The Last Great Northern Route Is a 666-Mile Tricky Drive Across Montana’s Wild Frontier & Vast Wilderness

Highway 2, Montana

Highway 2 cuts through Montana’s top edge like a lonely ribbon of asphalt.

While the views are big sky pretty, the combo of harsh weather, grizzly bears, and hours between gas stops turns this scenic route into a real challenge.

Here are some facts about driving on Montana’s most remote major highway, aka the Hi-Line.

Roads Shift From Four Lanes To Two

Spring thaw brings out big holes in the road, which hide in rain pools, so watch the road close to dodge the bumps and cracks.

The speed signs flip from 40 to 50 mph on scenic parts with little notice.

Road width shrinks from four lanes to two without warning. Some parts have new smooth black top while others feel bumpy on your tires.

In winter, you could drive on packed snow, then hit bare road just a mile later.

Trees Make Blind Spots On Tight Curves

The road from Essex to Marias Pass has over 20 blind curves on its route. As you drive, you’ll find the trees crowd in close, with aspen, western larch, and lodgepole pine making it hard to see what’s ahead.

Some curves give you just 8 feet of lane, and many turns aren’t banked right, which leads to skids when wet. When encountering big trucks or RVs, one of you will need to slow down or move aside to make room.

Winds Can Push Cars Off The Road

Gusts along this route will test your grip on the wheel. Near Cut Bank, winds can suddenly hit 70 mph, whipping snow and forming ice sheets that make driving slippery.

The wind races through the canyons, making certain spots especially treacherous. Big rigs or tall RVs are at risk of tipping over in the strongest gusts.

Roller-Coaster Climbs Make Your Ears Pop

Heading up to Pipestone Pass at 6,469 feet, you’ll encounter steep hills along a 7-mile descent which can overheat your brakes, so shift to a lower gear.

When you reach Marias Pass at 5,222 feet, you’ll need to grip the wheel tight as you wind around sharp curves at the top near the pass.

You’ll drive right next to rocky cliffs that tower over your car, and many spots to pull over lack guard rails, which gets tricky when roads turn icy.

Watch For Rocks That Drop From Cliffs

Keep your eyes peeled for rocks that drop onto the road with no warning. They’re often brick-sized and tend to fall more on the north lane.

Spring thaws shake more rocks loose from the cliffs, and rain can set off slides that block whole lanes. The signs mark the worst zones but can’t tell you when a rock will fall.

When snow piles up on road sides, it can hide rocks that will hurt your tires and car bottom if you hit them, so stay alert as you drive this route.

Trucks Cross Lines On Tight Turns

Some turns force you to slow to just 15 mph, and ice forms in shady spots even when the rest of the road looks fine.

The road will rise and fall with little notice, and big trucks often slide over the center line on the sharp turns, which pushes your car to the edge.

You need to stay wide on blind turns and be ready to brake when you can’t see what’s ahead, as a semi might take up both lanes.

Snow Walls Can Reach 6 Feet High

The wild weather on Highway 2 keeps you on edge, with sudden whiteouts and black ice in winter appearing when you least expect them.

Just this past February, tons of cars slid off the road and crashed, forcing cops to close parts of the route. When you’re near Cut Bank, the wind chill can drop to a teeth-chattering -40°F, and fog might cut your view to just 20 feet.

As you drive between Essex and East Glacier, snow drifts pile up to 6 feet high, turning the road into a winter maze you’ll need to weave through with care.

Moose Near Essex Will Cross Your Path

The wild side of Highway 2 is one of its main draws. You’ll spot elk herds, bighorn sheep, wild turkeys, and tons of deer, but they all cross the road more at dawn and dusk.

Near Essex, moose show up often and can do real harm if you hit one. When you pass by Glacier Park, bears and wolves might peek out at you.

Most high-risk spots lack good wildlife fencing like you’d see on other big roads, so slow down and be ready to stop for critters that want to cross.

Help Takes Hours To Reach You

If you run into bad luck on this road, be patient. During emergencies, help can take from 80 minutes to several hours to reach you.

The big trauma centers sit more than 100 miles away, and many areas have zero cell service for 911 calls. In bad weather, air rescue might is the only way out.

The local fire crews must trek from tiny towns like Essex (home to just 150 folks) or Browning, so you’ll wait a while if you need them.

No Cell Signal For 80 Miles Straight

The 80-mile dead zone from Browning to Cut Bank, one of the state’s longest areas without cell service, feels like a step back in time.

Your GPS apps will fail you between West Glacier and East Glacier, and pay phones are gone from most small towns you’ll pass.

Only satellite phones work in the worst spots, so plan your trip well, bring maps, and let folks know where you’ll be at all times.

Time Zones Change At The State Line

At Fort Union Trading Post, you’ll park in Montana but walk into North Dakota, which puts you in a new time zone from your car to the main desk.

The road passes through three tribal lands, each with its own rules. Towns like Bainville sit right on the state edge, which can mix up your gas tax and fees.

Signs near the Canada line use both miles and kilometers, and your GPS might lose signal when crossing state lines, so keep a satellite phone at bay.

Towns With Food Close At 8 PM

As you leave big spots like Kalispell, you’ll find the towns get tiny, with some just a few homes off the main drag.

Tire shops and car fix joints are few and far between, with many shut on weekends, so check your car well before you hit the road.

Gas stops can be over 80 miles apart in the east, and if you need a tow, help might take 3 or more hours to arrive from distant towns.

Most food spots close up by 8 PM, so grab snacks when you can.

Major Highlights of Highway 2, Montana

Drive the full 666-mile route from Idaho to North Dakota and you’ll pass gems that make the tough drive worth it.

Stop at Kootenai Falls, a 135-acre park with views of falls that once split the lands of Upper and Lower Kootenai tribes.

Stay at the Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, which was built in 1939 for rail crews who fought snow. Now you can sleep in train cars and wave at Amtrak as it rolls by.

Cross Marias Pass at 5,213 feet, the lowest spot on the Divide from Canada to New Mexico, and check out the big stone tower that honors Teddy Roosevelt.

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