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redwingfans
Explorer
Apr 23, 2015

State of Washington through northern border states to MI

My DW and I will be traveling east from Olympic National Park, back to Michigan in early June. Would any of you like to share your ideas for Boondocking and/or Dry Camping along this route? We know that we will be stopping at Glacier National Park. We prefer staying in public parks. Finding a local campground is sometimes a great prize and great memories. We are thinking we want to take Highway 2 from the majority of the way, but are willing to try other routes. Our class B can get into some pretty rough places, and we are not limited by time. Thanks in advance. Happy Travels,
  • We stayed at some of the casinos. Do not remember exactly where. Montana and ND, I think. We don't gamble a lot, but eat the buffets.
  • pigman1 wrote:
    We take US2 from the Mackinac bridge to I-15 in western Montana each time we go to Alaska (six times so far). We boondock ar local town parks, turnouts, rest areas, and unused weight stations along US2. You will also find Walmarts along the route that can be used. We love the laid back run along 2 and the scenery. If you want something to keep you looking, see how many US Minuteman Missile sites you can spot along that route. Some are right along the highway.

    One tip, however, is that you should not try to stay anywhere near Williston, ND due to the huge growth of the oil drilling and support structure in that area. No overnights in the Williston WM, and even getting a rig into that parking lot is problematic due to the heavy traffic.


    We took US2 from eastern Montana back to Michigan last year. Having flash backs about the oil boom areas of ND. The area is so large we decided there is no good way around it so we plan to push right on through the area.

    Care to share the name or location of any local parks you like to stay in?
  • We take US2 from the Mackinac bridge to I-15 in western Montana each time we go to Alaska (six times so far). We boondock ar local town parks, turnouts, rest areas, and unused weight stations along US2. You will also find Walmarts along the route that can be used. We love the laid back run along 2 and the scenery. If you want something to keep you looking, see how many US Minuteman Missile sites you can spot along that route. Some are right along the highway.

    One tip, however, is that you should not try to stay anywhere near Williston, ND due to the huge growth of the oil drilling and support structure in that area. No overnights in the Williston WM, and even getting a rig into that parking lot is problematic due to the heavy traffic.
  • I hope you are taking #20 as far east as Omak/Okanagan? Then south to #2, which is just a great wandering drive. If you wanted to have some International travel, you could hang a left at Omak and drive up into Canada, then follow #3 right across to Pincher Creek, Alberta, turn south again, heading to Waterton Nat Park for a visit, then back into the US, to St Mary's and taking the To The Sun Highway, down into Glacier National Park.





    hints...if you consider the Canada part,it is much prettier than the US routing, but, you require your passports to return to US. And no weapons into Canada. Yes...you 'could' take a shotgun but no handguns.


    Gary Haupt
  • For sure, spend some time in the Rainy Pass area on your way east -- great hiking, great campgrounds. There is not much boondocking available in the high country, but the campgrounds are excellent.
  • That would be a very long trip going WEST from Olympic Peninsula to Michigan.
    I would go east and take the Port Townsend Ferry to Whidbey Island. Take WA 20 across the North Cascades. There is some nice Forest Service campgrounds.
    Stop off at Grand Coulee for the evening laser show on the dam.
    Continue east and pick up US 2 near Spokane and take it all the way home. Great highway most of the way.

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