Midwest Solo Road Trip

I’ve had this road trip itinerary on my list for a while, but I always put it off because I had “big, better” trips to do. But 2020 changed all my plans and I had to cancel most of my traveling. So this was the perfect opportunity for this solo road trip.

South Dakota + Wyoming + Montana Itinerary

Day 1 – Minnesota to Black Hills, South Dakota
Day 2 – Black Hills to Dubois, Wyoming
Days 3 & 4 – Dubois, Wyoming
Day 5 – Grand Tetons
Day 6 – Yellowstone
Day 7 – Emigrant, Montana
Day 8 – Emigrant to Black Hills
Day 9 – Black Hills to Minnesota (home)

Day 1 – Minnesota to the Black Hills

The first day was driving from my home in Minnesota to the Black Hills. This was about an eight hour drive and pretty boring until I reached the Black Hills area. I listened to a lot of podcasts and caught up with friends on the phone. I got to western South Dakota just in time to see Mount Rushmore at sunset.

Solo Trip Tip: I can drive up to 10 hours in a day, but know your limit. Think about what sort of driving it is – highway, through mountains, etc. This makes a difference for how long you can drive in a day. You should also know your limits in terms of driving in the dark.

Day 2: South Dakota to Dubois, WY

I woke up early and hit the road. The drive through the Black Hills is beautiful and I took my time and made a few stops. Once I crossed the border to Wyoming, it was desolate. This stretch took about seven hours, but once I got within an hour of Dubois, the landscape was insane!

Solo Trip Tip: If you know you are traveling in rural areas and you don’t know how far it is until the next gas station, FILL UP. It would just be a damper to run out of gas in an area you aren’t familiar with.

Days 3 & 4 – Dubois, WY

Getting the pace right is a big part of a solo road trip success. I believe it’s important not to squeeze too much into too few days. So on in Dubois, I didn’t make any plans + explored the area. A few gems I found were Whiskey Basin Wildlife Habitat + the local VFW. 🙂

Day 5 – Grand Tetons

I woke up early and made my way to Grand Tetons National Park. I traveled there in late September – the off-season so it was a little less busy. I packed it in and explored several areas of the park:

Jackson Lake dam
Jenny Lake hike
Mormon Row

I knew the highlights I wanted to see, but I could have spent at least another two or three days at the park. I stayed just north of the Tetons at Headwaters camper cabins.

Day 6 – Yellowstone

Another early morning so I could pack in as much as possible at Yellowstone National Park.

Favorite spots in Yellowstone:

Midway Geyser Basin with Grand Prismatic Spring
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Mammoth Hot Springs

I was pleasantly surprised with my time in Yellowstone. I hadn’t been to the park since I was a kid and all I remembered was a bunch of tourists and buffalo. Maybe it was the season or 2020, but it wasn’t busy and driving around the park was beautiful. The landscape is diverse and I cannot wait to go back and spend more time there.

Solo Trip Tip: Take the scenic route. It’s about the journey, not just the destination. So plan your route to be enjoyable and take time to enjoy the landscapes you pass through.

Day 7 – Emigrant, MT

This town is about an hour north of Yellowstone. The reason I chose this spot was because of a fun Airbnb and a local hot spring. I enjoyed relaxing at both of these spots with some red wine.

Day 8 – Montana to South Dakota

Finally looping around to make the drive home – this stretch is about eight hours. As you may know by now, I think to get up early and hit the road. I have the most energy in the morning so I like to get a good chunk of my driving done early in the day.

Day 9 – Black Hills to Minnesota

The final stretch of my trip was eight hours from the Black Hills to Southeastern Minnesota. This trip was awesome. A lot of driving, but I saw beautiful landscape + met new people + enjoyed alone time.

Solo Road Trip Tips

If you are planning your first solo road trip, it can be a little intimidating, especially as a female. So here are some of the things I learned from my experiences being alone on the road.

Choosing the right campsite or spot to stay overnight can make all the difference. If you don’t feel safe camping solo, opt for a hotel or Airbnb. I generally look for popular campsites vs. remote so I know there will be other people around.
A few things I make sure to have in my car are gallons of water + snacks + phone charger + jumper cables + sleeping items + spare key.
If you do not feel safe traveling alone, bring some sort of protection such as a pocket knife, pepper spray, etc.
Save money on meals by packing a cooler of food with sandwich items + snacks.
Taking a road trip isn’t just about sitting in the car. I recommend planning fun things to do along the way. Also, stay open to possibilities because you never know what local gems you may find.