Day 15: May 30, 2013. Cardwell, MT to Great Falls, MT. Dick’s RV Park, Site 81. 190 miles traveled. Over 2000 total miles since leaving Georgia.

By far, this was the most spectacular travel day we have had on this trip. Although it was overcast all day, the rain finally let up for most of the drive. We continued to see pronghorn antelope in the fields and mountains all around.

After traveling west on I-90 since Minnesota, we started north on I-15 in Butte, Montana. Overlooking Butte, sitting atop the Continental Divide at 8510 feet above sea level is Our Lady of the Rockies statue. We could see her high up on the mountain beside the interstate.

We crossed the Continental Divide twice today. The first time was we were at 6398 feet and just past Butte. We crossed it again a little later. As we climbed into the higher elevations the trees changed to Lodgepole Pines and the grassy slopes became rocky formations.

We could see the mountains as we drove between Cardwell and Great Falls, Montana

It was snowing over the mountains between Butte and Great Falls

Beautiful view right beside I-15 in Montana

We’re in the Rockies!

Going up the mountain

Another view from the rest area

Our home for 3 nights at Dick’s RV Park in Great Falls, MT

As we continued north to Great Falls, we drove out of the mountains to lower elevations. We crossed the Missouri River several times. We saw several semi trucks with tandem trailers, and one with three trailers. We don’t see that at home!

Before we left home we knew we would need to get new tires for the fifth wheel. We stopped at a tire store in Great Falls to get that chore out of the way before we arrive in Canada on Sunday. We had lunch at a Boston’s Restaurant next door to the tire store and less than two hours later we were setting up at Dick’s RV Park.