Best (fastest) route from Dayton, OH to Denver, CO in October?

I want to visit a friend in Lawrence, KS on the way but that's my only must-go stop. I've heard I-70 is a nightmare these days, especially around Indianapolis and in MO. Would it be better to go I-71/64 to St Louis? I could also go up I-29 to I-80 after Lawrence. I'd be down to stop for something particularly interesting along the way (I've never actually been to Louisville) but my general goal is get to Lawrence as fast as possible and then to Denver as fast as possible.