Suggestions for One-night Stay in Eastern MT or Western ND

We will be traveling from Missoula to Minneapolis and are looking for a nice hotel about half-way to spend the one-night. Any suggestions? We would not mind leaving I-94 at Miles City and taking Route 12.

Also what about taking Route 12 all the way across N.D. and on into Minneapolis? Would it be way too slow?

Suggestions for One-night Stay in Eastern MT or Western ND

Route 12 leaves ND south and a little east of Dickinson and them your in SD. You would get slowed down by quite a bit with all the little towns you go thru. Mobridge and Aberdeen will take more than a few to get thru.

Stay on the Interstate. The farther east you go in ND it gets flatter. Gets rolling again after Fergus Falls in MN.

Malebird

Suggestions for One-night Stay in Eastern MT or Western ND

They have chains in Dickinson and more in Bismarck.

Malebird

Depending on how fast you drive (and/or stop frequently) you can make it to Bismarck in about 12 hours (if you stay on Interstate)....but remember, you do have a time zone change right near Bismarck. Then you%26#39;d have only another 7 hours or so to get to Minneapolis. Bismarck is a pretty area and would be a nice place to stay. Can%26#39;t speak for any one hotel, but as another poster said, they have most chains. If you take the exit for the state capital, you%26#39;ll find several choices right in that area. And you can spend a few minutes in the a.m. driving down that road to take a look at their capital building and grounds. Have a nice trip!

If you take the State Street exit in Bismarck and go right, there is a cheap Select Inn that has a nice breakfast and is clean. If you don%26#39;t mind spending a bit more, take a left off the State Street exit and we have a bunch of newer hotels that directions (Fairfield, AmericInn). Krolls diner is on the left side of Interstate by KMart and it has good food.

And its 7 hours on I-94 to Minneaplis from Bismarck. And about 9 hours from Missoula to Bismarck. If you take the slower route on 12, not only does the speed limit go way down from 75 or 70 but you have to slow down for little towns too. It will take a lot longer. If you need to do it in 2 days, you want to take Interstate. If you have more time, then take the leisurely route.

Just a side note to JACombs post...I do think the drive from Missoula to Bismarck will be longer than 9 hours as the drive from Butte to Bismarck is at least 9-10, then you have appr 2 hours Missoula to Butte (If time is not a factor, then the few hours won%26#39;t matter). However, as poster stated, it is definitely faster than going Route 12...(but if you are in no hurry, sometimes it is fun to get off the beaten path and see all the small towns, etc). That said, though, I don%26#39;t think Route 12 stays in N.Dakota that far along before you drop down into northern S. Dakota for the remainder of the drive to Minnesota. If you are traveling with kids, hard telling how far you%26#39;ll go between services on Route 12. They are rather spread out as it is along I94! If you are a history buff, be sure to stop at Pompey%26#39;s Pillar just east of Billings (will be marked), It is the last remaining evidence of Lewis %26amp; Clark%26#39;s journey (actually Clark%26#39;s). Here%26#39;s a link to see if you%26#39;re interested. It%26#39;s not far off the interstate (you can see it from there). And of course stop and at the %26#39;look out%26#39; in N.D. at Painted Canyon...it%26#39;s beautiful! I do think Bismarck is a very pretty place as we%26#39;ve been there several times...that would be my place to stop!

http://www.pompeyspillar.org/about.html