Once again... thanks to all who have responded to previous requests for road info... great scoop! You can't beat getting first hand info from those who have been there... in an RV! We are traveling from FL to Yellowstone in June. We are considering heading all the way up to Hwy 2... picking it up in MN, and going across ND to around Minot, then down thru SD, on into Yellowstone? Is there any compelling reason to go all those extra miles to travel on Hwy 2?? Is there anything of a "must see" nature in ND?? So far, one on-line response stated that the best thing to see in ND is the sign that reads "Leaving North Dakota"!! Any input on this greatly appreciated
It's a great alternative to the interstate IF going east or west. To go all the way up there to go to SD and YELL....not much to see, spend the time in YELL/Tetons.
From the Minnesota section of US 2 to Minot ND, you will find most, if not all, is 4 lane highway. It just depends on where you hit US 2 in Minnesota. Eastern part of Minnesota is 2 lane, while west of Bemidji (I think is the spot) is where all 4 lane from there west takes over. Pretty decent road, good facilities along the route.
Must see along that route???? I have to be honest and say no. And I am from North Dakota. Minnesota side lots of trees until you get to western Minnesota, then prairie, shelter belts (YES, there ARE trees in North Dakota for those uninformed ) and farm lands.
Other than the stone cairn that marks the geographic center of North America at Rugby ND, which even if it fascinates you, only takes 5 minutes to appreciate, there is not much else. And that cairn actually does not even mark the right spot, which is truly located some 5 miles SW of there in the middle of a slough.
Minot and south has some good stuff on US 83, which is all 4 lane in that area to Bismarck. Lake Sakakawea is huge with good campgrounds not far from that route at the COE campground below Garrison Dam, and at Fort Stevenson State Park on the north side of the lake. Between the lake and Bismarck, around the town of Underwood ND, you can see the largest drag lines in the world working strip coal mines.
Bismarck has a rather good state museum right next to the capitol building, which one cannot miss as it is the tallest building in Bismarck. Also Fort Lincoln State Park is across the Missouri River, south of Mandan ND and a very nice place to camp.
Following US 83 south into South Dakota you will find it is all 2 lane once you leave the exit for US 83 off I-94 east of Bismarck. Again, not much of interest along this route. South Dakota gets interesting once you get into the Black Hills, Rapid City area. Mt Rushmore, all the tourist stuff in the Black Hills itself, Devils Tower over into Wyoming and so on.
One final thought is that there was serious flooding on the upper Missouri River last year. At one time, they closed the COE campground below Garrison Dam. There was a similar South Dakota state Campground below Oahe Dam at Pierre SD. We have stayed at and enjoyed both locations. However, I do not know the extent of damage they suffered during the flood, nor do I know if they are open again for business this year.
You could check at the COE campground site on the Internet to see if the Garrison Dam tailrace campground is open. That would be the sure way to find out. It is very nice should you decide to take that route.
The Mad Norsky, Doll, Logan, Korey & Rocky
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zigzagrv wrote: There is a GEM in western ND. Theodore Roosevelt NP near Medora. It's a welcome site after driving hours through flat farmland.
I thought about mentioning that too, but the OP said they intended to route into South Dakota from Minot, which would preclude SW North Dakota.
You know, they could still do it that way. US 83 to Bismarck. I-94 west to Theodore Roosevelt and Medora.
Back track a few miles to Belfield and take US 85 down to Belle Fourche /Spearfish South Dakota and be right on the north side of the Black Hills.
If you do take US 85 south from Belfield, DO NOT, repeat, DO NOT leave Bowman ND without a full tank of fuel. There is almost absolutely NOTHING between there and Belle Fourche South Dakota. There is also a great fuel stop at Belfield ND where US 85 meets I-94.
So have you already been to the Badlands, Custer Battle Field, Black Hills, Mt Rushmore, Devils Tower? I94/I90 has more to offer if you haven't been there. Teddy Roosevelt Park is ND biggest draw. Also some Lewis and Clark historical places. So far ND and Alaska are the two states out of 50 that I haven't been to. Been on RT2 in Montana and its a good route into East Glacier. From Glacier you can drop south to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole. So many great things to see once you get past the Dakotas, Nebraska or Kansas, my apologies to those folks. For a few years I was storing my Fiver in Santa Fe to avoid the long long trip from Florida to the mountains. I like to start in New Mexico and follow the Rockies North. Just getting out of Florida is a haul! You have a big trip ahead and its bound to be a great adventure wichever route you take. In 2002 we did a two and a half month 11000 mile trip to every state west of the Mississippi and most of the national park system. Except for North Dakota.
Order is illusion. Chaos is reality. But right or wrong I'm still the captain.
Isn't Roosevelt N.P. in North Dakota? You could search this Forum for more on that subject. It's worth a couple of days but I wouldn't drive far out of the way to get there.
We drove Route 2 because we were going to Glacier N.P.
Dick_B
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