The Perfect 12-Day Northern USA Road Trip Itinerary for Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas
I've said it before but I'll say it again: there's no better way to see the United States than by taking to the road. Road tripping is the ultimate way to explore America, and there's no shortage of options whether you want to travel for 10 days or 10 months.
And while certain US road trip routes are more popular than others, the truth is that there's something to see in EVERY state in this union.
Which is why my sister and I decided to tackle a slightly less-popular road trip route: we decided we wanted to focus on the northern states that never seem to get enough love, and plan a road trip through Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
These four states are some of the least-populated in the US, and yet they're home to some of the most stunning national parks, the quirkiest cities, and some of the nicest people.
If you're interested in a unique US road trip route this year, consider one like this!
When to take a Northern USA road trip
This particular itinerary is written with summer road tripping in mind, as it's the most popular time of year to visit this part of the USA. BUT, you can absolutely visit Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas in a different season.
Summer season is the busiest season for traveling within the United States; July and August are by far the most crowded times in most national parks, and the months when hotel rooms are the most expensive.
If you want to save some money (and miss the worst of the crowds), consider traveling in the shoulder seasons, like April-May and September-October. (We love shoulder season travel around here!)
You can visit this part of the US in the winter, too, though winter does bring snow and closures to many of these destinations like the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. If you're planning this trip in the winter months, be sure to do some research into what will/won't be open, especially when it comes to visiting national parks.
(Again, this particular itinerary is written with a May-September trip in mind!)
Trip essentials
- Renting a car: I recommend either RentalCars.com or DiscoverCars, and you'll rent/drop off in either Minneapolis, Minnesota, or Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
- National Park Pass: Get an “American the Beautiful” pass, which costs $80 but gets you entry into any National Park Service site for a year. It will save you money on this trip. Pre-buy one here.
- Road trip journal: Pick up one of these road trip activity books for a fun way to track and remember your trip.
- Top things to book in advance: This is a very national park-heavy trip, but you really need to book your accommodation around Yellowstone and Grand Teton as far in advance as possible!
A 12-Day Road Trip Itinerary for Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas
You can technically start this northern road trip in a handful of different cities (my sister and I actually drove from where we live in Ohio), but in order to really get the most out of the time you have, I highly recommend starting/ending in either Minneapolis, Minnesota, or Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Sioux Falls is the ideal starting point if you can find decent flights there since it will save you some uninspiring driving, though you might find better flight options to Minneapolis.
Before we dive in here, it's important to note that this itinerary does include traversing through or near some Indigenous lands, mostly belonging to the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota Sioux tribes. These include the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, and the Crow Reservation in Montana, as well as lands that traditionally belonged to these and other Indigenous peoples. Please be respectful when visiting and passing through these places.
Highlights of this Montana, Wyoming, and Dakotas road trip route include:
- Falls Park in Sioux Falls
- Badlands National Park
- A stop at Wall Drug
- Custer State Park
- Mount Rushmore and/or the Crazy Horse Memorial
- Wind Cave National Park
- Devils Tower National Monument
- Grand Teton National Park
- Yellowstone National Park
- Billings, Montana
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- Fargo, ND
- And more!
Total mileage for this trip (assuming you start/end in Sioux Falls) is right around 2500 miles.
Want a printable version of this itinerary? Get one here!
Need to rent a car for this road trip? You'll find more options in Minneapolis, but all the big brands like Enterprise, Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Alamo have offices in Sioux Falls, too. I always use Discover Cars to compare car rental prices in the US. Search for rental cars here.
And now on to the actual itinerary! This itinerary was developed and tested by me personally, so I can vouch that you CAN do it all. (Though it's worth noting that this is a very ambitious itinerary, with several hours of driving required each day since these states are all quite big! If you don't want to drive 4+ hours on most days, then you'll need more than 12 days to complete this whole trip.)
Day 1: Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls is the largest city in South Dakota, making it a great starting point for a road trip through this part of the US. The city is known for the spot where the Big Sioux River cascades over huge slabs of pink quartz (in a place inventively named Falls Park), and has a history dating back thousands of years.
Various Indigenous American peoples called the area home centuries ago, and you can still find some of their burial mounds in Sherman Park.
If you have some time to explore today, start out with a walk along the Big Sioux River to Falls Park to admire the city's namesake waterfalls.
Afterwards, you could visit the Japanese Gardens, tour the Pettigrew Home & Museum if you like stately old houses, or perhaps visit a brewery or two since, yes, craft beer has taken off in South Dakota, too.
Total driving time: 4 hours if driving from Minneapolis; closer to 0 if flying in to Sioux Falls
Where to stay in Sioux Falls: My sister and I stayed at the Country Inn & Suites in Sioux Falls because of its close proximity to the river and Falls Park. If a vacation rental is more your speed, check out this downtown apartment.
Day 2: Badlands National Park
Hop on I-90 today after breakfast so you can get to Badlands National Park by lunchtime. In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated national parks in the United States!
Pro tip: You absolutely will want to get yourself a National Parks Pass for this trip. They cost $80 and are good for one year (you can buy them online, or at the first National Park site you visit). You'll save $75+ on this trip alone if you have one!
Stop for a quick lunch at Cedar Pass Lodge before entering the park (note that it's only open from mid-April through late October each year), and try the Frybread Tacos. Then you can spend most of the afternoon/early evening exploring the Badlands.
The great thing about Badlands National Park is that there are lots of shorter walks/hikes that don't take a lot of time but do show you some of the best landscapes. I recommend the Door Trail and Window Trail (both less than a mile round-trip) to start with, and the short Cliff Shelf later in the park.
There's also the Loop Road to drive, with several overlooks, pull-outs, and prairie dog “cities” along the way. I also recommend stopping at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center to see the Fossil Prep Lab, where they work on the many fossils found in the Badlands.
Just one note: There's little shade in the Badlands, meaning it can get HOT during the summer. Be sure to bring plenty of water with you, even on the shorter walks! (I always travel with a refillable water bottle, and on trips like these buy big 2-gallon or even 5-gallon jugs of water to keep in the car to refill whenever I need to!)
RELATED: All You Need to Know About Visiting Badlands National Park
From the Badlands, you'll head back to I-90 in the direction of Rapid City. But there's one more stop you should make on the way, and that's at Wall Drug.
Wall Drug is the perfect example of the American can-do attitude. Thanks to shameless self-promotion, Wall Drug grew from a tiny drug store into a tourist attraction that now covers an entire city block.
Wall Drug became famous for its free ice water and 5-cent coffee (both of which you can still get there), and now is a must-visit roadside attraction for all sorts of kitschy Americana. If you're hungry, you could grab a quick bite here for dinner before continuing on to Rapid City for the night.
Total driving time: 6 hours (4 hours from Sioux Falls to the Badlands; 1 hour(ish) driving in the park; 1 hour to Rapid City)
Entry fees: Badlands National Park entry: $30 (if no National Park Pass)
Where to stay in Rapid City: The Comfort Suites Hotel is the top-rated one on TripAdvisor, but if you prefer your hotels with a little character and history, then I recommend checking out either the The Rushmore Hotel & Suites or the Hotel Alex Johnson, both of which have central locations in downtown Rapid City. If you prefer a vacation rental, check out this luxurious bungalow with a great location.
Day 3: The Black Hills (Pahá Sápa)
While Rapid City is pretty cool in its own right, I promise you won't regret spending today seeing some of the other highlights in the Black Hills. I recommend packing a picnic lunch today.
You could start your day today with a visit to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the famous rock carving dedicated to four influential US presidents.
I say “could” instead of “should” because Mount Rushmore is quite the controversial spot, and I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to visit.
The carving is made directly into the Black Hills (Pahá Sápa), which are considered sacred land to the Lakota Sioux. There's been a land dispute over this area ever since the United States government granted it to the Sioux in a treaty, but then took most of it back once gold was discovered there.
There's also the fact that Mount Rushmore's sculptor, Guzton Borglum, had known ties to the Ku Klux Klan.
If you do decide to visit, the top things to do include watching the film at the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center, walking the short Presidential Trail, and visiting the studio where Borglum worked from 1939 to 1941.
