Driving from MA to MT, suggestions for stops along the way
August 14, 2010 3:55 PM Subscribe
Recently divorced, 39, and moving from MA to MT in early Sept. I was planning on driving along the I-90. I'm trying to figure out what is worth visiting, and also where to stop/camp along the way. This is about a 3000 mile drive. And I'm hoping to drive around 600 miles a day, but this is adjustable to some extent. I wouldn't mind spending extra days in some locations if its worthwhile.
One stop I plan to make will be Niagra Falls. (I also have both USA and Canadian Passports, so I can cross the border ok.)
I hope to camp most of the way. I also have a large 80lb doberman-mix, which complicates things slightly.
I'd be willing to get off the I-90 to see some things if its worth it. I'm not in a rush..
I'm more interested in things found in nature rather than city-life type stuff. But stopping in some big cities for some notable food or sites wouldn't be rejected outright.
Go north of Lake Superior on the Trans-Canadian Highway - Eastern Ontario is beautiful. Then come down to Rte 90 in Minnesota, and hit Rushmore and the Black Hills area
posted by Flood at 4:13 PM on August 14, 2010
posted by Flood at 4:13 PM on August 14, 2010
Best answer: If you happen to be driving on I-90 by Mitchell, SD make a 10 minute stop at the corn palace just to say that you were there.
posted by 47triple2 at 4:28 PM on August 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by 47triple2 at 4:28 PM on August 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I just moved from NY to Vancouver, BC and drove most of I-90. I'm seconding/thirding Rushmore, the Badlands and the Black Hills. I didn't camp along the way, but there seemed to be a ton of campsites along the way.
I-90 through Minnesota and the Eastern half of SD is mindnumbingly flat and boring. While driving through SD you will see five million billboards imploring you to visit Wall Drug. Ignore them, it's horrible. SD is also home to the Mitchell Corn Palace. It's not much, but right now they've got a corn mural of a guy riding a Segway. I thought it was cool.
posted by makonan at 4:30 PM on August 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I-90 through Minnesota and the Eastern half of SD is mindnumbingly flat and boring. While driving through SD you will see five million billboards imploring you to visit Wall Drug. Ignore them, it's horrible. SD is also home to the Mitchell Corn Palace. It's not much, but right now they've got a corn mural of a guy riding a Segway. I thought it was cool.
posted by makonan at 4:30 PM on August 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Wall Drug, believe it or not, has one of the best book stores for Western history in the Mid-West. I was just there, and couldn't believe it. Who knew? Otherwise, it's miss-able.
You could stop in Minneapolis and see the Walker Art Center and the Guthrie Theater.
Yellowstone Park in Sept is beautiful, and most of the tourists are gone.
In Sept. you could also see if there's any Pow-Wows being held.
posted by Ideefixe at 4:43 PM on August 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
You could stop in Minneapolis and see the Walker Art Center and the Guthrie Theater.
Yellowstone Park in Sept is beautiful, and most of the tourists are gone.
In Sept. you could also see if there's any Pow-Wows being held.
posted by Ideefixe at 4:43 PM on August 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
For your dog, you'll just need a valid rabies vaccination certificate, signed/dated by your vet. Food is a bit more complicated -- if you cross the US/Canadian border in either direction with dog food they're very likely to confiscate it. Sometimes food that's still sealed in the original packaging is fine but it all depends on the particular border agent you get.
posted by kate blank at 4:45 PM on August 14, 2010
posted by kate blank at 4:45 PM on August 14, 2010
600 miles is easy but tiring; I usually go by hours. The first time I drove cross-country I had a few 14-16 hr days and that was just stupid. I like stopping early so I can get my pick of hotel rooms and parking as well as have dinner before the dinnertime rush.
I love an empty restaurant.
posted by codswallop at 5:22 PM on August 14, 2010
I love an empty restaurant.
posted by codswallop at 5:22 PM on August 14, 2010
Best answer: It's been said, but I should emphasize the Badlands in SD, especially if you want nature. Plenty of camping around, too.
The Corn Palace is a tourist trap, but you can always say you've been there (if you go, that is). Wall Drug is kitschy, but better than any old rest stop if you happen to drive by, and well-known enough that I think it's worth seeing. I've seen a couple Wall Drug bumper stickers here in Brooklyn, NY, if that means anything.
Mt. Rushmore is the kind of thing everyone should see once, but Crazy Horse is on an entirely different scale.
I don't remember much about them (if they're even close to the interstate, or where exactly), but if it's not too far off to hit up The Needles (in the Black Hills), I remember them as being pretty neat.
The buffalo in Custer State Park are probably worth a small detour, too.
posted by bah213 at 5:39 PM on August 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Corn Palace is a tourist trap, but you can always say you've been there (if you go, that is). Wall Drug is kitschy, but better than any old rest stop if you happen to drive by, and well-known enough that I think it's worth seeing. I've seen a couple Wall Drug bumper stickers here in Brooklyn, NY, if that means anything.
