BILLINGS, MONTANA, ROUND TRIP
14 DAYS
DAILY DEPARTURE EXCEPT IN WINTER
This tour is for those who want to discover the area known as the Great American West.
Here is the daily itinerary.
Day 01: Billings, MT – Medora, ND (Ride time: 5h 28m – 345 mi/572 kms)
You have picked up the motorcycle and you are on the road-trip. At your first stop, you will do an interpretive tour with a Native American guide at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Crow Agency. The Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought along the ridges, steep bluffs, and ravines of the Little Bighorn River in south-central Montana on 25 – 26 June 1876. The combatants were warriors of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, battling men of the 7th Regiment of the US Cavalry, along with their Crow and Arikara scouts. The Battle of the Little Bighorn has come to symbolize the clash of two vastly dissimilar cultures: the buffalo/horse culture of the northern plains tribes and the highly industrial and agricultural-based culture of the United States. This battle was not an isolated soldier versus warrior confrontation but part of a much larger strategic campaign designed to force the capitulation of the non-reservation Lakota and Cheyenne.
Staying with today’s frontier theme, the next part of the ride is the Range Riders Museum in Miles City. The Range Riders Museum captures the essence of area ranches, railroads, Indian villages, Fort Keogh and all the things that make south-eastern Montana special and historical. This is a great place to have your lunch break.
After lunch, your next stop is Beaver Creek Brewery which was established in 2008 by Sandy Stinnett and James Devine. After years of home brewing, the duo decided to open the brewery after encouragement from friends and family. Beaver Creek Brewery was established in the historic district of Wibaux, Montana. Located on Orgain Ave., the brewery is housed in a tastefully remodelled building originally built in 1914. Remember, you are riding, so take it easy.
The last leg of today’s ride takes yous to Medora. Medora is located in the Badlands of North Dakota and is the gateway to the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Day 02: Medora, ND. Loop Ride (Ride time: 1h 21m – 35.5 mi/57.2 kms)
Today is a low mileage day, but there is so much to see.
After a hearty breakfast, remember you are in the land of big meals; you will go exploring the South Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The ride should take at least 2 hours to make it around the South Unit’s stunning scenic drive. The road winds across the rolling, jumbled Badlands with fantastic scenery in all directions. Along the way are numerous scenic lookouts, and we may see wildlife. The road is sealed and two-way.
You return to Medora and go exploring what the town offers, including the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Tonight’s dinner is at the Pitchfork Steak Fondue.
Day 03: Medora, ND, to Earth Lodge Village near New Town, ND. (Ride time: 3h 14m – 155 mi/249 kms)
This morning, let’s see if you are up for another big breakfast, then you ride to Medora to Oxbow Overlook, North Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Along the way, you will stop at the Painted Canyon Visitor Centre and see what you maybe there to see.
Oxbow Overlook; is in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit. This is a 14-mile scenic ride though it will take over an hour to enjoy. The first half of the road traces the bottom of the Badlands. Midway through, it crawls up out of the canyon to the North Unit’s most iconic view, River Bend Overlook. From here, it’s an easy drive along the rim of the Badlands to Oxbow Overlook is at the road’s end. Yes, you turn around and retrace our tracks; the scenery is worth it.
Your lunch break will be at Q’ Kitchen, which claims to be the best burger place outside city limits. We’ll let you decide.
You return to the road and head for tonight’s accommodation in an Earth Lodge near New Town, North Dakota.
Day 04: Earth Lodge Village, ND – Bismarck, ND. (Ride time: 3h 35m – 201 mi/324 kms)
After breakfast, you travel to Minot to see a symbol of the area’s immigrant past. Minot was founded in 1887 when the Great Northern Railway set up camp for the winter. You will visit The Scandinavian Heritage Park, where there are remembrances and replicas from each of the five Scandinavian and Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
The next part of the ride takes you to Audubon National Wildlife Refuge which is a 14,739-acre refuge that attracts numerous species of waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, and other migratory birds. The Refuge occupies the southern portion of Lake Audubon and adjacent lands of native prairie, planted grasslands, and wetlands. The Refuge lies within the heart of the Prairie Pothole Region, which is named for its many small wetlands that resemble potholes.
