Week One of My Cross Country Trip: Getting from SC to Montana

The first week of my cross-country trip is what I’ll call the long haul.  Simply put, I was just trying to get from South Carolina to Montana as quickly as possible.  I was driving alone so I made sure to include stops every three to four hours to stretch. This also allowed my senior dog, Sampson, to take potty breaks.  I didn’t want to push myself too hard and be exhausted so while we did get up early to leave most mornings, we were typically settled by late afternoon for the night.  This approach took me six full days of driving, making stops at several neat destinations including four National Parks.

More From This Cross Country Series:

Planning for My 7,000 Mile Cross Country Trip
The Packing Essentials: How I Prepared for My Cross Country Trip

The Route & Destinations

Here’s a quick look at the schedule and then I’ll break down details for each of the destinations:

• Day One: SC, NC, TN, KY, IL
• Day Two: IL, MO – Gateway Arch National Park
• Day Three: MO, IA, NE, SD – Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge & Sioux Falls, SD
• Day Four: SD-1880 Town, Badlands National Park, Mt. Rushmore & Under Canvas
• Day Five: SD, ND, MT – Theodore Roosevelt National Park & Medora, ND
• Day Six: MT – Drove across Montana, just outside of Glacier National Park

Day One

South Carolina to Illinois

Day one was less than exciting to say the least.  We drove approximately 500 miles in just under eight hours, only stopping at gas stations and rest areas for breaks.  Starting in my hometown of South Carolina we traveled through North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. We spent the night just over the Kentucky border in Metropolis, IL. (Quick note: This route is much longer now with the damage from the hurricane in NC and TN so plan accordingly.)

Three of My Car Essentials:

Day Two

St. Louis & Gateway Arch National Park

Early the next morning we headed towards St. Louis, Missouri to visit the Gateway Arch National Park. The park is located beside the river with no designated entrance so you can just walk in.  I found a parking spot on the street and headed towards the Arch. Since this park is dog friendly, Sampson got to join me.

The Gateway Arch National Park is near the starting point of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The arch, known as the “Gateway to the West” stands at 630 feet. This makes it the tallest structure in Missouri and it was built between 1963 and October 1965.  They have a museum you can visit and also a tram that you can ride to the top.  Since I had Sampson, we skipped both and just walked around the beautiful park.

Afterwards, we walked towards the Old Courthouse which unfortunately was under construction. Despite it being closed, it was a site to see especially if you love historic buildings like I do.  We then walked around downtown a few blocks to admire many of the architectural elements of the buildings. Once we were done we hopped into the car and headed towards Kansas City, Missouri where we spent the night.

Day Three

Bob Kerry Bridge & Sioux Falls, SD

We were up before the sunrise to make our way towards Omaha, Nebraska.  Our drive actually took us along the Nebraska/Iowa border so the majority of the route was in Iowa.  After a few hours we took a quick detour to downtown Omaha for a quick visit to the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge.

Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge

So, a quick note of caution.  I found it confusing trying to figure out where to park in relation to the start of the trail.  When you park at the visitor center look for the paved walking trail the runs behind it.  Walk the trail behind the visitor center and under the bridge, and then follow the steps up towards the entry point of the bridge. If there was an easier way to get there, I missed it. I would guess it was a 15-minute walk just to get started of the bridge so pack some water if it’s a hot day.

The Bob Kerry Pedestrian bridge is a 3,000 ft pedestrian bridge that is suspended in air by cables.  It’s pretty impressive and an easy enough walk across the bridge and back.  The neatest part to me is that it crosses the border between Nebraska and Iowa so a photo op is necessary.  It was a really hot day so we took it slow for my sweet old bog with plenty of water and breaks.  All in all, it was a neat stop and a good place to stretch our legs and eat a picnic lunch. 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

From there we headed towards Sioux Falls, South Dakota to check out Falls Park. The Falls have been the center of recreation and industry since the founding of the city in 1856 and the entire areas is steeped in Native American history.  In addition to the cascading falls where an average of 7,400 gallons of water drops 100 feet over the course of the Falls each second, it also has some neat historic structures on it like the remains of the Queen Bee Mill.  The mill opened in 1881 and was a seven-story structure built of Sioux Quarzite. When it was constructed, it was one of the most advanced in America but unfortunately closed just two years later. In 1956 a fire destroyed much of the structure but you can still see what’s left and protected of it near the Falls.

After an enjoyable afternoon walking around the grounds of the Falls, we packed up and drove about an hour to Mitchell, South Dakota for our night’s stay.

Day Four

1880 Town, Badlands National Park, Mt. Rushmore, and Under Canvas

After enjoying a good night’s sleep, we took our time before heading out for the day and drove across South Dakota.  And it was unexpectedly beautiful.  I’m not sure I had any expectations of South Dakota but after driving through, I would be open to go back and visiting other parts of the state.

