Begin your journey in Spokane by grabbing a specialty latte and a breakfast sandwich at Indaba Coffee Roasters to fuel up for the road ahead.
Head east on I-90 and cross the border into Idaho, enjoying the early morning light reflecting off the waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene as you pass through the scenic panhandle.
Take a short detour to visit the Coeur d'Alene's Old Mission State Park in Cataldo, where you can stretch your legs and see the oldest standing building in Idaho.
Drive through the historic Silver Valley mining district and begin the winding ascent toward the summit of Lookout Pass, which marks the border between Idaho and Montana.
Stop in the town of St. Regis to explore the sprawling St. Regis Travel Center, making sure to pick up some world-famous Montana huckleberry salt water taffy for the drive.
Continue east to the town of Superior for a relaxing lunch at Trail's End Restaurant, serving up hearty portions of Montana-style comfort food.
Drive through the picturesque Alberton Gorge, keeping an eye out for bald eagles and bighorn sheep that often frequent the cliffs above the Clark Fork River.
Arrive in Missoula and head straight to the Smokejumper Visitor Center, the largest base of its kind, to see how these elite firefighters prepare for the wilderness.
Take a scenic walk through the University of Montana campus, stopping to admire the Main Hall and the towering peaks of the Rattlesnake Mountains in the distance.
Head to Caras Park in the heart of downtown to watch daring river surfers tackle Brennan's Wave on the rushing waters of the Clark Fork River.
Explore the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, featuring over 20 historic structures including a one-room schoolhouse and an old fire lookout tower.
Enjoy a curated dinner at Plonk Wine Bar, where you can pair fine regional wines with artisanal plates in a chic, historic downtown setting.
Browse the eclectic shops along the Hip Strip, stopping into Rockin' Rudy's for unique Montana souvenirs and a nostalgic record store experience.
Warm up with a pint of local ale at Draught Works Brewery, famous for its community atmosphere and award-winning Scepter IPA.
Experience a local tradition by grabbing a handmade treat at Big Dipper Ice Cream, then take a quick drive to the base of Mount Sentinel to see the city lights.
Retire for the evening at the AC Hotel Missoula Downtown, located within the historic site of The Mercantile for a restful night.
Start your morning in Missoula with a visit to The Catalyst Café for their famous breakfast bowls and a fresh cup of Black Coffee Roasting Co. coffee.
Begin your drive east on I-90, passing through the rugged beauty of Hellgate Canyon as the morning sun hits the snow-capped peaks of the Sapphire Mountains.
Take a short detour into Deer Lodge to see the imposing stone walls of the Old Montana State Prison Museum and the nearby Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site.
Pull into the historic mining hub of Butte and visit the World Museum of Mining, where you can explore Hell Roarin' Gulch, a perfectly recreated 1890s mining town.
View the massive scale of the Berkeley Pit from the designated observation deck, then stop at Joe's Pasty Shop to pick up a traditional pasty, a staple of Butte's mining heritage.
Pick up a craft soda and a fresh pizza at Butte Brewing Company, where the taproom offers panoramic views of the Our Lady of the Rockies statue crowning the Continental Divide.
Drive east across the rugged Homestake Pass, descending from the peaks of the Rocky Mountains into the wide, sweeping landscapes of the Gallatin Valley.
Arrive in Bozeman to explore the Museum of the Rockies, featuring one of the largest collections of dinosaur fossils in the world at the Siebel Dinosaur Complex.
Stretch your legs with a walk through Downtown Bozeman, browsing the unique shops like The Country Bookshelf and several local galleries along Main Street.
Stop for a midday caffeine boost at Wild Joe's Coffee Spot before getting back on I-90 to begin the transition from mountain terrain to the high plains.
Cruise through the scenic town of Livingston, following the path of the Yellowstone River while the jagged summits of the Absaroka Range loom over the horizon.
Continue the drive eastward through the expansive ranch lands past Big Timber, keeping an eye out for the jagged silhouettes of the Crazy Mountains against the twilight sky.
Arrive in Billings and head straight to Last Chance Pub & Cider Mill for a rustic dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients and house-made orchard-to-glass ciders.
Drive up to the Rimrocks at Zimmerman Park to witness the stunning city lights of Montana's largest city twinkling below the sandstone cliffs.
Wander through the Billings Brew Trail, the state's only walkable brewery district, and stop for a nightcap at Uberbrew to try their award-winning White Noise wheat beer.
Check into the historic Northern Hotel in downtown Billings, where you can enjoy luxury accommodations that blend modern comfort with classic western heritage.
Fuel up for the long drive ahead with a hearty morning meal at Stella's Kitchen & Bakery in downtown Billings, famous for their massive, legendary cinnamon rolls.
Depart Billings heading south on I-90, watching the rugged Rimrocks give way to the vast, open rolling hills of the Crow Indian Reservation.
Arrive at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument to begin a self-guided tour of the site where the Battle of the Little Bighorn took place in 1876.
Pay your respects at the Indian Memorial and walk the path up to Last Stand Hill, where the white marble markers stand as a somber reminder of the conflict.
Continue the journey southeast through the high plains, crossing the state line into Wyoming and heading toward the picturesque valley of the Bighorn Mountains near Sheridan.
Stop in Sheridan, Wyoming for a lunch of elevated comfort food at Frackelton's, located in the heart of the historic downtown district.
Head east through the rolling grasslands toward Devils Tower National Monument, keeping an eye out for pronghorn antelope along the highway.
Arrive at Devils Tower and stand in awe of the massive igneous intrusion that rises 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River.
