I'm going to Montana for the summer and am getting ready to depart on my longest road trip yet (longest so far NC-Key West 920 miles). I'll have 7 days to get there. I am getting excited. Never been west of the great Mississippi (crossing the bridge and coming back didn't count).

Right now I have a route planned out with a few of the places that I want to make sure I see. I know that I will probably take detours - not too fond of the idea of being on major interstates for 2500 miles. I'm a follow the signs and see where it takes me kinda person. Are there any alternative routes that ya'll can suggest? Maybe cool things to see? I plan on camping at Badlands and Yellowstone, maybe other places. Is camping in national parks usually first come first serve or are reservations required? I don't want to really make reservations because I don't want to have to be somehere at a specific time.

NC – St. Louis, MO (St. Louis Arch)
I-77 N to Charleston, I-64W to St. Louis

St. Louis, MO – Sioux Falls, SD
I-70 W to Kansas City, I-29 N to Sioux Falls, SD

Sioux Falls, SD to Rapid City, SD (Badlands National Park)
I-90 W

Rapid City, SD to Cooke City, MT (Yellowstone National Park)

I-90 W to Billings, MT, US 212 S to Northeast entrance of Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park to Bigfork, MT US 191 N to Bozeman, I-90 W to Missoula, US 93 N to Bigfork


Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Happy road trippin'.

Heather