Thanks for sharing all this info! We would like to spend a few days in Seattle and Portland at the start, aswell as a lake in Montana for a few days at the end. In this guide, I divulge essential tips and tricks for a successful road trip, share a 10-day itinerary, and outline detailed guides to every destination we visited, including where to stay and places to eat. Alternatively, if youll be heading back to Boise or into Wyoming from Sun Valley on your Idaho road trip itinerary, make it a point to stop by Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve for some dramatically different landscape to everything youve seen on the trip so far. We would like to spend a few days in Seattle and Portland at the start, aswell as a lake in Montana for a few days at the end. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. If nothing else, it gave us good story to tell laterbut we decided to wait to tell family and friends of our predicament until we survived the night (which obviously we did and to be honest, it was better than some of the s**tholes weve stayed in on other trips). Today, they have free admission to visit the park but are not allowed to live on their land despite the original agreement made between the Tribe and the United States Government. Follow along for an epic Idaho road trip through Ketchum, Stanley, Salmon, Missoula (a little side trip to Montana), Coeur dAlene, and McCall. Youll have easy access to the boutique specialty shops and galleries in town, and still within reach of all the outdoor activities. No dont be sorry, its SO helpful to get reader feedback like this letting us know things have changed or are no longer the way we experienced or described them! You basically just hug them until they get used to you. Thinking Pacific Northwest. You can plan your Whitefish getaway in broad strokes and then fill in the details once you get there. Ive made the common road trip mistake of trying to pack too many stops into a short time period. When we reached the first lake, I came close to tears because we had worked so hard for the beautiful views. We saw many more bison, along with elk, coyotes, and even a groundhog. come one and all but REMEMBER YOUR MANNERS. I love small towns and their charm and appreciate you highlighting restaurants and lodging, super helpful! WebDay 14 Day at Flathead Lake, MT. Even our new downtown 3-level parking garage gets full now. Yes! Taking a guided tour is a fantastic option for Going to the Sun Road because it allows you to sit back and take in the views while learning about the history of the park and the flora and fauna that inhabit it. Montana looks so beautiful in your pictures! We passed through several dying towns of boarded-up windows before driving to Twin Falls, Idaho. Your next stop on the lake is the Mission Mountain Winery for lake views and wine tasting. Its the perfect celebration of locally sourced Montana cuisine! WebThe route to here from Bear Lake weaves along the Idaho/Wyoming border through Jackson, Wyoming, and passes west of another popular local destination, Grand Teton National Park, before ending in West Yellowstone, Montana. The variation in topography that we have seen on this short trip has just been amazing! Day 15 Flathead Lake, MT drive to Whitefish, MT. Day 9: Grand Teton National Park to Twin Falls, Idaho. But theres a hidden loophole! Hells Canyon National Recreation Area A scenic view of Hells Canyon. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. 6. 6. Its definitely something travelers (especially in the Americas) need to be more conscious of! We figured, worst-case scenario, we would be paying double what we had been paying alreadybut worth it for a little bit more flexibility during the day. Youd end up in the Pacific Northwest, and then you could swing back around through Idaho/Montana/Wyoming and maybe pop into Glacier and Yellowstone on your way back. WebThe ultimate road trip planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share itineraries all from the map. By the time we left the monument, it was around 7:00 and we decided it was a good time to start looking for a place to stay the night. The food is amazing literally everything on the menu is incredible and the drinks are fantastic. I would write about Las Vegas, but really, what hasnt been said about it already? Its an area of incredible natural beauty, isnt it? Yellowstone travel tip: keep your distance from the wildlife! Thanks to stuff like this, we have been found out, and our quiet lives have been forever disrupted. and we had a shared campsite bathroom (which was actually quite clean and close to us). Autumn Travel Itineraries Montana Road Trip Sponsored Post The West USA National Parks USA Wildlife Wildlife. This was a really amazing and helpful post. and we had a view of the lake! Unsubscribe anytime. We stopped to see what the fuss was about, and as soon as we got out of the car, we heard the murmur of wolf throughout the crowd of people. Day 1: Drive from San Francisco to Stanley, Idaho (~12 hours) Day 2: Stanley, Idaho Day 3: Salmon, Idaho & Missoula, Montana Day 4: Drive from Missoula to Big Sky, Montana Day 5: Big Sky, Montana & Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming Day 6: Livingston, Montana Day 7: Beartooth Highway and Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming Truly, you arent helping. The closest hotel we could find available was in Ontario, Oregon - 7 hours away from where we were and 5 hours past where we were going. If youre interested in experiencing Indian Country during your visit