By the time its travels were completed, the Lewis and Clark Expedition had logged more than 7,500 miles paddling, hiking, and riding across the continent and back.
Obviously, it would be difficult to duplicate such a journey today. But it is possible to take a great two-week Western vacation focusing on the Lewis and Clark Trail. What's more, the historical aspects of a Lewis and Clark vacation can easily be combined with your favorite leisure activities, be they camping, boating, sightseeing, fishing, golf, hiking, or just plain taking it easy.
Suggested Trip
The following is a suggested Lewis and Clark trip designed to fit within a two-week vacation period:
Day One: The St. Louis/St. Charles Area, Missouri. Start the tour with a visit to the Lewis and Clark State Memorial on the banks of the Mississippi River in Illinois (just off Illinois Highway 3 south of Alton). Next visit the Museum of Westward Expansion and Gateway Arch; William Clark's grave in St. Louis' Bellefontaine Cemetery; and the Lewis and Clark Center in St. Charles. Overnight in St. Charles.
Approximate driving time/distance: Not applicable; all sites in St. Louis metropolitan area.
Day Two: St. Charles, to Kansas City, Missouri. Drive west along the Missouri River. Possible stops include the Daniel Boone Home; the German-style town of Hermann; Jefferson City, where a relief on the Capitol Grounds depicts the signing of the Louisiana Purchase; Arrow Rock; and Fort Osage, a trading post Clark helped build after the expedition. Missouri highways 94 and 100 parallel the river from St. Charles to Jefferson City. From there, follow U.S. Highway 63 to Columbia; Interstate 70 to Boonville; Missouri 41 through Arrow Rock to Marshall; and US 65 and US 24 to Fort Osage and the Kansas City area. Overnight in Kansas City.
Approximate driving time/distance: six hours, 275 miles.
Go to Part II for:
· Map
· When To Go
· How to Travel
· Where To Stay;
· What To Eat
Go to Part III for:
· What To Pack
· Traveling With Kids
· What To Read
· Tending The Trail
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Day Three: Kansas City, Missouri, to Sioux City, Iowa. Visit Lewis and Clark State Park (northwest of Kansas City of Missouri 45) and nearby Atchison, Kansas, where the expedition spent July 4, 1804. Travel north on I-29 to Meriwether Lewis Museum of Missouri River History at Brownville, Nebraska (along US 136), then follow US 136 and US 75 to the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. Cross the river and have lunch at the Council Bluffs river overlook commemorating Lewis and Clark. Return to US 75 and visit Fort Atkinson State Park (Nebraska). Take either US 75 or I-29 to Onawa, Iowa, where a replica of the Corps of Discovery's keelboat is on display at Iowa's Lewis and Clark State Park. Continue north to Sioux City and see the Sergeant Floyd Monument. Overnight in Sioux City.
Approximate driving time/distance: seven hours, 340 miles.
Day Four: Sioux City, Iowa, to Pierre, South Dakota. Take I-29 north to Vermillion, South Dakota, and visit Spirit Mound. (Mound may be seen from South Dakota 19; ask permission to hike to its top.) Next visit the Gavins Point Dam Visitor Center west of Yankton, South Dakota. Have lunch in one of the many nearby park areas. Take South Dakota 46 and South Dakota 50 to Platte, then South Dakota 45 to I-90. Follow the interstate to Chamberlain, then take South Dakota 50 and 34 north and west to Pierre. Visit Farm Island State Recreation Area and the Teton Council/Site. Overnight in Pierre.
Approximate driving time/distance: seven hours, 325 miles.
Day Five: Pierre, South Dakota, to Bismarck/Mandan, North Dakota. Drive north to Mobridge on US 83 and US 12. Visit the Sacagawea and Sitting Bull monuments west of town, and continue north on South Dakota 1806, which changes to North Dakota 24 at the border. Follow North Dakota 24 and 6 north to Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and visit its On-A-Slant Indian Village. If time permits, take a cruise on the Lewis and Clark riverboat. Overnight in Bismarck or Mandan.
Approximate driving time/distance: 5.5 hours, 260 miles.
Day Six: Bismarck/Mandan, North Dakota, to Williston, North Dakota. Take US 83 north to Washburn. Visit the North Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan replica, then take North Dakota 200 to the Knife River Indian Village National Historic Site. North Dakota 200 loops back to US 83. Drive north to North Dakota 37. Follow North Dakota 37 and 1804 north of Lake Sakakawea, stopping for a picnic lunch at one of the parks en route. Overnight at Williston.
