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Road Trip to Montana: Need Advice Along the Way
Posted on 5/11/20 at 7:30 am
Posted on 5/11/20 at 7:30 am
Looks like our summer camps for the kids will be cancelled this year. So I am putting together a last minute road trip to Montana.
Leaving Mississippi in the middle of July and headed to NW Montana. Will be gone two weeks.
Once I get to MT I have plenty of stuff lined up to do. It's the part of the trip in Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming that I am looking for some suggestions. Kids are teenagers.
Also, the plan is to take our time getting out there. Then I will fly the kids home at the end of the trip and I will drive back solo.
Many thanks for your ideas and suggestions!
Leaving Mississippi in the middle of July and headed to NW Montana. Will be gone two weeks.
Once I get to MT I have plenty of stuff lined up to do. It's the part of the trip in Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming that I am looking for some suggestions. Kids are teenagers.
Also, the plan is to take our time getting out there. Then I will fly the kids home at the end of the trip and I will drive back solo.
Many thanks for your ideas and suggestions!
Posted on 5/11/20 at 8:06 am to No Colors
Are you going through Yellowstone? What’s your ultimate destination?
Honestly, Kansas and Nebraska and eastern Colorado are pretty boring...actually very boring. So unless there are places you want to stop, I’d plan on those just being drive through as fast as possible. Maybe look up some things you are interested in like state parks or whatever.
I’d probably consider going to Denver then driving up the Rockies. It will add time but the scenery will be much better.
Honestly, Kansas and Nebraska and eastern Colorado are pretty boring...actually very boring. So unless there are places you want to stop, I’d plan on those just being drive through as fast as possible. Maybe look up some things you are interested in like state parks or whatever.
I’d probably consider going to Denver then driving up the Rockies. It will add time but the scenery will be much better.
Posted on 5/11/20 at 8:32 am to No Colors
Nebraska is a whole lot of farmland. I saw the Sandhill Crane migration one year up there, but you will miss that. The original Cabelas is in Nebraska, and that is something, but still a Cabelas. Driving through Wyoming is pretty lame. You have Laramie as a college town, and not much else. The Snowy Mountains will have hiking and trout on the East. The West side of Wyoming will have Rock Springs to Pinedale. Towards Pinedale, on 191 there is an interesting Ice Cream store Farson Mercantile and the Wind River Mountains. Pinedale has a resort on a lake and a microbrewery, Wind River that serves decent food for the area, but just power through and get to Jackson Hole. I'd recommend that drive in the daylight though, because the drive into Jackson is pretty cool with the mountains and the rivers.
If you drive through Denver as suggested above, be prepared to hit some monster traffic depending on when you go through. I-25 can be terrible depending on the time you hit it. Lots of construction on that road also. If Denver, hook up 287 into Laramie. If you are looking to eat the best pizza in your life, in. your. life. Drive through Boulder. Audrey Jane's Pizza Garage. Boulder has some interesting stuff downtown too.
Driving through Colorado will allow you to make some medicinal purchases also.
If you drive through Denver as suggested above, be prepared to hit some monster traffic depending on when you go through. I-25 can be terrible depending on the time you hit it. Lots of construction on that road also. If Denver, hook up 287 into Laramie. If you are looking to eat the best pizza in your life, in. your. life. Drive through Boulder. Audrey Jane's Pizza Garage. Boulder has some interesting stuff downtown too.
Driving through Colorado will allow you to make some medicinal purchases also.
Posted on 5/11/20 at 8:42 am to No Colors
South Dakota - Black Hills/Mount Rushmore/Badlands - worth at a day or 2
Wyoming - Yellowstone/Grand Tetons - worth at least 3-4 days
My suggestion to just get through Kansas and Nebraska as quickly as possible
me and my family made this exact trip multiple times as I was growing up
Wyoming - Yellowstone/Grand Tetons - worth at least 3-4 days
My suggestion to just get through Kansas and Nebraska as quickly as possible
me and my family made this exact trip multiple times as I was growing up
This post was edited on 5/11/20 at 8:44 am
Posted on 5/11/20 at 8:53 am to No Colors
Do you have a route planned? That might help a bit.
Rapid City SD area has Mount Rushmore, as well as Badlands National Park not too far to the east. Can also check out Deadwood while in the Rapid City area. If you are going up I-29 to hit I-90 in Sioux Falls, there is a nice little park where the falls are that makes for some nice pictures.
East central Wyoming has Devil's Tower. Driving I-90 from Wyoming into Montana you pass Little Bighorn Battlefield.
Colorado has Rocky Mountain National Park. If you don't want to take the time to go there, you can check out either Lookout Mountain Park near Golden (location of Buffalo Bill's grave) or Flagstaff Mountain near Boulder for some pretty impressive views of the Front Range and the cities to the east.
Rapid City SD area has Mount Rushmore, as well as Badlands National Park not too far to the east. Can also check out Deadwood while in the Rapid City area. If you are going up I-29 to hit I-90 in Sioux Falls, there is a nice little park where the falls are that makes for some nice pictures.
