Wife and I have'nt pulled the trigger yet on a C7. Just a matter of a short time though.

We are wanting to go on a 2 week road trip starting in MO and going to mt Rushmore and then heading west from there, towards WA and OR. From there its pretty open as to where, any suggestions on where to go and or what to avoid?

Also, what does everyone budget for a trip like this? Would like to try and make it on less than $300 a day including hotels, gas and food. Are we close with that number?

Just looking for some insight and or tips.

Hopefuly we won't kill each other before we get back, this is going to be so different than flying somewhere and staying in one place then flying home.

 

Yes, your numbers are about right and equal my experience of several road trips this last year. If you want some good roads, head to Washington's Olympic Peninsula via Port Angeles and get on US 101 and head down the coast from there on 101 and 1, where you can. Beautiful curvy drive all the way through California. PM me if you want a place to stay near Seattle.

 

Numbers match what I spent for two weeks last September.

South Dakota, be sure and drive the needles highway and Iron Mountain Road near Mt Rushmore. Iron Mountain road is 17 miles with 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, 3 tunnels and three "pigtail" bridges(google it) Both great drives in a Corvette with the top off!

 

We stayed in Custer State Park while at Sturgis last summer, It was a beautiful and a great base of operations. There is much to see in this area and lots of fun roads to enjoy in a Corvette. Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, the Badlands, Deadwood, Mammoth dig site to name some. There is also a Jeep buffalo tour in the park that is a must see. This is an amazing area well worth the time spent.

 

I've been checking out the map for the same Mount Rushmore trip in May. I will be traveling north from Missouri as well and am contemplating doubling the distance and heading on to Glacier National Park in Montana.

 

For South Dakota runs you need to check out Black Hills Classic Corvette rally in July. Lots of corvettes will be there

 

Sylvan Lake in Custer St Park is a pretty place for a picnic lunch at the southern end of the needles highway

 

If you are going in the Summer, you should consider heading from Rushmore to Yellowstone and Gran Teton National Parks via I90. Get back on I90 and head through Idaho to Washington. Check out Seattle and then jump on I5 and head South to the Astoria OR and ride hwy 101, the Oregon Coast. That would be the Pacific North West in a nutshell and worthy of the mileage. The twists in MT, ID, and WA, are awesome and the Oregon Coast is quite unique.

 

It
s a days drive from Springfield, Mo to Sioux Falls, SD and a great place to stay in Sioux Falls Dakotah Lodge. Nice restaurant across the street for dinner.

Then west on I-90 at 85 MPH to exit #192 and visit the Pioneer Auto Museum.

Then back west on I-90 to exit #131 to visit the Badlands(a must stop). Have lunch in the restaurant in the park(great Indian taco Salad).

Drive west on Hwy 240 to I-90 at Wall, SD. Visit Walls Drugstore and have an ice cream .

The continue west on I-90 to exit #30 in Sturgis, SD and take Alt 14 to Deadwood, SD. Great town to stay in while doing the sights in the Bleak Hills. I really like the Springhill Suites by Marriott, or the Lodge at Deadwood. Both are great places to stay. A little cheaper is the Super 8 and it is nice for a Super 8.

I can give you more details on visiting the sights in the Black Hills.

One day, drive west on I90 into WY and visit Devil's Tower and then have dinner in Beulah, WY at The Buffalo Jump Saloon and Steakhouse.

Leaving the Black Hills, take I-90 through WY and get off at exit #434 in Laurel, MT to drive US212 across Beartooth pass into Yellowstone.

I like staying at one of the cabins at Old Faithfull Lodge(very short walk to see Old Faithfull, etc. I like the café at the Old Faithfull Lodge, but there are a bunch of other places to dine while at Old Faithfull.

Then take either US89 or US191 to I-90. West on I-90 to Exit #96 and take US93 north to Kalispell, MT and then take Going-To-The-Sun road through Glacier N.P.

By the time you do all that, It will probably be time to head back to Missouri.

One time to Yellowstone, we took the tour bus through the park, and it was well worth the cost. Just don't rush yourself in the Black Hills or the national Parks. Too much to see in just 2 weeks.

 

You guys are welcome to join us on this years Western Scenic Tour. We have several cars coming from Missouri and our destination town is Deadwood, SD and we are taking in all the sights in the area including Mt. Rushmore. Our tour starts Sept. 9th-15th. We have 58 people signed up so far, you can find us on FB or pm me for details. Mostly corvettes on our tour!

 

i took a month and left the vette at home. $2500 included my wife plane tickets and one night in a hotel. gas and food ....i camped at Wind cave nat park in the black hills for 4 nights before my wife flew in--rode my bike the way i wanted to for 4 days the only thing in the entire trip disappointing was Olde Faithful... (anti-climatic) Yellow stone closes at labor Day for most all concessions. Cody Wy was our favorite.

 

Do not miss "Going to the Sun Highway". Can get lots of traffic, but well worth the trip.did it last year with the top down. Long way to the bottom if you aren't paying attention.
.

 

You didn't say when you were going but be aware of the weather at higher elevations. It's still winter in June at some times in some places out there.

 

July-August is the plan

 

Besides Iron Mountain rode Spearfish Canyon is a must.

After leaving the Black Hills I recommend taking I 90 to Buffalo and then US 16 over the Bighorns to Cody and the East gate of Yellowstone. Take it easy in Wyoming. The fines for speeding are atrocious and they'll grab you for anything over the speed limit. If you like old ghost towns check out Bannock State Park just West of Dillon, MT. Nice ride from West Yellowstone to Dillon thru the mountain.

 

There's nothing like a road trip in a Corvette wolfman. Your numbers are in the range of our trips. Enjoy the ride.

The Ghost town of Glen Rio, TX on Route 66.

 

Unfortunately, that is the time when everyone else is visiting out west(especially those from Japan, China, etc). Thus you an expect the motels to be very pricey, vs waiting until after labor day when the kids are back in school.

 

That's true Joe. Also I've found there's really not a slow time in Yellowstone anymore. So it's best to get those reservations nailed down as soon as you can figure your arrival date. Our first trip I tried for reservations at one of the Yellowstone lodges for a mid Sept. night early in May. That was a big bust.

 

kitesurfer, or anyone else. What is the name of that big rock tusk in the pictures?

We have travelled around that area and missed it.

 

Devils Tower Monument, Wy