South Carolina to Montana

[Bill_T]

This is our first long trip. We plan to drive directly to Montana in mid August carrying our truck camper.

I have been looking at routes suggested by Google Maps and they show routes using Interstates 94 or 90. I-94 goes thru three major cities and I-90 goes thru only one major city. I-94 is the perferred route.

For those of you experienced drivers using these routes which one would you take and why?

Or, any suggested routes and comments are welcome.

Thanks

[john_bet]

We have been going to Great Falls,MT. from Indiana since '94 and to the Black Hills since mid '78. We live in southern Indiana now, but we also use to live in Charleston,S.C. in '70. We have gone just about every route you can name,but we have never ever gone thru or around Chicago. Our normal route is I-65 from 50 miles north of Louisville to I-465 to I-74 to I-80 at Quad Cities. I-80 to I-29 to Sioux Falls and I90. I-90 to Billings. My advice is to not use US-212 in Montana. What is your final destination in Montana? Pm me if you wish.

[paulj]

Google Maps doesn't give 'preferred' routes, but rather 'fastest' routes. While the distance is precise, time depends on speeds estimates.

From Chicago to Billings, I94 is a bit shorter than I90, in part because it goes further north, closer to a Great Circle Route. Speed estimates should be about the same for the two.

The Mpls/SP is the only major city on I94 that will affect your travel times. There are decent beltways around that city(s).

I90 across souther Minnesota is notorious for rough pavement (of the tilted slab variety).

I just asked GM for Charleston to Billings. The 3 routes differ a bit in distance, but times are all the same. The one using I94 heads to Chicago, which most RVers try to avoid. Part of this route is jointly numbered I90.

It really isn't an I90 v I94 issue, but rather how do you go NW to catch either. Most of the freeways are EW or NS. So saving miles while going NW involves either finding diagonal stretches of these freeways (e.g. I29 north of Kansas City), or taking other highways.

I notice that the I29/I90 route, takes US212 from Rapid City to Montana. That saves some miles over I90 through Wyoming, but not much time. It crosses a remote corner of Montana.

If I dray the route to use I25 south of Buffalo WY, it routes me on I80 to Cheyenne, and then I25 north. The time and distance is basically the same.

Drag one of those routes around a bit, and you will see that there are a lot more than 3 choices.

[tandkj]

How about a better start city and stop location. I would avoid I-94 because of st Paul Minn. Streets/Trips has me going from a general SC location to Billings via I-90. I have traveled that and cannot think of a really bad spot.