Highway 2 Eastern Montana--oil drilling traffic

Hwy 24 was mostly flat with a few rolling hills. No steep climbs or downhill grades. Hwy 2 going west out of Glasgow is also mostly flat.

modmidget wrote:
My wife and I just traveled this route in May. We drove from Glendive north on HWY 16 to Sidney, MT. Very little traffic on the highway but the RV parks in Sidney were full of oil workers. Then we traveled west on 200 to 24 north. Crossed Ft. Peck dam and continued north on 24 to Glasgow. There was no traffic on 200 or 24. From Glasgow going wets on 2 there was also no traffic. Seems like most of the oil workers and traffic was from Sidney heading east.

Hwy 24 looks far more interesting that 13. The dams look impressive on Google Earth. How hilly is that route?

My wife and I just traveled this route in May. We drove from Glendive north on HWY 16 to Sidney, MT. Very little traffic on the highway but the RV parks in Sidney were full of oil workers. Then we traveled west on 200 to 24 north. Crossed Ft. Peck dam and continued north on 24 to Glasgow. There was no traffic on 200 or 24. From Glasgow going wets on 2 there was also no traffic. Seems like most of the oil workers and traffic was from Sidney heading east.

pigman1 wrote:

bradpoff wrote:

pigman1 wrote:
We run US-2 both ways when we go to Alaska every other year. Last ran it in late May this year as far as Shelby, MT. It was a good road and even though there was oil traffic around Williston, ND. Smooth road and very little under repair or construction. We'll run it again in September.

I heard there is far less oil related traffic from Wolf Point westward....true?

Yeah, not even that far. Just shortly after we got into Montana things were back to normal. You'll hit an occasional slow truck as they go down to two lanes there, but with little oncoming traffic, passing is not a problem.

Havre Walmart is a breeze. I've never seen it more than about 20% in use. There's a turnout just at the west end of Malta, MT that they call a weigh station, where we usually stop. No scales, and we've never been questioned. Also there's other rest areas along 2 that we've never had any problems using.

As I said, a great route to travel. Good luck

On the east side of Culbertson there was a large (for Montana) rest area with parking for trucks/RV's and cars.

trailertraveler wrote:
If you are looking for Walmarts, MT-200 is not the route for you. When we drove it a couple of years ago, the campground in Jordon was closed. There is a small no frills spot with full hookups in Winnett. I think you would have to go all the way to Great Falls to find a Walmart.

Yup, MT-200 is one long lonely road. There was free camping sites on the south side of Lewistown at that time.

paulj wrote:
Montana Hi-Line

Its history starts with the building of the Great Northern RR across Marias Pass.

Thanks for the link. I spent my youth living in some towns/cities along the Hi-Line (Shelby, Culbertson, and Havre. Born in Kalispell) as my father worked for the Great Northern. Traveled some of those scenic byways and learned to drive on the back roads. Also learned boating/fishing on Fresno Lake (one silty lake :)).

Thanks everyone for the help, feedback and suggestions. We're looking forward to a great trip. I haven't been there since I was 16.....and that was a LONG time ago!!

bradpoff wrote:

pigman1 wrote:
We run US-2 both ways when we go to Alaska every other year. Last ran it in late May this year as far as Shelby, MT. It was a good road and even though there was oil traffic around Williston, ND. Smooth road and very little under repair or construction. We'll run it again in September.

I heard there is far less oil related traffic from Wolf Point westward....true?

Yeah, not even that far. Just shortly after we got into Montana things were back to normal. You'll hit an occasional slow truck as they go down to two lanes there, but with little oncoming traffic, passing is not a problem.

Havre Walmart is a breeze. I've never seen it more than about 20% in use. There's a turnout just at the west end of Malta, MT that they call a weigh station, where we usually stop. No scales, and we've never been questioned. Also there's other rest areas along 2 that we've never had any problems using.

As I said, a great route to travel. Good luck

If you are looking for Walmarts, MT-200 is not the route for you. When we drove it a couple of years ago, the campground in Jordon was closed. There is a small no frills spot with full hookups in Winnett. I think you would have to go all the way to Great Falls to find a Walmart.

We took hwy. 81 from Medora, ND. to Williston last year. It came out just
west of Williston a couple of miles. Hwy. 2 west is fine. . If you get a chance ck out
Medora.it is a destination. Has a summer musical . Theater is outside and built on
the side of the mtn. In Teddy Rosevelt Natnl. park. Also there is a
RIBEYE PITCHFORK FONDUE there also. Good times.