Spokane to the Badlands

2Cougs

We just returned from a wonderful 3,000 mile T@bventure. 

For anyone wanting to follow a similar itinerary, here it is in a nutshell:

Day 1:  Drive... 230 miles (about 4 hours)

Headed across the Idaho panhandle into Montana. 

NO!  We did NOT drive 80mph!!!

Night 1:  Beavertail Hill State Park, Clinton, MT

  

Day 2:  Missouri Headwaters and Little Bighorn Battlefield

  

            (Long day - 450 miles and about 7 hours)

Night 2:  Tongue River State Park, Decker MT... notice how far away the electric post was!

 

Day 3: Devil's Tower National Monument and Crazy Horse

 

           (300 miles and about 6 hours)

Night 3: Custer State Park, Stockade North Campground

Day 4: Needles Highway (A MUST!), Mt. Rushmore, Wall Drug, The Badlands

           (trailer left at campground... 225 miles, 5 hours driving time)

   

This is the reason the trailer got left at the campground!!!  One of the tunnels was only 8"0" wide!

   

 

Night 4: Another site at Stockade North Campground

Day 5: Drive (another long day - about 300 miles and 5 hours) 

As we left home, I commented I was worried we were too early to see Fall colors... then first night out it was 28 degrees and I changed my mind and knew Fall colors + cold temps.  We were in Wyoming seeing some beautiful beginning of fall colors, came around the corner and there was snow!

Got there in time to really explore the really nice petroglyphs at the archaeology site we camped at.  A bit off the paved road, but well worth it.

Night 5:  Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site, Hyattville, WY

Day 6: Cody, WY and awesome Buffalo Bill Museum

           (130 miles and 3 hours)

Night 6: Buffalo Bill State Park, Cody WY... first time in 185 nights in T@b it was too windy (35 MPH winds with gusts to 50!) to cook in the clamshell!

  

Day 7: Yellowstone

            (185 miles and 4.5 hours driving time)

Night 7: Colter Bay Campground, Moran, WY

Day 8: Left T@b in campground and explored Jackson, WY and the Tetons

The dusting of snow on the mountains was beautiful!

  

Night 8: Back to Colter Bay and the trailer

Day 9: Craters of the Moon

           (220 miles and about 4 hours)

Could have camped in the lava field, but it was first come first serve and we were worried we wouldn't get a spot.

 

Night: KOA in Arco, ID... really wanted a hot shower and some internet

Day 10: met up with @BirdieJane for a great last night camping

            (330 miles and about 6 hours driving time)

 

Night 10: Ponderosa State Park, McCall, ID

Day 11:  drive about 300 miles and 6 hours

Night 12:  HOME!

Campgrounds were more than adequate, and picked as to their location and proximity to sites.  It was a great combination of camping and site seeing.  We live in a country with a wide variety of geographical wonders, and we were able to see a lot of it.  Found ourselves wanting to sing America the Beautiful!

WONDERFUL trip! 

MuttonChops

Great Trip - - - thanks for the pictures.

I've been to nearly all those places but not on a single road trip.  In fact did not even have a T@B for some . . . like Little Bighorn.  Did the auto tour on a stormy fall day, found the site very emotionally moving for both sides of the conflict.

While I visited Badlands and Devils Tower (withT@B) after driving the entire length of US-26 from the Oregon coast to western Nebraska in 2019.

Red is return trip detour due to early snow in Montana.

2Cougs

Looks like another great trip!

We agree on Little Bighorn... put a great lens on visiting some of the other sites.

dragonsdofly

@2Cougs, that's a BIG Yay and thumbs up from us honorary members of the Spo t@b group. We've been there and done much of that, but haven't had the opportunity in shoulder seasons. The description of your travels and accompanying photos are wonderful. Here's to continuing your adventures and keep up the enjoyment. 

P.S. you skipped horseback riding in the National Forest near Yellowstone this time. Something really special to do, and I'm sure, just held back for future experiences! -Jim & Denise