Custer SP to East Glacier

2X for the 7th Ranch. Stayed there last summer.

Thanks for all the input, folks. We're looking forward to the trip.

I will second the route out of Billings. We have used so many times truck does it all on it own.:B There is a big windmill farm on 3/191 north of Harlowton ay Judith Gap. In fact we are going that way in Oct. both ways. I suggest 16 out of Custer to Moorcroft(I-90) then on to Devils Tower if you want to see it.

US 2 was a good road when I traveled it 2 years ago, but best to avoid Williston ND area. The Devil's Tower idea is a good one.

We made a trip in July that corresponded in part with the route you are considering. I will just mention a couple of campgrounds:

1> 7th Ranch RV Park is near the Little Bighorn National Monument. We passed by on I-90 and did not stay here because it did not fall into our overnight pattern. But we considered it, and I think it would be a nice place to stay:

7th Ranch RV

2> We "swung over" to Big Timber, MT and stayed at the Spring Creek RV Park and Trout Ranch. It is right on the River and we very much enjoyed staying there:

Spring Creek RV

From Big Timber, we went up US 191 to join US 87 just west of Lewistown, MT. then on up through Great Falls to I-15. We turned off West on Montana 44 to US 89. At a roadside park we found a marker which told of the experience of Meriweather Lewis and his only really hostile encounter with American Indians. Unexpected pleasure.

Thanks for the reply and good info, CD. We've lived here since early 70's--lots of changes since you were here!

We haven't gone from Custer to East Glacier, but did drive there from Yellowstone a couple of years ago. Since there have been no other replies, I'll throw out a few suggestions for your consideration.

From Custer, I would head up to I90, with a stop at Devil's Tower, assuming you haven't already been there. Right beside I90 in Crow Agency MT is the Little Bighorn Battlefield. At Billings MT I would take routes 3, 12, 191 and 87 to Great Falls. Streets & Trips shows these roads to be between mountain areas.

Great Falls has the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, which we found very interesting. Adjacent is Giant Springs State Park, one of the largest springs in the world. We also drove to the base of Ryan Dam at top of one of the original great falls of the Missouri. At the time we were there, it was spring runoff and the water was going over the top of the dam. There is a picnic area on an island below the dam. If you go take the toad due to steep grade to base of the dam.

When we drove from Yellowstone to east Glacier, we used route 89 to join route 87 to Great Falls. It was a nice scenic drive with one easy pass to go over. We camped at the Great Falls KOA. They had a nice nature trail there. Another possibility is Dick's RV Park. It is adjacent to a major highway and we were concerned about traffic noise, so chose the KOA.

After Great Falls, we took route 89 up to Browning. Lots of folks recommend route 464 north out of Browning to Babb, then south to St. Mary. This avoids some grades and curves on route 89. We went a little north of Browning and took Starr School Road to rejoin route 89 to St. Mary. This cut off some of the grades and curves. Nice scenic drive. We stayed at both the St. Mary KOA and the NPS campground at Many Glacier.

BTW, we lived in Alamo MI for 4 years back in the mid 70's. We loved it there. I worked at American Cyanamid (now Cytec Industries) on Miller road. Not far from Portage. Small world.