Route NW Chicago to Whitefish MT

[etrippe]

We are heading to Whitefish MT in 2 weeks coming from Crystal Lake IL., towing our small travel trailer. We plan on taking 4 days, 3 nights. I’m looking for a good route to head north from I94 to Whitefish. Google maps is leaving I94 at Glendive MT to HWY 2 and across. I’m wanting to make sure we can find a place to camp for our last night, about 300 miles out. Any suggested routes? Places to spend the night?

[lane_hog]

You rarely can go wrong on a US numbered highway...

I might push a little further west on 94 before heading up to US-2 on US-83 or US-85.

[BarabooBob]

I take highway 2 from just north of Theodore Roosevelt NP all the way to Glacier. I really enjoy the slower pace of the trip and the little towns are fun to see. The people are very friendly.

[Mike134]

etrippe wrote:
Thanks to all that replied. We are taking I 94 to Fargo, I 29 to Grand Forks and then 2 the rest of the way. I’ve called parks along the route and feel pretty confident in availability. It’s an adventure. Again thanks for the input.

We took 2 across Montana and loved the drive. You'll see why they call it "Big Sky" on that route.

[bobsallyh]

Toughest part of the trip will be driving around Whitefish!

[etrippe]

Thanks to all that replied. We are taking I 94 to Fargo, I 29 to Grand Forks and then 2 the rest of the way. I’ve called parks along the route and feel pretty confident in availability. It’s an adventure. Again thanks for the input.

[paulj]

Tom/Barb wrote:
( Quote )
Use 212 from Belle Fourche to Crow Agency save nearly a day. Plenty of camping along the way.

Compared to I90 through Buffalo, that stretch of US212 saves at most 60 miles.

[Tom_Barb]

( Quote ) The I94/90 route is longer, and has more passes, but is closer to towns, camping and other lodging options, and other traveler facilities. It passes, for example the north gateways to Yellowstone. (Quote)

Use 212 from Belle Fourche to Crow Agency save nearly a day. Plenty of camping along the way.

[paulj]

US2 and MT200 cross the flat northern part of the state. US2 arond the south side of the park is one of the lowest passes over the Rockies. Years ago I camped at a COE campground near Wolf Point, and a map search should turn a few other options.

In the 2000s I chose to stay on I94 to Miles City, motel it there, and then take a 'diagonal' from Billings to St Marys. That was a full day of fuel efficient sub-freeway speeds driving. In part I chose that because I had limited information on my laptop MS Streets-n-trips about lodging options further north.

The I94/90 route is longer, and has more passes, but is closer to towns, camping and other lodging options, and other traveler facilities. It passes, for example the north gateways to Yellowstone.

[Tom_Barb]

You could cut north at Brlfeil to Williston and use 2 thru the park. (very beautiful ride.)

[Tom_Barb]

94 joins 90 at Billlings then 90 to 93 north is as good as it gets