My wife and I are planning a long road trip this spring. We are in Indiana and have a son and his family in Washington state. The farthest west our life has taken us is Arkansas so I know absolutely nothing about traveling in the mountains. Our plan is to take a northern route going out ( badlands, Butte). My biggest question is how late in the spring should I wait for safe travels. Can you go over the mountains anytime or are the roads closed a lot in the winter. We are planning on spending a day around the badlands and a day around the Continental Divide going out and then go south heading home maybe past Salt Lake. Thank You

Mountain roads are closed a lot in winter. Sometimes for 3-4 days. Some county roads become snowmobile trails till Spring. If the road is open and you see "chain law in effect" sign, rent a room and wait. If you give yourself plenty of travel time its not a big deal. Don't push on though and expect to find a room when you have to stop. Pay attention to road and weather reports. Rooms go fast when the interstate shuts down up where the closure is. Those rooms double and triple in price also. If you want to avoid all that travel June- September. If it does snow June or September it melts fast.

Scott T
Trucks run 24/7/365. The longest I ever sat for road closure was 3 days in Wyoming.
I live 4 hours from Indianapolis and spent 4 days trying to get there in 79 or 83 the winter all the semis got buried in snow.
Seen it snow in Flagstaff, Az. the 4th of July.

We are planning on leaving Indiana on May 28 and taking 17 days. Hopefully that will be late enough for everything to be open and hopefully the COVID to be on the downside. The plan is to drive to the badlands and spend a day, then to Butte and spend a day, then to Yelm, WA. There will be a lot of things marked off the bucket list this trip. Thank You for the replies.

Stay out of Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks and you should have no problems that late in the spring.

What Badlands do you speak of what State?

Scott:
It is not like it use to be. Plan on where you are going and know the area. Now days you have to be Street Smart also. Have fun in the West!

When we Travel we book our rooms a day or more ahead .
You should have a blast that time of year!

That time of year you should have an awesome trip, the mountains are usually green and the early wildflowers are blooming. There is always a some rain/snow storms in the spring, but it is one of my favorite times to get out in the hills.

What newbie said. Roads will be fine. Sure you can find snow, but for what you'll be doing, you'll have no problem. Set that worry aside and plan on what you want to see. Its all magnificent. Bandlands, Rushmore, The Parks, all the quaint towns in between. Do it while you still can.

If I were in your shoes I would have your son and family meet you in Butte. Then go south to Cody and spend time at the Buffalo Bill Museum. If you miss Washington you won't really miss anything

Interstate no worries
State highway might be snow and ice due late storms or high mountain passes.

Isn't that memorial weekend ? Start of western camping and travel so might plan hotels a little farther out. Biggest thing to remember is the next town might be an hour or 2 down the road. Its nothing to drive a couple hours out west just to get nowhere.

Enjoy your trip and if you can take the road less traveled.

330. Getting rooms in advance is a great idea. That first weekend will be a busy one.
Newbie. DT. Hopefully it will be something that can still be done for years to come. Riding out across a green mountain covered in wildflowers. The horses aren’t making the trip though. Might try to find a outfitter.
White17. That would be a great ideal but I want to get my feet in the Pacific.
NV. I spaced it on that being Memorial weekend. There will be people everywhere. I’ll definitely be looking for a dirt road.

Thank You all for your replies.

Comfort inn and Suites are our 1st choice. Call ahead to your destination. Or online...but we usually call.
If you cancel there's no charges.

Check out a Christmas tree farm when your in yelm.