Assuming that many families interested in a trip to Nauvoo will be leaving from the Salt Lake area, we've posted several maps and some directions for your convenience, courtesy mapquest. As will be explained below, a specific route should be decided upon by each family and then using GPS, mapquest or a similar map generating website get directions accordingly.
-The most direct route follows I-80 until US-218 (change occurs in Lincoln, Nebraska) and is marked by the map above
-The cost for this route (one-way) is approximately $200 depending on the car and price of gasoline
-The approximate travel time is 18 hours and 30 minutes
There are also a few historical sites that closely follow this route which have significance in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These include:
Fort Bridger, Wyoming
Martins Cove, Wyoming
Independence Rock, Wyoming
Fort Laramie, Wyoming
Chimney Rock, Nebraska
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Thayer, Iowa
Garden Grove, Iowa
Carthage, Illinois
Independence, Missouri
An alternate route is posted below including all these locations except Independence. Keep in mind that it is NOT likely that you will visit each of these locations the same day. Each family may spend a variable amount of time at each location and choosing which ones to visit, but we estimate that another 2-3 days travel time will be added to reach Nauvoo.
Alternatively, these sites may be visited on the return trip home in reverse order as posted above. In this way you will follow the historical route that the Mormon Pioneers followed to reach the Salt Lake valley.
However a link to mapquest with all of these sites is listed here.
Lastly, the detour to Independence is another suggested route as it has historical significance as well.
Go East on I-80 until Lincoln, Nebraska
Merge onto US-77 via Exit 397 toward Nebraska City
