Road Report - Medora, ND to Columbus, MT via Custer Battlefield.

[Scubadude62-WO]

Edit: I learned today that when driving through eastern Montana, happiness and comfort consist of having a full tank of fuel. I'll just leave at that.

Edit 2: Crosswinds suck. While there were moderate crosswinds most of the day, I would term the day more very annoying rather than concerning, at least in my DP. Had I been pulling a lightweight travel trailer, I would probably say something different.

This route was driven on a Tuesday. In Montana, we exited from I-94 onto SR47 to the Custer Battlefield, then I-90 through Billings to Columbus, MT.

The highway in ND continued to be excellent, and once in Montana, I-94 went from excellent to just very good. It was a little bit rougher overall than the ND portion, and some portions were just OK.

Only one construction area of note on I-94. Around MP 194, the eastbound lanes cross over for roadway replacement, until MP 186.

There are several moderate hills on the route, and the only one I'm noting is the one around MP 152, that slowed me down to about 45mph. It, and its partner a few miles further on, are deceptively steep.

SR 47 for the half-hour we were on it was a wonderful road. No comments, just a nice, smooth, 65mph drive.

I-90 was very nice for the time we were on it. Around MP 428, the right lane is closed and speed limit lowered to 45mph, then at MP 426 the westbound lane crossed over, the speed limit increases to 65mph, then stays a single lane in each direction until MP 416.

We had no issues maintaining our desired speed in any of the construction areas, nor did we feel like we were impeding traffic behind us - traffic was fairly light.

 

[creativepart]

The Custer Battlefield ranks as one of our longtime favorite stops in 20-years of RVing. Equal amounts of interesting, engaging, moving and educational. I picked up the Stephen E. Ambrose (Band of Brothers author) book on the two leaders in the gift shop there and still find it enjoyable after three readings. My wife and I often revisit the memory of the visit which was at least 15-years ago.

We recommend that stop to anyone traveling nearby.

Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors https://a.co/d/5zVNDZd

 

[wyocamper-WO]

By "Custer Battlefield" are you referring to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument?

If so then I agree completely. Our very first RV trip in our new to us motorhome was up through Montana to Missoula then down through Salmon, ID and across Utah. The only stop we really remember was the Battlefield. Amazing monument and highly recommended stop.

 

[Scubadude62-WO]

I am. What I didn't mention, as it wasn't germane to the road report, is that we didn't get to see it - because of visitor center construction, the park is only open Fri, Sat Sun until further notice. Yes, we were bummed.