Cross country on secondary roads.

I am new to RV-ing, just getting into it. Drove a semi truck for about 1 million miles. U.S. + Canada. Seen mostly roads and cars, Now I want to see the good stuff that I could only see from the corner of my eye. I never got a hemeroid. I'm looking forward to it.

Takes me three days to go from central NY to Myrtle Beach!

Tonight we are in Bismarck N.D. In snow,, yuck.

Havre ->Wolf Point, Circle, Glendive Mt. -> Bismarck ND.

520 miles

Best routes are the roads that used to be the major highways before the interstate system was built. Love the even numbered highways like 50 & 36.

Tom/Barb wrote:
We have been east and west on every major highway that goes across, this year we are doing a fall "see the leaves" trip. our plan is east to Missoula, then Mt 200 to Great Falls, then secondary roads east including 87, and 200 to Glendive. and on to I-94 to Detroit Lakes. and on to Mackinaw

To update this trip, we've been on the road 2 days (880 miles) from Oak Harbor to Havre Mt.
Mt 200 and 87 are in great condition, we find we can drive 65-70 on them as well as the interstate.

Rogers Pass at 5600' had snow on the side of the road, but the trees were in full color, both in Wa, Id, Mt.

Great trip So far.

For the 7 yrs we FTd we traveled nothing BUT secondary/back roads.
12 cross country trips north to south/east to west/border to border.

Used Interstate ONLY when needed to connect/continue on secondary roads.

Some times we would check via Internet for 'road conditions' but mostly just winged it

When I retire and have all the time I want to travel, I will do the side roads....

Right now, I only have a set amount of time for vacation and want to enjoy the vacation, not the drive....*** FOR NOW ***

jplante4 wrote:
Consider US 2 to get to Mackinaw. We just did that route from Mackinaw to Williston ND and it was a fine road. The worse section was Iron Mountain MI to Mackinaw.

We've done 2 many many times, looking for a new scene :)

Consider US 2 to get to Mackinaw. We just did that route from Mackinaw to Williston ND and it was a fine road. The worse section was Iron Mountain MI to Mackinaw.

If you are in no hurry... I'm from Helena MT and have to travel quite a bit. I always take the scenic route if I can.

First, MT DOT has a great website so check that out. You might take back way out of Missoula across 200 and then down to Avon and into Helena MT. Great Falls ain't that great. This is a beautiful drive. Hit the antique store in Avon if she is still open. Then go 287 to 12 and follow it over to the highway. The scenery on this route is great and the roads are good until the snow falls. Out by Glendive is a great state park (Makoshika) and some neat stuff. And then you will be going through Teddy Roosevelt Nat Park in N. Dakota. You could drop down to the Black Hills or hit it on the way back as an alternative.

I would avoid the highline at all costs. That's the road that is farthest north. That is one of the most boring roads in America but will get you across MT sort of fast but once you are through MT, then you got North Dakota and Minnesota. The signs that point north and say Canada are OK, and you could say you went through the Bakken (shale oil country) but you will be bored to tears as pretty much it is the same scenery from the last mountain to the great lakes imho.

following my way, and timewise, you are maybe a few hours difference overall from staying far north except for stops. You go through core Trout fishing country also. In the middle of the state, you will wind through the island mountain ranges and as noted once you hit the highway again, there are some interesting things over the next few hundred miles.