US-2, MT-200 or I-90 (Missoula, Great Falls: construction, campers, live)

[FL2MT]

I'm a few weeks out from making my annual trek back east and south and thought I'd turn to you guys for your thoughts.

In the past I've taken US-2 from the Flathead valley over to Wolf Point and then cut down to pick up I-94 at Glendive.
I've also taken US-93 south from Whitefish to pick up I-90 in Missoula and followed both I-90 and I-94 back east.

I have not yet taken MT-200 through the middle of the state so I'm thinking of going that way (US-2 to I-15 south to pick up MT-200 in Great Falls and presumably I'd pick up I-94 at Glendive again). Is there any particular reason to avoid 200? Poor roads, slow speeds, anything like that? Or any place along it that I absolutely need to stop in and grab a burger? I'd be leaving the Flathead valley early in the morning.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

[DontLookPhoto]

I think that would be a fine route especially if you haven't gone that way before. 200 is a major travel route but as in the case everywhere there may be a construction zone or more, where they do pot hole filling and chip & seal work.
You may want to call the highway department at the last minute and have a back up route.
We like allowing extra time and take the roads less traveled.

[ElkHunter]

Just looked at the construction projects for 200:

MT-200
Mile Marker 130.9 to 148.4
West of Winnett to Gorman Coullee. Chip sealing work in progress.
Expect delays up to 15 minutes, fresh oil, loose gravel, reduced
speed to 35 MPH, pilot cars, gravel surface, single lane traffic,
flaggers. Chip seal, brooming and striping are scheduled to begin
August 14th and completed by August 15th, 2012.

[FL2MT]

Thanks guys, I'll make sure to check the road conditions before I leave. That particular chip sealing project should be pretty well done throwing rocks by the time I leave (Sep. 1) but I'll keep my eyes open for others. One year I went back on the Hi-line just after they'd chip sealed a big stretch. Every time another vehicle or semi-truck came by the other direction going 70 mph I was just waiting to hear that 'tink' and see the crack in my windshield. Didn't happen fortunately, but that year I probably should have checked conditions and gone another way.

[MTSilvertip]

That is a beautiful drive, especially the land east of Great Falls through Belt, Moccasin, Stamford, Eddies Corner, Lewistown, Grass Range to Winnett.
After Winnett it gets pretty wide open, rolling prairie and sagebrush.

Usually traffic is pretty light as it is a mostly agricultural area with few tourist attractions. Weekends can see some traffic because of Fort Peck and fishermen traveling, so you will encounter campers and boats being towed.

If you have time stop and see the White Wolf that was the last one killed in the Judith Basin after killing thousands of head of livestock.
It was mounted and used to be in the courthouse. http://www.russellcountry.com/White_Wolf.html

That is Charlie Russell country too where the artist lived and worked for many years. Many of his paintings are of that landscape, and if you are a real officianado of his work you can see some of the landscapes he painted as you drive by.

If you are looking for a good meal, the Kozy Korner Cafe in Winnett is world famous for it's breakfast and pies. http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Over...spx?RefID=3382
They have articles written about them in travel magazines posted on the wall.
I think Buck still runs the place, Viet Nam Vet, Good guy if a little grouchy
Home cooking and you can watch your meal being made as there is no wall between the kitchen and the dining area, you can talk to the cooks as your meal is being made.
Real family place.

Watch out for animals on the highway as there are a lot of deer and antelope and phesant in the area.

Well worth taking the trip on Hwy 200

[Reziac]

When you want to just relax your way along, Hwy 200 is the way to go. Lots of variety in the landscape, little towns with local eateries, no big rush to get there.

Talkin' about chips in the windshield, seems to me a layer of the right kind of transparent plastic, even for temporary, might be just the thing to avoid those "newly paved blues". Seems to me there's an invention waitin' to happen there.

[jasper12]

I did that same trip awhile back, enjoy the scenery...we did have a thread on "Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives"...might want to see if there are any along the way...