A Midwesterner's Rite of Passage: The I-94/I-90 Ski Corridor (Duluth to Bozeman)

Growing up in the Midwest, I never thought much of long road trips. Driving 10+ hours for a vacation was something it seemed every family did. Once I moved away I quickly learned that it was indeed not the norm in other parts of the country. Road trips make up some of my fondest memories, from driving to the Rocky Mountains (a 15 hour trip from Minnesota) as a kid to rock climbing trips on the outskirts of Las Vegas (30ish hours) in college. The most memorable being my first snowboard trip to the mountains in middle school - a family road trip to snowboard at Big Sky Resort, and after 15 years and living there for a bit, I still keep going back. Not only is the snow incredible, the drive is relatively simple and straightforward as long as you keep in mind that there is a chance the freeway closes due to weather. Once you get onto I-94 you literally don't turn until you get to Bozeman. This season when my husband and long-time friends wanted to reprise our old road trip ways, Bozeman was my first suggestion for many reasons.

The Fargo Pivot: Navigating the Northern Plains

As I said, be ready for the chance that the freeway, I-90 or I-94, may close due to weather. Since we are already so far north, in Duluth, we went by way of I-94. When I went as a kid, we did run into blizzard conditions closing I-94. We ended up cutting south near Dickenson to I-90, but that was less out of the way because I grew up near the Twin Cities. Of the many times I have made this drive, this year was only the second time we decided to stop on the way to/from due to conditions. The original plan was to hit the road after work leaving Duluth at about 4PM and drive through the night so that we could make use of a full "rest" day exploring Bozeman. We rotated in roughly 4 hour shifts, driving more or less depending on how tired we were. Luckily, we have a cargo box on top of the car that we were able to store all of our ski and board equipment in, making the back seat a nice cozy place to nap with plenty of room. However, Mother Nature decided to hit us with some dense fog on the verge of freezing. After roughly an hour of the fog and straining our eyes to no end, we decided to find the cheapest hotel we could and crash for a bit. We ended up finding a room for the four of us at an affordable rate of $84 in Bismarck North Dakota and pretty much smack dab in the middle of our route. Pulling off the freeway at 11:45PM, we fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow and hit the road again at a crisp 5AM. The fog had lifted and we were on our way with gas station coffee in each cup holder. It was smooth travels through Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where it's likely to spot herds of buffalo, and across the border into Montana.

Fuel & Logistics: The "Last Call" Stops

Once you cross into Montana be sure to keep an eye on your gas tank, Glendive and Miles City are great spots to stop no matter the time of day/night. Then cruising through Billings, excitement growing in anticipation of seeing white-capped peaks in the distance, Bozeman is only a few hours more! In contrast to the trek from Denver to the popular mountain towns, the pass through the range is quite short. In good conditions, and even in okay conditions, it's a 30-45 minute drive with way less traffic. Occasionally the pass or a portion of it may close due to wind between Livingston and Bozeman. When I have encountered closures I was routed on the frontage road for the closure and right back onto the freeway. All of a sudden the freeway flattens out again as you descend and Bozeman begins.

The Bozeman Recovery Plan: 2026 Vibe Check

Bozeman itself is a giant flat plain surrounded by multiple mountain ranges including the Bridgers (where Bridger Bowl is located) and the Spanish Peaks which just barely hide Big Sky Resort's Lone Peak from view in town. We spent our rest day around town shopping for groceries and exploring the shops and restaurants on Main Street which offered a variety from western wear, to ski and board shops, art galleries, and many restaurants. A few of my favorite shops throughout my time visiting have been Altitude Gallery, Roundhouse Ski Shop, World Boards, and Intrigue Ink.

Local Fuel: Why MAP Brewing is the First Stop

When it comes to food there is something for everyone. In order to save money my friends and I like to book a vacation rental that has a kitchen. We pack our own lunches to eat on the hill and cook dinners together at the house but enjoy going out to eat one night of the trip to a local spot. This year we chose one of my favorite spots in Bozeman, Map Brewing. They have great food that doesn't break the bank and the best beer selection in the area, brewed in house. It's hard to beat a burger and beer after a sunny day skiing and riding!

Bridger Bowl: Hike-to Terrain and the Non-Profit Soul

Bozeman is unique in that it offers two very different ski resorts within roughly an hour of the city, Big Sky Resort and Bridger Bowl. Bridger Bowl sits just 30 minutes north of Bozeman offering a wide range of terrain in an easy to navigate area of the Bridger Mountain Range. With mellow winding groomers that have patches of approachable tree skiing in between it is a great spot for those that are powder or tree skiing curious. For the advanced skiers and riders - You'll be hard pressed to run out of advanced terrain, that is if you are willing to work a bit for it. From the three highest reaching lifts at Bridger Bowl you can access hikeable terrain, so long as you are equipped with a working beacon, and hike along the entire ridge to drop in on epic lines like The Fingers, or if you're feeling extra brave Saber Slice. Beacons are actually required to even load the Schlashmans chairlift, located all the way lookers left at the resort, and you will be walking back to the main area if you do not have a beacon. And the icing on the cake when it comes to Bridger Bowl? Daily lift tickets are under $100 if you purchase them online, this is largely due to the fact that the resort is a non-profit! Because of the affordable price and breathtaking terrain our crew spent two days here soaking up warm and sunny weather and finding pockets of untracked powder off the ridge. An additional perk when my husband broke his ski pole was that Roundhouse Ski Shop has a satellite location at the base area where he was able to score on a pair of new poles and then walk around the corner to meet us at the bar for a beer.

