Bartholomew Hunt (Chris Farley) and Leslie Edwards (Matthew Perry) are leading an expedition across the west, and to the Pacific. Their goal is to beat the explorers Lewis and Clark to the coast, so Bart and Leslie will get the credit for being the better explorers. They enlist a group of misfits including Guy Fontenot (Eugene Levy) who try and assist them in their goal, but usually get them turned around backwards or into trouble. Funny squabbles with indians and wild beasts, and other western hazards occur as they struggle in the race to get there.