From Mount Rushmore (or instead of it), continue south to Custer State Park, my favorite part of the Black Hills! There is an entry fee to this park (it's not covered by a National Parks Pass), but it's well worth the cost.
Make for Sylvan Lake first, which is the perfect spot to stop for an early picnic lunch. (Or, if picnicking isn't your thing, you can also have lunch at the Sylvan Lake Lodge.)
After lunch, continue on to the Needles Highway (Route 87), which curves and winds through 14 miles of spindly rock formations called “Needles.” Plan to go slow and stop at least a few times for photos.
If you have time after the Needles Highway, you can also drive the Wildlife Loop to look for some of the park's bison herds.
Or, continue south to the town of Hot Springs, South Dakota, where you'll find the Mammoth Site. This is a super cool active paleontological dig site containing the world's largest concentration of mammoth bones (actual bones, not fossils!).
The current visitor center/dig site sits atop what was a sink hole 26,000 years ago, and you can take a tour to learn more about mammoths and see what they've uncovered up close. This is one of my favorite things we did in South Dakota.
If you go to the Mammoth Site, then you can stay in Hot Springs tonight. Otherwise, you could backtrack back to Rapid City.
Total driving time: About 3 hours
Entry fees: Mount Rushmore parking: $10; Custer State Park fee: $25 per car; Mammoth Site tour: $15
Where to stay in Hot Springs: I recommend staying in Hot Springs tonight, simply for the sake of convenience. Check out the historic Red Rock River Resort, which is within walking distance of restaurants and some other sites in Hot Springs, or you could try this cute cabin for the night.
Day 4: The Black Hills (Pahá Sápa)
Roughly 10 minutes north of Hot Springs sits Wind Cave National Park, home to one of the longest caves in the world. Wind Cave is one of the oldest national parks in the US – and also the first cave to be designated as a national park anywhere in the world.
You'll probably want to take a ranger-guided cave tour here, and while some tour tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis each day, you can reserve some cave tour tickets up to 120 days in advance. Tours vary in length and level of difficulty, but the majority last for 1-1.5 hours. (More info here.)
After your cave tour, head back north through the Black Hills and Custer State Park (the pass you bought on Day 3 is good for 7 days). If you didn't have time to drive the Wildlife Loop to look for bison on Day 3, make sure to have a look today!
Make a stop at the Crazy Horse Memorial on your way north on Highway 385. The Memorial was begun in 1948 by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, and his children are still working on the larger-than-life sculpture of Lakota leader Crazy Horse.
Even though the sculpture is still a work in progress, you can visit the Crazy Horse Memorial Welcome Center, the Indian Museum of North America, the Native American Educational & Cultural Center, and the the sculptor’s workshop. This is also a good place to see/purchase Indigenous artwork and crafts, especially during the summer months.
Spend another night back in Rapid City tonight; if you get in early enough, take some time to stop by Art Alley (a street art-filled alley between 6th and 7th streets downtown), or maybe visit Firehouse Brewing Co. (South Dakota's oldest brewery, which is housed inside a historic firehouse).
Total driving time: 1.5-2 hours
Entry fees: Wind Cave National Park: $14-$16 for a cave tour; Crazy Horse Memorial: up to $35
Where to stay in Rapid City: Again, I recommend checking out either the The Rushmore Hotel & Suites or the Hotel Alex Johnson, both of which have central locations in downtown Rapid City. Or you can look at this luxurious bungalow if you prefer a rental.
Day 5: Devils Tower (Bear Lodge)
Today it's time to bid farewell to South Dakota and head over the state line into Wyoming. The main stop today will be at Devils Tower National Monument, which was the very first National Monument in the United States.
You can't miss this incredible rock formation – literally, it rises up higher than anything else for miles, so there's no doubt once you see it.
Stop in the visitor center to learn about the tower's formation (it's still a bit of a geological mystery!), and about the Native American stories and legends that surround it. The tower of igneous rock has been a sacred spot for the Northern Plains Tribes for centuries – they refer to it as Bear Lodge.
Then hit the 1.3-mile Tower Trail, which loops around the base of the tower and is a nice, easy walk.
If you're up for some more hiking, there are other trails that offer views of both the tower and the Belle Fourche River valley.
From Devils Tower, continue on to the town of Casper for the night. If you arrive early enough, consider visiting the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center to learn about the area's pioneer history. If you don't get in early enough, take a stroll through the city's historic downtown before dinner.
Total driving time: 4.5-5 hours
Entry fees: Devils Tower: $25 per car (or free with a National Parks Pass)
Where to stay in Casper: The Best Western Plus Casper Inn & Suites is the top-rated Casper hotel on TripAdvisor.
Day 6: Grand Teton National Park
Today will be one of your longer driving days, so have a big breakfast and get an early start.
If you're a history nerd like me, take the southwestern route out of Casper on Route 220 so you can make a quick stop at Independence Rock. For those who played Oregon Trail as a kid, this is THE Independence Rock! Many early pioneers stopped at this landmark, carving their names into the granite.
From there, head back to Route 26, which will lead you straight into Grand Teton National Park.
You can spend the second half of the afternoon and early evening exploring the park. Hop onto Teton Park Road, headed south towards Jenny Lake Lodge. Take the one-way loop off the main road to visit Jenny Lake, or to do one of the shorter hikes to Leigh Lake (1.8 miles RT) or String Lake (3.7 miles RT).
Later, make your way south, stopping at as many viewpoints as your heart desires.
Stay in Jackson tonight so you can see the rest of Grand Teton National Park tomorrow morning.
Total driving time: 5.5-6 hours
Entry fees: Grand Teton National Park: $35 per car (or free with National Parks Pass)
Where to stay in Jackson: Jackson is a resort town, meaning there are lots of accommodation options. The downside is that it's super popular in the summer months – meaning you'll want to book as far ahead as possible and plan to splurge. If you're going to splurge anyway, check out Huff House Inn and Cabins (#1 on TripAdvisor), Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa, or the Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole. For rentals, this 2-bedroom townhome is a good option.
Day 7: To Yellowstone!
Another early start today would be smart so you can see a little more of the Grand Tetons before you head up to Yellowstone*.
*Note that the suggested route for the next two days can NOT be driven in your own vehicle during the winter months. The roads inside Yellowstone close during the winter, and you can only visit as part of a guided winter tour.
Start your morning with a stop at Mormon Row, just past Moose Junction on Highway 191 in Grand Teton National Park. Mormon Row is a collection of old homesteads and barns along Antelope Flats Road that once belonged to early settlers of this region. The old wooden barns look especially great in the morning hours, with the jagged mountains illuminated behind them.
On your way north, you can visit a couple of the viewpoints you missed yesterday, like Snake River Overlook (made famous by photographer Ansel Adams). Further north, Oxbow Bend and Willow Flats are also worth a stop, and are spots where you may be able to see wildlife like moose and bear.
You'll then skirt along Jackson Lake, and will eventually reach the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
Today, I would make your focus in Yellowstone the geyser basins and Old Faithful area in the southwest corner of the park. There's a LOT to see and do here depending on how much walking you do/don't want to do.
Stop first at the Old Faithful Visitor Center to learn about the area's geological history, and find out when the famous geyser is predicted to erupt next (they can usually predict it within about 10 minutes). There will be a lot of people waiting to see the geyser, but the viewing area outside is huge, so it's worth sticking around for.
There are short walks around the Old Faithful area you can do, too, to see more geysers in the Upper Geyser Basin.
From Old Faithful, head up to the Midway Geyser Basin, home to the famous Grand Prismatic Spring.
If you want the BEST view of this geothermal wonder, pull off at the Fairy Falls trailhead *before* you reach the Midway Geyser Basin. Here, you can take an easy 15-minute walk up a hill to see Grand Prismatic Spring from above!
Then head down to the Midway Geyser Basin proper to walk the boardwalks around the Excelsior Geyser Crater and Grand Prismatic Spring. This is one of the most popular parts of Yellowstone, so you'll probably need some patience to find parking here.
It's worth it, though, I promise.
Once you've had your fill of geysers, make your way through Madison and to the West Entrance of Yellowstone, where you'll stay tonight.
