Duluth to Glacier Nationwide Park

See the total highway journey right here

Heading out from the Lake Superior harbor metropolis of Duluth, one of the crucial lovely and under-appreciated journey locations within the Midwest, this Nice Northern highway journey section spans Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana. Over roughly 1,200 miles, you’ll transition from the Northwoods and lake nation into the wide-open plains of the Higher Midwest, and eventually to the hovering peaks of Glacier Nationwide Park. It’s a journey that actually defines “getting away from all of it.” Plan for about 4 days to totally expertise this leg, which is wealthy in pure wonders (from the Mississippi’s headwaters to big-sky prairies) and ends amid the alpine splendor of Glacier’s east facet. For an entire information to the whole Nice Northern route, see our overview article.

Phase Overview

On this section, you’ll hint roughly 1,195 miles from the Nice Lakes to the Rocky Mountains. Beginning at Duluth’s Lake Superior shoreline, observe US Freeway 2 throughout northern Minnesota’s forests and lake nation, via the agricultural expanse of North Dakota’s prairies, and alongside Montana’s legendary “Hello-Line” railroad hall. Anticipate a gradual change from thick woods to huge, windswept plains “empty to have a look at” but wealthy with frontier historical past. Summer season and early fall are one of the best instances to drive this stretch, with lengthy daytime and customarily dry climate. Vacationers must be ready for distant sections with restricted companies and doubtlessly spotty cell protection in North Dakota and Montana’s rural areas. The payoff is large: unspoiled landscapes, starry nights, and the breathtaking strategy to Glacier Nationwide Park’s glacial valleys.

Fast Stats

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Duluth to Itasca State Park (approx. 180 miles)

Morning: Begin in Duluth, MN, having fun with views of the enduring Aerial Elevate Bridge and Lake Superior’s huge horizon. From Duluth, head west on US-2 via dense pine forests and previous quite a few lakes. This stretch takes you into Minnesota’s “Nice Northwoods” area – the legendary residence of Paul Bunyan. Take into account a pit cease in Bemidji (about 120 miles from Duluth), the primary metropolis on the Mississippi River. Snap a photograph with the legendary Paul Bunyan and Babe statues in Bemidji and seize lunch on this charming northwoods city.

Afternoon: Proceed west to Itasca State Park’s Bear Paw Campground space (roughly 60 miles from Bemidji). As you enter Itasca State Park, you’ll be surrounded by towering purple pines and tranquil lakes. A must-do exercise is visiting the Mississippi River Headwaters – the place the mighty Mississippi begins as an 18-foot vast, knee-deep stream. Stroll throughout the sleek stones on the headwaters, an “solely in Minnesota” expertise. If time permits, hike or bike a portion of the park’s path system or climb the historic fireplace tower for a panoramic view. Bear Paw Campground is a perfect in a single day cease – set on Lake Itasca with miles of trails and wildlife viewing proper at your step. Within the night, loosen up by the campfire and relish the woodland serenity.

Day 2: Itasca State Park to Turtle River State Park, ND (approx. 160 miles)

Morning: Get up to birdsong at Itasca. Earlier than departing, you may hire a canoe to paddle on Lake Itasca or take a brief morning hike among the many old-growth pines. Then, head again north to US-2 and proceed westward. You’ll traverse Minnesota’s lake nation into the Pink River Valley. As you strategy Grand Forks, ND, the panorama flattens out into fertile farmlands. Cross the Pink River at Grand Forks into North Dakota – a milestone as you enter your second state. In Grand Forks (about 120 miles from Itasca), high off your gasoline and choose up any groceries; it’s a sizeable metropolis with loads of companies.

Afternoon: From Grand Forks, drive about 22 miles west on US-2 to succeed in Turtle River State Park. Nestled in a wooded valley alongside a uncommon stretch of forested river, Turtle River State Park is a welcome oasis amid North Dakota’s prairies. Get pleasure from a simple nature stroll beneath oak and aspen bushes or solid a line within the Turtle River (recognized for trout fishing). The park has trendy amenities and even cabins, making it a cushty cease. Camp right here for the evening to benefit from the quiet, starry skies. (Cell reception is usually accessible right here, in case you’ll want to test in again residence.) Wind down with a campfire – you’re more likely to hear crickets and perhaps even owls from the encircling woods, a peaceable finish to a lighter driving day.

