Question for those familiar with Montana roads

[Slvrvalk1]

This summer I will be taking a trip to visit my daughter and then go to Glacier National Park.  Part of the trip will be to visit Rapid City, SD and then head to West Glacier, MT.  My plan is to take Route 85 North from Rapid City and then go West on either Route 12 to Route 89 or go farther North and go West on Route 2.  Both routes are marked as scenic on my atlas map.   My question is whether there is a significant difference between the two routes across Montana or is it a case that you can't go wrong with either route?

Thanks for any information that you can provide.

Dave

[Oss]

from Rapid CIty 16 out to a bit of 90 then 14  over the Big Horn Mounains into
 Cody  or at the split 14A into Lovell (cheap motel)
then into Cody just 20 minutes or less away and over Chief Joseph (small green sign will be on right as you enter Cody) and Beartooth is something not to miss   I would do them again in a heartbeat if I was in the area

78 will then take you to 90

93 will take you to the park after you hit missoula   (say hi to the hooters girls from Oss)

[fudgie]

I would do what oss said. Very nice route.   Ive been on 85 outta bel fouche for a ways and its not bad. You can take 12 in ND to miles city MT. From Baker MT to Miles City MT is really nice and easily do 80+. I passed 6 houses and 8 cars in that whole 88 mile stretch.  ??? Spent the night in Baker MT and liked the little mom and pop joint on the east side of town. Park on concrete at your door.

oss is right about doing the Bighorns. Well worth it. Rapid to Cody WY is do-able in a day. I left Sturgis on 3 hrs sleep and severly hung over and did it in a day.   Be hard to find a room in Cody tho, so you may want to call ahead. I stayed a block away from Bill Codys Erma hotel. Had supper there and a few beers. Neat watching the deer walk around downtown. Nice town.  

After you hit the bighorns, Cheif Joseph HWY, and Beartooth, you can shoot right up to Glacier.

[MP]

I live just north of US 12 in ND.  Good to come up that far, but I would NOT continue up US 85 to 2.  You will be in the heart of the Baaken Oil Field, and the traffic sucks.

At least go farther west, then up to 2.

MP