Total driving time: 3-4 hours (driving in the park can be slow!)
Entry fees: Yellowstone National Park: $35 per car (or free with a National Parks Pass)
Where to stay in West Yellowstone: West Yellowstone is filled to the brim with motels and other accommodation options, but many are expensive and book up quickly during the summer months. As with Jackson, book early and be prepared to splurge a bit here! Good hotel/motel options include the Kelly Inn and the Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone.
If you want something a little more rustic (but still super cool), my sister and I stayed at Yellowstone Under Canvas, a glamping site where you can sleep in a tent (in a real bed) complete with s'mores around a campfire at night.
And there are vacation rental options here in West Yellowstone, too, including this lodge-style home that can sleep 8.
Day 8: Yellowstone National Park
Get ready for a full day of exploring Yellowstone National Park today! Start your morning with a visit to Mammoth Hot Springs, the other major geothermal area in the park. Here, the Albright Visitor Center is worth checking out, and there's a cute general store in “town” where you might want to grab snacks for the day.
Park at the Upper Terraces and walk the boardwalks over the hot springs and down to a viewpoint of the terraces and Canary Spring. Then you can also walk down to the Lower Terraces and around all the crazy, steaming formations if you have time.
From Mammoth Hot Springs, either retrace your route south through Norris, or head east to Tower-Roosevelt and then make your way to Canyon Village (the route through Norris Junction is faster, but you may want to take the longer route to see more). Check out the visitor center in Canyon Village to learn all about the Yellowstone Super Volcano, and grab a quick lunch at the Canyon Lodge Cafeteria.
Next, it's on to see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. There's a North Rim and a South Rim drive here, with several short hikes to overlooks. You can walk to the brink of both the Upper and Lower falls, and I also highly recommend driving out to Artist's Point, which has arguably the best view of the entire canyon.
After spending some time at the canyon, spend the remainder of your afternoon/evening looking for wildlife.
Head back north of Canyon Village to Tower-Roosevelt, where you'll turn east into the Lamar Valley. This is one of the best parts of Yellowstone for wildlife sightings, including the park's bison herds and wolf packs. And the early evening right before dusk is the best time of day to spot them.
Just please, for the love of Mother Nature, don't block traffic to look at animals (unless they themselves are blocking the road – which does happen!), and definitely DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, approach or attempt to touch, feed, or take selfies with wild animals. Bison are not cuddly.
After (hopefully) having some good wildlife sightings, continue to the Northeast Entrance of the park, where you'll cross from Wyoming to Montana and stay in Cooke City, Montana.
Total driving time: 4(ish) hours (again, driving in the park is slow!)
Entry fees: None, since your entrance from yesterday is valid for 7 days
Where to stay in Cooke City: Motels and B&Bs are your choices here – check out hotels in Cooke City here. Or you can consider this super fancy cabin (complete with hot tub), or this cabin in the woods.
Day 9: Billings, Montana
Feel free to have a lie-in this morning since you won't be driving too far – it's less than 3 hours to Billings, Montana.
Billings is the largest city in the state of Montana, and has been nicknamed “Montana's Trailhead” thanks to its proximity to nature and miles of scenic trails. And if you want to add something fun to your walk? Billings is also home to the only self–guided, walkable brewery trail in Montana. The city's unofficial “brewery district” is located downtown and includes six breweries, two distilleries, and a cider house, all within easy walking distance.
Another point of interest in Billings is the Moss Mansion, a stately home built in 1903 by local businessman Preston Boyd Moss. My sister and I love being nosy in old houses, and therefore added this to our itinerary in Billings.
RELATED: There's More to Montana Than its National Parks
Total driving time: 2.5 hours
Entry fees: Moss Mansion tour: $15 per person
Where to stay in Billings: It's gotta be the beautiful Northern Hotel, an upscale and modern hotel in downtown Billings. Fun fact: The hotel was originally opened in 1904 by Henry W Rowley and P.B. Moss (the Moss Mansion guy!). (Read reviews on TripAdvisor | Book a room here!)
Day 10: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
You may not think there's much to see between central Montana and, well, anywhere in North Dakota – but you would be wrong! I've got a couple goodies up my sleeve for Day 10 of your trip.
Head east out of Billings on I-94, and it's only about half an hour to your first stop: Pompeys Pillar National Monument.
Remember back in elementary or middle school when you learned about Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea and their expedition to explore and map the West? Well it just so happens that their party passed through this part of Montana, and William Clark carved his name in a rock.
This carving – made in 1806 – is the only remaining physical evidence of the entire Lewis and Clark Expedition. (I'm not the only one who thinks that's cool, right??)
The visitor center at Pompeys Pillar National Monument does a good job of walking you through Lewis and Clark's history and journey, and then you have the chance to climb some wooden steps to see the historic graffiti up close.
The history nerd in me totally geeked out over this!
From Pompey's Pillar, you're going to get on I-94 and just drive for a bit. You'll pass through Miles City and Glendive, and not far over the North Dakota border you'll reach the town of Medora. Here you'll find a national park that you've probably never heard of before: Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
One of the only national parks to be named after a person, this national park covers over 110,000 square miles in three different “units.” The one just off I-94 is the South Unit, which is the largest of the three.
The park has a scenic drive and some great wildlife viewing – “great” mostly because there's little traffic, and you'll have a lot of wildlife sightings completely to yourself.
We visited Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the later afternoon and stayed until sunset, watching the sun go down from the Wind Canyon Trail.
There are several short hikes in the park, a couple prairie dog “towns,” and animals like bison and even wild horses to look out for.
Total driving time: 4.5 hours
Entry fees: Pompey's Pillar: $7.50; Theodore Roosevelt National Park: $30 per car (if no National Park Pass)
Where to stay in Medora: Medora may look like a “blink and you'll miss it” sort of town, but it actually has a couple of hotels and the famous Medora Musical, an outdoor western-style musical show that runs all summer. For hotels, check out the Rough Riders Hotel, where rooms come complete with a Teddy Bear (in honor of Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt).
Day 11: To Fargo
Today you'll make your way across North Dakota to Fargo, on the state's eastern border with Minnesota. Since you'll likely want to stop somewhere along the way, I recommend Jamestown, about halfway between Bismarck and Fargo. Here you'll find both the North American Bison Discovery Center and a recreated frontier village.
At the North American Bison Discovery Center (formerly the National Buffalo Museum), you can learn all about the great herds of bison that used to roam the prairies, and also may be lucky enough to see one of the albino bisons that live in the local herd. Then you can also stretch your legs in the pioneer town, which is really cute!
If you get to Fargo early, take some time to stroll through this historic downtown area, and perhaps visit the Plains Art Museum, which has everything from traditional American Indian and folk art to national and regional contemporary art.
Total driving time: 5 hours
Entry Fees: North American Bison Discovery Center: $8
Where to stay in Fargo: Homewood Suites by Hilton is top-rated in Fargo, but you know I don't like to recommend boring chain hotels if I can help it! For history and character in Fargo, check out The Hotel Donaldson, a boutique hotel right in the heart of the city.
Day 12: Back to the beginning
Today is the last day of your adventure. It's roughly 3.5 hours back to either Minneapolis or Sioux Falls, depending on where you wanted to start/end your road trip.
Chances are you'll already be dreaming about coming back to re-visit some of these iconic spots!
Get a printable version of this whole itinerary!
Know before you go: Road trip tips
Check out my list of road trip tips for ALL my tricks for road tripping in the U.S.
But here are the tips that are most important for this trip through Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas:
- Buy a National Parks Pass. This road trip itinerary has you visiting a bunch of national parks and monuments, all of which charge a per-car entrance fee. You can save some money by getting a National Parks Pass either before you leave or when you arrive at the Badlands. The pass costs $80, and then is good for an entire year at any NPS-managed site. Without a parks pass, you'll be spending roughly $150 on entry fees for this trip.
- Make sure you have extra water. Dehydration is not a joke, and can be a very real threat if you’re traveling out West during the summer. Always have extra water, because you never know when you might need it. Most national parks will have water bottle filling stations, but be sure to have a reusable water bottle (I love my Camelbak Chute) or a hydration pack with you – and fill up at every opportunity, as most tap water in the US is perfectly fine to drink.
- Allow extra time. I've estimated driving times, but it's always best to assume drives will take you longer than Google Maps suggests. Photo stops, bathroom stops, and detours to check out random things will add more time to any drive!
Curious about what else to pack for this trip? Head over to this post: USA Road Trip Essentials: What to Pack for a US Road Trip
Who's ready to plan a road trip through Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas?
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Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Awesome road trip itinerary! Can’t wait to explore these beautiful states.
I cannot thank you enough for this fantastic blog!! We used your super thorough and well thought out itinerary as the blueprint for our trip, which knocked out states 46-49 for my husband. We had a spectacular trip thanks to you! A few things I wanted to share in our modifications which i thought your readers might find interesting:
-we skipped the caves in the black hills in order to spend a full day in Casper with Wyoming Fly Fishing (if we had more time I’d have done both, we absolutely loved it there, especially Custer State Park!). They took us on a float trip down the Platt which was an amazing experience. Also, just last year, a new AirBNB opened up called Alma Away. It’s above the adorable Alma home store, and is fully designed and furnished by the owner. I cannot tell you how incredible this place is. Another funny thing about Casper: just outside of town is a town called Barr Nunn which is built on an old airport. The streets are the airstrip and there is a cute restaurant called the Hangar, which is…. in the old airplane hangar.
-For Jackson – The Cowboy Millionaire’s Bar is not to be missed! There is also a really cheesy shoot-out every day at 6pm done by the local community theater. it’s hokey but fun. We got a bite to eat at the Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton when we first arrived in the park – the view from the outdoor tables is incredible.
-In Cooke City, we found a great little ranch to stay in called Skyline, and had them take us on an all day excursion into Yellowstone on horseback; we rode for 90 min, then did some fly fishing in pebble creek, then rode back. It was so scenic and memorable. We had them wrap up earlier than they usually would so we could get through bear tooth pass before dark and stop for dinner at the Bear Creek Saloon, which is open Thurs-Sun and has pig racing daily, every 15 minutes from 7-9:15. Their steaks happen to be excellent also!
-In Fargo, for movie fans, there is a wooden statue of Marge inside the historic theater, and the visitors center has the woodchipper and an original script of the namesake movie. If ND is your 50th state, you can get a “saved the best for last” tee shirt and certificate. Just 5 minutes away in Moorehead, MN, is one of the original Dairy Queens which is also the location where the Dilly Bar was invented. There is a huge statue! Because they are so original they are allowed to have off menu items listed, and the dilly bars are dipped in store. It’s really worth a visit. Moorehead is also the home to Prairie Home Companion.
-We had an early flight so didn’t have time for a pitstop, but if we did, I would have stopped on our drive between Fargo and Sioux Falls to see the Laura Ingalls Wilder home and museum in De Smet!
I’m so glad to hear you had an awesome trip! The modifications you made to this itinerary sound excellent!
I like your ideas, just wondering how
I could integrate a stop in Cody and the Bear Tooth Highway. We already have bookings in ynp for 3 days. Old Faitful, Mammoth and Yellowstone Lake. Coming and returning from the Milwaukee area with 2 kids. Hoping for about a 2 week trip.
Hmmm, so this itinerary actually already has you driving on the Beartooth Highway between Cooke City and Billings. Adding a stop in Cody, however, would probably require another night added, since Cody is about 5 hours from Devil’s Tower, but also 5 hours from Grand Teton National Park. Unless you visited Yellowstone first (from Cody), and then kind of backtracked down into Grand Teton over the course of 1-2 days. (So, you could do Devil’s Tower-Cody-Yellowstone-Grand Teton, then drive back through Yellowstone to exit through Cooke City to drive the Beartooth Highway. That would just cut out the stop in Casper.
I didn’t look close enough to see about the Beartooth Highway. My fault. Since our last night in YNP is at Yellowstone Lake I had thought about entering through Cody then spending our days in YNP then hitting the Grand Tetons. Maybe just entering ynp again and then leaving through the north east entrance would work too. I’ve seen people suggest driving to Cody and then driving the Chief Joseph Highway to Beartooth too, so leaving that way vs. coming. What would we be missing in Casper? Going in and out of the parks is free for us since my daughter is a 4th grader, so that’s not a factor for us. I really appreciate your feedback. We do plan to stay 2 days in a row in the same spot a few times to give my kids a break. Right now I’m thinking for sure 2 days in the Black Hills and 2 days in Teton.
Nothing special in Casper; for the itinerary I did, it just made more sense in terms of timing/driving distance. So if Cody is on your to-do list, I would prioritize that!
What a wonderful detailed itinerary! Starting my planning for this coming October and this has been so helpful!
Good job. Thanks. I am considering this with our travel trailer in tow. How does that factor into your overall (or detailed) recommendations?
I don’t think you’d have to make any adjustments to the overall itinerary with a trailer – but you might want to check with whatever accommodation you chose that they can accommodate it for parking! Also, you’ll want to check the Needles Highway; there are a couple tunnels that you may not be able to fit a trailer through, depending on its size.
Hi, I have had a look at your itinery and this is exactly what my husband and I have been looking for as a trip to the Canyons. If I may ask how much would one have to budget for approximately, to do this trip in USA dollars including all accommodations and car hire. Your input will be very helpful we would be coming from New Zealand. Dont include the flights.
Kind regards,
Hey Jo-Anne! It’s tough to pinpoint an exact budget, since it depends on a lot of factors including what time of year you travel, where you stay, what kind of car you rent, where you eat, etc. I did this trip pre-pandemic, and obviously a lot has changed since then! But, I would allow at least $500-$1000 for a rental car, and up to $150-$250 per night for hotels, depending on your travel style (though hotels around Yellowstone will likely be more). Food isn’t crazy expensive, and I recommend spending the $80 on a national parks pass, as it’ll save you money on all the parks I mention here.
If I could make this trip a really will be my dream come true! Thank you.
Please spare us your political virtue signaling. It’s lame. Are you a travel advisor or an activist?
What’s political? Facts are not political. But if you don’t like what you’re reading, then go away. There are plenty of other blogs on the internet.
I enjoyed reading your article, and definitely I’ll be looking forward to making this trip.
Thanks.
Hello Amanda
How come we cannot see the name of the hotels in your blog under the section:” where to stay in….”
Thank you
Hey Linda. Well that’s a new one – the hotels are definitely listed and there are links to each of them. If you’re not seeing them, maybe try looking at the post in a new web browser?
Thanks Amanda, I can easily see the names of the hotels on the “Road trip itinerary” that I downloaded but not on guide I bought (2.99) but not on your other document. At the same time may I ask you if you have something on the Montana Glacier Park.
Thank you again
Hey Linda – it might be easier if you send me an email ([email protected]), as I’m unclear where the info is missing from based on this comment!
Amanda, I just tried another browser and the information is still missing, I copied and pasted the information for Rapid City:
Where to stay in Rapid City: The is the top-rated one on TripAdvisor, but if you prefer your hotels with a little character and history, then I recommend checking out either the or the , both of which have central locations in downtown Rapid City.
Hope this will help to understand the problem, thanks
If you prefer a vacation rental, check out , or with a great location.
Hi there, thank you for the comprehensive guide. Quick question, I’m thinking of doing this exact trip from mid-October to late-October this year. Do you think it would be feasible with a rental car/jeep considering the weather and operating hours of the national parks. I will be travelling from Europe.
An alternative I was thinking about was to follow most of this trip but continue to Jackson, WN and fly out from there. Only thing is the car will be that bit more expensive to drop off in another State.
Cheers!
It probably would be feasible – the roads inside Yellowstone, for example, don’t usually close for the winter until early November (the same goes for some of the roads in the Grand Tetons). But by mid-October, it’s impossible to predict what the weather might be like. You might get sunny days and have no issues, or you could run into snow and road closures. If you decide to go for it, be sure you’re comfortable potentially driving in snow!
Hi Amanda, many thanks for your swift reply. Yes, I need to decide shortly to avoid crazy flight prices. I’m between this road-trip or one further south, perhaps between Colorado and Texas, which I guess would render the adverse weather conditions more a moot point – at least in Texas! Will let you know how I go! Thanks, Joe
Amanda is certainly correct. A few years ago we visited Custer, SD, to attend the Buffalo Roundup in late September. The day of the roundup we woke up to six inches of snow, which had not been in the forecast.
Informative, but it’s sad you had to bring your political views into the part about Mt. Rushmore. We could have done without that!
No political views were shared. Just straight facts.
Great reply. I am going to use this information to do the reverse…Montana to Sioux Center Iowa. Thanks for the great ideas.
Thank goodness we found out about this great controversy with Mount Rushmore, so we can set our travel agenda to avoid these colonialist creations that are emblematic of oppression and systematic racism. Maybe some penance at Little Big Horn would be appropriate…
Love this itinerary! Can you suggest routes and places if your starting this journey from Indianapolis IN? Hoping to go in late spring! Ty😊
I haven’t driven that exact route, but I imagine the easiest would be to drive through Iowa to start this itinerary in Sioux Falls. (I don’t really have any personal tips for that portion of the drive though, sorry!)
We used parts of this itinerary last summer leaving from NE Ohio. You’re going to be starting farther south than we were, but some of our plans might work for you. We made a loop, going through Wisconsin and Minnesota on the way out and back through Iowa. Day 1: Milwaukee. We had dinner at Milwaukee Brat House and then went to the Brewers game (but there are lots more options!)
Day 2: Minneapolis/St. Paul: Como Zoo and Conservatory; Minnehaha Falls/park; Sculpture Garden; Twins Game
Day 3: St. Mary Basilica; Mall of America (we got there at opening and spent like 2 hours hitting a couple highlights); Drove in the afternoon and saw some highlights like Porter Sculpture Park and Corn Palace. Ate dinner at Al’s Oasis in Oacoma, SD.
From there, we went to the Badlands area the next day.
For the route home, we stopped at the Minute Man Missile Site and Akta Lakota Museum and stayed at Sioux Falls where we also checked out the falls. Then, we took a northern route (Route 20) across Iowa and stopped and bought corn, saw the world’s largest popcorn ball, and then saw the Field of Dreams in Dyersville. We also did some quick touring in Dubuque and then stayed in Rockford, Illinois (map looks like you might spend time in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City instead). There are also lots of great ideas for taking 80 and hitting Omaha and Des Moines if that is more appealing.
Hi I really like how you layout your trip but instead of going to N Dakota I would like to go to Grand Tetons? Can you recommend an itinerary for that? Can I purchase or get a copy of your itinerary? I will be doing a trip in early June 2022. Thank you and God bless Mike
Hi Mike! I don’t offer custom itineraries, but this one does include the Grand Tetons! You can always use this as a jumping off point to inspire your own trip, and then plan the parts that are most interesting to you.
This was very helpful. Thank you
Ou have seen I just finished reading your blog and am drooling over it. My husband and I have covered each of the features you mentioned, some of them multiple times. Our route differs somewhat as we are driving from Kentucky and we have made some side trips you didn’t mention. On several occasions we took a day off in Billings to rest up for the rest of our trip and we have some favorite antique stores there. On our way from Billings to my favorite of all times, Yellowstone, we have taken the Beartooth Highway and spectacular doesn’t begin to describe it. I never tire of Yellowstone. My husband once remarked that if you have seen 10,000 geysers you have seen them all, but I think he enjoys it almost as much as I do. We haven’t been traveling much the last several years due to some serious family illness and now COVID, so I am enjoying just reminiscing about the times we have actually been to all these places.
My post should have started with “I have just finished…..” I don’t know where those first words came from.
I hope reading this has brought back some good memories. I agree that you could drive this route many times and still see something new each and every one! I definitely would like to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton again sometime, so I’m sure I’ll be doing this road trip again myself eventually.
Very informative.
Hope to do this trip in the next year.
Thanks for the information!
Nice blog.
We’ve been planning to visit South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana for the last couple of years.
We’ve set the date for June 2022.
Using your route looks like it will save us some work, though we’ll probably deviate here and there.
Gandalf
I hope you have a great time!
Hi Amanda, I really enjoyed reading all about your trip. My husband and I would like to take a similar road trip and your itinerary looks great to us! My question is do you know how much of this trip is wheelchair accessible?
Hey Sharon! That’s a good question. I don’t write specifically about accessible travel, so I definitely am not an expert. This itinerary visits a lot of national parks, and most of them will have accessible visitor centers and sometimes trails – but you’d probably need to visit each park’s site to confirm.
Really helpful hints and driving times. Appreciate the info and will plan something in those four states summer 2022
Just returned from a great 8-day trip, using your itinerary for SD and WY. Wanted to thank you for your invaluable insight and guidance. We flew to Sioux Falls from Ohio, picked up a rental car and followed your itinerary through Yellowstone. We then drove to Salt Lake City for a somewhat reasonably priced return flight home.
Everything you detailed was spot on and really allowed my husband and I to enjoy the trip without feeling overwhelmed with decisions, but having confidence we had enjoyed the best each place had to offer. One note – Hot Springs, SD has been hit hard by COVID and as a result, many of the restaurants closed or are operating on reduced hours (only open Thursday through Saturday). While we did stay at the quirky Red Rock River Resort, their restaurant is closed, and on a Tuesday night, there were no places to eat for dinner except a Pizza Hut.
We had an amazing time on the trip and I am now one of those people that wants to bore people by showing them my gorgeous photos from the vacation. I’ve shared your site and this link with several friends since we’ve returned. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for this great feedback, Julie! I appreciate it so much, as well as the update on Hot Springs. It’s tough to keep every little detail updated throughout this pandemic, so thanks for the real-time report!
Doing trip next year
I just wanted to thank you for this great itinerary. Based on your itinerary, we just got back from a 22 day road trip starting and ending in Minneapolis with some other sites thrown in. With 2 adults & 2 kids (ages 5 & 1), we had to increase the time to complete the loop and provide for more stops for the kids. Your information was greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
I’m so happy to hear it, Tom! I’m sure you made some amazing family memories.
Thanks so much for your detailed itinerary. We have never traveled to the Dakotas/Montana/Wyoming area and are so looking forward to our trip towards the end of August. We have used your itinerary for the basis of our trip with some modifications due to our specific travel plans. This definitely helped us out with starting out.
Happy to be able to help, Sharon. I hope you have a good trip!
Some friends and I are thinking of following your itinerary. Is there any way to get a printed copy of this? Thanks!
There are two boxes in the body of this post that say “Free Printable Itinerary.” If you put your email address in there, a copy will be sent to you.
I really like this article and your tips, but your comment about Mt. Rushmore “should” not have been made (each to their own). Let people decide on their own. God bless America.
And people can still decide on their own; I’m simply presenting all the details that people might want to know before visiting. If they decide to go, cool. If they decide to skip it, also cool. I honestly don’t care, but I don’t believe in leaving out uncomfortable details about places.
This sounds wonderful! Is it possible to get a printed copy?
If you put your email in the box that says “Free Printable Itinerary,” a copy will be sent to you!
So much good information here.
Thank you for all of your suggestions.
I need to talk my sisters into this kind of trip.
Free printable itinerary please. Any chance to get it in reverse order?
You need to put your email in the box where it says “Free printable itinerary,” and then it will be sent to you automatically! (But I’m afraid I only have it in the order it is in the post. You of course can reverse it on your own, though.)
I want to plan a road trip with family and really fun unique things along the way. I would love help and expert advise on things and places to go.
I have lots of road trip ideas and suggestions on this site, but I’m afraid I don’t do any custom trip planning.
My husband and I are going flying up there in October and doing a trip similar to this. We plan on flying in to Rapid City and renting a car. We are also going to Montana and Wyoming. I am having a time trying to map out this itinerary. Could you please send me this one?
All the info is listed here, but if you want a condensed printable version, simply put your email address in the box where it says “Free Printable Itinerary” and click the green button and it will be emailed to you!
