Community Forums

WineLuvrs · 02-12-2017, 09:21 PM

How are the road conditions generally on I94? Last I heard most of the RV places along the way, were busy with the folks serving the oil and fracking operations. Is this still the case?
Is the scenery, if any, worthwhile? What shape is I94 in? Is this loop worthwhile, at all, or should we skip it and stick to I90?

doc · 02-13-2017, 01:41 PM

We just made a west-east trip on I-94 this past spring. Unless you have a specific reason for going that route I would skip it and stay on I-90. While there are parts of that OK to drive, overall I was not impressed. We saw very few RV parks/campgrounds along the way. Lots of oil related activity. Huge trains of tank cars (crude transport I expect( and several yards of pipes stacked every where. Many trucks hauling pipe.
We wanted to visit friends in Fargo and decided to go a route we had not been before.
Very different from S Dakota for sure.
Scenery? Around the area of Roosevelt NP was interesting.

PackerPower · 02-14-2017, 05:47 AM

We have a son in Bozeman MT, and we live in southern WI. If we want to get there driving straight through, we take 94. If we want a little more break in the routine and traveling more leisurely, will take 90. As Doc said, the only area of interest off 94 is the western edge around the ND Badlands. We have stopped and checked them out, and they are nice, but do not compare to the Black Hills or further West of course. In general, there is more traffic on 90, and also more towns and attractions. The Badlands are a nice break and fun to hike around in, then the Wall Drug total tourist trap (if you're into that sort of thing), then the Black Hills / Mt. Rushmore / Custer State Park - beautiful area but can get very crowded and congested in the summer. Went to the Corn Palace in Mitchell SD (further East) - not really my thing, but a lot of people go there once it seems. For us it's about the same distance, and it is nice to have a change up now and then. Last May we took 90, two years ago 94, still deciding for this year. A lot will depend on how much construction there appears to be, both highways have their problem stretches that vary depending on the year and season.

skigramp · 02-15-2017, 04:50 PM

If you take I-94 make sure that you stop in Medora, ND ... there is a fantastic show and dinner there called the Pitchfork Fondue ... steaks so tender you can cut it with a plastic knife ...

The show is outdoors in a amphitheater ... there is a nice RV park there for overnighting.

If you are into US history there is a nice stop at Mandan right on the Missouri River ... this is where Lewis and Clarke laid over for the winter.

jmcannonball · 02-15-2017, 08:34 PM

I've done I94 and I90 numerous times both ways from Seattle eastward. My preference is I90. I94 seems a bit more isolated to me. The road is OK either way.

WineLuvrs · 02-18-2017, 11:37 AM

Thanks all for the reply. This year's adventure is Vero Beach FL, to Keizer OR. Northern route outbound and i40 returning in the Fall, after hurricane season. We have been across i90 once, thought a change up might be interesting. Sounds like i90 is still active with big rigs hauling oil, pipe and whatnot. i94 was nice and did have several points of interest or balls of twine as we call them. Our conclusion is it is not really worth it just to fill in two more states.