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Core destination · 23 days

A grand loop through the American West, traversing the rugged Northern Tier on US-2, exploring the Oregon Coast and Cascades, and returning via the Loneliest Road in America, US-50, through the Great Basin.

23days
69stops
7713km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Minot · Glasgow · East Glacier Park · Whitefish · Coeur d'Alene · Wenatchee · Everett · Forks · Aberdeen · Astoria · Tillamook · Florence · Klamath Falls · Reno · Austin · Ely · Salina · Grand Junction · Gunnison · Pueblo · Hutchinson · Jefferson City — start in Grand Forks, end in St. Louis.

DAY01

Grand Forks → Minot

386 km · 4h 5m driving · Overnight in Minot
  1. 09:00
    Grand Forks· start
  2. 270 km · 2h 51m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Geographical Center of North America
  4. 116 km · 1h 14m
  5. 15:00
    Minot· overnight
DAY02

Theodore Roosevelt National P… → Glasgow

590 km · 6h 12m driving · long drive · Overnight in Glasgow
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Theodore Roosevelt National Park· start
  2. 295 km · 3h 6m
  3. 12:00
    Fort Peck Dam
  4. 32 km · 20m
  5. 15:00
    Glasgow· overnight
DAY03

Havre → East Glacier Park

587 km · 6h 11m driving · long drive · Overnight in East Glacier Park
  1. 09:00
    Havre Beneath the Streets· start
  2. 192 km · 2h 1m
  3. 12:00
    Shelby
  4. 121 km · 1h 17m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ East Glacier Park· overnight
DAY04

Going-to-the-Sun Road → Whitefish

122 km · 1h 27m driving · Overnight in Whitefish
  1. 09:00
    Going-to-the-Sun Road· start
  2. 0.1 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Logan Pass
  4. 67 km · 42m
  5. 15:00
    Whitefish· overnight
DAY05

Kootenai Falls Suspension Bri… → Coeur d'Alene

282 km · 2h 58m driving · Overnight in Coeur d'Alene
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Kootenai Falls Suspension Bridge· start
  2. 73 km · 46m
  3. 12:00
    Sandpoint
  4. 82 km · 52m
  5. 15:00
    Coeur d'Alene· overnight
DAY06

Spokane → Wenatchee

342 km · 3h 37m driving · Overnight in Wenatchee
  1. 09:00
    Spokane Falls· start
  2. 145 km · 1h 32m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Grand Coulee Dam
  4. 139 km · 1h 28m
  5. 15:00
    Wenatchee· overnight
DAY07

Leavenworth → Everett

186 km · 1h 58m driving · Overnight in Everett
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Leavenworth· start
  2. 43 km · 27m
  3. 12:00
    Stevens Pass
  4. 104 km · 1h 6m
  5. 15:00
    Everett· overnight
DAY08

Deception Pass → Forks

256 km · 2h 42m driving · Overnight in Forks
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Deception Pass· start
  2. 40 km · 25m
  3. 12:00
    Port Townsend
  4. 147 km · 1h 33m
  5. 15:00
    Forks· overnight
DAY09

Hoh Rain Forest → Aberdeen

201 km · 2h 8m driving · Overnight in Aberdeen
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Hoh Rain Forest· start
  2. 47 km · 30m
  3. 12:00
    Ruby Beach
  4. 112 km · 1h 11m
  5. 15:00
    Aberdeen· overnight
DAY10

Long Beach → Astoria

118 km · 1h 22m driving · Overnight in Astoria Column
  1. 09:00
    Long Beach· start
  2. 28 km · 18m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Astoria-Megler Bridge
  4. 3.8 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Astoria Column· overnight
DAY11

Cannon Beach → Tillamook

96 km · 1h 10m driving · Overnight in Tillamook Creamery
  1. 09:00
    Cannon Beach· start
  2. 1.2 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Haystack Rock
  4. 54 km · 34m
  5. 15:00
    Tillamook Creamery· overnight
DAY12