Interested in 12 day road trip for Montana, Wyoming, and Dakotas
Plan.
It’s all laid out right here! If you want the printable version, put your email address in the box that says “Free Printable Itinerary,” and it will be emailed to you.
I can’t find the box that says “Free Printable Itinerary” I would really love this itinerary!!
It’s in two places within this post. If you really cannot see it, you can shoot me an email at adangerousbusiness[at]gmail[dot]com.
This gave me some get ideas to plan my vacation, thanks!
Thank you so much for this information. Could I have a printable version on this 12 trip please. Thank you, 🙂
Hi Richard. You need to enter your email into the box on this page where it says “Free Printable Itinerary.” It will then be emailed to you.
I live in Helena MT, and I just joined my husband in retirement. We can’t wait to go on this trip. We will probably have to add Makoshika State Park since we are both geologists. I especially like that you researched daily hikes. THANK YOU AMANDA!!
Happy to be able to help!
You missed so much more Gillette is on your way after Devils Tower. We are the energy capital of the US. You can see mining and oil
Pumping they have huge Tires the side of The Mining trucks. Then in to Buffalo and the Big Horn Moutains that I believe is more beautiful the Yellowstone. Sheridan is close to Buffalo and the Big Horns. So much to see in Buffalo and the Occidental Hotel and the whole area. Where they filmed Longmire. They have Custers Last Stand just alittle closer to the Montana’s Boarder. So much has happened there and sacred military cemetery. Then you drive into Billings Montana. A beautiful town with History also. Then go to Red Lodge and take the Beartooth Highway goes to 11,000 feet. Talk about spectactular!!! Mountain flowers and Beautiful fields, Glacier lakes toward the top of the Montana Side. Snow still in places all around. There were Mountain goats up by the glacier lakes.
Then as you come down the Wy side you can go to Yellowstone or drive into Cody. We drove into Cody and had a great meal at a Hole in the wall Cafe, but it was amazing food. Then we headed back toward the Big Horns through Greybull
on into Themoplis where you can soak in the hot pools. Then as the sun started to go down we Drove past Ten Sleep a small little farming town. Then back into the Big Horns from the other side of the moutain. The moon waa full and we could see everything it was so lit up. We saw a moose and elk and the beauty that surrounds the Big Horns there is nothing to compair. The fields of flowers. You can take horse back, bike the roads, Lots of places to camp and Rivers to fish. Crazy woman Canyon is so gorgous but even more so in the fall with the fall colors. Then back to Gillette in 80 miles. You missed some of the most beautiful scenery there is in Wy and Montana. I do suggest you take 7 extra Days to see all of this. You will never regret not seeing it. Then you can go to Casper, Cheyenne and many other places in Wy with significant history. Frontier Days in Cheyenne July 20th is usually whe. It starts. It was so much fun. More things you missed in Montana was quack lake when they had an earth quake and it buried campers in the Lake that formed because of the earthquake. There is also so much more in Montana. You nearly touches on what is in Montana. Hopefully you can come back and touch the places you missed in Wy and Montana
It is literally impossible to include every single potential stop on a trip like this! Thanks for the additional suggestions.
Can I please get “Free printable itinerary,” for the 12 days Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas, can’t wait to do this trip.
Thank you
You need to fill in your email in the box in the post above (where it says “Free Printable Itinerary”), and it will be sent to you!
Just an FYI…..the photo you have of the snow covered mountains and the purple flower….it is actually an invasive plant called musk thistle and considered a noxious weed in most if not all the states you have listed in your travel plan…..would be nice if you “authors” would help educate people on these plants and how they can ruin those beautiful places they want to visit!!
I’m a travel writer and not a botanist, Dave. But thanks for letting me know!
Sounds like way too much driving to me. Not enough time for hiking or enjoying getting outside in this itinerary for me. You could easily just drive to any of these destinations, get a hotel for a week, and enjoy having a “base”, rather than getting up every day, packing up, and driving for 5 or 6 hours to another hotel.
Just my opinion.
Yup, you absolutely could tweak this itinerary however you want based on how much time you have. But the vast majority of people do not go on trips longer than 2 weeks (at least, not most Americans), and this itinerary was written with that sort of traveler in mind! No one HAS to follow this itinerary; it’s just an example of a trip you could take, along with all the details to make it easy to plan. You feel free to plan whatever trip works best for you!
My husband and I did this exact trip 2 years ago. Was it a lot of driving? yes. Did we get to see a ton of stuff, do some hiking and get outside to enjoy? Absolutely!! What the trip also did was give us a taste of things we’d like to go back and spend some more time doing….Like the Tetons and Yellowstone. Was 3 days in those areas enough? Of course not, 3 weeks is probably not enough. But for our 12 days, getting to as many national parks & monuments over 4 states as we did was incredible. Your trip is what you make of it….we feel we made the most of ours.
I live in Big Timber Montana and I have guest coming from Texas June 15th and would appreciate a Road Trip Itinerary. Thanks
Do you mean you’d like this one to print out, our a custom one for you? I’m afraid I do not build custom road trip itineraries. But if you’d like the printable version of this exact one, simply put your email in the box on this page where it says “Free printable itinerary,” and you’ll be sent a link to it!
We are planning a trip in Sept flying into Sioux falls and leaving from Billings 7 days later. Can you reply with what highlights we should see in that time frame. Thank you Sharon
Hey Sharon! Well, I think you could pretty easily start on Day 2 of this itinerary and just make some minor adjustments! I would definitely recommend visiting Badlands, Custer State Park, the Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone. I would cut at day in the Black Hills from this itinerary, and maybe skip Devils Tower to make sure you have enough time in all the national parks!
Amanda
You did a good job covering the tourist hot spots in Wyoming. In doing so you missed the real Wyoming. Next time you venture west, try the Big Horn Mountains and the Big Horn Basin. Head west from Devil’s Tower and north to Sheridan.
You’ll cross the mountains on Hwy 14 and enter the Big Horn Basin. You will find the Buffalo Bill Cody museum in Cody, Wyoming along with the nightly rodeo if you make it there in the summer. Head south to Thermopolis and the world’s largest mineral Hot Spring. Enjoy an evening soaking in the pools in Hot Springs state park after visiting the Wyoming Dinosaur museum. You can head either South or East from Thermopolis. East sends you to Caper and South through the Wind River range towards Riverton, Lander and Sinks Canyon. I won’t ruin it for you…but here’s a hint…the river disapppears…..You see, there’s so much more to Wyoming. Hopefully you will travel again soon and see what other hidden treasures Wyoming has to offer
Thanks, Carolyn! My first trip to Wyoming was part of a road trip, and I saw the “highlights,” so to speak, that most tourists would want to see – which is what’s reflected in this itinerary! But you’re right that there’s a lot I didn’t see, and I appreciate the suggestions for next time!
Thanks for this amazing guide, Amanda. I really want to visit these places. These places are already on my bucket list. Thank you for sharing!
Loved it! I want to take my kids for summer trip..I like this itinerary but we’re coming in from Las Vegas to idaho we’re visiting showshone falls…any advice on itinerary?) thanks!
Unfortunately I haven’t road tripped around Idaho yet, so I don’t have any itinerary suggestions for that state!
My friend and I are thinking of taking a trip very similar to this one later this year. I read your packing for a road trip blog, but I’m curious about what all clothes you packed for this particular trip. We are going in August and I can’t decide if I should pack long pants & shirts and a warmer jacket? I was thinking of taking mainly yoga/lounge pants to wear (capris mostly) and a few pairs of shorts and then regular short-sleeved t-shirts. I feel like I always overpack b/c I think ‘what if’ or ‘just in case’.
If you’re going in August, it will likely be pretty warm (and downright hot in some areas!). I would maybe bring a light jacket or sweatshirt and one pair of long pants in case you come across a cooler day, but you should be fine with what you’ve mentioned! I did this trip in August, so you can see in some of my photos what I wore! I do remember we had a cool, rainy day the day we visited Devils Tower, which is why you see me in longer leggings and a rain coat there.
Is there an all inclusive 12-day northern USA road trip, with hotel, tour guides from Jackson Hole to the Dakotas
That’s not something I offer on this site, I’m afraid. Your best bet might be a travel agent if you want something fully customized.