Approximate driving time/distance: 5.5 hours, 260 miles.
Day Seven: Williston, North Dakota, to Fort Benton, Montana. Start the day with a visit to the Missouri-Yellowstone confluence and nearby Fort Union National Historic Site. Take US 2 across northern Montana to Havre then follow US 87 south to Fort Benton. (Consider breaking the trip for one to three days here for a riverboat ride down the Wild and Scenic Missouri River, the stretch of waterway most like that seen by Lewis and Clark.) Explore Fort Benton's riverfront. Overnight in Fort Benton or Great Falls.
Approximate driving time/distance: Seven hours, 385 miles (to Fort Benton); 420 miles (to Great Falls).
Day Eight: Fort Benton, Montana, to Dillon, Montana. Take US 87 from Fort Benton to Great Falls. Visit the Great Falls of the Missouri and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center. Drive south on I-15 to Exit 209, and take the Gates of the Mountains boat tour. If time permits, visit the Montana Historical Society in Helena, then drive southeast on US 287 to Three Forks and Missouri Headwaters State Park. From Three Forks, take Montana 2, 55, and 41 to Dillon, watching for Beaverhead Rock en route. Overnight in Dillon.
Approximate driving time/distance: Five hours, 250 miles (from Great Falls).
Day Nine: Dillon, Montana, to Missoula, Montana. Visit Clark Canyon Dam and the Camp Fortunate Overlook southwest of Dillon. Continue on over Lemhi Pass. (This road may not be suitable for large RVs or vehicles; check locally for current road conditions.) Pick up Idaho 28 at Tendoy, Idaho, and continue north to Salmon. Follow US 93 over Lost Trail Pass and down to Ross' Hole and the Bitterroot Valley. Stop in Lolo, site of Traveler's Rest. Overnight in Missoula.
Approximate driving time/distance: Five hours, 200 miles.
Day Ten: Missoula Montana, to Lewistown, Idaho. Retrace US 93 south to Lolo and take US 12 west to Lewistown, Idaho, allowing plenty of time for the 108-mile stretch between Lolo Pass and Kamiah, Idaho. Possible stops include the Lolo Pass Visitor Center, Powell Ranger Station (the site of "Colt Killed Creek") and the rugged Lolo Motorway, which traces the Lewis and Clark route much more closely than US 12. Inquire locally for road conditions. If time permits, also visit the Nez Perce National Historic Park sites at Kamiah, Weippe, Orofino, and Spalding. Overnight in Lewistown.
Approximate driving time/distance: Five hours, 225 miles (Allow more time for exploration of the Lolo Motorway).
Day Eleven: Lewistown, Idaho, to the Dalles, Oregon. Drive west of Lewistown/Clarkston on US 12, stopping briefly at the Lewis and Clark Trail State Park near Dayton. Pick up Washington 124 at Waitsburg, and continue west to Sacajawea State Park near Pasco. Re-connect with US 12 and follow it to US 730 across the Oregon border. Visit Hat Rock, named by Captain Clark. From Umatilla, Oregon, take either Washington 14 or I-84 (via I-82) west to The Dalles, Oregon, gateway to the Columbia River Gorge. Overnight in The Dalles.
Approximate driving time/distance: 5.5 hours, 270 miles.
Day Twelve: The Dalles, Oregon, to the Pacific Ocean. Cross the Columbia River and continue west on Washington 14. Stop at Beacon Rock, named by the expedition. Hike to the top or drive to the state park lookout/picnic area. Other activities might include a visit to Bonneville Dam or the Lewis and Clark cruise on the Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge at Cascade Locks. From the Portland/Vancouver area, proceed west to the ocean. (US 26 from Portland is fastest.) Overnight on the coast.
Approximate driving time/distance: 3.5 hours, 180 miles (using US 26 to coast).
Day Thirteen: On the Pacific Coast, Oregon/Washington. Visit Fort Canby State Park and its Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center on Washington's Cape Disappointment. Return to Oregon and visit Fort Clatsop National Memorial, the Salt Works, and Ecola State Park.
Approximate driving time/distance: About 35 miles; sites all located on the Pacific Coast.
Go on to Retracing the Voyage of Discovery, Part II.