Big Sky Resort: The Splurge and the Lone Peak Tram

The last day of our trip we spent at Big Sky Resort, about a 45 minute drive (with good weather) down the Gallatin Canyon. This winding drive follows the Gallatin River that features towering rock formations, fly fisherman and the chance to spot wild life like elk, bears, big horn sheep, mule deer, and hawks. On a clear day I'd consider this drive peaceful, especially because there is no cell service (so download some good jams for the drive!) but on a snowy day, take your time and drive slow. If you see a line of cars behind you be sure to make use of the pull outs along the highway to allow others to pass you. Plan for at least an extra 30 minutes with weather due to conditions and that parking may fill quicker. Once you reach cell service again and turn west towards Lone Peak, you'll understand how it got it's name. As you wind gaining elevation you begin to notice how vast Big Sky Resort truly is. If you love infographics and statistics like I do, check out their Mountain Information page to read all about their state-of-the-art chair lifts and brand new Tram and Gondola. Even if you don't want to ride the expert terrain off the summit, there is a beautiful all glass viewing area and space to walk around, enjoy the 360 degree views, and then take a nice and smooth 4 minute tram ride back down to easier terrain. We started our day by loading the Swift Current 6 chair (one of the fancy ones mentioned above with heated seats and a weather protective blue bubble). From there we warmed up on Mr. K, a green run that is fun no matter how expert or novice of a participant you are. With our group ranging in ability level, we made our way to the Madison 8 chairlift (yep, another fancy heated-seat chair) and took a long meandering run called Horseshoe. When I lived in Bozeman and had friends come visit, especially those who didn't spend as much time on the mountain as I do, this was my favorite run to take them on. Being along the boundary of the resort, it is usually devoid of other skiers and has unbeatable views of the Spanish Peaks as you wind your way back to the Madison 8 chairlift.

The Big Couloir and Beyond: Expert Stashes

When the Tram opened, the advanced skiers and riders of our group headed straight there where we waited less than 5 minutes to load and ride to the peak. One of the most famous runs at Big Sky is the Big Couloir. While a beacon was previously required to drop in, it's no longer needed, but you still do need to check in at the "penalty box" a little shack run by Ski Patrol to space out those attempting to tackle the Big so everyone can safely get down. Being protected from the wind, we had a great time dropping the Big Couloir and then getting right back on the tram to explore the south face of Lone Mountain. After taking more precious powder turns we high tailed it back to the main base area to meet up with the rest of our group.

Après and the Long Haul Home

If you are a fan of the Apres Ski scene, look no further. Big Sky Resort hosts live music in the large plaza at their base area with a spacious deck for more outdoor seating and an umbrella bar for those who can't decide if they want to sit inside or outside. A handful of restaurants from sit-down style to what I consider an elevated cafeteria experience with wood fired pizza, sushi, deli sandwiches and your classics like chicken tenders and burgers. Depending on what time you leave the resort you may have dinner on your mind by the time you make it into Big Sky Town Center. If so - be sure to check out Tips Up for a fun post-ski atmosphere complete with an old gondola car hanging above the entrance. For an elevated dining experience, Blue Buddha offers sushi (and more) and a private dining room for your group.

When we made our way back into Bozeman as the sun was setting we exited the canyon and watched bright pink and orange clouds behind the Bridgers, dreading leaving in the morning. And it sure was an early morning! Since everyone but myself had to work the following day we decided to get up and go at 4AM (which obviously included a gas station coffee stop). The trek back to Minnesota was uneventful, the ideal case for a 15 hour drive. The best part of the drive was playing games in the car from our childhoods to pass the time as we crossed the plains of North Dakota. We arrived back in Duluth at 8PM after a long drive and already scheming our next ski trip.

The "Back of the Napkin" Logistics

• Vehicle Setup: SUV with a roof cargo box for boards/skis and plenty of interior legroom.
• Tires: Snow-rated tires (essential for I-94 wind and Gallatin Canyon).
• Driving Strategy: 4-hour crew rotations; 15-hour haul is doable but a halfway hotel in Bismarck helps preserve energy for Day 1.
• The Math: Driving costs (Gas + $84 hotel split 4 ways) is roughly $150-$200 per person, significantly cheaper than a $600+ flight to BZN.