Welcome to Summer 2026, as we are off on an overland adventure, along the way we plan to explore new places and of course visit wine country. As we head out, I feel the need to post the last lag of our earlier US 2 trip. In case you are wondering US Highway 2 (US 2), the Great Northern Route, is part of the United States Numbered Highway System that connects Everett, Washington, to the Upper Peninsula (UP) in Michigan, and then the eastern segment of US 2 runs from Rouses Point, New York, to Houlton, Maine. That is if you travel west to east. We did it in reverse. This post covers our travels west through North Dakota, Montana, Idaho to Washington State (earlier posts describe our US 2 travels from Maine to Michigan, and Michigan to Minnesota. After leaving Minnesota we crossed into North Dakota. By the time we reached North Dakota on the Great Northern US 2 it was time to take a break for the July 4th weekend.
North Dakota
Highway 2 takes you along 358 miles of mostly flat, rural terrain in North Dakota. The suggested driving time is 1-2 days. Given the timing our arrival in North Dakota (July 3 & 4) at Grand Forks, the oldest city in the state, we took a break until after July 4th. Architecture buffs will love the city's many buildings dating back over 100-years old. There are many options for lodging we choose to stay at the Best Western.
July 5th we motored onto Minot and camped nearby at a city park in Burlington.
From Minot we traveled onto Epping for a quick visit. Those who wish to see North Dakota’s famed Roadside Giants displays of quirky roadside art, you can take a 300-mile round-trip detour to drive the 30-mile route, Gladstone to Regent. Gladstone is situated on ND Highway 22, which runs north to connect with U.S. Highway 2 (likely near Minot or Stanley), or south to I-94 and the Enchanted Highway.
Since we did not take the detour, our next stop of major interest was the small community of Epping, with a population of 100.
Epping's Main Street has been preserved. Here you will find the Buffalo Trails Museum, where you can learn about the early pioneers and Native American tribes who once called the area home.
After Epping we took Highway 85 to Theodore Roosevelt National Park North (July 7).
Of course we saw some buffalo grazing in the park.
After driving the route into the park we camped at the Juniper Campground in the national park.
It was a short stay. Early next morning we were back on the road.
During our North Dakota travels we passed white pelicans, and ducks at a number of roadside lakes.
We saw many yellow fields of canola.
We passed corn and other crops growing in the fields along the route.
As we drove west we saw many oil sites along the way. This was also true along our drive along Highway 85 to and from the park. The once rural agricultural landscape appears to be quickly taken over by the oil industry.
July 8, back on US 2, we left North Dakota for Montana. Travelers can stop at Fort Union Trading Post, right on the Montana border. This was once the largest, most bustling trading post on the upper Missouri River, and the site was once visited by historical figures like Lewis and Clark.
As we left North Dakota, we passed quietly into Montana.
Montana
Junction of US 2 & MT 16, Montana © Spaswinefood
Montana's US 2 route is about 650 miles. Highway 2 takes you through old logging communities and rugged scenery. Montana is large and the landscape will change so many times you may feel like you’re driving through several different states. As we traveled East to West on US 2 through Montana we crossed grasslands, rolling hills, farmlands, and reservations before nearing the Glacier National Park. We stayed at Havre Fairgrounds (July 8). Our drive to Have was a comfortable day’s drive from Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
From Harve it was onto Glacier at St. Mary’s entrance. When we motored to Glacier East Entrance — w it required a ticket to travel through between 6 AM and 5PM. The crown jewel of Glacier National Park is Going-to-the-Sun Road, a 50-mile two-lane highway snaking through forests, lakes, valleys, and mountain passes, with plenty of scenic-overlooks so you can pull over and gawk along the way.
After arriving at the east entrance we decided on journeying towards West Glacier. We discovered we needed a ticket to do the drive to the road to the sun (east-west). Hence we did a detour to Two Medicine (NP Campgrounds filled), then onto East Glacier where we rejoined Route 2.
Glacier National Park © Spaswinefood
While exploring the area around the West entrance we saw a National Forest campground on US- 2. It was onto Flathead Valley National Forest Campground (July 9). We are always happy to find a spot at a National Forest campground especially when campground space near Glacier are hard to find.
Glacier National Park Mountains in the Distance © Spaswinefood
We so enjoyed our stay at Flathead Valley National Forest Campground. Next morning, July 10th, we arose before dawn to enter the park before 6AM, to drive the Road to the Sun.
