in and edit the route. This is a perfect spot to take Jerico Ave in Auroa, IL instead of their recommended route.

[jb-ob]

August, really ? Mighty hot on the plains that time of year. Better September if doable.

[Mike1291]

Originally Posted by ModelA29

When I look for Model A routes I check the bicycle icon on Google maps.

I also have done this in the past to plan my routes. I select the one that is flatter (e.g. "mostly flat" over "moderate hills" if you use Google Maps).

[nkaminar]

My suggestion is to take your time and take the back roads. I plan my trips on https://www.google.com/maps/, as others have suggested. I write out a plan with the turns and miles and then use my Garmin GPS, set to avoid highways, to help guide me.

The back roads go through all the little towns and through beautiful country, something that is missing at 70 mph on modern 4 lane highways.

[nkaminar]

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[400A]

I drove San Diego to Boston in 1990 in a Model "A". Installed an overdrive but otherwise a stock vehicle. No problems at all with the car. I drove highways in the more rural countryside and avoided large cities. On my longest day I clocked 678 miles. I had the time of my life although I'm not sure I'd attempt it again. Too many crazies on the road and people distracted with cell phones. I'll stick to the less traveled back roads now.

[400A]

I drove San Diego to Boston in 1990 in a Model "A". Installed an overdrive but otherwise a bone stock vehicle. No problems at all with the car. I drove highways in the more rural countryside and avoided large cities. On my longest day I clocked 678 miles. I had the time of my life although I'm not sure I'd attempt it again. Too many crazies on the road and people distracted with cell phones. I'll stick to the less traveled back roads now.

[JayJay]

Heading east, I once took US 50 from Pueblo CO (a bit south of Denver) along the Arkansas River to Kinsley NE, then headed northeast on Old Highway 40 to Abilene KS. The Eisenhower Presidential Museum is in Abilene, and being a Cold War baby I found it (and Eisenhower childhood home) to be very interesting. Not sure it is a destination in and of itself, but if you are ever in the area it is definitely worth a few hours or even a day. And the drive is typical small-town rural America, friendly people and just perfect for a Model A (although I was on a motorcycle at the time).

I understand that the old Brookfield Hotel in Abilene is now called Legacy Kansas. Don’t know if the fried chicken is as good as it was.

[Bruce of MN]

I went on US-20 from Chicago to Oregon in 1980 on a trip to SF and it was way better than droning along on I-80.

[whirnot]

AS someone mentioned, pretty hot that time of year. We went Boston to the Oregon coast in our 1929 Town sedan this year, but did it in May. Awesome trip.

[butch chase]

he original route of the Lincoln hwy [the first cross the nation road] passes through Aurora it's very interesting if your a history buff. it's been replaced by US 30 in many areas.
there's Lincoln hwy association with a great map on the nternet

[Jeff/Illinois]

Originally Posted by butch chase

he original route of the Lincoln hwy [the first cross the nation road] passes through Aurora it's very interesting if your a history buff. it's been replaced by US 30 in many areas.
there's Lincoln hwy association with a great map on the nternet

That would be a good choice ,US 30. OR US 34 it goes thru western Illinois crosses into southern Iowa at Burlington, roughly follows the BNSF tracks (old CB&Q RR) all the way to Estes Park, Colorado

For us here in Illinois that route is the Walter Payton Memorial Highway now named after one of the Bear's all time greats! the 1985 Bears....

[Gayle Hanshaw]

Bob,
Mike Vaughn, Lincoln, NE, drove the ten millionth Model T, a 1924 Touring,
from New York to San francisco this past summer, 2024. He had two modern
chase vehicles following him. He, like you, wanted to avoid traffic as much as
possible, so, he followed the general route of the old Highway 30.
There is quite a story about his trek across the country and this particular
Model T.

Contact Mike at the Nebraskaland Model T Club and ask if he would share with
you the route he took and the story.

An event in Lincoln that might interest you is the 65th Anniversary Celebration
of the Cornhusker Model A Club - Lincoln. It is being held on June 28, 2025,
on the Speedway Motors Museum Campus in conjunction with their last
Saturday of the month Cars and Coffee event. It is incedible to witness 750 -
1,000 cars converge on the massive parking lot, starting at 8:00 am. Free
donuts and coffee for everyone, plus the drivers and passengers receive free
passes to the museum, which has been voted the number 1 motor related
museum in the world. There is a cool cut away Model A engine on display.

Gayle Hanshaw, President
Cornhusker Model A Club

[Stingray70]

Lots of good advice from the others. I would just add to consider the 200-250 miles per day. That may be ambitious if you want to stop and do things along the way. We recently did a 1200 mile trip in our Model A and averaged about 150 miles per day. That gave us plenty of time to explore and enjoy the places we traveled through. Have fun whatever you decide!

[Doug Linden]

here are a couple of suggestions: if you are a AAA member contact them and ask for a trip-tik for secondary roads. My wife did that for a Model A trip and it was really well done. The other is to use your GPS but have plan a bicycle route. That will put you on back roads. You will probably need to modify the GPS route a little using a good old map and that should give you a good route.

[Elmo Rodge]

Not a direct comparison but, in 2008 we did the sea to sea in a Model T and traveled 120 to 180 miles per day.
Wayno

[ModelA29]

Originally Posted by butch chase

The original route of the Lincoln hwy [the first cross the nation road......

Lincoln Hwy originally ran from Atlantic City, NJ to San Francisco, CA. Mainly forgotten today and replaced by the romance of traveling the much shorter Chicago to LA Route 66. 66 ended in downtown LA and later Santa Monica. Not on the pier where the marker is but about 1 mile inland where it met CA1. Much like the Pilgrims have taken over the first settlers from the Virginians who arrived 11 years earlier. They also held the first Thanksgiving a year before the pilgrims set foot in what became Provincetown - about 25 miles from Plymouth Rock.