We have found ourseves in a most unusual dilemma. We will be leaving Itasca State Park in Minnesota (east of Fargo) and heading to the Salt Lake City area and have more time than we need (about 8 days), so we’re looking for places to stop along the way. History, nature (not strenuous hiking,) We know that Yellowstone is an impossibility at this last minute and have been there several times anyway, so we’re looking for places to stay and things to do heading east to west across North Dakota and in Montana. We’ll head down through ID to avoid Yellowstone and the Tetons.Thanks❚ Did you see the "Announcement : &bigstar;&bigstar;READ BEFORE POSTING HERE&bigstar;&bigstar;" at the top? Forum Posting Help and Support is reserved for questions related to forum posting, signature and photo testing, or reporting member account issues. Please avoid using Forum Posting Help and Support for RV related questions, as doing so can delay responses to your thread. Instead, post your topic in the RV Forum which corresponds to the subject of your topic. Thank-you!

For Montana - Custer Battlefield, Missouri River Headwaters, Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, Ennis area and Virginia City, just to name a few. All within the same area. We visited all of these while staying in the West Yellowstone area.

We’ll look at them, but West Yellowstone is booked.

Custer Battlefield? Is that not much further west?

Don and Eileen wrote:Custer Battlefield? Is that not much further west?Closest city is Billings, Google maps,, "crow agency" Going west leave I-90 at Belle -Fourche, Mt.212 west it will bring you across the Crow Reservation to the monument. be aware,, the turn around inside of the monument isn't that big.

Bannock and Virginia City are very historical and interesting. Bannock was the first capital of Montana and Virginia City is a state historical site and a preserved western ghost town. The are is famous for the Alder Gulch gold rush. It is a reasonable drive from many towns with RV parks. Also, spending a day or two in Butte is great for the mining history. The Copper kings of the time were amazingly wealthy. Touring the mines is a great adventure. Plus, the entire area is rich with Lewis and Clark history, but that usually only takes a few minutes at each location to read the roadside placards. You could also catch a trophy trout or two in the Beaverhead River around Dillon, should the urge strike.

Montana suggestion help (ND too) | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

paulj
Explorer II
Jul 02, 2018
Another thread warns of a 10 mile stretch of construction on US2.
Blazing_Zippers
Explorer II
Jul 02, 2018
Butte, MT. is a genuine gem for visits. There is a KOA next door to the visitors center, where a trolley can take you for a tour. Lots of history, mining info, and good food. Butte doesn't look like much from the interstate, but it had us involved in history for 3 days.
cruiserjs
Explorer
Jun 30, 2018
IF you have lots of time highway US 2 is a very interesting way to go. One of our very favorite places is the Nez Perce national Historic park, a few miles south of Chinook MT. This was the site where Chief Joseph gave up his attempt to out run the US Cavalry and ended the "Chief Joseph" War - the last of the western Indian wars. We happened to be on that site when the Nez Perce Indians with others, arrived in full regalia to celebrate that historic event. Very moving/inspirational. That ceremonial visit to the Bear Paw site only happens every so often. Google: Bear Paw Battlefield - visitmt.com
Busskipper
Explorer
Jun 28, 2018
Don and Eileen wrote:
We have found ourseves in a most unusual dilemma. We will be leaving Itasca State Park in Minnesota (east of Fargo) and heading to the Salt Lake City area and have more time than we need (about 8 days), so we’re looking for places to stop along the way. History, nature (not strenuous hiking,) We know that Yellowstone is an impossibility at this last minute and have been there several times anyway, so we’re looking for places to stay and things to do heading east to west across North Dakota and in Montana. We’ll head down through ID to avoid Yellowstone and the Tetons.
Thanks

For me it would be real simple - Custer - Thermopolis - Wind River Canyon - Flaming Gorge - Dino National Monument then Lake Jordanelle just outside of Park City.

No need to spend the night at all the stops shown, as there is just a lot to see and do along the way, drive along pick what you think you might like hike - bike - sit and relax - just a Great drive.

MAP

Just a thought,

:@
padredw
Nomad
Jun 28, 2018
We’ll look at them, but West Yellowstone is booked

We have stayed at two different places in Idaho that would allow easy drive to Yellowstone: Red Rock RV Park is a commercial campground, Henry's Lake is a very nice state Park.

Agree with Cloud Driver about Fort Lincoln State Park and the Lewis and Clark sites nearby.
DrewE
Explorer III
Jun 28, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Theodore Roosevelt NP last year.

The Havre (MT) Beneath the Streets tour is fascinating, in my opinion. There's also a very well preserved buffalo jump at Havre, which I did not have a chance to see myself but came quite highly recommended.
1492
Moderator
Jun 28, 2018
Moved from Forum Posting Help and Support
CloudDriver
Explorer
Jun 27, 2018
Some places we have enjoyed when crossing ND and MT:

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park - the last post of General George Custer before the battle of the Little Bighorn. A campground there with electric hookups.

Double Ditch Indian Village about 7 miles north of Bismark on route 1804. Not much there but grassy mounds and depressions but the many interpretive signs were very interesting.

ND Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and reconstruction of Fort Mandan

Theodore Roosevelt NP - free visitor center at I90 exit 32 with good views, main entrance adjacent to the town of Medora.

Pompeys Pillar NM easy off easy on at I94 exit 23. Clark's signature is the only remaining physical evidence of the Lewis & Clark expedition.
Janss
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2018
We just came north on this route. Currently at Three Forks Campground...nice treed park-like setting, full or partial hookups. We also did not stay in West Yellowstone nor into the park. Rather we stayed at Henrys Lake State Park. Beautiful, loved it. Took our toad for a loop drive up to Earthquake Lake and around to West Yellowstone and back to camp. Very nice day trip.

If you are into interesting, odd museums, check out the Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot, ID. We stayed at North Bingham County Park in Shelley.
ReneeG
Explorer
Jun 27, 2018
Don and Eileen wrote:
Custer Battlefield? Is that not much further west?

Yes, you're right. We visited it on a separate trip on our way back from Mt. Rushmore, we also took a detour on that trip and visited Belle Fourche, the geographic center of the US.

As for West Yellowstone being booked, you could stay in Lewis and Clark Taverns State Park or even in Ennis. There is a super nice RV park there called Ennis RV. There is also Missouri Headwaters State Park.