Thank you so much for this fantastic itinerary. I’m flying into Bozeman, MT in May; renting a car. What route do you suggest I start with? How many days do you think I’ll need?
It depends where all you want to go! This is a sample itinerary that you can either use in full, or just use as inspiration to build your own. Bozeman is pretty close to Billings, so you could amend this itinerary if it includes everything you want to do/see.
Would have been nice to leave your political views out of this otherwise helpful piece. History is history and why not leave it at that instead of taking cheap shots about Rushmore. Could have gone without that piece.
You’re right that history is history – and I believe in sharing that history always, even when it’s not pleasant. Travel and politics are always intertwined, and this is my blog; I’ll share whatever I think is relevant based on my personal experiences. You certainly don’t need to read it, or take advantage of all the free information I provide.
we live in South Dakota and have never done many of these things so I think this will make a perfect fall trip. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, Amanda, what a wonderful, helpful blog….we are going to follow your itinerary when we travel next summer. We just rented an RV and plan to be gone two to three weeks and I can’t thank you enough for sharing your experience and ideas…..I appreciate you. Eileen
Happy to be able to help, and I hope you have a great time!
This itenerary looks incredible. We only have 7 days but we are renting an RV. Thoughts, suggestions?
It’s tough to give specific suggestions without knowing where you’re starting from, but my biggest tip right now if you’re going to be taking an RV is to try to figure out where you’ll stay overnight in advance. Many campsites are requiring advanced reservations, and if you want to avoid those and dry-camp instead, you’ll want to do some research into where it’s legal to do that. I also would make sure you look up any national parks/monuments you want to visit to see if you need to make reservations at those, too!
Sounds like a awesome road trip. Leaving early July and hopefully we will be able to visit several of these sites.
I can’t speak to what road tripping there right now is like, but it’s a beautiful part of the country for sure! I hope you have a good (and safe) trip!
Amanda, Just reviewed your article. Thanks! So many great tips. I’ll be heading west in September (2020) and pretty much following your route with the exception of TRNP in ND – visited that last year. Like you, I am a history nerd as well! LOVE road trips! Peace!
That’s awesome! I hope you have a good trip!
What’s an average daily cost of this trip (food, hotel, gas). Mid size suv, family of 5. I’m thinking $300/day average but curious.
Thanks
Hey James! I think it will depend if you’re planning on one or two hotel rooms for your family. If just one, then I think you estimate is probably pretty good, though potentially a little low if you need to rent an SUV. When I did this trip, we spent an average of $150 per night on a hotel (that usually included breakfast), and filled up with gas about once per driving day.
Hi There
Is there a map for this trip??
Thanks
Jane
Melbourne, Australia
Hi Jane! If you sign up for the downloadable itinerary, it does include small maps for each day.
Thank you Amanda, for another great itinerary. Last year (October) we used your Southwest trip to plan our excursion. Using yours as a template, we eliminated the Grand Canyon and spent the added time exploring more of Zion and Bryce. It was magical and we used your recommendations to branch out to the state parks like Goblin Valley. We stayed at the Hat Rock in and ate at the Swinging Steak. Not 4 stars, but fun and worth the price of admission. So we are planning to explore Yellowstone and the Tetons, so I thought I would see if you had any suggestions and this is a marvelous plan,, which I will tweek for us as we prepare to travel in the fall.
That’s great to hear, Joseph! I love it when people use my itineraries as a jumping-off point for their own trips!
Thank you for this! We are planning to see these states plus Idaho and Minnesota this summer. Is there a way I can get a print version of this itinerary please? Thank you.
Hi Lisa! I do offer printable versions of this itinerary! If you visit the post again, there’s a box where you can enter your email address to get the printable (thanks for pointing out that these weren’t showing – it’s fixed now!).
A great itinerary
Spearfish Canyon in SD is also well worth a visit. And for some exercise, whilst in the area, climb Black Elk peak for the amazing view from the observation tower.
Cute that a house from the 1930s is considered “old” 😉
In the US, 1930s is pretty old! 😉 Thanks for the additional suggestions! This is a great part of the country to explore.
Thank you so much for writing all this! We have scheduled a 15-day road trip for next summer pretty much based on your itinerary (except starting in Memphis). As I am always the one doing the driving math, the sights and stops, the lodging booking etc, this made my job quite easy! 😉
So happy to be able to help, Liene!
Hi Amanda. My husband and I booked out the whole trip according to your itinerary except we added 1 day extra at Grand Teton and Yellowstone. It made it so much easier using your itinerary. Thank you.
So happy to hear this, Mary! I love hearing from people who have used my itineraries!
For anyone who visits a lot of the national forest and parks you should consider the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass ($80). At the average cost of $20 a car for entry it pays for it self in 4 uses. We buy one almost every year so we can enter national forests in our area and when we travel.
Yup, I recommend getting one in this post! I buy one almost every year, and it pays for itself quickly.
This looks awesome! Thank you for sharing with us. I will be using your itinerary next June. Excited from a Florida girl!
Great! Sounds like it’ll be an exciting trip!
Wonderful post! We are doing a portion of this itinerary (no Yellowstone or Grand Tetons). We will be coming the opposite direction from California. We will stop in Vegas to drop our dog off with my parents and then continue up through Utah to Wyoming. We also want to include Deadwood. So much to see! My husband really wanted to go to North Dakota and I wish we could fit in De Smet, SD for the Laura Ingalls Wilder sites, but we just don’t have the time. Your tips are so helpful! I’m so excited! Just 5 more weeks!
The US is such a big country; there’s never enough time to fit everything in on just one trip. I hope you have a great time!
Cant get thr free The Perfect 12-Day Northern USA Road Trip Itinerary for Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas” sent to my email.
Check your spam folder, and if it isn’t there, feel free to email me directly at [email protected] and I can send it to you!
Well, I’m just back from doing this trip, and, funny story, my husband and I met 2 guys on our 2nd day who seemed to be doing the same trip as us. Turns out that Spencer had also read this blog post and was doing the same trip…one day ahead of us.
We changed the first day from Sioux Falls to Deadwood because the hubby wanted to visit Deadwood but otherwise we followed it exactly. Wow! What an incredible 12 days we spent. 2659 miles driven round trip from Sioux Falls. We had rain, snow, hail and sun. We went 250 feet down into a cave at Wind Cave national park and 11,000 feet up from the North East exit of Yellowstone to Red Lodge on the Beartooth Pass (this was 68 miles of curvy, twisty, no guardrail roads…scenic but scary!) Saw 8 national parks & 3 national monuments. We made new friends and saw old friends. GREAT TRIP!
Suggestion: find the GyPSy Guide app and purchase it for Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. It’s like having a private tour guide in your car with you. Best $10 I spent on the trip.
I love this comment SO much, Margaret! Both because I love hearing from people who have used my itineraries, and because it sounds like you had an amazing trip!
Thanks for this itinerary! We’re headed this same route with our kids next week. Can’t wait!
Have an amazing time! It’s a great road trip, and I’m excited to see so many people making use of this itinerary!
Great info!! We’re going to be doing a lot of your trip in reverse, starting from DFW to northern ID, MT, WY, SD, and on out to BG, Ohio.? Just something to add – if anyone has a 4th grader, they can sign up (for free!) for a national parks pass. It’s good for hundreds of park service sites across the US.
Good to know about the free parks passes for 4th graders! I always recommend National Parks passes for trips like this, as they save so much money!
I’m going to follow this itinerary for a solo road trip next month! Thanks for all the details!
I hope you have a great time!
Sad you missed one of the best spots in North Dakota. The International Peace Gardens, 13 miles north of Dunseith on hwy 3 and 281. This is a park that allows you to cross over into both the US side and Canadian side of the part. If you like flowers you will think you went to heaven. Impressive and well worth the time to go out of your way a little bit.
Sounds very nice!