The last leg of today’s ride takes you to Bismarck, the Capital City of North Dakota and your overnight accommodation. If time allows, you could visit the North Dakota Heritage & State Museum; if not today, there is always tomorrow.
Day 05: Bismarck, ND – Sturgis, SD. (Rider time: 4h 44m – 298 mi/480 kms)
After breakfast, you return to the road and cross the state line into South Dakota.
Your first stop is the start of the Enchanted Highway, and there will be some photo stops along this road as there are interesting displays to be seen.
You continue riding, your next stop is the Full Throttle Saloon just outside side the town of Sturgis, South Dakota. It won’t be crowded like bike week so you can have a look around.
Time to finish today’s ride into Sturgis to your accommodation at the Baymont Inns and Suites.
Day 06: Baymont Inns & Suites, Sturgis, SD – The Lodge, Deadwood, SD (Ride time: 16m – 11.6 mi/ 18.7 kms)
A short day of riding after breakfast, but so much to see.
Leisurely explore Sturgis. The shopping may not be so varied as during Bike Week but there is still a lot to see.
You leave Sturgis and head for Deadwood. You will feel like you have travelled back in time as you experience the local history; there are gunfights on the main street, so be careful whom you play cards with.
You are staying in Deadwood for the next three nights so that you can have a break from packing and unpacking. There are great rides in these hills, which we will take over the next two days.
Day 07: Deadwood, SD – Mt Rushmore – Crazy Horse Memorial – Deadwood, SD. Loop
Here are some of the things we will see today.
Day 08: Deadwood, SD – Spearfish, SD – Deadwood, SD Loop
A late morning start as it is a scenic riding day. Heading up to Lead across to Elmore and on to Spearfish Canyon with its enjoyable riding road. It is only a short day of riding so you have all day to catch up on what you haven’t seen or want to see again along the way.
Day 09: The Lodge, Deadwood, SD – Buffalo, WY (Ride time: 3h 29m – 207 mi/334 kms)
After breakfast, you travel into Wyoming, and your first stop is a visit to Devil’s Tower, great photo opportunities, but you won’t have time to climb like Richard Stephen Dreyfuss when he had his Close Encounter of the third kind.
The next stop is T & T Guns and Ammo; the shop is not like back home in Australia.
The last leg of today’s ride brings you to your overnight in Buffalo, Wyoming.
Day 10: Holiday Inn Express, Buffalo, WY – Cody, WY (4h 27m – 199 mi/320 kms)
After breakfast, your first stop is The Brinton Museum. It is located on the Quarter Circle A Ranch and was formerly known as the Bradford Brinton Memorial Museum. It is a museum and historic ranch which was built in 1893.
As you discover more Frontier history, on your next stop at the Connor Battlefield. Connor was the single most important engagement of the Powder River Expedition of 1865 and caused the Arapaho to ally with the Sioux and Cheyenne at the Fetterman Fight a year later.
This next stop is at the Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Centre. Wild horses still roam freely in the Pryor Mountains outside of Lovell, Wyoming. This herd of horses is very special because of its Colonial Spanish American heritage. This tough little horse, derived from the horses of Portugal and Spain, has been present in this rugged mountain area for nearly 200 years.
Your final leg of today’s ride takes you to our accommodation at Cody Cowboy Village.
Tonight’s Dinner will be with a show at the Cody Cattle Company.
Day 11: Cody, WY.
A day to explore Cody, Wyoming. A great starting point is the Cody Trolley Tour Founded in 2001, Cody Trolley Tours has developed a reputation as being a must-do activity the moment you arrive in Cody, Wyoming. A Cody Trolley Tour is not only great entertainment, but it’s also the best and fastest way to gain an overview of everything our town has to offer.
