Looking for roadtrip suggestions

My family is planning a two week roadtrip from Bend, OR to Mount Rushmore. There are 5 of us - 2 adults and 3 kids (14, 13, 10). We plan to camp as often as possible, and prefer rustic areas over being surrounded by RVs and lots of people - but also plan to find a roller coaster or waterpark along the way. We%26#39;d like to spend one day driving then 1-2 days exploring a smaller area. Any suggestions for routes and ';must see'; stops along the way?

Here%26#39;s a rough outline of what we have in mind:

Bend, OR

Idaho panhandle (Post Falls or Sandpoint)

Montana, I90 corridor (Bozeman looks about halfway)

Mount Rushmore

Yellowstone/Grand Teton

Baker City, OR (visiting friends there)

home to Bend, OR

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas! I am also planning to post this request in other state forums.

Looking for roadtrip suggestions

Plan to spend a day at Silverwood Theme Park, south of Sandpoint (near Athol) and you will find your roller coasters AND waterpark.

Looking for roadtrip suggestions

Depending on your route to N. Idaho, you might check out Grand Coulée Dam. They have an interesting free tour but if your route doesn%26#39;t take you close, be advised it is out in the middle of nowhere. In Baker, check out the Oregon Trail Museum. I am sure you friends are familiar with it.

The road from Lewiston, ID to Enterprise, OR (via the Rattlesnake Canyon) is nothing short of spectacular.

I%26#39;d also try something other than the I90, a detour to Glacier NP in northern Montana would be well worth your time. You could make your way north from Sandpoint to GNP and then go to Yellowstone and South Dakota from there. Or after Yellowstone, make your way to GNP and then Sandpoint, Lewiston and Baker City on your way home.

Thanks for the ideas so far. Since our time frame is pretty short I don%26#39;t know if we will have time for GNP, but if it works out then we%26#39;ll add it.

Prettygoodgolfer, any golf suggestions along the way? My husband loves to play, not sure if he is planning to bring his clubs...

Depending on when you%26#39;re making your trip, you might want to skip Post Falls and focus on Coeur d%26#39;Alene. They%26#39;re right next to each other, but completely different in feel. The major ';sites'; and activities in this area are in Coeur d%26#39;Alene -- take a cruise on the lake if you%26#39;d like, do some hiking, walk through the downtown area and if you%26#39;re finding yourself with extra time, the Silver Valley is just 30 minutes away and they have mine tours, the world%26#39;s longest floating gondola ride, historic cities and some great scenery.

As suggested, Silverwood would be a perfect spot combining water parks and roller-coasters and it%26#39;s just 20 minutes or so from Coeur d%26#39;Alene.

Sandpoint is also a nice stop -- that%26#39;s about 45 minutes north of Coeur d%26#39;Alene.

So, in response to your rough outline, I%26#39;d definitely replace Post Falls with Coeur d%26#39;Alene unless you have family or something there.

Have a great trip.

Highway 12 across Idaho, east and west, is the # 1 most sceinic east west route across Idaho, bar none. The highway follows the Clearwater and Lochsa Rivers the whole way to Lolo Pass on the Montana border. The Famous Selawy River also flows into the Lochsa there, forming the Middle Fork of the Clearwater. It doesn%26#39;t get better than this. You will not find the crowds/etc. you will find up north. There is unlimited camping in developed campgrounds to primative campgrounds to camping any where you want. There are no water parks/ slides. But there is tubing, rafting, swimming, and some of the most stunning country Idaho has to offer.

I agree with the comments on the #12 highway. We incorporated this route into a road trip that we made a few years ago, and I can still see pieces of that road%26#39;s scenery in my mind!

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