East central Wyoming has Devil's Tower. Driving I-90 from Wyoming into Montana you pass Little Bighorn Battlefield.
Colorado has Rocky Mountain National Park. If you don't want to take the time to go there, you can check out either Lookout Mountain Park near Golden (location of Buffalo Bill's grave) or Flagstaff Mountain near Boulder for some pretty impressive views of the Front Range and the cities to the east.
Posted on 5/11/20 at 12:11 pm to No Colors
My wife and I did a similar road trip last summer from NC but made a big loop from Kansas City. It was our first time to go to that part of the country.
As others have said there is a lot to do in SD, CO and WY.
What interest you and the kids; wildlife viewing; unusual scenery; hiking; food, dinosaurs, museums, historical sites, the old west, Indian culture?
As others have said there is a lot to do in SD, CO and WY.
What interest you and the kids; wildlife viewing; unusual scenery; hiking; food, dinosaurs, museums, historical sites, the old west, Indian culture?
Posted on 5/11/20 at 1:35 pm to No Colors
Also, I don't have a clue about now due to Covid there's probably plenty of openings at hotels? But anywhere around Yellowstone gets booked up like crazy and is stupidly expensive due to demand.
I have a feeling many are going to be doing a western road trip this summer since its social distancing. So I'd definitely look into lodging asap.
I have a feeling many are going to be doing a western road trip this summer since its social distancing. So I'd definitely look into lodging asap.
Posted on 5/11/20 at 3:12 pm to No Colors
South Dakota :
Falls park in Sioux Falls
Minute men missile silo
Badlands (notch trail is a pretty cool short hike)
Wall drug
Rushmore, Custer state park (do needles highway and iron mountain road), wind cave, jewel cave.
If you find yourself in Custer, eat at the badlands bun and burger company. The hot granny is good as are the fried cheese curds.
Devils tower in Wyoming for sure.
Falls park in Sioux Falls
Minute men missile silo
Badlands (notch trail is a pretty cool short hike)
Wall drug
Rushmore, Custer state park (do needles highway and iron mountain road), wind cave, jewel cave.
If you find yourself in Custer, eat at the badlands bun and burger company. The hot granny is good as are the fried cheese curds.
Devils tower in Wyoming for sure.
Posted on 5/11/20 at 3:16 pm to No Colors
I'm doing the same chunk as you from SD, WY and MT last week of June so I'll be sure to update my thread as I'm going along.
Posted on 5/11/20 at 3:50 pm to No Colors
While I like NW Montana, I’m not sure if worth the amount of driving you’ll have to do. ‘Taking your time’ on the way to Montana, on 8 hour days, will be about 4 days of driving, one-way. 8 days of driving total for a 2 week trip does not sound enjoyable. Not to mention that the scenery on the fastest route is quite honestly some of the least interesting in the US. Going through the Rockies into Utah and Idaho would certainly be beautiful but would almost add on a whole entire day to the roadtrip, one way.
If you go to Colorado, you’ll spend about 4 days total driving. You can be in Southern Utah/Northern Arizona on 6 days of driving. You can very easily have similar experiences in those areas.
While I don’t want to sway you from going to NW MT as it is amazing, I’d strongly consider other places.
If you go to Colorado, you’ll spend about 4 days total driving. You can be in Southern Utah/Northern Arizona on 6 days of driving. You can very easily have similar experiences in those areas.
While I don’t want to sway you from going to NW MT as it is amazing, I’d strongly consider other places.
This post was edited on 5/11/20 at 3:54 pm
Posted on 5/11/20 at 4:40 pm to NimbleCat
quote:
You have Laramie as a college town, and not much else.
I thought it was well worth taking Hwy 130 west out of Laramie through the Medicine Bow range. It doesn't get a lot of traffic and the wildlife was good (several moose esp.). The trails below Medicine Bow peak are very nice whether you go long or just short.
Anong's (Thai) in Laramie is one of the best meals I've ever had.
Posted on 5/11/20 at 5:25 pm to baldona
quote:
Also, I don't have a clue about now due to Covid there's probably plenty of openings at hotels? But anywhere around Yellowstone gets booked up like crazy and is stupidly expensive due to demand.
The Park Service panicked. They delayed opening and they’ve asked Xanterra to cut back.
Food is restricted to grab and go only, and lodging is more limited.
The Lodge in Grand Teton is fully closed for the season.
I think they’ll get overwhelmed by traffic. And with the pause on j-1 visas, I don’t know if the gateway communities will have enough staff.
Posted on 5/11/20 at 5:30 pm to No Colors
Are you driving north to South Dakota, and then cutting west?
I’d stop in Kansas City, it has a good restaurant scene and it’s an often beautiful city. I’d then sprint through Kansas and Nebraska.
If won’t get interesting until you get to Rushmore and the Badlands.
-
According to Google Maps, it's a nine and half hour drive from Kansas City to the Badlands.
You could stop in Sioux Falls or Sioux City for lunch.
Or, you could always grabbed prepared foods in Kansas City, and plan on a picnic somewhere along the way. The last time I made that trip, I went by the Whole Foods in Overland Park.
Your stop that night would be one of the small interstate towns, like Murdo.
You then have the choice of going north through Sturgis, or going west through Wyoming towards Sheridan.
I haven't taken the Wyoming route since I was kid. And I couldn't tell you anything about it.
The Sturgis route is pretty, and but it takes you through a desolate corner of Wyoming and eastern Montana.
The last time I made that trip, I remember passing a gas station with a plywood sign. Someone had spray painted "last gas for 300 miles."
And It was true, I didn't see another station until I reached the Crow Indian reservation.
It's a pretty drive, but there's nothing there.
I’d stop in Kansas City, it has a good restaurant scene and it’s an often beautiful city. I’d then sprint through Kansas and Nebraska.
If won’t get interesting until you get to Rushmore and the Badlands.
-
According to Google Maps, it's a nine and half hour drive from Kansas City to the Badlands.
You could stop in Sioux Falls or Sioux City for lunch.
Or, you could always grabbed prepared foods in Kansas City, and plan on a picnic somewhere along the way. The last time I made that trip, I went by the Whole Foods in Overland Park.
Your stop that night would be one of the small interstate towns, like Murdo.
You then have the choice of going north through Sturgis, or going west through Wyoming towards Sheridan.
I haven't taken the Wyoming route since I was kid. And I couldn't tell you anything about it.
The Sturgis route is pretty, and but it takes you through a desolate corner of Wyoming and eastern Montana.
The last time I made that trip, I remember passing a gas station with a plywood sign. Someone had spray painted "last gas for 300 miles."
And It was true, I didn't see another station until I reached the Crow Indian reservation.
It's a pretty drive, but there's nothing there.
This post was edited on 5/11/20 at 6:16 pm
Posted on 5/11/20 at 7:27 pm to No Colors
Selby and I did Idaho/Wyoming/Colorado a couple years ago.
Post a picture of your google maps route and I’ll let you know if we went anywhere close to where you are heading
if you’ve not seen Yellowstone though, see it
Post a picture of your google maps route and I’ll let you know if we went anywhere close to where you are heading
if you’ve not seen Yellowstone though, see it
Posted on 5/11/20 at 8:07 pm to No Colors
You need to check the areas you are planning on hitting up are open before you go. In Colorado the governor has opened the state back up but several counties are still closed. A lot of these little mountain towns only have one hospital so they aren’t ready for any sort of outbreak.
July is still a ways out so I’d imagine you’re fine but i’d confirm before you drive all that ...
July is still a ways out so I’d imagine you’re fine but i’d confirm before you drive all that ...
Posted on 5/11/20 at 8:36 pm to cgrand
It's the same drive either way as far as time. I'm leaning towards the northern route so that we can do Mt. Rushmore and Devil's Tower and the Black Hills. My father and I used to turkey hunt in that area every spring. I know several cool places to stay (like the cabins at Cheyenne Crossing SD).
Posted on 5/11/20 at 8:37 pm to cgrand
quote:
if you’ve not seen Yellowstone though, see it
Planning to do Yellowstone and Glacier. I've seen Yellowstone but never Glacier. The kids have never been out West.
Posted on 5/11/20 at 8:43 pm to TigerSaintInDallas
quote:
will be about 4 days of driving, one-way. 8 days of driving total for a 2 week trip does not sound enjoyable.
As stated above, I'm gonna drive out with the kids, and then fly them home on day 15 from Missoula. Then I'm gonna head home at my leisure. Two days of driving before we hit the Black Hills. Then two more days of taking it slow over to our destination. So I'll have 10 full days in NW Montana to explore and enjoy.
quote:
, I’d strongly consider other places
We are going to a wedding out there. And we are staying at a friend's ranch. So NW Montana is the point of the trip.
Posted on 5/11/20 at 8:46 pm to 8thyearsenior
quote:
You need to check the areas you are planning on hitting up are open before you go
Yeah. I've thought about that. But the trip will be the last two weeks of July. Certainly things will be open by then?
I plan to bring two tents and a huge pile of camping gear. Worst case scenario we can just crash at a campground somewhere. The girls will tell their grandkids about it in 50 years. How traumatic it was
Posted on 5/11/20 at 8:58 pm to No Colors
I just had reservations canceled at a state park near Cody, WY for mid July. They are canceling all nonresident reservations. Also currently Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming (maybe others) are requiring all new arrivals from out of state to self quarantine for 14 days. Who knows when they might drop that requirement. My wife and I have re reservations all over Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming mid June through late July. I don’t know if other campgrounds will cancel or not; I haven’t decided yet if I will cancel the trip or no. May just take the boat down to the Gulf for a couple of weeks.
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