Day 13 - Big Timber, MT to Missoula, MT

This was an interesting travel day. We spent most of it driving through smoke-filled valleys. It was not a day to enjoy Montana's beautiful scenery.

About Big Timber/Greycliff KOA
Yesterday we complained about highway and railroad noise at the campground. Truth is ... we were grumpy from a day of travel. We slept well and didn't have any problem with noise.

This morning we discovered they have the best designed campground showers we've seen.

This is a very nice place to stay.

Big Timber/Greycliff KOA views

The Route
We drove 290 miles on I-90 from Big Timber to Missoula.

Along the Way
The day's journey started with a surprise when we stopped at a Sinclair station in Big Timber. We saw our first Tesla Supercharger Station. They can charge a Tesla Model S in 30 minutes, for FREE. Tesla is planning 500 of these stations with 2,818 superchargers. Finding one in Big Timber was as big a surprise as seeing one.

Tesla Supercharger Station

The route took us over Bozeman Pass (5,712ft) and included a number of steep ascents and descents. 

The views would have been breathtaking except for the smoke from Washington, Oregon and California forest fires that filled the valleys and masked the sun. We could smell the smoke. The smoke got thicker as we drove west. We found ash particles settling on the car and trailer when we stopped for the night.

Scenes from I-90 as we traveled west

Other Observations
Gas stations and casinos appear to be really good friends in Montana. Find one and the other is usually right next door.

We saw more Airstream trailers on the highway today than we've seen on the trip to-date. They were coming from the opposite direction and weren't traveling together.

The Campground
Carol found what looked like an excellent campground in Missoula and was able to reserve the last available site. Jim & Mary's RV Park turned out to be a beautiful place to end the day. All of the flowers are grown in their park's greenhouse.

Site #F-3

Tomorrow
We tried unsuccessfully to find a way to avoid the smoke and ash fallout on the way to Portland. So, we'll continue on I-90 through Idaho and into Washington. then connect with I-84 in Oregon and follow the Columbia River Gorge to Portland.