Road trip from SE VA to Montana Recommendations

Looking at taking the Taco on a road trip from SE VA to Montana with my goal being getting to see the Dutton Ranch from the TV show "Yellowstone" which is located in Darby, MT. I'd also want to see Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park while I am out there.

I'm trying to figure out a somewhat centrally located town/city in Montana/Utah to stay in that would offer plenty of adventurous opportunities.

I'd also like some very beginner trail recommendations as I'd like to use my truck for it's intended purpose while there, or else I would just fly.

Lastly, If anyone has made this trip for the VA/NC/MD area, do you have any recommendations on where to stop and sleep along the way? I'd plan to drive 12 hours the first day and 18 hours the next to make it there in two days.

Thanks for the help.

 

pee bottle... and at 85 yee taco will be getting 14mpgish so plan for fuel haha

 

@fatfurious2

 

Avoid Lame Deer, MT at all costs is my only real advice.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3-4-cross-country-trip-photo-dump.730647/

I did 10-11hr drives and it was kinda hard. My truck gets 13mpg, so stopping every 250 miles helped break up the monotonous..

Its a hard choice to decide between driving through Kansas vs South Dakota. At least SD has the Badlands to check out.

I drove to Belgrade Mt. I don't know where Darby is. Maybe @MTgirl knows?

 

@memario1214 and @4x4Runner can help too

 

My advice is take this trip , but take more time. If you want to get there fast just fly there and rent a car

 

If you're going solo, I really, really, really, wouldn't do that trip in 2 days. It's just not safe.

 

I did it in 3 days, and that was pushing it

 

I would split it into 3 10-hour days even if it takes a couple days away from exploring the area. I've done 11 hours by myself and when I got to my destination I was too tired to even enjoy the beauty of where I was.

Maybe find a copilot if you're determined to do it in two? Would be nice for conversation and being able to switch driving for a few hours at a time.

 

Attempting to complete this long haul solo in two days is just downright dangerous for you and everyone else sharing the road with you. If you have a second driver to share the load then that is a different story. Take your time brother! Enjoy the trip and arrive alive!

 

Corn Palace

Run south on the route back or something. Do a big loop, doubling back on the same roads is boring.

I picked some cities at random just for S's and G's



It adds some time but making that different route back, worth adding a day to go to a different route on the way back.

Ozarks + Mountain View is worth a stop too.

I don't know much for trails out that way, I just did highway.

 

I did NOT see this.

Do not do this.

You can knock out 12, and honestly you could probably pull 12 the second day too, but 12 then 18 is not kosher. Also, you won't get to see jack crap! Carve out more time and see the sights!

 

We took a road trip to North Dakota from NC this past Summer so I've got a few suggestions in random order.

Badlands national park was one of our favourites and it's worth driving through even if you don't have time for anything else. Hike the "Notch trail" if you have time for a hike. There are a couple of "high clearance" roads there if you want to use 4WD a bit. It's pretty easy to jump off I-90 drive through and come out the back side of the park and rejoin the interstate at Wall SD.

I'd avoid Mount Rushmore unless you are like us and figure since were in the neighborhood, might as well check it out. It's a bit touristy and if you've seen a picture of it, it looks just like the pictures. It's a stop, get a selfie and bolt kinda place.

Theodore Roosevelt national park is cool as well, although we thought Badlands was a bit better. A stop at the Rainbow canyon visitor center is worth the time if you are driving on I-94. The visitor center is a rest stop off the interstate so it's a quick and easy stop.

Gateway arch is worth a visit if you drive through St. Louis. Plan ahead and get tickets for the elevator ride to the top of the arch.

In Montana, North Datoka, Etc. get gas when you can. The towns are far apart and there is nothing between them.

 

Like others have said, I'd recommend taking your time on this one. There's quite a bit to see between Minnesota/Iowa and Montana. You have Mt Rushmore, the Corn Palace, Wall Drug, Black Hills, etc that you can do the touristy things at. If you're willing to go through Wyoming on the way there/back, check out Devil's Tower. None of these things are life changing experiences or anything, but since you're in the area, you may as well stop and say you did it.

 

don't drive that fast if you care about your MPG

 

18hr drives are doable if you know your limits, and don't be a hero

Id do more hours the first day, there isn't much to see but corn until you get to the Dakotas

You can make those long drives work...just don't lie to yourself and nap when you need to. truck stops are generally safe to nap in for a few hours if you are well out of a city.

None of those "stay awake" tricks work, if you get tired a few hour nap goes a long way

I like to snack on cherry tomatoes and baby carrots, you can eat quite a few of those to pass time.

as other have said, your mpg will suffer in eastern MT due to 85 speed limit and rolling hills. fuel stations are farther between as well, especially if you need 91 octane. a jerry can or rotopax would be nice in case you have to go further than you thought

The badlands of South Dakota are cool, MT Rushmore and Crazyhorse are mostly just tourist traps...but that's my opinion

Assuming you can handle a self recovery/mild breakdown...take your time and don't be afraid to drive up a random forest road, never know what you might find

Goodluck, sounds like a fun trip!

 

Don't do that. I did Las Vegas NV, to Charlotte NC in three days. Last pull was 958 miles in one sitting. That was 16 hours and too much and I have a lot of driving experience. 12 hours a day is hard enough.

Don't do that.

 

Not to be a Debby Downer, but there’s not a lot of the Chief Joseph Ranch you’re going to be able to see from the road. You can’t go have a tour without booking a cabin there. According to their website it’s between $1200 - $1500 a night with a three night minimum. And they’re fully booked for 2021.

That said, there’s plenty to do down in the Bitteroots if you want to see that terrain. Trying to combine three very distant and different regions of the state (Glacier country, Yellowstone country, and Bitterroot country is going to be a ton of time and miles. I’d pick a part of Montana you wanna go mess around in, buy a hiking trail book for the area, and stick to it. Turn off on any old Forest Service road and use your truck for what some folks call “overlanding.” Pitch a tent pretty much wherever you want on public land, it does belong to all of us. Check out Skalkaho Pass if you want to hang in the Bitterroots.

Don’t drive that long in a single day. Especially in the more populated states. Dealing with other traffic is more exhausting than the cruise control states out west. I just drove east from Montana and took a minimum three days. Sleep at truck stops or Cabela’s & Walmart parking lots if you’ve got your rig set up to sleep in the back.

 

find a buddy split gas every body wins!