Visit Old Trail Town which preserves the lifestyle and history of the Frontier West through a rare collection of authentic structures and furnishings. There are also thousands of historical artifacts from the Old West and grave sites of several notable Western figures.
Finish the day at the Cody Wild West Show. The Wild West has always been unpredictable and unexpected. This show is no exception. Whether you are a young buckaroo or an old timer, a local or someone ‘not from around these here parts’, you will be entertained by: action, romance, humour, perils, fights, toe-tappin’, hoots & hollers, and of course DANCING and SINGING!
Day 12: Cody, WY – Old Faithful Lodge, Yellowstone National Park,WY. (2h 40m – 118 mi/190 kms)
Back to the road, and your first stop is Buffalo Bill Lookout; an appropriate way to end our time in Cody, as the town was named after him?
The next part of your ride takes into Yellowstone National Park. As you ride, we will cross the Continental Divide.
On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal and geologic features. Within Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres, visitors have unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, explore geothermal areas that contain about half the world’s active geysers, and view geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal and geologic features. Within Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres, visitors have unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, explore geothermal areas that contain about half the world’s active geysers, and view geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
The end of today’s ride brings with it your overnight accommodation at Old Faithful Inn and Lodge.
Old Faithful Inn and Lodge include a one-story main lodge built in the 1920′s featuring massive logs and stone pillars. Tremendous views of the Old Faithful Geyser can be seen from the lobby area, which houses a bakery/snack shop and cafeteria-style food court.
Day 13: Old Faithful Lodge – Cooke City, MT. (2h 30m – 92.7 mi/150 kms)
Today’s first stop is Norris Geyser Basin, which is the hottest, oldest, and most dynamic of Yellowstone’s thermal areas. The highest temperature yet recorded in any geothermal area in Yellowstone was measured in a scientific drill hole at Norris: 459°F (237°C) just 1,087 feet (326 metres) below the surface! There are very few thermal features at Norris under the boiling point (199°F at this elevation). Norris shows evidence of having had thermal features for at least 115,000 years.
You continue on to Washburn Hot Springs Overlook. This lookout highlights the extent of the Yellowstone Caldera, the location of Washburn Hot Springs.
From here, you cross the state line into Montana.
Tonight’s accommodation is in Cooke City, Montana.
Day 14: Cooke City, MT – Billings, MT. (2h 30m – 124 mi/200 kms)
Your last day on the road. As you leave Yellowstone, we have one last look from the Yellowstone Overlook, then head to Rockvale .
At the confluence of Rock Creek and the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River on the Bozeman Trail, the small community of Rockvale is unmistakable. That’s due in part to the large, century-old roadside Ferris wheel at the Fort Rockvale Restaurant and Casino where highways 212 and 310 meet.
As you arrive in Billings, it’s time to return the motorcycle to the depot. During your 14 days, you have passed through Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, which make up most of the Great American West.
The Great American West Tour from Billings Inclusions:
- Quality Accommodation.
- Late Model Harley Davidson Motorcycle Rental
- Motorcycle Insurance.
The Great American West Tour from Billings Non-Inclusions:
- Airfares.
- Travel Insurance.
- Out-of-pocket expenses.
- Those things that are not included in the above Inclusions.
Pricing
- 1 Person / 1 Bike / 1 Room: AU$TBA per person
- 2 People / 2 Bikes / 1 Room: AU$TBA per person (twin share)
- 2 People / 1 Bike / 1 Room: AU$TBA per person (twin share)
- Seat in Van Option (Twin Share): AU$TBA per person (twin share)
- Convertible Car Option (Twin Share): AU$TBA per person (twin share)
Please contact us for your quote.
The hotels are as planned but may change to similar if required.
Please refer to our Terms and Conditions.
Inquiry Form
