Forum Discussion

Tony_DiannesRV's avatar
Tony_DiannesRV
Explorer
Nov 21, 2014

Best route from Glacier, Montana to S. Dakota

All:
We are looking for the best route with the 5'er from St. Mary at Glacier NP, Montana to the Rapid City area of S. Dakota? We originally had Teddy Roosevelt NP in ND in the itinerary, but then discovered we will be hitting Rapid City right at bike week with that plan. So we will save TRNP for another time and head to SD direct.

Thank you all in advance.
Dianne
Roads and Routes
  • A_hitch_and_hop's avatar
    A_hitch_and_hop
    Explorer
    Nov 24, 2014
    I would follow US 87 to 191 and follow it south to Harlowton. Stay the night in Chief Joseph City Park in Harlowton. Next day continue east on 12 to Hwy 3 and go south to Billings. Three points not to miss. 1. Pompeys Piller east of Billings on I-94, 2. County museum at Hardin, 3. Little Big Horn National Cemetery on I-90.
  • SNOPRO711X's avatar
    SNOPRO711X
    Explorer
    Nov 23, 2014
    This past summer we used US 2, to US 89 to US 12, to MT 3 to I 90 at Billings. This route does take you through the Little Belt mountains where there are a lot of camping opportunities.
  • john_bet's avatar
    john_bet
    Explorer II
    Nov 22, 2014
    Tony&DiannesRV wrote:
    Thank you.
    I was wondering about 89 out of Browning to 15 to 87 to 191 to 12 to 3 to Billings, taking the truck route at the latter end. Then I90 to 212 into Belle Fourche before Rte 90 into Rapid City. We may need to stop along the way for the night around Ryegate. Any good overnite places to stop?
    There is a park along there someplace, but I don't right now remember where( I would have to look it up on Google Earth) as we don't use it. It maybe at Ryegate. Our travel times usually mean we stay in Billings or Buffalo,Wy. We have not used 212 in a very long time. Found it pretty boring.
  • Tony_DiannesRV's avatar
    Tony_DiannesRV
    Explorer
    Nov 22, 2014
    Thank you.
    I was wondering about 89 out of Browning to 15 to 87 to 191 to 12 to 3 to Billings, taking the truck route at the latter end. Then I90 to 212 into Belle Fourche before Rte 90 into Rapid City. We may need to stop along the way for the night around Ryegate. Any good overnite places to stop?
  • john_bet's avatar
    john_bet
    Explorer II
    Nov 22, 2014
    We use 200/3/191 from Great Falls to Eddies corner to 12 to 3 to Billings all the time. Then I-90 to Rapid.
  • 4huskers's avatar
    4huskers
    Explorer
    Nov 22, 2014
    Take 89 south out of Great Falls over Kings Hill and pick up I90 at Livingston. Shorter than going through Helena and fewer grades to deal with.
  • tegu69's avatar
    tegu69
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2014
    Grandpere wrote:
    89 to US2 to I15 to I90 is going to be your best route. 89 to 44 to I15 is going to be tough because 44 is not that good a road for a RV. And there is no sense staying on 89 since it parallels I15 and joins up just north of Great Falls.


    We decided to skip Great Falls on return trip and took 287 south(from 89). It connected to the Interstate to Helena. We then took 287 again south to I-90. There was a lot of construction going on north of I-90 three years ago, I would imagine its done by now.
  • paulj's avatar
    paulj
    Explorer II
    Nov 21, 2014
    Stopping by TRNP adds, at most, one day of driving.

    Other than the piece of US89 immediately south of St Mary there aren't many roads in eastern Montana that would be bad for your RV. You could stay with the freeways all the way, or cut off some corners with US or state highways.
  • Grandpere's avatar
    Grandpere
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2014
    89 to US2 to I15 to I90 is going to be your best route. 89 to 44 to I15 is going to be tough because 44 is not that good a road for a RV. And there is no sense staying on 89 since it parallels I15 and joins up just north of Great Falls.

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