Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

[RSRXION]

Any HRPT folks planning on traveling up US Hwy 71 to Iowa ? Not a bad trip through the hill country if you like some pretty scenery. We'll be leaving out of Springdale , Arkansas through Joplin Missouri, KC and Des Moines.

We're leaving early the morning of Friday, June 4th and heading north. Maromoma and friends are coming out of Tulsa to meet us in Joplin. Anyone else care to ride along with us ?

Dean

[The Chief]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

I will be leaving from St Louis friday morning with my crew, not sure on the route up yet though

[maromoma]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

RSRXION-Dean, we should be leaving Tulsa for Joplin no later than 7am (as the plan stands for now). So hopefully will arrive Joplin between 830-9am.

[Eliteman76]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

Hey Dean...side story here, but one time back in high school a bunch of my buddies piled in my car I had at the time, and ran down to KC from Omaha to visit the Worlds of Fun amusement park. We left late that night, lots of road construction.
Co-pilot failed me by passing out, and I pulled off to get gas...17 miles from the Missouri/Iowa boarder off I35, instead of...ah, I-29!
Took us a chunk to get home that night.

Oddly enough, a few years back, we had 2 car loads of people that went back down there again. Guys in my car, and the wife and the rest of the women in another car.
Guess what detour they accidently took? ;D

[Abrasive]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

I'm not sure how much better or worse this will be in June, but I have a recommendation on the 71 Hwy route. When you get to Grandview, MO just south of KC, you will enter the "Grandview Triangle". This is the intersection of 71 Hwy, 470 & the 435 loop. I would highly suggest taking 435 North from there and following it up until it meet's back up with 71/I-29. It meets back up north of KC, just past KCI airport. 71 Hwy from the Triangle to the city is riddled with 45 mph zones and stoplights, some of which are photo enforced. Once you get into downtown KC, it also dumps you right into the middle of the KC Icon bridge project over the Missouri River, and there is zero chance this will be finished before June. The temporary roads they put in around parts of the construction are terrible and the traffic is generally very slow through the there. The 435 North route will skip all of this and is actually a pretty straight through shot since 71 comes in on the east side of the city anyway. No stoplights and the speed limit stays 65 until you get to the north side where it jumps back up to 70.

;)

[RSRXION]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

Jay, thanks for the heads up. I used randmcnally.com and that's the route it suggested as well. I made the mistake of following 71 north into downtown KC late one summer night and it was a most unpleasant neighborhood. I'll certainly heed your warning and I appreciate the advice.

Are you making the HRPT ?

Dean

[Abrasive]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

Are you making the HRPT ?

Dean

Planning on it, but not 100% sure on when we are leaving yet. There are a few from our local Pontiac club planning on going as well. You have any idea yet when you will be coming through here?

[67BlueSS]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

I'm not sure how much better or worse this will be in June, but I have a recommendation on the 71 Hwy route. When you get to Grandview, MO just south of KC, you will enter the "Grandview Triangle". This is the intersection of 71 Hwy, 470 & the 435 loop. I would highly suggest taking 435 North from there and following it up until it meet's back up with 71/I-29. It meets back up north of KC, just past KCI airport. 71 Hwy from the Triangle to the city is riddled with 45 mph zones and stoplights, some of which are photo enforced. Once you get into downtown KC, it also dumps you right into the middle of the KC Icon bridge project over the Missouri River, and there is zero chance this will be finished before June. The temporary roads they put in around parts of the construction are terrible and the traffic is generally very slow through the there. The 435 North route will skip all of this and is actually a pretty straight through shot since 71 comes in on the east side of the city anyway. No stoplights and the speed limit stays 65 until you get to the north side where it jumps back up to 70.

;)

You follow I-435 north to I-35 north which is just past Worlds of Fun. I-35 will take you to Des Moines, IA.

[RSRXION]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

We're meeting some of the Tulsa gang in Joplin around 9:00 a.m. We'll be on the road to KC about 9:30 or 10:00 which should put us through KC about the noon hour. We'd like to be in Newton before 5:00 and we shouldn't have any difficulty meeting that goal, barring any unforeseen difficulties.

If that schedule is in line with yours, please consider jumping in and travelling with us if you like. I'm driving a 37 year old Mustang... I might need the help

Here's a picture of my clunker, just in case you see us on a wrecker..............


Dean

[Eliteman76]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

AH, got to love KC. Interstates there seem to pretty much randomly change without any warning. I HATE how they just are all over hell and back. Not like Omaha. Crazy Germans and their north-south east-west layout around this hole in the wall makes life easy driving...in and out of the wonderful potholes.
Coming down I29 headed towards Worlds of Fun, can't tell you guys how many times as a teenager we ended up in da hood. Still, I'll take KC any day over south side of Chicago. Got lost there once. No way do I wanna get lost in that city again!!

[RSRXION]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

I've only been lost in two cities that gave me concerns about safety........East St Louis, Illinois and the projects of Detroit. In neither location was I afraid for my life but I never came to a complete stop at any red light or stop sign. In ESL I was driving my new 1987 Mustang GT. In Detroit I was in a white Lincoln Town Car rental unit :o

Dean

[Abrasive]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

Dean, that Mustang is definitely a beautiful car. Looks somewhat familiar. Here is a couple pictures of my '73. Sold it about 5 years ago to put a down payment on our house. Priorities I guess. LOL! I loved this car and it certainly got lots of attention.

It's a Mach 1 Clone obviously since it's a 'Vert. Sold it on Ebay and it shipped to Salem, New Hampshire. I assume it's still there.

[Abrasive]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

BTW, I just noticed you were talking about coming through on Friday. Not sure if I will be able to do that. As of right now, the soonest I can leave is after work Friday night, but more than likely early Saturday morning.

[200WINS]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

When traveling through Kansas City if you need a break, the Harley Davidson Assembly Plant is on the north side very near I-29 and I-435. The plant is very easy to find. I've been there a couple of times, pretty neat deal. During the new model year change over the tours are limited.

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/Factory_Tours/kansas_city.jsp?locale=en_US

[oletrux4evr]

Re: Who's travelling 71 north through Arkansas, Missouri and into Iowa ?

We're an hour south of KC, and will run up US69 to 435N, then 35N to Des Moines. Probably leave around 7:00, so we'll be running ahead of you. I'll be on Twitter and will let you know of any problems.