My daughter's plans have changed and instead of a sightseeing trip to some National Parks she is making a fast trip from Grand Forks ND to Leavenworth WA. She will be traveling alone (but she drove from southern AZ to Grand Forks by herself and did fine.)
She'll be doing the 1400+ miles in two days so no time for extended stops. There are a number of route variations that don't appear to add lots of time. She would rather not take 94 straight across, unless it happens to be very pretty.
ViaMichelin recommended highway 2 (as a scenic route) but also said it took an additional 10 hours. Mapquest says that route only takes an extra 3 hours. Anyone know how much it really adds? Is it too isolated?
Any good ideas for scenic rest stops or a good place to stop for the night? Thanks for your good advice!
(By the way, I am sure this trip sounds unworkable to some but we typically drive very long days and she is determined to try this.)
Route advice--Fast, pretty drive from ND to Leavenworth, WA
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The time on Mapquest is only 1.5 hours more going through Shelby and Whitefish on US 2 compared to I-94.
The 155 miles between Shelby and Whitefish over Marias Pass is one of the most beautiful drives in the USA.
East of Shelby it is not very scenic unless you like seeing lots of oil rigs. 22 hours via Whitefish vs. 20.5 on the Interstate.
I take it that she is driving her own car. If she were not, I would say to take the Empire Builder from Grand Forks to Wenatchee Washington.
Most of Highway 2 through Eastern Washington is not very interesting, much of it is isolated, and I believe your daughter will be better off sticking to the Interstate. (Driving from Leavenworth to Seattle over Stevens Pass, Highway 2 is quite scenic.)
HTTY
I should have added that if your daughter drives Highway 2 as google.maps recommends, she will often find herself the only person the road and wondering to herself what in the heck she's doing there.
HTTY
Sorry, Kathy, I'm used to google.maps and I should have looked at mapquest before writing. I like mapquest routing a lot: I-90 to 281, 281 to 28, and then Highway 2 to Leavenworth.
HTTY
I was wondering how isolated "isolated" was. So, if she broke down (yes tomfuller, she is driving her own car) it could be several hours before she might get help? Sigh. But too bad to miss all the scenery. She will be heading over to Portland before heading back to AZ so she could go over Steven's Pass.
Other thoughts?
Thank you!
Yes, once she reaches Spokane take I-90 west to Ellensburg and then US 97 back north to connect with US 2 into Leavenworth.
I did enjoy seeing the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning on June 1. Take a short break at the tall monument at the top of Marias Pass on the south edge of Glacier National Park.