Day 1 Road Trip to Banff: Chimney Rock, Agate Fossil Beds & the World’s Largest Truck Stop

After a 3-year wait (thanks, Covid), it was finally time actually to have our wedding in 2022. When we started planning our wedding at the Fairmont Banff Springs, we had a crazy vision: an epic road trip that would carry us through some of North America’s most breathtaking landscapes before arriving in Banff to say our vows. We had a new twist in our vision as we were replanning, whether to take the Airstream or not. On one hand, it was our home on wheels — our happy place. On the other hand, we were still newbies and didn’t want the stress of towing it right before our big day. To add to the challenge, booking campsites last-minute proved nearly impossible. In the end, we decided to travel light, keep things simple, and soak in the adventure without worrying about hitching, unhitching, or backing into tight spots.

The morning we pulled out of the driveway from our family's house in Carmel, IN, it felt like a mix of Christmas morning excitement and that nagging "what did we forget?" feeling that comes with any big trip, This wasn't just any vacation - this was bringing all the items we needed for our wedding in the truck. So there we were, car packed to the brim, playlists ready, snacks within arm's reach, and a map dotted with the first few must-see stops.

The Drive Begins

The first leg of the trip was a long stretch through small towns, each with its charm — weathered main streets, old gas stations, and diners that looked like they hadn’t changed in decades. With every mile, the reality started sinking in: We’re doing this.

Somewhere along I-80, we made an essential road trip detour — the World’s Largest Truck Stop in Walcott, Iowa. This place isn’t just a fuel-up stop; it’s basically a mini city. Inside, you can find everything from fast food and a full diner to a barber shop, movie theater, trucking museum, and aisles upon aisles of gadgets and gear you never knew you needed. We wandered around like kids in a roadside wonderland, marveling at the sheer size of it all. It was a reminder that half the fun of a trip like this is the quirky, unplanned stops you stumble into along the way.

Road Trip Stop #1: Chimney Rock

Our first major scenic stop was Chimney Rock, a striking sandstone formation that rises dramatically out of the Nebraska plains. It’s one of those landmarks you can spot from miles away, and I can only imagine what it must have felt like for the pioneers who saw it on their wagon journeys west. Standing there, with the wind tugging at my hair and endless sky overhead, it instantly brought back memories of playing The Oregon Trail computer game as kids — the thrill of making it to landmarks like this, and the inevitable disappointment of dying of dysentery shortly after. This time, though, no pixelated wagon parties were harmed, and we could fully appreciate the real-life view. It was our first taste of that “big sky” beauty we’d see so much of in the days ahead.

Road Trip Stop #2 Agate Fossil Beds National Monument

From Chimney Rock, we drove deeper into Nebraska to visit Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. I’ll be honest — I wasn’t sure what to expect. Fossils sounded cool, but would it really be memorable? The answer: yes. Absolutely yes.

We learned about ancient animals that once roamed the plains millions of years ago, like the Menoceras (a prehistoric rhino) and Stenomylus (a gazelle-like creature). The visitor center was full of fascinating displays, and the surrounding landscape was so quiet and untouched that it felt like time had barely moved since those animals lived here.

The weather that day was perfect — blue skies, a warm breeze, and just enough clouds to make the photos pop. We munched on chips (our first of many road trip snacks) and laughed about how this was already starting to feel like “our thing” — finding unexpected gems in places we might have overlooked.

Looking Ahead

As we headed toward our next destination, the sun started to dip low on the horizon, turning the sky into shades of gold and pink. This first day felt like the warm-up lap before the big climbs and breathtaking views that were still to come. But even in this quieter start, there was something magical about being on the road, chasing a destination and a dream all at once.

The outside of one of the enterances to the World's Largest Truck Stop.

What the Oregon Trail pioneers saw along their way...Chimney Rock!

Statues of what it looked like during the Oregon trails with the Ox pulling the wagons.