Questions of driving US-2 through the west

[walimike]

I've been tossing around an idea to travel from Michigan to Washington on US-2. For some reason I've wanted to travel US-2 just for the adventure of it. This would be in 2019.

I have a Silverado 1500, 5.3L, 3.42 rear with a 31' Cherokee TT. I've only camped in Michigan and Wisconsin. This would be the first long trip we've taken.

I've thought about driving 101 from Washington through Oregon and into California. Maybe taking I-80 or I-90 back. Nothing is set yet.

My real worry is driving the mountains, never having done that. The driving, pulling the trailer is my concern.
1) What kind of grade range is there on US-2.

2) Is the grade more gradual on the Interstate routes?

3) How difficult is it to control speed and braking in the mountains?

4) Will that be hard on the truck pulling and holding back an 8,000lb trailer?

I guess the beating on the truck and trailer brakes and handling the grades are my main concerns.

I'm still in the "I wonder if" stage on setting this up. Thanks for any input. Thinking of an August/September timeframe.

Still so much info to get.

[Roy_Lynne]

Go for it. We took 2 across ND and Montana and it was so low stress. Make sure you stop at Downstream COE for a couple nights and check out the Interpretive Center. Its a few miles off the highway but worth the drive.
PS, not much difference in grade and twists than taking I90. If you take 291 in Washington you can bypass Spokane and eventually it will get you back on Hwy 2 and you will go thru some pretty country.
101 in Oregon is also pretty twisty but plan to take it slow as you could spend weeks on just that road alone and not see all the awesome sites, lighthouses, sea views, quaint towns, etc.

[JesLookin]

We just drove Hwy 2 from Shelby MT to Superior WI over the past couple days. No problems at all. Check out free city park campground at Towner ND, they also provide 30 amp. We did leave a donation.

[VTLee]

We drove rt. 2 in 2016. It was a little scary in eastern Montana and western North Dakota as large trucks coming at you on a 2 lane road at 75 miles per hour is not conducive to a relaxing trip.

[2gypsies1]

Plan it so you can spend at least a night at Fort Peck Corp of Engineer park on the eastern edge of Montana just before Glasgow. It's very interesting and the sites are super large and pleasant.

https://www.recreation.gov/camping/downstream/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73170

If needing a place at Duluth, Minnesota this might help:

https://wheelingit.us/2016/08/15/cp-campground-review-indian-point-duluth-mn/

… and visiting Duluth, MN:

https://wheelingit.us/?s=duluth%2C+minnesota

[BarabooBob]

The first thing you need to do is learn how to drive on steep grades and crooked roads. Down shift and keep your rpm's up when going up the grades. Going down the grades you should be in the gear that you went up or one gear lower. I have read on this site about people getting to the top of passes with their foot on the floor and no more power. Those people did not downshift soon enough to let their engine spin. I have driven through the Rockies and Cascades with a Toyota RV (6000 lbs) with a shopping 120 hp (22Re engine and A/T) and never had my foot to the floor. Keep the rpm's up and keep downshifting.
While going down the grades, your should be downshifting and rarely hitting your brakes. If you are going faster than the slowest trucks, you are going too fast.

[Puttin]

Stay the heck away from the reservations in Montana, N. and S. Dakota...and far away from Havre!! Ugly and full of trouble. Try a mixture...maybe route 2 through Minn then drop down. Weather may play a part too- we had to stay a little north heading out of Wis to stay away from rain and wind. Don't be in a hurry and if you like north than catch Helena, Idaho Falls, etc. Then we went south to Ely and Elko and west to Ca. Stop in Jackpot!

[jplante4]

Well, we were headed that way now (we're almost to the UP) but it looks like the fires will turn us south well before we get to Glacier. I'm also running too slow a pace to make it to Puget Sound and back to Cape Cod in 10 weeks. It's good to be flexible.

We're doing US2 at least as far as TRNP. We may head south there and leave the PNW for the next adventure. I'll report on at least the section of US 2 we see. All the research I've done says it's one of the most enjoyable cross-country routes.

[naturist]

I took US 2 all the way from the UP to Redmond, WA in 2009, dragging a 5,000 lb trailer with a Jeep Liberty, which was rated to tow no more than 5,000 lbs. It was quite doable then, and should present no problems to you with your rig.

