US Route 2
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From: Upstate New York
US Route 2
I am tossing around routes for a road trip heading from New York across Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Idaho, Washington and south to Santa Cruz, California in July. I'd head back up north for a conference in northern California in early August, then probably return through Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa in August.
I don't like to over plan, but an initial route west that looks interesting is to head up through Ontario to the Northern Peninsula, then follow US Route 2 west to Washington. I'd take in side routes, Copper Peninsula, Glacier NP, etc. Possibly include Sturgis on the way back, but the schedule may be tight.
So my question is, anyone have thoughts on Route 2, and do you have any suggestions for cool side trips?
Cheers,
Doc
I don't like to over plan, but an initial route west that looks interesting is to head up through Ontario to the Northern Peninsula, then follow US Route 2 west to Washington. I'd take in side routes, Copper Peninsula, Glacier NP, etc. Possibly include Sturgis on the way back, but the schedule may be tight.
So my question is, anyone have thoughts on Route 2, and do you have any suggestions for cool side trips?
Cheers,
Doc
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Michigan
US-2 is a nice ride in the Upper Peninsula but if your schedule allows I would ride to Manistique then head north to Munising. Take US-41 north to Copper Harbor. Work your way back south through Ontonagon (don't miss Lake in the Clouds) and then back to US-2 in Ironwood. The Keweenaw Peninsula is beautiful riding. Good luck.
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From: Long Island, New York
We road home from a trip to Idaho in 2013 on Route 2. Basically took it from Glacier NP to the Mackinaw City, of course with some minor detours. My only issue was the lack of amenities in eastern Montana, you will need to stop in Williston,ND which is the oil boom. I did not mind it, just you go from nobody to a big city, then back to nobody. If you are going to stop there, make a reservation in advance. You will not ride in and find a room.
Fort Peck Hotel in eastern MT should be avoided, cheap as dirt but dumpy. No food except microwaved bar food, no restaurant or alternate in town. On the weekend apparently the restaurant is open, we were not sticking around to find out. Teddy Roosevelt NP was a worthy detour, more buffalo there then in Yellowstone or Custer NP. We left Fort Peck and went south on 24 to 200 to 94 and TR NP. 24 south was a great little road. Then we went north to Williston and stayed at the Best Western.
The road is great, mostly 65 MPH speed limit and again a bunch on nobody on the road. We ran parallel to an Amtrak train for almost an hour in Montana, very cool. We had the cruise set at 70 for about 45 minutes, then you slow down and pass through a little town, then back up to speed. Fuel needs to be watched but it was not that hard to find, each town had a station pretty much. I bet you can make the same time as on the Interstate but without the trucks or BS. We enjoyed the Highline and would ride it again.
Fort Peck Hotel in eastern MT should be avoided, cheap as dirt but dumpy. No food except microwaved bar food, no restaurant or alternate in town. On the weekend apparently the restaurant is open, we were not sticking around to find out. Teddy Roosevelt NP was a worthy detour, more buffalo there then in Yellowstone or Custer NP. We left Fort Peck and went south on 24 to 200 to 94 and TR NP. 24 south was a great little road. Then we went north to Williston and stayed at the Best Western.
The road is great, mostly 65 MPH speed limit and again a bunch on nobody on the road. We ran parallel to an Amtrak train for almost an hour in Montana, very cool. We had the cruise set at 70 for about 45 minutes, then you slow down and pass through a little town, then back up to speed. Fuel needs to be watched but it was not that hard to find, each town had a station pretty much. I bet you can make the same time as on the Interstate but without the trucks or BS. We enjoyed the Highline and would ride it again.
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From: Wisconsin, USA
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From: San Francisco
So I've had this fantasy of starting in San Francisco one spring day, heading south along the Pacific Coast Highway to San Diego, heading east hugging the border and coast, then heading north along the Atlantic all the way to Maine, and then heading west and picking up Route 2 to the west coast, and then south along the PCH back to San Francisco, arriving one nice fall day. If I time it right, I'll make a bunch of small diversions, like to Sturgis during bike week. I've done chunks of this but am missing a whole lot of pieces of Route 2. Maybe someday.
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From: Michigan
If you're doing any camping, theres a decent little city park in Culbertson, MT which is maybe 50 mi west of Williston.
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From: Upstate New York
Thanks guys!
Thanks for the Keweenaw Peninsula tips Grousehunter.
Great to know some spots to avoid Architect, it sounds like a great road. I love to be able to put in some miles on blacktop, good to know it is 65 mph. I'll nail down my plans and maybe make a few critical reservations like Williston.
Thanks for the link Ron750, I see some good stuff here too:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/road-...-mt-id-wa.html
I did the PCH from Leggett to Dana Point, and followed the Louisiana Gulf, but southern Arizona and Texas are too hot for me in the summer. Maine coast is awesome, yet to dip down to Florida.
Thanks for the camping tip Bricklayer, I like the luxury of a room after a long ride, but I think I'll throw in a backpacking tent for more options.
I'm pretty stoked to go.
Thanks for the Keweenaw Peninsula tips Grousehunter.
Great to know some spots to avoid Architect, it sounds like a great road. I love to be able to put in some miles on blacktop, good to know it is 65 mph. I'll nail down my plans and maybe make a few critical reservations like Williston.
Thanks for the link Ron750, I see some good stuff here too:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/road-...-mt-id-wa.html
I did the PCH from Leggett to Dana Point, and followed the Louisiana Gulf, but southern Arizona and Texas are too hot for me in the summer. Maine coast is awesome, yet to dip down to Florida.
Thanks for the camping tip Bricklayer, I like the luxury of a room after a long ride, but I think I'll throw in a backpacking tent for more options.
I'm pretty stoked to go.
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