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US Highway 2 info needed.


bruce t

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I'm looking for any feedback on US2 across the northern states. We intend heading from North Carolina to the Cascades over the summer months. (No RV just a pickup, motel and a tent!!!).

Hope to head up to the Mackinac bridge then turn left.

 

Yes some may say it's a 'boring' road but is it? The 'big sky' country can't be that bad. Can it?

 

What's worth seeing and what do we need to avoid. I know there are quite a few state parks etc and I know the towns are small and far between. (Just like home).

 

Regards

Bruce

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Vladimr Steblina

Retired Forester...exploring the public lands.

usbackroads.blogspot.com

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Great road across the top of the country. And it lands you right at Glacier National Park. On the North Dakota/Montana border is Fort Union, a national park most people never know about - a great stop. Once you get to Spokane, stay on US 2 to Wilbur, then take Highway 21 north to Hiway 174 which will take you to Grand Coulee Dam - try to spend the night there and take in the laser light show on the fact of the dam. From Coulee city take Highway 155 up to Omak, then pick up Highway 20 which will take you over the Cascades. This pass is ONLY open in the summer and is truly a wonderful drive pass one of the most turquoise lakes (Diablo) you will every see. Highway 20 follows the Skagit river (absolutely the most beautiful small river in the world because that's MY river) all the way to Puget Sound.

 

You will drive through Malta, Montana which has a very nice little museum that houses my grandfather's watch (he was a cowboy on the prairie at the end of the 19th century) and you'll pass through Dotson, MT where my mother was born in a shoddy. When you get to Glacier, check to see if the pass is open, if it is, it is a spectacular drive up the "Going to the Sun" road.

 

Barb

Barb & Dave O'Keeffe
2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID
Blog: http://www.barbanddave.net
SPK# 90761 FMCA #F337834

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One of the prettiest campgrounds we've stayed is Fort Peck at Glasgow. It was a welcome site with acres of manicured green grass and huge sites. It was when we left and continued west that we really felt the 'Big Sky Country' of Montana. We loved the whole drive - from Michigan to Washington. Crossing the Cascades at Diablo was equally impressive. Have a good trip!

Full-timed for 16 Years
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome
and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

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Thanks everyone. I forgot to say that the 'only' part of US2 we haven't done is from Duluth to Shelby MT. Done the GTTS road. Doing it again this time with a hike or two in mind.

We've just never had a chance to explore the big sky country so this year is the year.

 

regards

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We only drove it from E to W, once. There are many things to see and do along this route. It passes through Cut Bank, MT,then through the Blackfeet reservation. Be sure to stop in Havre, MT to take a tour of "Havre underground". During the coldest months the residents moved underground to escape the frigid winter. Just as you enter Havre, there is/was a motel W/RV park and resturaunt that was when we stayed there clean, neat and good food. The downside, it's between US 2 and the RR switchyard.

 

2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.  John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961

 

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Ray...they are the Blackfoot nation. More than 1 Blackfoot does not make them Blackfeet....lol

<p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well.

IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR.

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Ray, ND, has a city campground with free electric. At least it did the two times we drove US Hwy 2. We were chasing trains the first time so did not mind the fact that Hwy 2 and the BN mainline pretty much follow one another. The daily Amtrak train between Chicago and Seattle/Portland takes three days to make the trip so there are actually three of these trains. Time it right and you can see them meeting one another more than once.

 

Linda Sand

Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/

Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van

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We've actually stayed at several campgrounds that did 'room service'. Often it is just for pizza, but others did a complete room service from their menu. When just stopping for overnight, I really liked the pizza delivery - nothing to fix on our end and a break from our normal sandwiches. Plus, we would always get a large size and then put the left overs in the frig for dinner the next night.

 

Barb

Barb & Dave O'Keeffe
2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID
Blog: http://www.barbanddave.net
SPK# 90761 FMCA #F337834

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Highway 2 across ND and MT has a great deal of history behind it. It follows the route of the Great Northern railroad. There is a railroad museum in Havre, MT that I donated a group of pictures of the building of the railroad thru Glacier National Park in 1926 that my Grandfather took while working for the Great Northern. It is just above the Havre underground.

Paint your wagon and come along

98 Volvo, VNL 610

01 Alfa Ideal, 38'6"

South Dakota plates

SKP # 68396

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Ray, ND, has a city campground with free electric. At least it did the two times we drove US Hwy 2. We were chasing trains the first time so did not mind the fact that Hwy 2 and the BN mainline pretty much follow one another. The daily Amtrak train between Chicago and Seattle/Portland takes three days to make the trip so there are actually three of these trains. Time it right and you can see them meeting one another more than once.

 

Linda Sand

We didn't stay overnight at Ray, just refueled. That was exciting; I refueled, paid with CC and as usual got a paper receipt. About 10 miles West a county sheriff pulled me over. He said I was reported as a drive-off, I produced my receipt and he walked to his SUV, returned a few minutes later and apologized for the stop. That's why I've always got a receipt from every fuel stop.

 

2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.  John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961

 

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ALWAYS get a receipt. I've heard many calls on the scanner where they are reporting a gas drive off, and later when they stop the "suspect" vehicle the driver has a receipt. Even without a receipt you could prove that you paid, but it's much easier just to produce your printed copy.

 

Then there are the stations that are too lazy to go out and put more printer paper in the machine,, so you get the "see attendant for receipt" message at the pump.

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