This Is a Good Idea, Right?

"LastFirstMI is my name" (donstone13) 05/23/2018 at 13:31 • Filed to: None

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In June I am escaping the east coast. My new-to-driving 16 year old son and I are packing up 2 dogs and taking our covered wagon West. It is actually a Honda Crosstour, but close enough. Since we’ll have the dogs, we won’t be able to hit every highlight on the way, but I was hoping to hear some Oppinions on things we shouldn’t miss.

My current plan:

1. Spend an hour in traffic, cursing my decision to move here in the first place.

2. Drive for, like, 3 days. Hopefully our guardian angel, Saint Geico, will see us through as my son learns to drive on this trip.

3. See Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands.

4. Arrive without dying of dysentery.

Any other suggestions for dog-friendly activities? I’m particularly interested in short hikes, scenic detours, and historical places. I’m familiar with he west, but would like to hear about the forgotten delights of fly-over country.

Thanks!

nj959 > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 14:04

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Come to Jersey first so you can get some good pizza for the last time.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 14:08

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You chose the wrong wagon. You will die of boredom before you do of dysentery.

/s

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 14:12

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Off I-90:

1. lewis and clark caverns-they have dog kennels for when you are taking the tour

2. Whitefish MT-Huge Rogers wag park, then take a scenic lift ride at whitefish mountain resort or hike the danny on trail with the dogs

3. Flathead lake scenic drive HWY 93

4. Kootanie River Falls on US 2 by Libby.

5. Ross creek ceder state park, dog friendly

6. End in Spokane, get robbed die of dysentery.

CobraJoe > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 14:13

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You won’t be too far away (in Nebraksa terms) from Carhenge in Aliance NE. It would be a good excuse to not drive through SD. I have no idea what I-90 is like, but HWY-18 is aweful. Even the emptyness of western Nebraska is better than southern South Dakota.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 14:16

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Scenic route 16a in the Black hills.

MoA in Minnesota if you’re into that sort of thing.

Devil’s tower in Wyoming.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 14:17

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If you’re driving across the country, why not go all the way to the coast? Seems like a waste to stop in Spokane

lone_liberal > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 14:18

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Moving to my city? Are you insane? **ahem** I mean, Welcome!

Chariotoflove > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 14:20

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If you go through Chicago, museum of natural history. If through Indy, the speedway and speedway museum.

LastFirstMI is my name > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 05/23/2018 at 14:22

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Jackpot!

LastFirstMI is my name > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 05/23/2018 at 14:23

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True, but I’m escaping traffic, high cost of living and high taxes. Which means I must live 100 miles from any large body of water.

PatBateman > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 14:23

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Step 1: Douse the Crosstour in gasoline and light it on fire.

LastFirstMI is my name > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 05/23/2018 at 14:24

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Noted, thanks!

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 14:27

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Oh your moving? Sorry, I thought it was just a road trip. Good choice then!

LastFirstMI is my name > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 05/23/2018 at 14:32

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The irony is that I bought it for my wife, thinking it would be the ultimate in useful, reliable (boring) transportation. So as punishment I’m cruising America in a June-bug-looking doofus. Also, MY car is being shipped in a vacuum-sealed container on a bed of marshmallows. No way I’m letting the dogs (or my teen driver) spend 4 days in my baby!

LastFirstMI is my name > CobraJoe 05/23/2018 at 14:32

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Wow I’ve never heard of this- very cool!

LastFirstMI is my name > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 05/23/2018 at 14:35

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No worries! Fortunately Oppo is a troll-free highway.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 14:46

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Why would you go to Spokane? A lot of this route is also insanely boring...

Go to Devil’s Tower after Mount Rushmore. Sadly, this is not pet friendly (neither are).

Go to Yellowstone, since it’s right there on your route.

Plan to spend some time in western Montana and northern Idaho, because they’re beautiful.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 14:46

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Welcome to the PNW! An Oppo heavy zone! Maybe next meet you can try to come. I know it’s a long drive from Spokane, but I drove from Vancouver, BC.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/tag/pnw-oppo-cruise-spring-2018

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 15:05

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No, don’t go to Jackpot, nothing but mormans and STD’s.

Mercedes Streeter > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 15:07

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If you come through Chicago, I’ll show you my massive hoard collection. :)

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > CobraJoe 05/23/2018 at 15:13

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I disagree. Cresting the hill to Chamberlain on I-90 overlooking the Missouri River, especially after many hours of boring plains, is breathtaking. Plus, western South Dakota is gorgeous. I’m not convinced Nebraska has any redeeming geography.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 15:25

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A 2nd for Yellowstone, and I’d swing up to Glacier, too, if you can add a day.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 15:30

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long road trips are more fun in an inappropriate fun car though! Taking my miata across the country was the best trip ever, no matter how impractical it was.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 15:38

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While it probably adds a couple days of driving, I would think heading North through Michigan to the Upper Penninsula, Wisconsin, and Minnesota would be far more interesting than trudging through corn country in IL, IN, and IA. I personally would never ever want to drive through that area ever again as long as I shall live lol. I took a Southern route on my cross country move so thankfully I avoided that area but I had for a long time considered a very Northern route. Heading further North into Montana to hit Glacier National Park is a must as well. That was my number 1 place to hit on a Northern Route and I am sad that I missed it.