We manage to arrive in time to get a ticket to drive Road to the Sun from W-E. Also, once we did the drive we then drove it in reverse E-W. It was well worth the effort.
It is hard to beat an early morning drive on the Road to the Sun.
A few more photos from that early morning drive.
Glacier National Park is an amazing place, with around 1,500 miles of mountain scenery, rivers, forests, more than 200 lakes, ancient valleys formed by glaciers, and over 700 miles of hiking trails. The park’s backcountry is home to bears, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, wolves, and more. And yes, there are glaciers however, glaciers are disappearing due to climate change. The park is well worth taking time to explore.
As you drive across Montana, you can experience Native American culture. We passed a number of trading posts along US 2.
From Glacier National Park we traveled into Idaho. Along the way we stopped at the Shed in Libby, Montana for lunch.
After lunch it was onto Idaho.
Idaho
Idaho US 2 is 80 miles. Even it is only 80 miles it is suggested to take one to two days to drive across. For us it was a long drive from Glacier to Sandpoint on Lake Pend Orielle, the largest lake in Idaho, where sparkling blue waters are surrounded by National Forests and rugged mountain ranges. While we drove a long day on Highway 2 to reach Sandpoint on Idaho’s Panhandle. It is called the Panhandle for a reason—it’s so long and narrow.
Even after a long day’s drive from Glacier we traveled to Bonnis Ferry, Idaho.
For us it was time to rest and stay out of the heat; so we camped Bonnis Ferry Two Rivers Campground for two nights (July 10 &11). What was formerly Two Rivers Campground is now Twin Rivers Canyon Resort. The campground is located a few miles east of Bonners Ferry in Moyie Springs, Idaho.
We decided to head onto Lake Pend Orielle, the largest lake in Idaho, where sparkling blue waters are surrounded by National Forests and rugged mountain ranges.
Along the way we ate breakfast at Pack Station Restaurant before traveling onwards.
After a thorough search for a campground in the Lake Pend Orielle area — everything was filled at the many campgrounds around the lake. Hence that day we traveled from Two Rivers Campground to the Hells Gate State Park, Lewiston. Here we camped for the night of July 13.
Given the high temperatures in Lewiston, along with the smoke filled air, we decided it would be our last night camping.
In fact, upon arriving in Idaho, we decided to end our US-2 travels, and not cross into Washington, which was experiencing a record heat wave. Moreover, since we live in the west we visit Washington wine country frequently. Also, given that we had been on the road since May we decided to head home. We have driven the Washington State part of US-2 in the past and looked forward to doing it again in the future.
During prior trips to Idaho we did explore wine country, for example Idaho's Sunnyslope Wine Trail near Boise.
From Idaho we headed south on US 395.
Washington State
Washington State Route US 2 distance is 326 miles. The length of time to drive it suggested is two to four days. As you head south on the Washington leg of US 2 it will take you through Columbia Plateau, a naturally arid region. It is a large, relatively flat region, which covers much of central to southeast Washington State, part of north-central Oregon. US 2 will then take you over the Cascade Mountains to Seattle. Expect plenty of beautiful scenery and sightings of bald eagles, deer, and mountain goats along the way. Once you near the Cascades Mountains, Lake Chelan is a worthy detour. Some consider it to be one of the most beautiful lakes in America.
From Wenatchee, US-97A runs north along the west bank of the Columbia River to beautiful Lake Chelan. Over the years we have visited Lake Chela wine country a number of times. This is one of my earlier posts Lake Chela wine country https://winetravelswdrs.blogspot.com/2023/10/lake-chelan-wine-valley.html.
Memories of our overland travels along US 2 are timeless. This post covered our last lag through North Dakota, Montana, Idaho to Washington State. Moreover, so are memories of our journey began along I-80 to begin our Great Northern overland adventure (see A Prelude to Our Great Northern Adventure). While many start in the state of Washington and follow the U.S. Highway 2 for the majority of the journey until ending in Maine, we drove the route in reverse. Along the way (both I-80 east and US-2 west), we discovered beautiful cities, passed over mountains, passed by numerous lakes, and through many valleys. Our travels took us through the badlands, natural marvels, historical sites, and at times we traveled along the border with Canada. The best time of year for the Great Northern Road Trip (US-2), is spring, summer, or fall. I invite you to join me in my the sharing of these overland travels west along Great Northern Route US Highway 2 (Maine to Michigan, and Michigan to Minnesota), and adventures elsewhere at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood on Bluesky and Facebook.
CHEERS!
Sharon
June/July 2021
© Spaswinefood
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