Stretch your legs on the Tower Trail, a 1.3-mile paved loop that offers 360-degree views of the tower and the surrounding Black Hills.
Cross the border into South Dakota and navigate the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, a breathtaking route framed by towering limestone cliffs and ponderosa pines.
Pull over at the Bridal Veil Falls overlook to witness the 60-foot waterfall cascading down the canyon walls during the final leg of your drive into Rapid City.
Check into the historic Hotel Alex Johnson, then head over to Tally's Silver Spoon for a sophisticated dinner that blends local South Dakota ingredients with modern culinary flair.
Take a sunset stroll through downtown Rapid City to discover the City of Presidents, a series of life-sized bronze statues on every street corner, and the vibrant graffiti of Art Alley.
Visit the Firehouse Brewing Company, South Dakota's oldest brewery, to enjoy a flight of craft beers inside a beautifully restored 1915 fire station.
Drive up to Dinosaur Park for a stunning panoramic view of the Rapid City skyline and the surrounding Black Hills illuminated under the night sky.
Conclude your evening at the Vertex Sky Bar atop the Hotel Alex Johnson for a final look at the city lights before retiring for a restful night.
Start your morning in Rapid City at The Essence of Coffee for artisan-roasted coffee and a savory breakfast crepe to prepare for the day's adventure.
Begin your journey east on I-90, watching the lush scenery of the Black Hills transition into the stark, dramatic canyons of the prairie.
Enter Badlands National Park through the Pinnacles Entrance and begin driving the scenic Highway 240 Badlands Loop Road for incredible geologic vistas.
Pull over at the Yellow Mounds Overlook to admire the vibrant, multi-colored clay hills and stop by the Ben Reifel Visitor Center to see active paleontology labs.
Drive to the town of Wall for a visit to the world-famous Wall Drug Store, where you can browse the sprawling western mall and grab a cup of legendary 5-cent coffee.
Sit down for a classic bison burger at the Western Art Gallery Restaurant inside Wall Drug Store, where you can dine surrounded by one of the largest private collections of Western art in the country.
Resume your journey east on I-90, traversing the vast South Dakota prairie while spotting the whimsical billboards that have made this stretch of highway legendary.
Stop at the scenic overlook in Chamberlain to witness the breathtaking Scale of the Missouri River and admire the 50-foot-tall Dignity: of Earth & Sky stainless steel statue.
Visit the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center to explore an extensive collection of Northern Plains Indian artifacts and learn about the living culture of the Lakota People.
Continue the drive toward Mitchell, passing through the fertile agricultural heartland that defines the transition from the high plains to the Midwest.
Arrive at The World's Only Corn Palace to marvel at the massive murals made entirely of corn and grains, which are redesigned annually by local artists.
Depart Mitchell and drive the final leg east on I-90, crossing into the fertile Big Sioux River Valley as the twilight colors settle over the eastern South Dakota prairie.
Arrive in Sioux Falls and head to Parker's Bistro for a refined dinner experience in a historic downtown building, featuring artfully prepared dishes with locally sourced ingredients.
Visit the city's namesake at Falls Park, where you can walk along the paths to see the Big Sioux River cascading over jagged pink Sioux Quartzite formations illuminated by floodlights.
Explore the Downtown SculptureWalk, an outdoor gallery of world-class art, before stopping for an award-winning treat at CH Patisserie, led by a world-champion pastry chef.
Check into the Hotel on Phillips, a sophisticated boutique hotel located in the beautifully restored Sioux Falls National Bank building, for a restful night's sleep.
Begin your morning in Sioux Falls with a stop at Josiah's Coffeehouse & Cafe for a stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes and a signature latte to fuel your final day of travel.
Head south on I-29, crossing the mountainous borders of the past for the fertile plains of Iowa, while following the winding path of the Big Sioux River.
Pull into Sioux City to visit the Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, featuring impressive animatronic exhibits and artifacts detailing the corps' historical journey through this region.
Pay your respects at the Sergeant Floyd Monument, a towering 100-foot sandstone obelisk that honors the only member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to die on the journey.
Drive a short stretch of the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, admiring the rare, wind-deposited silt formations that create a rolling, wave-like landscape along the Missouri River Valley.
Enjoy a quick and iconic lunch at Milwaukee Wiener House in Sioux City, a local landmark serving up legendary hot dogs since 1918.
Stop by the Palmer's Candy Company Store to pick up some Twin Bing bars and other nostalgic sweets for the final stretch of the road trip.
Continue your drive south on I-29 into the lush Missouri River Valley, heading toward the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge.
Explore the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge visitor center to view the remarkably preserved cargo recovered from the 1865 wreckage of the Steamboat Bertrand.
Enter the northern edges of Omaha and stop at the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters to learn about the pioneer history and the mid-19th-century westward migration.
Stretch your legs walking across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, the stunning S-curved suspension bridge where you can stand in both Iowa and Nebraska at the same time.
Check into The Farnam, Autograph Collection in downtown Omaha, a boutique hotel that blends industrial chic design with the vibrant energy of the surrounding city.
Stroll into the historic Old Market District for a celebratory final dinner at V.Mertz, an upscale establishment hidden in a brick alleyway that serves exquisite contemporary American cuisine.
Explore the cobblestone streets and unique boutiques of the Old Market, making sure to stop by the Old Market Passageway for its lush indoor plants and charming atmosphere.
Visit Berry & Rye, a sophisticated craft cocktail lounge in the heart of the district, to enjoy a meticulously prepared drink in an intimate, speakeasy-inspired setting.
Take a late-night walk through the recently renovated Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront to see the dazzling light displays and the reflection of the skyscrapers in the lagoon, marking a perfect end to your journey.