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natu… → Florence

203 km · 2h 9m driving · Overnight in Florence
  1. 09:00
    Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area· start
  2. 72 km · 46m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Heceta Head Lighthouse
  4. 21 km · 13m
  5. 15:00
    Florence· overnight
DAY13

Oregon Dunes National Recreat… → Klamath Falls

362 km · 3h 49m driving · Overnight in Klamath Falls
  1. 09:00
    Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area· start
  2. 225 km · 2h 22m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Crater Lake National Park
  4. 101 km · 1h 4m
  5. 15:00
    Klamath Falls· overnight
DAY14

Lava Beds National Monument → Reno

446 km · 4h 42m driving · Overnight in Reno
  1. 09:00
    Lava Beds National Monument· start
  2. 101 km · 1h 4m
  3. 12:00
    Alturas
  4. 271 km · 2h 51m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Reno· overnight
DAY15

Virginia City → Austin

302 km · 3h 11m driving · Overnight in Austin
  1. 09:00
    Virginia City· start
  2. 136 km · 1h 26m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Sand Mountain Recreation Area
  4. 132 km · 1h 24m
  5. 15:00
    Austin· overnight
DAY16

Eureka → Ely

370 km · 3h 53m driving · Overnight in Ely
  1. 09:00
    Eureka· start
  2. 186 km · 1h 57m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Great Basin National Park
  4. 70 km · 44m
  5. 15:00
    Ely· overnight
DAY17

Delta → Salina

384 km · 4h 3m driving · Overnight in Salina
  1. 09:00
    Delta· start
  2. 98 km · 1h 2m
  3. 12:00
    Manti-La Sal National Forest
  4. 47 km · 30m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Salina· overnight
DAY18

Green River → Grand Junction

362 km · 3h 48m driving · Overnight in Grand Junction
  1. 09:00
    Green River· start
  2. 69 km · 43m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Arches National Park
  4. 117 km · 1h 14m
  5. 15:00
    Grand Junction· overnight
DAY19

Black Canyon of the Gunnison → Gunnison

285 km · 3h driving · Overnight in Gunnison
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Black Canyon of the Gunnison· start
  2. 74 km · 47m
  3. 12:00
    Ouray
  4. 105 km · 1h 6m
  5. 15:00
    Gunnison· overnight
DAY20

Monarch Pass → Pueblo

248 km · 2h 36m driving · Overnight in Pueblo
  1. 09:00
    Monarch Pass· start
  2. 105 km · 1h 6m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Royal Gorge Bridge
  4. 80 km · 50m
  5. 15:00
    Pueblo· overnight
DAY21

Lamar → Hutchinson

713 km · 7h 30m driving · long drive · Overnight in Hutchinson
  1. 09:00
    Lamar· start
  2. 278 km · 2h 55m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Dodge City
  4. 225 km · 2h 22m
  5. 15:00
    Hutchinson· overnight
DAY22

Tallgrass Prairie National Pr… → Jefferson City

636 km · 6h 41m driving · long drive · Overnight in Jefferson City
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve· start
  2. 225 km · 2h 22m
  3. 12:00
    Kansas City
  4. 260 km · 2h 44m
  5. 15:00
    Jefferson City· overnight
DAY23

Gateway Arch National Park → St. Louis

236 km · 2h 31m driving
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Gateway Arch National Park· start
  2. 13 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Cahokia Mounds
  4. 15 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    St. Louis
Heads Up
  • Day 2: 6h 12m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 3: 6h 11m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 21: 7h 30m driving — plan rest stops
  • Day 22: 6h 41m driving — plan rest stops
  • Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier NP requires vehicle reservations and is typically only open late June through September.
  • US-50 through Nevada is extremely remote; ensure your fuel tank is full and carry extra water.
  • The Oregon Coast can be foggy and cool even in summer; pack layers and rain gear.
  • Check for seasonal road closures on high mountain passes in the Cascades and Rockies if traveling outside of mid-summer.