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Anyone can describe Hwy 2, through South Dakota and Montana

Abosit

New member
Planning to ride from Minnesota to Vancouver. I am looking for info of anyone taken Hwy 2 from Minnesota to Montana.
Is Hwy 94 faster or not much difference in time. Need to get through as quick as possible to meet with other group and would like to avoid Hwy 94.
Would be helpful for me to know. Trip will be in mid July/2008
 
If you're asking about I-94, not a local highway 94, I would say the main difference is the traffic. I-94 is the commercial truck route, superslab divided. Hwy 2 is often two lanes, one in each direction. You'll find yourself alone for miles at a time, then as you approach or leave towns, you'll be in some traffic.

Hwy 2 is open, rolling, windy, hot, hail, scenic, did I mention wind and, oh, yeah, scenic. It's usually got a stretch or two under construction. Watch for livestock.

Through Montana, Hwy 2 has a 70 mpg speed limit.
 
Thanks, Montana and Rinty.

Oh sorry , yes I was talking about I-94

I will follow your sugestion and search 'Glacier Park'. On the way back will go slow and look for interesting routes. Just have to cross fast to start our tour in British Colombia. This country is so darn big.......and beautiful!!

If I take Hwy 2, I was suspecting wind, but.....not livestock?
I-94 has winds too. This area is like that. Montana much police controling the speed?
Nothing worse than straight roads no traffic and slow speeds.

Any of you have done my other alternative Hwy 1 through Canada, so I can compare?

(excuse my english and spelling- I am a non native)
 
Highway 2

I have taken Highway 2 from the MN border to Glacier park.

It is straight, generally flat with some roller coaster portions. I took it in July and had very little traffic. Lots of wheat fields on both sides, especially in Montana.
 
I have ridden this route a couple of times. The Montana / Dakota section is as already described. Pay attention to gas. There are plenty of stations but the hours of operation may be limited and you can find yourself waiting.

The Minnesota section has heavy traffic by comparison to the rest of the route with a great number of trucks. Be VERY careful of cages pulling out and passing. I have been run off the road by them in MN. So use caution.

I still prefer the scenery on Hwy 2 to I94 but the freeway is significantly faster in my experience if that is the key consideration in your plans.
 
Planning to ride from Minnesota to Vancouver. I am looking for info of anyone taken Hwy 2 from Minnesota to Montana.
Is Hwy 94 faster or not much difference in time. Need to get through as quick as possible to meet with other group and would like to avoid Hwy 94.
Would be helpful for me to know. Trip will be in mid July/2008

How are you getting to Vancouver?
Continue on 2 through Idaho and into Washington. Real nice semi-arid riding. When you get to the foothills of the Cascade Range jump on 97 North to 153 to Highway 20. This will take you into the North Cascades Park. Sections of this look like the Alps. 20 will intersect I-5 and you can take that North in BC or before I-5 take 9 North and cross into BC at Sumas.
This is a better crossing as the I-5 can back up for hours!
All in all sweet riding in Washington State as seen on Mays ON cover.
However ya do it... Enjoy the ride!
Jim
 
I-94 to Glendive and then 200s up to Circle to 200 over to Great Falls is the fastest in my opinion. It gets really remote after Circle until you get to Lewiston (very few services).
Hardly any traffic and less small towns to slow down for. It isn't scenic until closer to Lewiston though. If you are out of time it's the way to go, otherwise hwy 2 is full of great Americana.
B
 
OOOps another mistake, :doh , of course a ND rider would have noticed. Thanks for the correction.

Thank you all for the info, I am going to take the map one more time and see which route to take. West-bound time is of the esence and East-bound will explore the scenery.
We where planing on the return to spend some time to explore the mountians.
We are considering to take part of the old railroad tracks (just came out in the Road Runner Magazine an article about that) which is used by some bikers
(husband and myself are riding two 1200 GS) so therfore very atractive.
Anyone knows more about those trails?

You guys are great!! Thanks again
 
We traveled US2 last year and encountered difficult wind through the UP, WI and a bit of MN. The locals claimed it was unusually windy.

From there on US2 is a nice ride, albeit tedious through MN and ND required a pep talk for us both to get through it. But once you get into WY and start to see the mountains all is forgiven.

I found I could travel the speed I wanted, had enough gas and food options along the way. There are plenty of passing lanes, but for the most part you can travel for hours and see very little traffic. I even waved to trains for amusement.

Enjoy your trip!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/srab/2586321815/" title="US2 by sheridesabeemer, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/2586321815_b1efe2bede.jpg" width="500" height="354" alt="US2" /></a>
 
Hwy 2 can be very windy and yes lots of open range country which means cattle. Hwy 1(Trans Canada) up here is in much better shape than #2 in Montana, much like the Interstates. You will be more likely to get a fast driving award from the Mounties up here(over 130kph,approx 75-80mph) than on #2 in Montana. Hwy 1 goes right through Calgary, no ring road with lots of lights, traffic etc. However, it is a beautiful ride through the Rockies after that with the proviso it is still the Trans Canada. The price of gas up here is higher than stateside tho.
 
Thank you all for the info, ... We are considering to take part of the old railroad tracks (just came out in the Road Runner Magazine an article about that) which is used by some bikers
(husband and myself are riding two 1200 GS) so therfore very atractive.
Anyone knows more about those trails?

You guys are great!! Thanks again

You mean this?

http://www.roadrunner.travel/article-6535.php

Where are you crossing into Canada?
 
From there on US2 is a nice ride, albeit tedious through MN and ND required a pep talk for us both to get through it.

tedious, That is an understatement!
 
2 is nice riding:)

Came all the way across from the Great Lakes on 2 and found it really good. Wind blows everywhere, all the way down to Mexico. Grasslands are quite beautiful way up there in Montana and the Dakota's. Indian Lands in Montana crossing Hwy 2 , so beware of high speeding on the bike. They will get you. This is true for all Reservation lands I've ridden through everywhere. Coming into Glacier NP from the East on this highway is exceptional. Randy
 
I can get a better picture now.

have not decided where to cross in Canada yet. Have to evaluate all your coments
wind, high price gas in Canada...etc. may be just hop on and depending on where the wind blows ( just a saying in this case) and there we go.

graficfeat:
Yes this is the article I was refering to.

We meet with friends somewhere East of Vancouver, probably halfway between Vancouver and Calgary, head North on 93 then 16 to Prince George and Prince Rupert, take the Inland Passage by ferry to the northern harbor in Vancouver Island, called Port Hardy. Explore the Island, cross over to Vancouver.
From here on my husband and I alone again. Heading East now and try some sections if possible of the old railroad beds. Eventualy connecting to main roads and ending somehow in Minnesota again. No fixed route on the return, just direction. Only fixed is the ferry from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy. Total time we have aprox 3.5 weeks.

Will take pictures and share when back.
Thank you girls and guys your input has been very helpfull to us!
 
Have ridden all over B.C., including the ferry ride etc. Watch for wildlife all over B.C., especially at night. You can expect rain between Prince George & Prince Rupert at any time as you will riding through the coastal mountain ranges. Vancouver Island is spectacular, a bit of heaven on earth, expect tourist prices in the summer tho. Don't know if your friends know about Victoria, if time permits count on spending 3-4 days exploring; great museums, dining,galleries, street performers, high tea etc. The only down side to this great city is that with the mildest climate in all of Canada there is an overabundance of panhandlers(ugh), just ignore them. Hope you enjoy your time in Canada eh?:ca
 
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