Day 3: Turtle River State Park to Lewis & Clark State Park, ND (approx. 360 miles)

Morning: Get an early begin for a giant day crossing North Dakota. US-2 stretches straight throughout the prairie, typically as a four-lane freeway with mild visitors. Your first cease is Devils Lake (about 100 miles west of Turtle River). As North Dakota’s largest pure lake, Devils Lake presents a scenic break. If time permits, drive into Grahams Island State Park on the lake for a picnic or a fast hike – and be aware the excessive water marks. (Devils Lake infamously has no outlet; in latest many years it rose over 30 ft, even flooding and elevating US-2 onto a causeway!) Close to the city of Devils Lake, historical past buffs may detour 14 miles south on ND-57 to go to Fort Totten State Historic Web site, a well-preserved Nineteenth-century fort. Again on US-2, proceed west via Rugby. Be sure you cease in Rugby, ND for a photograph on the Geographical Middle of North America monument – a stone cairn marking the continent’s coronary heart. It’s a fast, quirky roadside attraction proper off US-2.

Afternoon: Proceed via Minot (a great refueling level and final main metropolis till Montana) and on towards the Montana border. You’ll discover the land turning into more and more distant and dotted with grain elevators and oil pump jacks. About 15 miles earlier than Montana, contemplate a cease at Fort Union Buying and selling Submit Nationwide Historic Web site, simply off ND-1804 north of US-2 on the state line. This reconstructed fort was crucial fur commerce submit on the Higher Missouri River within the 1800s. Crossing into Montana (and the Mountain Time Zone, so set your clocks again one hour), you’ll quickly attain the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers close to Fort Union – a major landmark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Your vacation spot tonight is Lewis & Clark State Park, about 20 miles south of US-2 close to Williston, ND’s northwest nook (you’ll backtrack a bit east on ND-1804 to succeed in it). Located on a bay of colossal Lake Sakakawea, this park presents trendy campgrounds and sizzling showers. Unwind by watching the sundown over the Missouri River’s lake-like expanse. This space blends prairie and badlands terrain, and is thought for its fishing and birding alternatives. Get pleasure from an evening beneath the prairie sky with the comforts of a developed campground after a protracted day’s drive.

Day 4: Lewis & Clark State Park, ND to Many Glacier, MT (approx. 400 miles)

Morning: As we speak’s drive takes you throughout Montana’s “Hello-Line.” Head again to Williston and rejoin US-2 west into Massive Sky Nation. The highway intently parallels the BNSF railway and slices via huge cattle ranches and wheat fields. Cities are spaced roughly 60–80 miles aside – names like Culbertson, Wolf Level, and Glasgow will mark your progress. Plan a gasoline cease in Glasgow or Malta, and don’t miss the prospect to stretch your legs. For a singular pit cease, contemplate the Sleeping Buffalo Sizzling Springs close to Saco – a unusual roadside sizzling springs resort that’s only a couple miles off US-2. Round noon, the distant define of the Rocky Mountains might seem on the western horizon, rising extra pronounced as you move via Havre after which Shelby (junction with I-15).

Afternoon: At Minimize Financial institution, MT, you’ll go away the plains behind. US-2 begins to undulate as you close to the Rocky Mountain Entrance. Flip north on US-89 at Browning, coming into the Blackfeet Reservation. The dramatic rise of Glacier Nationwide Park’s peaks greets you simply past Browning – an exciting sight after days of flat terrain. Earlier than heading into the park, you possibly can cease on the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning for cultural context. Proceed north on Hwy 89 to Babb, then west on the Many Glacier Street. This winding 12-mile highway leads into the guts of Glacier Nationwide Park’s Many Glacier Valley, typically known as the “Switzerland of North America.” Put together to be awe-struck by steep peaks and probably wildlife alongside the highway (look ahead to bears and moose). Settle in at Many Glacier Campground, ideally with a reservation (it’s fashionable!). This campground locations you on the doorstep of world-class mountaineering trails to Iceberg Lake, Grinnell Glacier, and Redrock Falls start close by. Evenings listed below are magical: you may hear distant waterfalls or see the alpenglow on Mount Grinnell. There’s no cell service at camp (and not one of the trendy distractions) – simply you and the celebs. Congratulations, you’ve accomplished the Duluth-to-Glacier section and earned a while to discover Glacier Nationwide Park!