1880 Town

Speaking of unexpected, while I did have a schedule mapped out, I gave myself full permission to venture off on any detours I found.  On the way across South Dakota, I kept seeing signs for 1880 Town so once I got to the exit, I decided to check it out.  And I’m so glad I did.  It is the neatest little replica of what an old town looked like full of historic buildings and artifacts that I could not get enough of.  Oh, and it was dog-friendly!  We went in and out of almost every building on the property and I couldn’t help but think of how wonderful that simplistic way of life must have been.  After spending over an hour touring around, we hopped back in the car headed towards our next stop, the Badlands National Park.

Badlands National Park

From the National Parks Service:

The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.

The Badlands are easy to detour if you wanted to skip them but I most certainly added them to my route.  They are, well, other worldly looking.  Or at least that’s the best way I know to describe them.  After entering the park by showing my America the Beautiful Pass, I took my time driving the loop and stopping at pull outs.  Dogs are not allowed on any trails in National Parks so my observations were limited to how fast I could get to a lookout with Sampson in the car.  That meant it had to be really close by which was fine.  We drove the entire loop and I took all the pictures, marking off National Park number two on my list before heading to Mt. Rushmore.

Mt. Rushmore

The Mt. Rushmore National Park was about an hour and a half from the end of the Badlands loop.  You first drive through the charming little mountain town of Keystone, SD which reminded me a lot of Chimney Rock near Lake Lure, NC. We drove up the mountain, parked in the garage, and then headed up to the entrance.  Quick tip: Take your parking pass with you to the entrance to pay otherwise you’ll have to make an extra trip back to the car like I did.  You’ll pay for the parking fee just outside the entrance to the park.

From the National Parks Service:
Majestic figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, tell the story of the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country. From the history of the first inhabitants to the diversity of America today, Mount Rushmore brings visitors face to face with the rich heritage we all share.

I knew dogs were not allowed in the park so I just admired the Presidents’ faces from afar. After a couple of pictures of Sampson, we headed back down the mountain to our stay for the night, Under Canvas.

Under Canvas

Under Canvas is a glamping community with locations all around the US, most near national parks.  It was a really neat venue with tents nestled under the stars but if there’s one thing I learned about myself is that I’m too old to be camping, or glamping.  The staff and communication were great, the glamping tent and accommodations were wonderful, and the starry skies enchanting. 

However, it was a cold night and the choice was either to keep the fire going to stay warm, or sleep. After two hours of trying to tend to the fire, I decided to wrap up in my jacket, toboggan, and a few blankets and see how much sleep I could get.  Let’s just say it was a long night. Also, the tent I selected did not have a private bathroom so I had to trek it to the bathhouse in the middle of the night.  I think if I had to do it again, I would go when it’s warmer and pay extra to have a private bathroom.

On a positive note, we were up long before the sun was so got to see the sun actually rise as we headed out of town. 

Day Five

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

By leaving before the sun came up, we got an early start on the day.  We traveled north towards North Dakota, through some of the most remote roads on the trip.  And honestly, I loved it.  There were times that nothing but the open road would be in sight and it was strangely refreshing.

After driving about five hours, we arrived in Medora, North Dakota. This is where the entrance to the South Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park is located.

From the National Parks Service:

When Theodore Roosevelt came to Dakota Territory to hunt bison in 1883, he was a skinny, young, spectacled dude from New York. He could not have imagined how his adventure in this remote and unfamiliar place would forever alter the course of the nation. The rugged landscape and strenuous life that TR experienced here would help shape a conservation policy that we still benefit from today.

Once you enter the park, you can take a leisurely drive around the park loop.  Like many national parks you can drive and pull off at designated pull outs to take in the sights.  This park was primarily about the wildlife where we got to see plenty of bison and prairie dogs. While I did enjoy the park I would say that for me it wouldn’t be a stand-alone destination. If you can work it into a larger trip like I did, I would recommend.

Another unexpected surprise on the trip was the park town of Medora, North Dakota.  After driving through the park, we parked in the little downtown and walked around.  I loved taking in the sights of the historic buildings and houses and Sampson enjoyed the chance to stretch his little legs.  It was a super cute downtown and if you visit the park, take the time to enjoy a meal downtown.  Once we all walked out, we hopped back into the car and drove about an hour to our hotel in Glendive, Montana.

Day Six

Driving Across Montana

The next morning, we got up and ventured up, over, and across Montana.  It was another long driving day with no real stops to mention. And yet, the back roads once again did not disappoint.  Once we got north on Highway 2, we essentially drove parallel with the Canadian border.  You could drive for miles and miles with little to see. And then, out of nowhere, you were in the middle of a tiny little town, and then off again.  I loved the landscape and had to remind myself to focus since I was the only driver.  My only regret is not planning and extra day or two to cross the border to visit that area of Canada.  Maybe next time. 

Our destination for the day was the Comfort Inn & Suites in Shelby, Montana which is about one hour from the St. Mary Station entrance to Glacier National Park.  This hotel was the perfect stop and super dog friendly including trails we could walk right behind the hotel.  This also was what I deemed as the ‘we made it’ destination because I knew the next morning we would be heading to the place I wanted to visit most, Glacier National Park.  Stay tuned for that beautiful destination.

Three of My Travel Gear Essentials:

Check out my Instagram Reels for more on some of these destinations: