2024 Trip Planning

I would suggest the Banf/ Lake Louise and Jasper area if you go into Canada.
Yellowstone is a place where you could spend several weeks and not see everything.
Glacier can vary. A few days would be minimum.

we have been to Glacier and yellowstone many of times, I would at least spend 4 days in each spot. To really enjoy both you will have to hike a little bit.

craig7h wrote:
The more I look the more confused I get, hopefully I can get some guidance from you folks. Time frame is no real concern, will be leaving Iowa around mid July heading west on HWY 2

1) What to see along hwy2 before getting to Montana and how much time to spend at those spots?

2) Once in Montana is it worth it to go into Canada and up to Calgary? Main reason seeing the Canadian Rockies. How much time is needed

3) Glacier NP how much time needed

4) Yellowstone NP how much time needed

The DW and I DO NOT hike, or bike. We pretty much drive get out see the sights and move on. We need FHU sites so for the most part it will be at private campgrounds i think.

Any help with this adventure will be appreciated

We are just working our way back from Montana on a similar trip but starting in Michigan.

1) Is there a reason you are going up to US-2? From Iowa, I would cut across I-90 WB and then I-94 on the return (Obviously divert from the highway where it makes sense but in general terms). This gives you access to the Badlands NP, Blackhills (& Mt. Rushmore), Big Horn Mountains on the way to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. On the return, you can add in Teddy Roosevelt NP.

2) Absolutely worth it to go Banff & Jasper and if you are going in July, you can hit the Calgary Stampeed. We were just there last week. Stayed about 25miles south (no issue getting a campsite & tickets last minute), then we used the free park & ride lot to catch the commuter train which drops you off right outside the Stampeed. Banff & Jasper are spectacular.

3/4) If you aren't into hiking, I would give 2-3 days (not counting travel days) for each park...with the exception of Yellowstone. We spent a week staying at Fishing Bridge in the park and it was just enough time to do all the drives (the park is massive).

Our trip also included Alaska/Yukon/BC. If you aren't pressed for time, consider, adding in down days maybe one day per week where you don't travel or sight see. It's easy to go into overload and a down day can let you rest and reflect.

Our biggest issue: by the time we got to Glacier earlier this week, we felt really bad...The mountain views are spectacular but we've been seeing spectacular mountain views since last fall.

US 2 has some interesting sites. I would order free tourism guides from each of the states. They show many of the places. It is a little slower pace then flying down the interstates.

1. The mountains are more scenic either in the early summer Mid-May to Mid- June with snow on them or the late fall with the fall colors 9/15 to 10/15 than in the summer.

2. The Canada Rockies Waterton NP, Lake Louise, Jasper are much more scenic than any of the US Rockies.

3. VERY HARD TO GET RESERVATIONS in the summer when school is out.

4. Replete # 3

Look at one of the "senior bus tours" They see YS in 1-2 days. You can see the MAIN sites in a day or all of YS in a lifetime.

TenOC wrote:
Look at one of the "senior bus tours" They see YS in 1-2 days. You can see the MAIN sites in a day or all of YS in a lifetime.

Ummm...I think you would struggle to drive both loops in a day, particularly in the busy summer season when you get stuck in traffic. Certainly not if you stop at the prime sites.

If you actually took time to stop at the visitor centers and main sites immediately adjacent to the road (ie: no hikes), I would think 3 days minimum and those would be mostly full days, no relaxing back at the RV.

enblethen wrote:
US 2 has some interesting sites. I would order free tourism guides from each of the states. They show many of the places. It is a little slower pace then flying down the interstates.

Honest question: what sites?

We are currently near Great Falls, MT and heading east in a couple days and US-2 or I-94 is about the same distance for us to get to Michigan UP.

We took I-90 west last fall and if you haven't done that route, there seems to have far more to see and do.

We took the Empire Builder (train) to Montana this spring where we stored the RV over the winter. From Grand Forks, it parallels US-2 and while nice open prarie, I wasn't seeing anything (out the window or on the map) along the route that jumped out at us?

We decided to try I-94 as it's shorter than going back by I-90 and adds an new National Park for us. Cruising speed really isn't a big difference for us. We usually cruise at around 60mph freeway or 2 lane (assuming conditions allow and we aren't causing backups which out west usually isn't a problem).

Enchanted Highway south of US2 off I94
Teddy Roosevelt National Park North unit South of US2 south of Williston
US 2 tourism
US 2 printable sites

Thank you all for the information. Completely forgot about the Calgary Stampede, DW says we are going!