Interstate 90 (AKA I-90), is a coast-to-coast, transcontinental freeway, and it just so happens to be America's longest Interstate Highway. Unless you've only traveled around the southern portion of America, you've probably hopped on and off I-90 at some point, whether you boarded around Boston, Chicago or Seattle. I-90 is a whopping 3,020 miles long, after all! In the east, I-90 begins right by Boston's Logan Airport, passes through the Continental Divide by Butte, Montana and ends in Seattle, near Safeco and CenturyLink Field. Whether you're taking it all the way or just for a few miles, these are a few of the best I-90 road trip stops.
2408 San Carlos Cir, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909-1318 USA
Your next stop is Custer's Last Stand: Little Big Horn. Here you should visit the Indian Memorial, the theme of which is "Peace Through Unity." It's a circular structure that's just a few dozen yards from the 7th Cavalry obelisk, commemorating the fallen soldiers. The walls of the Indian Memorial contain the names of the Native Americans who died during the battle. The most moving part of the memorial is the "spirit gate", which is a window in the circular memorial that opens onto the Cavalry monument as a symbolic way to welcome the cavalrymen into the Native American memorial.
Once you reach Idaho, plan to spend some time in Wallace. It's an amazing little town that was also the primary filming location for the action film "Dante's Peak." One of the coolest places to visit in town is the Oasis Bordello Museum. This was a working brothel until it was abandoned in 1988, after it was raided by authorities. What makes it such a cool museum attraction today is that it was abandoned so quickly that most of the clothes and furniture was just left after the raid. And it's also rumored to be haunted! People say you can hear the sound of women talking in rooms that are completely empty and often times people also smell pipe smoke or perfume. The museum is open seven days, and admission is only $5.
Another great place to get out and stretch your legs is the Gingko Petrified Forest State Park in the town of Vantage, a little under three hours outside Spokane. Here you can walk through a petrified forest (basically, you'll see lots of sparkly, fossilized logs) and along the Columbia River shoreline. There are also places to camp, including RV sites, a restroom and three miles of hiking trails.
Before you reach Seattle, which deserves its own trip guide, finish off your trip at North Bend (have lunch at Twede's Cafe, which was the filming location for the Double-R diner from the cult TV show, "Twin Peaks".) While in the area, absolutely visit Snoqualmie Falls. This is one of America's most beautiful waterfalls. The falls are easy to get to, there's lots of parking and it's wheelchair-accessible. And, once again, if you're a "Twin Peaks" fan, you'll recognize it as the waterfall where the Great Northern Lodge is located!
7302 34th Ave NW, Seattle, Washington United States
Depending on the time of year you decide to drive I-90, it's important to note that weather can affect your journey. Snow and high winds will plague you from Minnesota to Montana, especially in the winter. Snow plows do a pretty good job, but if there's a storm, you could get stuck, so be prepared before setting out for this trip. Also, keep in mind that between Rapid City and the Black Hills, you'll be at an exceptionally high elevation, which means it's a bit more colder in this area. Pack accordingly, depending on the time of year. In fact, during deep winter, you can expect sub-zero temperatures across South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Remember your anti-freeze, snow tires, and don't let yourself run low on gas.