RV route from Chicago to Glacier National Park

The Chicago-to-Glacier RV route is one of the most-searched US road-trip combinations for a reason: it connects the third-largest US city to one of the most photogenic national parks via a single mostly-straight interstate (I-90), it threads three optional national-park detours (Badlands, Yellowstone, Theodore Roosevelt), and the total mileage rewards a 10-14 day vacation budget. The honest version of this trip is 6 driving days minimum, 10-14 with detours.

The waypoint plan below is the conservative honest version — 250-470 mile days, real campgrounds at each stop, no all-day driving marathons. Renters who try to compress this into a 4-day push consistently report exhaustion by Wall, SD and arrive at Glacier too tired to enjoy the first two days in the park. The 250-mile-per-day target keeps everyone fresh and lets you actually stop at the Badlands overlook or the Buffalo Bill museum.

1. Day 1 · 150 mi
   Chicago, IL → Madison, WI
   Easy first day. Madison KOA or Mendota County Park.
2. Day 2 · 470 mi
   Madison, WI → Mitchell, SD
   Long pull on I-90. Corn Palace + overnight at Mitchell KOA.
3. Day 3 · 175 mi
   Mitchell, SD → Wall, SD
   Wall Drug stop. Stay at Sleepy Hollow Campground or Badlands Hi-Way Inn.
4. Day 4 · 320 mi
   Wall, SD → Sheridan, WY
   Optional Badlands NP loop. Overnight Sheridan or Buffalo Bill State Park.
5. Day 5 · 320 mi
   Sheridan, WY → Bozeman, MT
   Big Sky country. KOA Bozeman or 4 Bears RV Park.
6. Day 6 · 245 mi
   Bozeman, MT → West Glacier, MT
   Final push. Glacier Highland or West Glacier RV Park.

Going-to-the-Sun Road is the make-or-break question for rig choice. The Avalanche-to-Sun-Point segment bans vehicles longer than 21 feet, wider than 8 feet, or taller than 10 feet. That excludes essentially every Class A and most Class C rigs (a 24-foot Class C is already over the limit). Renters with bigger rigs have three options: bring a tow car or motorcycle, leave the rig at Apgar and take the free park shuttle (honestly the easiest answer), or pick a different route that bypasses Logan Pass entirely. The shuttle runs every 15-30 minutes during peak season and handles the entire Going-to-the-Sun corridor.

Fuel and budget. At 9-11 mpg for a typical Class C and the ~3,000 mile round trip, plan 300-340 gallons. Layer in campground fees (averaging $35-65/night in this corridor for non-state-park sites), groceries (figure $400-600 for two adults over 10-14 days), park entrance fees ($35 Glacier, $35 Yellowstone, $30 Badlands), and the RV rental rate itself. A realistic all-in budget for a couple in a 24-foot Class C on a 12-day trip lands at $5,500-7,500 outside the rig daily rate.

How long should I plan for the Chicago-to-Glacier drive?

A realistic minimum is 6 driving days with no major detours, averaging ~250 miles per driving day. With Badlands and Yellowstone detours layered in, plan 10-12 days outbound. Shorter trips (4-5 days) are possible but require 400+ mile driving days that burn out most renters by day 3.

What's the deal with Going-to-the-Sun Road?

Glacier's signature road bans vehicles longer than 21 feet OR wider than 8 feet OR taller than 10 feet between Avalanche Creek and Sun Point. That excludes almost every Class A and most Class C rigs. If you want to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road you either bring a Class B / camper van, tow a small car or motorcycle, or leave the rig at Apgar and take the free park shuttle. The shuttle is honestly the easier option.

When does Going-to-the-Sun Road open?

Logan Pass typically opens late June and closes mid-October — but the exact dates depend on snow plowing each spring. The NPS publishes weekly opening updates from May through opening day. Plan a flexible final-week itinerary if your trip is in late June.

What's the realistic fuel budget?

At ~9-11 mpg for a Class C and 1,500 miles each way, plan 300-340 gallons of fuel round-trip. At a $3.80/gal mid-2026 estimate that's $1,140-1,300 in fuel alone — meaningful, and worth front-loading the trip math before booking.