US 2 does have some slopes that grade out in the 6% to 8% range, which is typical of the Interstates as well. I understand your trepidation, but you should be fine, as long as you are aware of the two hazards of such grades: (1) on the ascent, your truck will be working hard, and you would do well to watch your engine temperature, as it will rise above normal; (2) on the descent, you will need to mind your brakes heating up. Both these can be managed by using your gearbox and not attempting to go too fast.

Climbing grades, make use of your lower gears to keep the engine revs up. This will help your water pump move the maximum amount of coolant. On the way down, do the same. This will put as much braking on your engine as possible, to minimize brake use. Going slowly gives the heat build up more time to dissipate, thus keeping things cooler.

Going up and down at 45 mph rather than 55 or 60, using 2nd or 3rd gear rather than 5th, and you can climb or descend 6% to 8% grades all day without issues.

For the most part, US 2 is a fine 2 lane road that passes through some beautiful places in the heartland of America. There are lots of tiny towns and open farm/rangeland along the way.

I also drove 101 from Washington to SoCal on that same trip. Persons who have a fear of heights are advised to drive it northbound rather than southbound because that puts them on the land side of the road rather than looking over the cliffs into the sea. But the views are more spectacular southbound for that very reason.

Honor your spirit of adventure: do the trip, man, do the trip.

[paulj]

Your first grade will be the Mackinac Bridge which is 200 ft above the water.

Next grade if note is the climb out of Duluth.

Then it's dead flat across MN, ND, and eastern MT. The Red River valley around Grand Forks is especially flat.

US2 around the south side of Glacier NP is one of the lowest passes across the Rockies (and Continental Divide). Hwy 3 in AB/BC is lower.

From there to Washington US2 stays in river valleys.

In central WA there's a surprise grade a Moses Coulee (a bit west of Coulee City), and a bigger downgrade to the Columbia River west of Waterville.

If you take a side trip to Grand Coulee dam expect some grades there as well.

Then Stevens Pass over the Cascades. This has a gentle climb from the east, with a more noticeable and scenic drop on the west side of the summit.

Many like to take WA20 across Washington. That's further north, and more scenic, especially through North Cascades NP. Also more grades and passes. You can pick that up at Newport WA.

Look at the route with Google Maps terrain mode (and streetview) - or other programs that show the mountains. Even on simple print maps, national forests and parks are marked. In the west these usually cover the mountains - wetter terrain that is more conducive to forests than grazing.

[BizmarksMom]

If you can dry camp, you will find lots of places to pull out for the night in Montana and Idaho. I never make reservations.

[walimike]

I do have a brake controller for the trailer.

[walimike]

So it sounds like the elevation changes shouldn't cause many problems if I just follow the advise everyone gave.

Sound planning may be a bonus to help keeping the tank above half. I assume campsites should be reserved to assure not getting stuck without one. We don't need lots of amenities, just water, electric and dump sites.

Thanks to all for the input.

[2gypsies1]

If you come West you're going to have to drive some 'hills'... even interstates will have them. I also suggest purchasing online the 'Mountain Directory for Truckers & RVers'. It will give you a heads up on popular roads in the West. It comes in a eastern version, also. Many you can drive with a RV; some not advised. You'll soon get a feel of what you can handle.

Downshift before you even start down a grade; not in the midst of the downhill. You'll barely have to touch the brakes if you're shifting correctly.

Hwy 2 is a super easy drive. We enjoy it. As recommended, drive on the top 1/2 of your tank. Montana is 'Big Sky Country' and the expanses go on forever, it seems.

In Montana at the south edge of Glacier Nat'l Park is Marias Pass at 5280 elevation. Around Browning you'll have about "3-4 miles of descent that varies from 3 to 6%. It is a good two lane road." (taken from the Mountain Directory). In Idaho on Hwy 2 are no issues. In Washington you'll have Stevens Pass at 4061' elevation. Taken from the Mountain Directory"The westbound descent is 6 1/2 miles of 5-6% with 40 mph curves. The first 4 1/2 miles down from the summit are four lane. It then turns to three lane and then two lane." You'll have the same grades on some interstates. You'll be a pro in no time! 🙂

Do you have a brake controller for the trailer?

[Tom_Barb]

The only pass/ mountain to cross is Marias Pass Browning Mt to West Glacier, very easy route to Bonner's Ferry ID.
But take 2/95 south to 90 then 90 west thru Spokane then 2 again. staying with 2 all the way takes you thru the city of Spokane's stop and go traffic.