By Mitch Christianson.
A Near-Disaster, a Smoking Engine, and a Burrito
Hi, my name is Mitch Christianson. In the summer of 2024, I took a road trip from Minnesota to Yellowstone National Park for a job, which took about four days. When I first left for Yellowstone, it was pouring rain and pitch dark since the sun hadn’t come up yet. I remember feeling nervous yet tired since I had gotten no sleep the night before, thinking about the drive. As I was leaving my city, I noticed a massive reflection on the highway, which seemed strange because the sun wasn’t shining to create a heat reflection. I brushed it off and continued going 60 mph—directly into a massive puddle.
When I hit the puddle, I immediately lost control, and my car spun 360 degrees into the water-filled ditch. At that moment, I thought my trip was over, and my heart sank to my feet. But I threw it into reverse, prayed, and the Toyota took off like nothing had happened. My engine was smoking badly, so I pulled off at the nearest gas station to check it out. When I lifted the hood, I was hit with a massive cloud of steam, making me think my car was on fire. I panicked for a moment, but as the steam cleared, I noticed water bubbling on my engine. That’s when it clicked—I wasn’t dealing with a fire; my engine was just steaming.
After that, I took a leak at the gas station, grabbed a burrito, and continued on my way.
Best Road Trip Destinations From Minnesota to Yellowstone
To start off, we have to talk about South Dakota. I always hear that South Dakota has nothing there and is so boring, but in my experience, it was just the opposite. The Black Hills are a hidden gem in America. As I was driving through the Black Hills, I remember thinking that it looked exactly like the Windows XP background from when I was a kid. I felt free as I drove through the open hills of South Dakota. I cranked up some dubstep and screamed the lyrics as I drove.
One of my favorite unique spots in South Dakota was a town called Mitchell—obviously my favorite because my name’s Mitchell. This town was a great example of a typical mid-sized town in South Dakota, so after grabbing McDonald’s, I drove around for a bit. I didn’t see much besides a local high school and some people eating outside of McDonald’s, but it had a very American feel to it and reminded me of the show King of the Hill.
The next must-see location is Montana’s beautiful mountains and rivers. While I was in Montana, I decided to do some fishing and camping since I needed a place to stay for the night. I found a campsite just off the Yellowstone River and immediately went looking for a river monster. At that time, I had no idea what kind of fish were in the river. Honestly, I was expecting bass, so I tied on a Rapala and hoped for the best. Turns out, Rapalas are not a good option because I caught no fish in five hours
After living in Yellowstone, I can safely say the best lure is a silver spinner they sell at the general stores. I caught countless fish with that thing.
Cody Wyoming, and Entering Yellowstone.
The last must-see road trip stop has to be Cody, Wyoming. This town embodies the Wyoming spirit, from its stunning landscapes to hosting the world’s biggest rodeo. Driving through Cody, I watched the Shoshone River rage through the cliffs while eating my Wendy’s, thinking life couldn’t get much better. From there, I headed straight into Yellowstone and arrived at the Fishing Bridge campsite.
At a gas station, the clerk asked if I had ever had a Choco Taco. I was momentarily distracted by her British accent—having never heard one in real life, I was mind-blown. I replied, “Yeah, who hasn’t heard of a Choco Taco?” She laughed, explaining she was British and excited to try one for the first time. After that, I searched for a sleeping spot, unaware that camping without a reservation was prohibited.
Just as I was falling asleep, two bright lights shone directly in my face—it was the cops. They approached with flashlights, and I quickly put my head and hands out the window. The officer, initially stern, relaxed when I explained I was starting work the next day. Still, he sniffed the air and said, “Unfortunately, I smell pot.” I admitted to having a little from Minnesota, and to my surprise, he was cool about it. After making me stomp it out, he actually let me sleep there for the night..
