Road Trip to Oregon - Heading back home

Eastern Oregon

The road trip back from Oregon was designed to be 5 days (the outbound trip was 6). One less day translated into about 100 more miles more each day. The difference between 5 and 6 days is noticeable. There's also something about going home where you just want to get home 💖 Link to video.

Said goodbye to Jill and Ellie, who was heading off to the first day of school, on September 1. There are only a few routes to cross eastern Oregon and I have taken most (if not all) already so this was familiar territory - long and not much to take in. 

The first day goal was Boise, Idaho. A word to the wise on crossing eastern Oregon - there are NO rest areas, and therefore, no facilities! Once again, I had to make my own "accommodations."

We did not make it into Boise (had stopped at the capitol on a previous road trip) but opted to stay in Meridian, a very suburban town on the Interstate.

Day 2 destination was Bozeman, Montana, which meant driving nearly the full length of Idaho. This day was a no Interstate day. Drove by Craters of the Moon National Monument. I stopped here on a previous road trip. It is an incredible geological area.

Lunch at Idaho Falls falls park.

We stopped in Idaho Falls for lunch. I had driven by Idaho Falls but not stopped before. The falls are really cool - instead of dropping off perpendicular to the flow of the river, the falls cut through the river lengthwise. There was a critical incident occurring at the falls when we arrived with 3 different sheriff's rescue watercraft involved 😰

A long portion of the route to Bozeman through Idaho was primarily along the Madison River. There are some really fancy "cabins" along the river and I saw several people fishing (fancy boats), too.

I'd like to spend more time in Bozeman. It has a funky, cool vibe even though the motel we stayed in was on the skanky side. Motels should not have upholstered LazyBoy recliners!

Day 3 destination was Spearfish, South Dakota with a stop at Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming. This day required Interstate driving but this is a beautiful section along the Yellowstone River (have done this section before).

Devils Tower National Monument did not disappoint. I took way too many photos. I loved the indigenous sacred narrative that I read on one of the viewpoints (a photo is included in the video and shared here).

Day 4 started with a drive through Spearfish Scenic Canyon into the Black Hills. This was probably the most difficult day for Maggie. I'm not sure if the curvy road, the elevation changes, or simply being done with traveling was the cause for a protracted complaint (loud meowing) episode.

The goal on Day 4 was to drive through Badlands National Park. After much struggle with GPS-based driving apps, I got to Badlands National Park South Unit, which is entirely in Tribal Trust land under the Ogala Sioux Tribe. Approaching the Badlands from this direction provides a very, very dramatic view and unfortunately neither the photos nor the video capture it.

To get to the Badlands, required a beautiful tour through the Black Hills including Lead and Deadwood, South Dakota. Interesting coincidence: I stopped briefly at the Sanford Lab Homestake visitor center in Lead, SD and just heard that they may have discovered dark matter.

The goal on Day 4 was Sioux Falls, SD. To get there after the Badlands and NOT go to Interstate 90 required more back-country roads than I had anticipated (yes, gravel roads). But it was also beautiful and very much greener than I thought even with temperatures reaching 102 degrees!

I had been to Sioux Falls before and after a day of endless driving and sightseeing, the goal was mostly rest before heading home on Day 5.

If you made it this far, here is link to the video montage.

Link to Part 1 of this road trip - westbound.

Link to Part 2 of this road trip - Ashland and Illinois River cabin.