Hwy 2 in Montana

[GAmes]

I'm picking up a trailer near Chicago that is destined for Lethbridge, AB. PC Miler routes me across the northern side of MT on Hwy 2. How is this road in the winter? Would it be better to drive the 100 or so extra miles on I94 to Billings, then head north?

 

[BILLVO]

I have driven it a few times and I would highly recomend taking I94. Hwy 2 is 2 lane with many little towns and lots of critters. It has a slower speed limit also. You can boogie better on I 94 and then head north at Billings. It would be WAY faster.

 

[MJReynolds]

I've driven from Billings to Great Falls and further north in the summer and winter. When heading north out of Billings the best route would probably be Hwy 3 to Lavina, then to Harlowton, then north thru Judith Gap, then west again to Great Falls. Most of the route is good but watch out in the Judith Gap area as it is prone to closure when storms come through.

 

[CJ Johansson]

I'm picking up a trailer near Chicago that is destined for Lethbridge, AB. PC Miler routes me across the northern side of MT on Hwy 2. How is this road in the winter? Would it be better to drive the 100 or so extra miles on I94 to Billings, then head north?

Yes, there are lots of little towns, I live near one of 'em, Malta.

There are *LOTS* of deer, etc. , though during the day you don't have to worry much.

Daytime speed limit is 70, 60 for trucks, night is 65/55, but you'll have to slow to 25 or 30 in the towns. Trucks are officially anything 1 ton and over and I think anything pulling trailers, but in reality, pickups, even with trailers don't seem to count. They only bother the big rigs for going over the truck limit.

As for snow, well, so far there's next to none. We got a dusting yesterday and they're predicting maybe an inch tomorrow. It mostly blows away anyway, since the road is mostly east-west, it doesn't drift too bad either.

Definitely not as fast as I94, but not as boring either...

-cj

 

[GAmes]

Thanks for all the replies. I've taken the route out of Billings before, and that was my first choice, just thought I'd check on the shorter route. Thanks again.

 

[CumminsPower98]

I have gone hwy 2 many times taking trailers to the Calgary area and beyond and it worked fine for me every time except for one time I had ice from Wolf Point on west a ways when taking a trailer to Havre. Anyway I never did dip down on 94 and back up so I can't compare the time it took but I would rather save the extra fuel myself and go the shorter rout. The speed limits were fine for me as I usually didn't run faster than 65 loaded anyway (some 70).

 

[GAmes]

Thanks CumminsPower,



It turns out I'm being paid for the long route anyway. It is a used trailer and Canada now requires that the mattress be fumigated, so I have to go thru Great Falls anyway.



Maybe I'll try Hwy 2 in the summer.