Road Trip Report- Knoxville, TN to Montana and Wyoming

Planning a road trip from Tennessee to Montana? Discover what to see, where to stay and how to plan an unforgettable cross-country drive.

23 Days, 5,018 Miles, 10 States, 3 National Parks, 2 Kids, and a Dog.

The numbers don’t lie. This was the longest trip (both driving miles and days) our family has ever taken.

My husband and I have always wanted to drive across the United States, so we rented a mini-van, packed up our belongings, and with all of our pups (human and canine), drove west. It turned out to be a fantastic trip.

The road miles were manageable with good food, fun stops, iPads for the girls, and audio books for the parents (and the dog).

Here’s a short overview of our trip from Tennessee to Montana with lodging recommendations (if we loved them) and other fun stops we discovered along the way.

We essentially drove a loop driving across South Dakota on the way to Montana, then south to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park, and returned west through Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas.

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Tennessee To Montana Road Trip Overview

With the exception of an 11 hour haul to Kansas to visit the grandparents, we generally maxed our daily driving time at 8 hours.This seemed to be about the right amount of time before the minivan became somewhat unbearable.

It also gave us time to enjoy stops along the way, the hotel pools, and dinner before winding down for the evening.

Days 1-2

700 Miles- Knoxville,TN to Kansas

Beautiful drive once you reach Missouri. We took a slight detour to Pittsburg, KS to visit the grandparents.

Otherwise, we would have stopped at our friend’s recommendation to stay at the Wingate Hotel in Columbia, MO (608 miles from Knoxville).

P.S.If you’re ever near Pittsburg, KS, check out Big Brutus, a monument to the state’s mining history.

Day 3

485 Miles- Kansas to Sioux Falls, SD

Our first visit to the good state of South Dakota. We enjoyed Falls Park in downtown Sioux Falls and rave about one of the most family-friendly hotels we’ve ever stayed: Clubhouse Hotel and Suites.

The indoor pool had a fun slide for the girls, and the outdoor courtyard led to a community greenbelt (bikes provided by the hotel). Loved it.

The hotel offers a free breakfast, including a make-your-own smoothie bar. Doesn’t get any better!

Day 4

387 Miles- Sioux Falls to Custer State Park

Several fun stops on this stretch of highway, ultimately ending at Custer State Park near Rapid City which in the future would be worthy of a longer stay.

Stop 1: Corn Palace

Took a quick 15 minute rest stop at the “World’s Only Corn Palace” in Mitchell, SD before setting off to visit Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore. The Palace is redecorated each year using whole ears of corn nailed to the outside of the palace to reflect a theme.

This year’s theme was South Dakota weather. It’s free, it’s “corny”, and we all enjoyed stretching our legs here!

Stop 2: Badlands National Park

Located just a few minutes south of I-90’s exit 131, Badlands National Park is a surprisingly convenient stop on this stretch of highway. Badlands was oppressively hot (July average high is 92) but was a favorite stop for the kids.

We drove the Badlands Loop (40 minutes) with stops at various overlooks. We spent the most time at the first Big Badlands Overlook to scramble the rocks and take photographs. The kids had fun enjoying the unique topography first-hand.

Along the loop, we also toured the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, walked the short .25 mile Fossil Exhibit Trail, and made brief stops at the following overlooks: White River Valley (great photos here), Panorama Point, Yellow Mounds, and Pinnacles Overlook.

Tip: Purchase your National Parks Annual Pass at the park entrance.

See our Favorite Hike In Badlands and A 6 Day Itinerary in Badlands National Park and the Black Hills.

Stop 3: Wall Drug Store

The end of the Badlands Loop literally leads you right to Wall, SD and Exit 110 on I-90. Here you’ll find the infamous Wall Drug Store.

By the time of your arrival, your children have spied over 100 Wall Drug billboards from as far away as Iowa.

This is a kitschy (and crowded) but fun tourist stop. Hop on a jackalope, grab a milkshake, and purchase your sheriff pins or other trinket of choice here.

Stop 4: Mount Rushmore National Monument

Mount Rushmore was a worthwhile but brief stop, and still 90+ degrees in July. Free entrance but you have to pay a $10 parking fee ($5 for seniors) not covered by your national park pass.

The Visitor Center is also worthy of more than just a cooling off stop with its fine description of the history and creation of the monument.

Stop 5: Custer State Park

Loved this beautiful state park just south of Mount Rushmore. You’ll find hiking, scenic drives, and plenty of lakes to cool off. We even had a bison visit behind our cabin one night!