Campgrounds to Take into account

• Bear Paw Campground — Itasca State Park (Laporte, MN): A scenic lakeside campground inside Minnesota’s oldest state park, Bear Paw presents spacious wooded websites and fast entry to the Mississippi headwaters. Campers get pleasure from clear amenities with sizzling showers and quite a few mountaineering/biking trails main via wildflower meadows and old-growth forest. Don’t miss climbing the close by Aiton Heights fireplace tower for a hen’s-eye view of the park.
• Turtle River State Park Campground (Arvilla, ND): A inexperienced haven 22 miles west of Grand Forks, this state park campground sits in a wooded valley alongside the Turtle River. The park options trendy facilities (electrical hookups, showers) and a mixture of tent websites, RV pads, and comfortable cabins. Guests love the well-kept trails that wind via oak and ash forest – an excellent probability to identify deer and hearken to songbirds. It’s a peaceable cease with easy accessibility from US-2.
• Grahams Island State Park Campground (Devils Lake, ND): Situated on an island in Devils Lake (reached by causeway), this campground is a high choose for fishing and lake enjoyable. Over 150 campsites (from primitive tent spots to full-hookup RV websites) imply there’s one thing for everybody. Facilities embody showers, a ship ramp, fish-cleaning stations, and even a playground and canine park. Sundown views over North Dakota’s largest lake are spectacular – simply deliver bug spray, because the lake’s shoreline can appeal to mosquitoes in summer time.
• Lewis & Clark State Park Campground (close to Williston, ND): Perched on a bay of Lake Sakakawea (Missouri River), this campground is thought for its mix of consolation and recreation. It options spacious gravel pads for RVs and loads of tent websites, plus facilities like clear showers, a camp retailer, and even a swimming seaside. Many websites have lake views framed by the rugged buttes of northwestern North Dakota. It’s fashionable for boating and fishing – there’s a big boat ramp and marina close by. Reservations are really useful in peak summer time attributable to its recognition.
• Nelson Reservoir (USBR) Campground (Saco, MT): A free, first-come-first-served tenting space managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. Nelson Reservoir presents primitive waterfront websites alongside a peaceful reservoir simply off US-2. There are not any hookups (vault bogs can be found), however you possibly can park proper by the shore and revel in wide-open prairie skies and good sunsets reflecting on the water. It’s an excellent in a single day possibility for self-sufficient campers seeking to break up the lengthy drive throughout Montana. Mosquitoes could be intense mid-summer, so come ready with repellent. The reward is solitude and star-gazing aplenty.
• St. Mary / East Glacier KOA (St. Mary, MT): A personal campground at Glacier Nationwide Park’s east gateway, providing resort-like facilities in a jaw-dropping setting. The KOA has every little thing from tent websites to full-service RV websites and cabins. Campers respect the well-maintained amenities – sizzling showers, laundry, a camp retailer (with ice cream and pizza supply!), and even a swimming pool with mountain views. The placement is minutes from the St. Mary entrance and Going-to-the-Solar Street, making it excellent for exploring Glacier. Whereas the open websites imply restricted shade, the panoramic vistas of Glacier’s peaks greater than compensate. It’s family-friendly and dog-friendly, with a playground and canine park on-site. Reservations are advisable, as this KOA could be very fashionable throughout the summer time.
• Many Glacier Campground (Glacier Nationwide Park, MT): A beloved nationwide park campground set deep in Glacier’s wilderness, Many Glacier is surrounded by towering peaks and is steadily rated the most effective campgrounds within the U.S. Websites are tucked amid aspen and pine groves on the foot of Mt. Grinnell, and Swiftcurrent Lake is a brief stroll away. Anticipate primary amenities (potable water, restrooms, however no showers or hookups) and do not forget that all websites are reservable prematurely (same-day first-come websites have been discontinued, so guide early). The payoff is unparalleled entry to mountaineering trails – Iceberg Lake, Grinnell Glacier, and others begin close by – plus frequent wildlife sightings (preserve an eye fixed out for bears, moose, and bighorn sheep). There’s no cell service on the campground, and solely restricted provides on the tiny camp retailer, so come ready. Should you safe a spot right here, you’ll get up in considered one of Glacier’s most scenic valleys, prepared for journey.

High Actions & Sights

Mississippi Headwaters – Itasca State Park: Stroll throughout the very starting of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca, stepping stone to stone over waters only some inches deep. The Headwaters space options interpretive indicators, a historic marker submit, and a brief path. It’s an unforgettable second to “cross the Mississippi” with out getting moist!

Paul Bunyan & Babe Statues – Bemidji, MN: These 18-foot-tall figures of the legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe, stand on the Bemidji waterfront. Erected in 1937, they’re a enjoyable roadside picture op celebrating Minnesota folklore. The close by customer heart can stamp your “Paul Bunyan Passport.”

Fort Totten State Historic Web site – ND: Situated south of Devils Lake, Fort Totten is a well-preserved 1867 army submit later transformed to a Native American boarding faculty. Stroll the grounds (open each day in summer time, $8 admission) to see unique brick buildings and find out about frontier life. In July, it hosts performances and a powwow celebrating native Dakota tradition.

