moving northwest

[rafster]

hi,

any advice on the scenic route? i'm moving to spokane for an americorps job and i'll be road tripping it in a hand-me-down wrangler from my dad and my old volkswagen in tow. and i'll be referring to the air-cooled rescue service website for folks who could stand to sit down for a pint and chew the fat on the way. http://www.type2.com/~airswork/rescue/index2.html

itinerary so far:
mount rushmore
campgrounds


ralph

[PNW Judy]

If you're going to Mt. Rushmore, be aware that there are tons of things to see in that area: Crazy Horse memorial, Wind Caves, Deadwood, Wall Drug, Badlands, and more. Also, you might enjoy going a bit west to see Devil's Tower (remember "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"?).

If you choose to go west through Wyoming, you can enjoy Cody, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons before heading across Idaho. If you decide to head into Montana, you might enjoy Glacier NP.

There are tons of things to see along the different routes you can take but these stand out, imho.

[Robert Schaller]

Welcome to the Forum!

But, it's kinda hard to suggest a route when we don't know where you're starting from....

[Mark Sedenquist]

Welcome to the Forum!

But, it's kinda hard to suggest a route when we don't know where you're starting from....

I think "home" might be St. Louis looking at his log-in.

mark

[Robert Schaller]

I guess I missed that.

If St Louis it is, then up the Great River Road to connect somewhere with I-90, then west. The Black Hills suggestions are winners, and I'd also include Wounded Knee in the group. Be sure to check out the nightlife in Deadwood -- it hasn't slowed down much since 1880!

In Montana, the Little Bighorn Battlefield is an interesting place to spend an afternoon & you might also kick around some of the old cowboy and mining towns like Virginia City and Red Lodge, as well as the more obvious scenic attractions out that way.

[rafster]

Yep, I'll start from St. Louis. Thanks for the suggestions- they're all great for sending postcards to jealous friends. I'll be on the road for about a week (i'm in no hurry) and another stop I'll make will be carhenge. Triple A has been helpful so far mapwise, and i'll get a campground directory from them when I get the chance, hopefully its not too late in the season to pitch a tent or too crowded up by the national parks up by Mt. Rushmore, etc.

[PNW Judy]

A week gives you plenty of time to enjoy the trip. If you just bring extra blankets, you should be fine. At this time of year, sleeping in sweats and wearing socks to keep the toes warm is key for me to be comfy in my tent. Once school starts in September, the crowds really go down at most tourist sites and national parks. This is usually a perfect time of year to visit popular places like Mt. Rushmore as the weather is still good but the crowds are much less than they are at the height of summer.

Enjoy!