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Mountain Peaks to Bayou Beats

A cross-country journey transitioning from the rugged peaks of the Rockies to the vibrant, humid culture of the Louisiana bayou.

5days
15stops
3082km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Billings · Rapid City · Wichita · Little Rock — start in Fernie, end in New Orleans.

DAY01

Fernie → Billings

881 km · 8h 56m driving · long drive · Overnight in Billings
  1. 08:00
    Fernie· start
  2. 497 km · 5h 20m
  3. 12:00
    Helena
  4. 384 km · 3h 36m
  5. 17:30
    Billings· overnight
Accommodation
West End Billings
DAY02

Devils Tower National Monument → Rapid City

526 km · 5h 11m driving · long drive · Overnight in Rapid City
  1. 10:30
    Devils Tower National Monument· start
  2. 429 km · 4h 15m
  3. 14:00
    Spearfish Canyon
  4. 96 km · 56m
  5. 17:00
    Rapid City· overnight
Accommodation
Downtown Rapid City
DAY03

Badlands National Park → Wichita

505 km · 5h 9m driving · long drive · Overnight in Wichita
  1. 09:00
    Badlands National Park· start
  2. 101 km · 1h 5m
  3. 13:00
    North Platte
  4. 404 km · 4h 4m
  5. 18:00
    Wichita· overnight
Accommodation
Old Town Wichita
DAY04

Tulsa → Little Rock

573 km · 5h 19m driving · long drive · Overnight in Little Rock
  1. 11:30
    Tulsa· start
  2. 284 km · 2h 34m
  3. 15:00
    Ozark-St. Francis National Forest
  4. 290 km · 2h 45m
  5. 17:30
    Little Rock· overnight
Accommodation
River Market District
DAY05

Vicksburg → New Orleans

597 km · 6h 26m driving · long drive
  1. 11:00
    Vicksburg National Military Park· start
  2. 361 km · 3h 40m
  3. 14:30
    Baton Rouge
  4. 236 km · 2h 46m
  5. 17:30
    New Orleans
Accommodation
French Quarter or Marigny
Heads Up
  • Day 1: 8h 56m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 2: 5h 55m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 3: 10h 57m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 4: 6h 56m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 5: 7h 41m driving — plan rest stops
  • Bring a physical atlas or download offline maps; Montana and parts of the Ozarks have notorious "dead zones" for cell service.
  • Pack a light jacket for the Rockies but keep your linen shirts handy for the Louisiana humidity!