Mt. Rushmore is the kind of thing everyone should see once, but Crazy Horse is on an entirely different scale.
I don't remember much about them (if they're even close to the interstate, or where exactly), but if it's not too far off to hit up The Needles (in the Black Hills), I remember them as being pretty neat.
The buffalo in Custer State Park are probably worth a small detour, too.
posted by bah213 at 5:39 PM on August 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: If you take I-90, you'll be driving thru Madison, WI. The House on the Rock is about 1 hour outside of Madison. It's a one of a kind place. Some people love it. Some really hate it. You might want to check it out online and see if it appeals to you. Having a dog with you might be a problem. I'm not sure if they would allow dogs in. Would be worth a call if you're interested.
posted by marsha56 at 6:28 PM on August 14, 2010
posted by marsha56 at 6:28 PM on August 14, 2010
I just did part of this drive this summer. The Corn Palace was definitely worth the detour!
Mt. Rushmore was one of the most bizarre places I've been to, but worth a visit. One thing I didn't know is that they have an evening light show at 8 p.m. (?), which sounds a bit cheesy but I wish I had gone to it. Your $10 entrance fee is good for an entire year so if you get there in the evening you can see that and then see the rest of it the next morning.
I recommend getting off of the interstate and driving on smaller highways as much as possible. It might take a bit more time but it's much more interesting. For example, we drove from Billings MT to Keystone SD in one day and did a lot of it on highway 212. We made a pit stop in Broadus MT, where we stopped at the Powder River Museum and Visitor Center. It sounded like a good place to go to the bathroom, but turned out to be so much more! It's basically a town museum, with saddles and buggies, military uniforms, and all kinds of stuff all collected from townspeople and catalogued with information about who owned it and when. The people there were so friendly. It sounds weird, but it was probably my favorite part of the trip.
posted by apricot at 6:32 PM on August 14, 2010
Mt. Rushmore was one of the most bizarre places I've been to, but worth a visit. One thing I didn't know is that they have an evening light show at 8 p.m. (?), which sounds a bit cheesy but I wish I had gone to it. Your $10 entrance fee is good for an entire year so if you get there in the evening you can see that and then see the rest of it the next morning.
I recommend getting off of the interstate and driving on smaller highways as much as possible. It might take a bit more time but it's much more interesting. For example, we drove from Billings MT to Keystone SD in one day and did a lot of it on highway 212. We made a pit stop in Broadus MT, where we stopped at the Powder River Museum and Visitor Center. It sounded like a good place to go to the bathroom, but turned out to be so much more! It's basically a town museum, with saddles and buggies, military uniforms, and all kinds of stuff all collected from townspeople and catalogued with information about who owned it and when. The people there were so friendly. It sounds weird, but it was probably my favorite part of the trip.
posted by apricot at 6:32 PM on August 14, 2010
I road tripped exactly this route about ten years ago and other than Niagara Falls I don't think we made a lot of side trips until we got to SD, where we spent an extra day so we could see the Badlands and the Black Hills. Nthing the Badlands and Crazy Horse recommendations.
Oh! And if you're stopping in Mitchell, SD to see the Corn Palace and are into that sort of thing the Ingalls Homestead in De Smet is not far away (even if you're not into Laura Ingalls Wilder I remember it as a pretty drive through the prairie).
posted by camyram at 6:43 PM on August 14, 2010
Oh! And if you're stopping in Mitchell, SD to see the Corn Palace and are into that sort of thing the Ingalls Homestead in De Smet is not far away (even if you're not into Laura Ingalls Wilder I remember it as a pretty drive through the prairie).
posted by camyram at 6:43 PM on August 14, 2010
Best answer: If you're in the Falls and your dog needs a walk after all that driving -- park at either Whirlpool State Park or Devil's Hole. There's a paved bike/walk path adjacent to the gorge that everyone walks their dogs on. It's pretty and conveniently close to both the highway and the bridges to Canada.
posted by bitterpants at 6:59 PM on August 14, 2010
posted by bitterpants at 6:59 PM on August 14, 2010
When I took a road trip a few years ago between NH and MT I first shot up to Canada and did Quebec - Montreal - Ottawa - Toronto before coming back into the U.S. at Detroit and doing the Western ⅔ of I-90.
If you were to take that route there are lots of interesting things in Canada but here are some particulars in Montreal:
If you go straight on I-90 instead of Canada check out the New York State Museum in Albany, also a great museum with lots of local and state history. Also there's the nearby Lark Street with lots of cool restaurants and cafés and shops, at least one nice used bookstore, and a nearby city park to let your doggie stretch his legs.
In Detroit (which is also near enough to I-90 for a side trip) I went to the Ford Museum and it was one of the most incredible places I've ever been; it's a museum that specializes in the history of technology and transport. One day isn't enough; I was waiting at the door when they opened in the morning and they had to kick me out in the evening and I don't think I'd seen too much more than half of the stuff.
