2019 Fall Western Trip: Minnesota to Washington

Monday, 9/23:  223 miles and parked at Grahams Island State Park, Devils Lake, ND

Ziebach Campground, Site 28

We had a nice drive today and arrived about 3:30  We set up in an almost empty campground.  They close in a week. This is probably the most beautiful campground we have ever stayed at with the huge pull thru sites.  It was a warm sunny 77 day and we sat outside for our afternoon beer.  That evening we watched episode 6 of Ken Burns Country Music documentary.  Too bad we are staying for only one night.

Wednesday, 9/24:  233 miles and parked at Lewis and Clark State Park, Williston, ND

Plover Loop, site 95

Amazing pull through sites

We left Grahams State Park about 11:00.  I'm growing to really like US RT 2 with it's low traffic,  decent roads, and 65 speed limit.  Also, it's easier to find fuel because we're driving through or near so many towns.  Eastern North Dakota farms were corn, soybeans, wheat, a few sunflowers, and some hay.

We arrived at 3:00. Again, it was a nearly empty campground, but a  beautiful campground that is located on the Missouri River.  Both ND State Parks that we stayed at have been outstanding!  They have large sites, many pull throughs, and paved roads.  It was very windy that night.  We couldn't get PBS here, so weren't able to watch Ken Burns special on country music.  I guess we'll have to stream it when we have good wifi.

Wednesday, 9/25:

Today was a rest day.  We are staying over at Lewis and Clark for another night.  We went to Williston for grocery shopping at a HUGE Walmart.  It was the largest Walmart we have ever been in.  We grabbed lunch at the Williston Brewing Company.  Back at the camper we read and napped.  It was nice to take a break from having to move daily.  While walking the dogs, I went to nearby hilltop for an amazing view of the Missouri River.

We have discovered that Williston is a huge oil town.  There are oil fields everywhere.  The only farming here are grazing and occasional hay.  After a Google search, Williston boomed with the discovery of the oil fields about 2006, along with horizontal drilling and fracking.  This surge has allowed North Dakota to have the lowest unemployment in the country.  Who knows what will happen if the oil prices fade.

Tomorrow we move on.

Thursday, 9/26:  336 miles and parked at the Billings, Montana KOA

Site 41

We are parked tonight at the Billings, Montana  KOA.  This KOA was the worlds first KOA back in 1962.  Kind of cool.  Anyway, this wasn’t our original destination for tonight.  Our worst weather fears have finally happened.  An early winter storm is expected along our original route in northern Montana. with 3 to 7 inches of snow in the forecast.  So after a couple hours on the computer and the phone, we were able to reroute our travels for the the next few days by taking a more southern route.  We hope to be back on track by Sunday night.  All part of the adventure.  :-)

After two hours of planning for a new route, we were on the road by 9:30.  A good share of the trip was on Interstate 94.  It was a very nice drive with smooth roads and little traffic.  The temperature has cooled down in the last couple days and it was mid 60's most of the day.We pulled in to the KOA about 3:45.  This a a very nice KOA with most sites having patios and lawn space.

Tomorrow we head for Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Friday, 9/27:  338 miles and parked at Snake River RV Park, Idaho Falls, Idaho

Site C-9

We left Billings about 9:00.  The drive today was very pretty along the western edge of Yellowstone National Park.  The traffic was reasonably light, and the Aspen trees were in full Fall color.

We suffered a couple of road construction delays on Rt. 20 which cost us 30 minutes.  We arrived at the Snake River RV Park about 4:00.  The sun was shinning and the temps were in the mid 60's.

Stay tuned.

Saturday, 9/28:  238 miles and parked at Mountain Home RV Park, Mountain Home, Idaho

Site 44

We drove in the rain all day today.  The whole trip was Interstate driving, so we made good time and the traffic wasn't too bad.  We arrived in Mountain Home just about 2:30 to a cool 50 degrees and wind.  This campground is probably the nicest private park we have ever stayed at, with paved and level pads, and huge lawns.  We happened to be assigned a spot near the laundry, so we got caught up on on laundry duties.  Like the campsites, the laundry was huge and immaculate.

Tomorrow we drive to Walla Walla, Washington.