Quote:
Originally Posted by LakeCleElum
U can't see it all without backtracking. Personally, I would head for southern Utah and then:
Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef, Canyonlands, Arches, Price, Park City, Hiway 150 to Evanston, Wy, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, (Glacier Park if time allows), Flat Head Lake area, Lolo Pass from Missoula to Lewiston, Rattle Snake grade to Enterprise, Ore....La Grande, Hwy 244 to Ukiah and south on 395 and get to Bend. From there, Crater Lake, Grants Pass, Hwy 199 to Cresent City, the Redwoods to Legget and then Hwy 1 all the way to Monterrey....
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I have a twin! I have been on each of those roads and have crossed this great Country and Canada 30 times easy.
If you are set on Rushmore, get there early in the day and book a hotel now. The place gets jammed. Take back roads.
After that, go to the Little Bighorn Monument. It takes 30 minutes but is actually a very interesting hour or so. How to get there: 85 north out of Spearfish then 212 west. Great road. Get gas before you head out and get gas in LBH.
Leaving, take the Crow St Cut off and head to Route 313. Stay on 313 to 310 to 72 to 78 into Red Lodge.
Plan to spent a little time there. Neat place.
From there you can decide if you want to head west or northwest. I would take the earlier advice and drive through Glacier. I can't emphasize enough: stay off the interstates as mush as possible. Montana road are great. Plan ahead for lodging and stay off the interstates.
Stay in Whitefish.
I spent two months in rural Montana last summer and loved it.
If you do this route you are a little far north for the Lewis and Clark Trail or Lolo Pass.
I'd head to Sandpoint. I would then, however, head south to Lewiston, ID.
Stay at the Holiday Inn Express on the top of the hill in Lewiston. Great pool and view. Ask if Terry is still there.
The drive from Lewiston through Pomeroy and Dayton is one of my favorites. Into Walla Walla.
I'd head to Bend from there and then the rest is up to you
The choices are endless. If you do this right you won't see an interstate from Rushmore.
Enjoy!