But my Northern route also had plans of starting in NJ, heading due North to Quebec and then heading West from there all the way to Seattle. And then due south along the coast to Los Angeles. That would have been a long ass drive though so idk if I would have survived. I would have needed a lot more oil too.

CobraJoe > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 05/23/2018 at 15:41

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I haven’t ever driven on I-90, so it might be worth checking out on our summer trip. I-80 sucks, especially west of Kearney, there’s not much to see. (At least it’s still better than eastern Colorado).

Western SD is very pretty, I had a lot of fun on a solo trip up there... Geez, 9 years ago already. However, I really don’t feel that it’s the same everywhere else in SD, plus the constant up and down hills on Highway 18 east of the black hills was sickening.

Nebraska might not have it’s own black hills, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see.

(Those pics were all taken in Nebraska along my trip up to the black hills)

Even this bit was more interesting than a trip along I-80.

Ilike_cougars > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 15:45

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Just a tip, if you have an NJ EZpass, it will work all the way till Illinois. (I moved Kearny NJ to Omaha 3 years ago).

Driving through SD is mind numbingly boring.. there are a few tourist traps on the way, if you are into that sort of thing. All close to the badlands area. Waldrug, Minuteman nuclear missile silos

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > CobraJoe 05/23/2018 at 17:36

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To each his own I guess. I definitely prefer SD to NE.

LastFirstMI is my name > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/23/2018 at 18:39

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I don’t the dogs (or my son) would fit in the trunk. I might try it though...

LastFirstMI is my name > Chariotoflove 05/23/2018 at 18:41

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I can’t wait to take my kids to the Museum of Science and Industry too, but that’ll have to wait. I’m thinking about going through Indy to see the Brickyard though!

LastFirstMI is my name > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 05/23/2018 at 18:51

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I’ll have to plot that out... would definitely be more scenic!

We are spending a week in Yellowstone and Glacier later on, so we’re bypassing those for now.

LastFirstMI is my name > lone_liberal 05/23/2018 at 18:52

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Insane? Probably. But at least I’ll be surrounded by nice friendly people who tolerate craziness...

LastFirstMI is my name > nj959 05/23/2018 at 18:53

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But Chicago....

*puts on flame suit*

LastFirstMI is my name > PatBateman 05/23/2018 at 18:54

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If I could get the insurance settlement in time to buy something else....

LastFirstMI is my name > Mercedes Streeter 05/23/2018 at 18:55

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Have a yard where my dogs can run around?

lone_liberal > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 19:02

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Yeah, you’ll fit in with the rest of us crazies. Welcome to the Inland Northwest!

LastFirstMI is my name > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 05/23/2018 at 19:03

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Separate trip is already scheduled- less dogs, more fishing and hiking. Will probably go up to Banff too.

MM54 > LastFirstMI is my name 05/23/2018 at 19:28

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While a very different route and the opposite direction from the trip I just made (LA to Cleveland) I encourage road trips. Don’t be afraid to make it up as you go and check out random little neat things along the way!

slipperysallylikespenguins > LastFirstMI is my name 05/24/2018 at 00:35

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I recommend the Pioneer Auto Show in South Dakota. It’s more of a museum but they call it a show. Its right in the middle of the state so its a good stopping point. http://www.pioneerautoshow.com/

Idiot In The Garage Needs A New CGI Job... > LastFirstMI is my name 05/24/2018 at 07:52

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Crazy Horse Monument is very close to Mt Rushmore.

Its probably. much further along than when I saw it 25 years ago.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > LastFirstMI is my name 05/24/2018 at 08:36

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Sweet! I need to get back to Banff...

CobraJoe > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 05/24/2018 at 09:15

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I can’t say I’ve driven enough roads in SD to completely make that statement, but I can definitely say that NE is a lot more interesting if you get off the interstate.

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > LastFirstMI is my name 05/24/2018 at 09:47

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If you’re passing through South Dakota, you might as well make a pit stop at Wall Drug.

LastFirstMI is my name > Idiot In The Garage Needs A New CGI Job... 05/24/2018 at 10:29

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You know what, I’d rather see the Crazy Horse Monument than Mt Rushmore anyway. Thanks for reminding me of that!