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.
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!
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.
After you leave Coeur d'Alene, it won't be long before you reach Washington state! Head to the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, a 145-mile trail that takes you from Iron Horse State Park all the way to Tekoa (via various counties including Spokane). The trail is parallel to the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad, and takes you two-thirds of the way through Washington. It's an easy exit off I-90 at either the Cedar Falls, Twin Falls, or Hyak exit. Wherever you decide to hike, it's a beautiful trail.
Next, head to Old Mission State Park to see the oldest building in Idaho. The Mission of the Sacred Heart was built in 1850 and is a fantastic place to learn about the history of the area, from its first tribal inhabitants to the Jesuit missionaries that later settled there. There's a visitor center and gift shop onsite, and it's close to the Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes, one of America's most amazing bike trails, in case you've brought your bicycle on your road trip.
If you keep going for a few more miles along I-90, you'll reach Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. This Idaho city is filled with natural beauty, which you can experience at Tubbs Hill Nature Park. Enjoy a nice meal and some local beers at Crafted Taphouse and Kitchen, or get the perfect breakfast at The Garnet Cafe. And as for hotels in Coeur d'Alene, spots like the Roosevelt Inn, Coeur d'Alene Resort and the Greenbrier Inn are excellent options.
Then it's onto Crystal Gold Mine in Kellogg. Regardless of what time of year you're road tripping across I-90, this is a fantastic stop. It was a working mine from 1879 until 1881, then it was closed and forgotten until 1991. In 1996 it opened as a historical tourist attraction. You can take an underground tour here, learn all about the late 19th century mining methods and experience what life was like for miners in Silver Valley.
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.
From the Old Prison to a verifiable ghost town! If you have time to venture a little bit farther off I-90, Garnet Ghost Town is a fantastic detour. Yes, it's off-the-beaten-path, but because of that it's not a particularly popular place for I-90 tourists to venture off to. You can easily spend an entire afternoon hanging out here and walking around. There are incredible opportunities for photos and the setting is absolutely gorgeous, surrounded by wildlife and forests.
1221 Filmore Street, Great Falls, MT, United States
Then head to Deer Lodge, MT and take a tour of the Old Prison Museum. It's an amazing tour if you have the time. You'll be able to walk through the prison tunnels, and through the facility, which is like walking back in time. Plus, your admission gets you into a pretty awesome car museum as well.
Our Lady of the Rockies is America's third largest statue, and it's quite the sight to see. You can even go inside the statue-- but be prepared to be moved: the walls are covered in letters and mementos left there by visitors in memory of their loved ones. If you have a special intention in mind, you can bring along a little something to leave with Our Lady of the Rockies and you can rest assured that she will take good care of it. Otherwise, you can view it from just about anywhere in the town of Butte.
If you keep going along I-90, you'll reach Timber, MT. Visit the Crazy Mountain Museum, run by the Sweet Grass Museum Society. This museum is an adorable small-town museum that features a collection of artifacts that make the history of Sweet Grass County come alive.
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.
Next stop: Deadwood. The entire town of Deadwood is amazing, especially Mount Moriah Cemetery, where you can see the graves of Wild West greats like Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane. The downtown historic district is basically a time warp back to the 19th century! Notable hotels in Deadwood include 1889 Inn, Iron Horse Inn, and Hickok's Hotel & Gaming.
Another great roadside stop in Deadwood is Tatanka: Story of the Bison. Here you can learn that there's more to Deadwood than just cowboys and outlaws-- Native Americans were just as crucial to the history here. You can even have a guide take you on a tour!
Mount Rushmore National Monument is a road trip ESSENTIAL! Once you get here, it's just $11 to park, and you'll find a great place to get a picture of yourself in front of the massive monument at Grand View Terrace. It's important to note that peak tourist season for Rushmore is June through August, and during this time traffic can get a bit backed up. If you're traveling during summer, plan to get their early in the morning or late in the afternoon. There's a great little walking path at the base of the monument as well.
And now for something completely different! The Chapel in the Hills is an amazing architectural gem just outside Rapid City. It's also surrounded by beautiful scenery and has lots of wildlife roaming around. If you're in the mood to get out of the car for a stroll around the serene, storybook setting.
As you drive along I-90 through Rapid City, hit up Art Alley and learn a bit about the history of city and surrounding area. The art is tasteful and pretty informative. You can also sometimes see artists creating new pieces!
There are tons of awesome hotels in Rapid City, South Dakota, so consider staying the night here! Cambria Suites, the Hotel Alex Johnson and Big Sky Lodge are all great spots to catch some Z's.
Your next stop is Wall Drug Store. Yes, it's a "tourist trap" but it's become something of an icon in this part of the country. The coffee is only 5 cents, and it's pretty good! There's also loads of kitschy gift shop stuff to buy, too.
The Buffalo Gap National Grassland is a great place to either take a scenic cruise past one of America's "most extensive, productive ecosystems", or get out and take a quick stroll. The prairie seems to stretch on forever!
The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site offers a great tour and there's a very informative visitor center onsite. If you have time, take the guided tour through the control center. The tours are by appointment, so prepare to allow a bit of extra time... but it's worth it for this rare bit of Cold War history!
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.