Horribly good, you mean.
But seriously, like bah213 and others have said, the thing about it is that it's a fancy rest stop, not a wonderland like the billboards imply. It's just that it's the most ridiculously, insanely extravagant and pompous rest stop in existence.
Nthing the The Badlands in South Dakota again. Mount Rushmore sucked, not worth it IMO.
Don't forget to check out online event calendars to see if anything interesting is happening where you're passing.
I had this problem that continuously driving West at the time of year I was travelling resulted in my left arm getting extremely sunburned. No amount of sunblock seemed to help so I ended up wrapping a t-shirt around it.
posted by XMLicious at 8:58 PM on August 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
If you were to take that route there are lots of interesting things in Canada but here are some particulars in Montreal:
- The Insectarium (arrgh, the web site says it's closed right now due to a labor dispute)
- The Biodôme - basically an indoor zoo with desert, arctic, jungle, and other chambers (argh, also closed)
- The Pointe-à-Callière Museum - one of the better local history museums I've been to, if you'd be into that sort of thing. There's this crazy multi-screen multimedia show thing that does a whole presentation on the city's history. The Québécois take on North American history is definitely... interesting.
- Atwater Market, an exceptional farmer's market
- The Rue St. Denis for a dizzying array of incredible restaurants and cafés
- (Another arrgh, Ben's Delicatessen, a century-old Lithuanian place, was demolished a couple of years ago)
If you go straight on I-90 instead of Canada check out the New York State Museum in Albany, also a great museum with lots of local and state history. Also there's the nearby Lark Street with lots of cool restaurants and cafés and shops, at least one nice used bookstore, and a nearby city park to let your doggie stretch his legs.
In Detroit (which is also near enough to I-90 for a side trip) I went to the Ford Museum and it was one of the most incredible places I've ever been; it's a museum that specializes in the history of technology and transport. One day isn't enough; I was waiting at the door when they opened in the morning and they had to kick me out in the evening and I don't think I'd seen too much more than half of the stuff.
While driving through SD you will see five million billboards imploring you to visit Wall Drug. Ignore them, it's horrible.
Horribly good, you mean.
But seriously, like bah213 and others have said, the thing about it is that it's a fancy rest stop, not a wonderland like the billboards imply. It's just that it's the most ridiculously, insanely extravagant and pompous rest stop in existence.
Nthing the The Badlands in South Dakota again. Mount Rushmore sucked, not worth it IMO.
Don't forget to check out online event calendars to see if anything interesting is happening where you're passing.
I had this problem that continuously driving West at the time of year I was travelling resulted in my left arm getting extremely sunburned. No amount of sunblock seemed to help so I ended up wrapping a t-shirt around it.
posted by XMLicious at 8:58 PM on August 14, 2010 [2 favorites]
Best answer: One other thing: if you're going far enough to pass through Butte in Montana at the tippety-top of the buttes ringing the town is a fairly nice, if a bit worn, city park.
posted by XMLicious at 9:06 PM on August 14, 2010
posted by XMLicious at 9:06 PM on August 14, 2010
Once you get to Montana be sure to visit us in Calgary from time to time. Closest major city. Also, the badlands of SE Alberta are way better than those in the Dakotas- in particular the Rockies are MUCH closer to ours and we have more dinosaur bones than anywhere in the world too.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:30 PM on August 14, 2010
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:30 PM on August 14, 2010
Best answer: Spearfish, SD and Spearfish Canyon are just northwest of Rapid City on I-90. The Canyon is stunningly beautiful during late summer / early fall. There's a nice lodge and restaurant just at the entrance to Roughlock Falls, which makes it a very worthwhile place to spend a day and night.
posted by SamanthaK at 11:26 PM on August 14, 2010
posted by SamanthaK at 11:26 PM on August 14, 2010
Response by poster: Great suggestions, thanks everyone. It was hard to pick a 'best answer' as they were all great answers.
This is shaping up to be a great trip. =)
posted by herox at 9:18 AM on August 15, 2010
This is shaping up to be a great trip. =)
posted by herox at 9:18 AM on August 15, 2010
If you're looking for camping and nature, side trip to Allegheny National Forest in PA! You will not want to leave!
posted by deep thought sunstar at 10:51 AM on August 15, 2010
posted by deep thought sunstar at 10:51 AM on August 15, 2010
The Black Hills are definitely worth a day or two, and have beautiful camping. If you do stop for Wall Drug, the Wounded Knee Museum is in the same town--just off the highway--and is small but interesting.
posted by martianna at 4:35 PM on August 15, 2010
posted by martianna at 4:35 PM on August 15, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Bring your own coffee, if you drink it, as many midwestern states seem to have an aversion to selling strong coffee (I just returned from South Dakota, where brown hot water is the norm.)
I recommend the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, and the Little Big Horn Battlefield.
posted by Ideefixe at 4:10 PM on August 14, 2010 [1 favorite]