Geographical Middle of North America – Rugby, ND: Mark the halfway level of the continent at this quirky roadside monument. A 21-foot stone cairn with U.S., Canada, and Mexico flags marks the spot decided by a 1931 geological survey. It’s free to go to and makes for a fast, enjoyable picture cease alongside US-2.

Fort Union Buying and selling Submit NHS – ND/MT Border: Step again into the fur commerce period at this partially reconstructed fort on the Missouri River. Nationwide Park Service rangers supply insights into the bustling commerce between Plains Tribes and European-American merchants right here from 1828 to 1867. Don’t miss the Bourgeois Home (customer heart) with displays. Open year-round (summer time each day 9-5; free entry).

Bear Paw Battlefield – close to Chinook, MT: A solemn Nationwide Historic Landmark on the plains south of Chinook, that is the location of the Nez Perce give up in 1877. A self-guided path (~1.25 miles) winds via the battlefield; informative plaques inform the story of Chief Joseph’s band’s closing battle (“From the place the solar now stands, I’ll combat no extra endlessly”). It’s distant however impactful – enable about an hour to go to. (Open year-round, no charges.)

Many Glacier Space – Glacier Nationwide Park, MT: The end result of this section is a vacation spot in itself. Take a ranger-led boat tour throughout Swiftcurrent and Josephine Lakes for a singular perspective on the peaks. Hit the path to Iceberg Lake (9.7 miles round-trip, average) to see floating icebergs even in midsummer, or hike to Redrock Falls (3.6 miles round-trip, straightforward) for a neater outing. Hold binoculars useful – grizzly bears and mountain goats are sometimes noticed on the hillsides right here. Within the night, drive or stroll to the Swiftcurrent Lake shoreline behind the Many Glacier Lodge for a surprising sundown view of Mount Grinnell mirrored within the water.

Journey Suggestions for This Phase

Gasoline & Provides: Fuel up in bigger cities each time doable (Bemidji, Grand Forks, Minot, Havre). The longest stretch with out companies is usually 70–80 miles, particularly in japanese Montana. US-2 journey is rewarding however “you’ll want to plan your stops” for gasoline, meals, and restrooms on this distant route. Carry water and snacks in case companies are closed in small cities.

Climate & Seasons: Summer season brings lengthy days and customarily good driving climate. Nonetheless, thunderstorms can pop up on the plains – be prepared for sudden wind or rain. Spring and fall are nice however could be windy and far cooler at evening. Winter journey is just not suggested with out critical preparation (blizzards and subzero temperatures are frequent on the Northern Plains).

Cell Service: You’ll have robust cell alerts round cities (Duluth, Grand Forks, Minot) and first rate protection alongside US-2 in Minnesota and japanese North Dakota. In western ND and throughout Montana’s Hello-Line, count on patchy reception or useless zones between cities. Don’t depend on streaming maps – obtain offline maps forward of time. As soon as in Glacier Nationwide Park, be aware that Many Glacier and St. Mary areas have little to no protection, so plan meet-ups and communications accordingly.

Wildlife Warning: Look ahead to deer (and infrequently moose) alongside wooded stretches close to Itasca and Turtle River, particularly at daybreak/nightfall. In Montana, pronghorn antelope and even free-range cattle might seem close to the freeway. Hold your velocity in test and keep alert – collisions could be harmful in these sparsely populated areas. In and close to Glacier, observe all bear security pointers: carry bear spray when mountaineering, make noise on trails, and retailer meals securely at camp.

Reservations & Permits: If touring in peak summer time, reserve fashionable campgrounds effectively prematurely – Many Glacier Campground now requires reservations for all websites, and the St. Mary KOA and Itasca State Park websites fill rapidly on summer time weekends. Additionally, in case you plan to drive Glacier’s Going-to-the-Solar Street from St. Mary (a extremely really useful detour past this section), remember that the Nationwide Park Service might require a timed-entry reservation throughout summer time months (test the Glacier Nationwide Park official web site for present automobile reservation guidelines). Lastly, keep in mind you acquire an hour crossing into Mountain Time in western ND/MT – useful when planning your day’s schedule!

Further Segments & Sources

This Duluth-to-Glacier portion is only one chapter of the epic Nice Northern highway journey. Be sure you learn our Nice Northern Route overview for a big-picture take a look at the coast-to-coast journey and hyperlinks to different segments (just like the route main into Duluth from the east, and the continuation westward from Glacier Park). Every section information presents tailor-made ideas and highlights, so that you gained’t miss a factor. As you enterprise on, contemplate instruments like The Dyrt PRO for offline campground discovering, and observe Depart No Hint rules to maintain these wild locations pristine. Blissful travels on the Nice Northern!

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