HI Amanda,
I absolutely love this trip planning. I’m actually hoping to make the same trip for my honeymoon. I’m also leaving from the east coast and would love to talk to you more about how long it took you and your sister to get out there and things you may have done on the way to and from.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Hey there! All of my tips for this specific road trip are all in this post – this is exactly what my sister and I did! We started in Ohio, but other than 2 long driving days and an overnight in Iowa, we didn’t do anything else exciting on the way to South Dakota. If you’re coming from the East Coast, then I’d say you need at LEAST 3 weeks to properly see the northern part of the US!
Hi Amanda,
I see this is an old post, so I’m not sure if you’ll see this comment. But, I’m wondering about driving from Ohio. Do you mean you added 4 total days to the trip? Like, OH to IA (Des Moines-ish??) and then IA to Sioux Falls? Did you take a different route home?
We’re an Ohio family looking to make this trip next summer (2021) and were originally planning travel from Ohio to Des Moines to Cheyenne going out and then heading back through Minnesota and hitting DeSmet/Plum Creek (Laura Ingalls Wilder fun) and Blue Earth on the way back.
I’d love to hear any thoughts you have! Thanks! I love your detailed blog!
Hey Beth! Yes, when my sister and I did this trip from Ohio, we actually did it in 16 or 17 days. On the way there, we stopped in Iowa City on our way to Sioux Falls. And on the way home, we stopped in Minneapolis, and just outside Chicago, though those were really just necessary stops; we didn’t stop to do anything extra.
Can you add a map?
Very cool itinerary for very cool places. Would love to do.somerhing similar
How can I copy your plan without all the pictures?
Hi Peggy. I’m working on turning these itineraries into printable PDFs, but I’m afraid I haven’t completed them yet. Right now, your best bet would be to copy the text you want into a Word doc and print it yourself.
well….I just booked this whole trip for the last week of May/first week of June next year. Going to do my best to see and do as many of the things you listed!
Nice! Hope you have a great time!
This is THE trip my husband and I want to do next year. We’re going to do our best to follow most of your recommendations. Is there a “best” time of year to go? It will be the 2 of us so no worries about kids/schools. We’re thinking May/June before everyone starts their family vacations. Thoughts?
Awesome! It’s a great road trip! And yes, if you can avoid the mid-summer months (July and August) I would since that’s the busiest time in the national parks. I think May/early June sounds great!
This looks great and I assume would be good for a solo traveler. Is there a way to print just the itinerary? Also, what month did you go or do you recommend?
As long as you like solo road trips, yes, you could totally do this as a solo traveler! I’m afraid I don’t have any printable itineraries available yet, but it’s something I’m working on! As for when to go, I did this trip in August. I’d say any time from spring to fall would be good; I’m not sure about going in winter.
Based only on my research…..We are going to Idaho Wyoming and Montana soon.
Try:
1. a hotspring experience: developed or undeveloped.
2. sturgeon fishing in Hell’s Canyon
3. Visit an old ghost town.
4. Pan for gold in Confederate gulch.
5. Ride a horse.
6. Raft the Salmon River.
7. Climb the Tetons, on what I believe is its only hiking trail to the top.
8. Line dance in a real old west saloon.
I’m sure there will be others I came up with once we complete our road trip!
Sounds like it’s going to be a fun trip!
An awesome itinerary! I’ve done plenty of exploring in the Tetons and Yellowstone (I lived in Grand Teton NP for three years working for a lodge company!) but haven’t spent any time in the other places you listed; this definitely makes me want to go!
A cheap lodging option (for people that enjoy it) is camping- Yellowstone and Grand Teton NP both have several excellent campgrounds. That would also cut down on travel time on days 6 and 7, since there would be no need to head south into Jackson and then back north to Yellowstone. 🙂
I’m not sure about camping in the other places though, since I haven’t visited them yet!
Yes, camping is always an option! I’m personally not much of a camper, though, so it’s not something I tend to personally recommend, simply because it’s not how I travel! But it definitely can help save some money.
This is perfect! What a great itinerary. And yes, those northern states don’t get loved, even by me. Now is the time to plan that road trip!
They’re definitely worth the trip!! I still need to go back and see more, especially of Montana!
This looks like such a good road trip! I’m hoping to hit Yellowstone later on this year but it’s already gonna be such a packed trip that I don’t think we’ll have time to do anywhere else on this list (except probably Montana!). But I wanna do all of these!!
Multiple road trips then! 🙂
What an excellent post Amanda! I am so envious and inspired at the same time! I would love to do this roadtrip especially since it has so much beauty but is not one of the cliché places to visit just to visit. Thank you for sharing. BTW, I can’t seem to manage to pin your photos?
Thanks, Ana! This is definitely a very cool part of the US, and one that hasn’t been visited to death by other travelers yet!
As for pinning my photos… hmmm that’s weird. I’m able to pin them using my browser extension, or by clicking the Pinterest button in the sharing bar at the top/bottom of my post. Not sure what the problem might be!
It looks great Amanda!
I’ve already been to 5 National Parks in the US, and they were brilliant. So yeah, I’d absolutely go on a roadtrip to Dakotaaaaaaaa!
I think South Dakota is probably one of the more underrated states in the US!
Wow Amanda! LOVE these shots and trips. We are enjoying some similar jaw-dropping views in your beloved NZ now. Last month we chilled in Opotiki on the North Island. This past week it has been Timaru on the South Island. The Southern Alps, Lake Tekapo, the boulders, fur seals, all packed into some brilliant road trips around the region. Best way to really see and feel a place, via car, with some walking worked in. Thanks for sharing!
Ryan
I agree! Road tripping is definitely the best way to see just about any country! Of course, I have a tendency to try to pack way too much into my road trips! Haha.
I’ve been to South Dakota once, Wyoming many times, and Montana a couple times. I’m doing a similar road trip this summer. We’re starting in Kansas City, MO, where we currently live, driving up through Omaha, NE; Sioux City, SD; and stopping in De Smet, SD, home of many Laura Ingalls Wilder sites, setting of five of her Little House on the Prairie books. Then up to North Dakota for the first time, and spend a night in Bismarck, ND (or another nearby city). Visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park the next morning, and drive down through Billings, MT, along the famously beautiful Beartooth Highway, to Yellowstone National Park, my favorite park. Where we’ll stay four days at our favorite lodging, the Old Faithful Inn, in the Old House, the only place to stay in Yellowstone, as far as we’re concerned. We’ll stop in Bozeman, MT one night. Drive through either Butte, or Helena, MT; Missoula, MT, on our way to St. Ignatius, MT, where we’ll stay in a place owned by extended family. We’ll bike the Hiawatha Trail, visit the National Bison Range, go white water rafting, go jet-skiing, visit cute towns, like Polson, Big Fork, Kalispell and Whitefish, and possibly visit one of my other favorite parks, Glacier National Park. On the way home I might hit up the city I didn’t choose before, between Butte and Helena. We’ll go through Billings again, down through the wild west town of Sheridan, WY. I haven’t decided on our home route. Either through Devils Tower, and spend some time in the Black Hills area, which I love. Or, go somewhere new: Estes Park, CO, and the Stephen King famous Stanley Hotel, and Rocky Mountain Park. Then drive through Denver on our way home.
Sounds like an excellent adventure!
@Tonya what an adventure! how long were you away for and how much of this did you actually do?
Tonya, Just curious how your trip worked out from Kansas city MO. We will be doing this trip (for the most part) in late aug. 2020 ending on labor day. from St. Louis. Please let me know. Thanks so much
We do a lot of roadtrips through these states and you’ve included many of our favorite stops! Our visit to Jackson Hole, through the Teton Pass, in the winter, taught us a lot about chain laws — we’d visited for the snowmobile hill climbing event, which was great. Now, we have to do a summer visit!
I’ve only visited in summer, but can imagine how different it must be during the winter months!
This is an amazing guide, Amanda. Thank you so much for putting it together. This is my DREAM road trip and I hope to make it happen soon!
Thanks, Pauline! It was a great trip – I hope you get to do it yourself soon!
That area has some stunning nature! Yellowstone Park looks beautiful, but so do the other NP’s. There’s so much to see in the US, it’s almost daunting 🙂
It’s true! Almost every state here is different. Which is why choosing one area to focus on at a time is smart!