Highlights included driving through the narrow rock tunnels on the Needles Highway and playing in the water at Legion Lake where we stayed in the sleeping cabin with 2 queen beds.

Nice onsite restaurant within walking distance, and the cabins were small but cozy (and air conditioned!) Highly recommend.

If you can’t get lodging at Custer State Park, Rapid City, SD has several good hotel options.

See our Favorite Hike In Badlands and A 6 Day Itinerary in Badlands National Park and the Black Hills.

Day 5-12

494 Miles- Custer State Park to Bozeman, MT

If we could live anywhere else, it would be right here in Bozeman, MT. Friendly people, great local hiking, cold rivers and lakes, local breweries, good eats, festivals, and a charming Main Street.

We stayed in a great cabin (unfortunately no longer rented), just 10 minutes from town with amazing views.

I recommend staying in downtown Bozeman and spending a day strolling this quaint downtown with lots of shops and great restaurants. My favorite hotels in Bozeman are the Lark and the Kimpton Armory Hotel.

Related post: “A Simply Awesome Day in Bozeman.”

Livingston, MT

Located just 30 minutes west of Bozeman, this small western town is also worth a visit. Make sure to stop for lunch at Gil’s Goods. Great burgers and the kid’s pizza could feed the family.

The downtown is a fun stroll with various shops and cafes. Also stop by Sacajawea Park for a fun playground.

Ennis Lake

Located about 50 minutes south of Bozeman, all the pups cooled off here one afternoon. One of the few bodies of water we found that wasn’t unbearably cold.

Day 13-15

184 Miles- Bozeman to Grand Teton National Park

Note: Yellowstone is on the way to Grand Teton from Bozeman. Our lodging reservations required visiting Grand Teton first.

If you are a photographer, you must visit this national park. The scenery looks photoshopped–it is so beautiful. A great park for kids with short, easy hikes leading to scenic lakes.

We really enjoyed our 2 room rustic log cabin at Signal Mountain Lodge and wouldn’t stay anywhere else. We explored by day and enjoyed sunsets at the cabin. Onsite general store, restaurant, and marina rentals make it a great base camp.

If you can’t get lodging inside the national park, Cowboy Village in the town of Jackson would be a top choice.

Hikes to Phelps Lake and Leigh Lake were highlights as well as horseback riding and a scenic float trip on the Snake River.

See our Grand Teton National Park Itinerary for all the details.

Day 16

67 Miles- Tetons to Yellowstone National Park

Although magnificent, this was our least favorite stop due to the crowds of people found at Old Faithful, the heat, not enough trailhead parking, and the abrupt realization that none of the national park lodging in Yellowstone has air-conditioning.

Nonetheless, the thermal basins were beautiful and worthy of a stop. We will camp next time to take advantage of the cool evenings if staying in the park or stay in a hotel in West Yellowstone, MT.

Related post: One Day in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley and our detailed itinerary: Family Vacation In Yellowstone

Day 17-18

64 Miles- Yellowstone to Island Park, ID

We enjoyed 2 fantastic days at a friend’s cabin in Idaho. Mesa Falls, a float trip on the slowly meandering Henry’s Fork, Harriman State Park, and card playing made for a great visit to Idaho.

Day 19

376 Miles- Island Park to Rawlins, WY

We finally (and reluctantly) pointed our car eastward toward home and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Rawlins, WY. Had the best Thai food for dinner at Anong’s Thai Cuisine.

Day 20

237 Miles- Rawlins, WY to Golden, CO

Spent an afternoon here visiting Red Rocks Amphitheater, Dinosaur Ridge Trail, and the charming town of Golden, CO. Stayed at the historic and beautiful Golden Hotel which we loved. Also enjoyed the outdoor beer garden at Golden’s “2nd largest brewery” Golden City, complete with board games and a food truck.  Another town worthy of a longer visit.

Day 21

551 Miles- Golden, CO to Topeka, KS

Just a stop on the road, but we would perhaps drive an hour further to Kansas City next time for better lodging options.

Day 22

482 Miles- Topeka to Paducah, KY

Definitely felt like eastern U.S. traffic during this section of the trip. Lots of cars, people, bulletin boards, humidity, and haze. Had a nice stay at the Drury Inn though.

Day 23

327 Miles- Paducah to Home in Tennessee

Home sweet home after 5,018 miles! It was a great road trip! We particularly enjoyed the open spaces, big skies, cool evenings, good windshield time in South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming and the kind folks we encountered along the way. We would definitely do it again!