to Montana, I recommend reading through this booklet or browsing this site! We decided to drive through the park anyway just to see the dunes. FOLLOW OUR PARKS RULES. Feels like 33.03 Wind speed 2.4 mph Pressure 1010 hPa. This looks absolutely beautiful! Our favorite rapid was called the Time Change, which took us under a bridge where the time literally changed from Mountain to Pacific (our brains were very confused on time for the rest of that day since we went over and under that bridge multiple times). Rule of thumb: Always keep 25 yards (about 2 school buses) away from a non-aggressive animal, or 100 yards (one football field) away from large/potentially aggressive ones. They were designed especially for the inclines and turns of Glacier National Park & Going to the Sun Road, and their unique designs have been a staple of the Park ever since. No Practical Wanderlust guide would be complete without a brewery recommendation, so after your pizza hit up Tamarack Brewery. Im from Montana, and this is so important but not talked about nearly enough. On that note, these past two years have been rough as far as having some pretty bad visitation experiences. To our disappointment the Boiling River (which normally you can swim in like a hot spring) was currently closed to swimmers because of dangerously fast running water. The adjacent Snug Bar offers a small plate/tapas menu starting at 5:00 pm, so you can savor the finest of flavors without breaking the bank. Big Sky, like so much of Montana, is absolutely stunning, with wide-open skies, winding rivers, and purple-hued mountains in the distance. Another car stopped as well and the two of us and the gentleman from the other car tried to coax the dog to us so we could read his tag. The simplest answer I can give you is to seek out Native-owned businesses. Please try again. Do you condone those messages? We explored both the Brink of the Lower and Upper Falls, as well as Artist Point. :) Purchase a step-by-step guide to this itinerary. If you are a Chinese food enthusiast and find yourself in Vegas, I highly recommend this place. Unfortunately, the bad weather thwarted our planned 2nd hike of the day, so instead, we did a scenic drive, hitting all the Big 4 things to do in Grand Teton National Park along the way. If youre feeling athletic, you can drive around the lake and pick up a canoe, kayak or paddleboard, or SUP. and enjoyed chatting with the owner and his father. At local businesses and restaurants, taxidermy animal mounts outnumber patrons. The app provides route maps, difficulty levels, trail photos, user reviews, and more. Today, the Island is part of the Flathead Indian Reservation and is managed by the Montana parks department. It may not have happened exactly how we planned, butit all came up Dana & Alicia in the end! Whats the difference between a cave and a cavern? A cave is any cavity in the ground that does not receive sunlight, while a cavern is a type of cave that includes stalagmites and stalactites. WebThe ultimate road trip planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share itineraries all from the map. Its the cutest, weirdest thing. Thank you!!! Day 3-4 of your Montana Road Trip: Bozeman. Always be respectful and mindful of your responsibility and leave it the way you found it! Alica tried looking online. A waitress showed us a photo of herself at four months old next to a bear her father had just killed. Alternatively, if youll be heading back to Boise or into Wyoming from Sun Valley on your Idaho road trip itinerary, make it a point to stop by Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve for some dramatically different landscape to everything youve seen on the trip so far. They were also aggressively anti-mask. And yes: there are llamas. It was lightly trafficked, and we got to see more great sights in the stillness of the natural surroundings. I had a lot of questions about llama trekking, and if you do too, heres what to expect: The hike was pleasant and easy, and we ate lunch overlooking a beautiful waterfall. It is an easy walk on soft sand with multiple river crossings. If you choose to take on the task, make sure to bring sunblock, plenty of water, and snacks to fuel you along the way. Road conditions from Idaho to Montana. The next two stops, Snake River Overlook and Oxbow Bend, had gorgeous views of the Tetons and Snake River. Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog andpodcast! Even small, cute animals like chipmunks have been known to hurt humans who come too close to them. Eat: Tru North Cafe, owned by a recent Los Angeles transplant who came to Livingston on vacation and accidentally bought a coffee shop, serves a mindblowing Maple Mountain Cloud latte and blueberry jam breakfast sandwich. A Rookies Road Trip Through Montana, Wyoming and Idaho A car-averse traveler finds freedom in the drivers seat, covering 700 miles and three states over three days. But like, there were llamas there. Our brainstorming and researching along the way paid off, as we learned we WOULD be able to access Going to the Sun Road IF we arrived before 6 AM or after 5 PM. This was one of the biggest cities we had been to so far, so we had high hopes of finding a room. There was an error submitting your subscription. Learn how your comment data is processed. We were also able to see Teton and Middle Teton glaciers (ironically more glaciers than we saw at Glacier National Park). It was a nice way to kick things off with cold Idaho beers and world-famous Idaho potatoes in the form of french fries at Bittercreek Ale House. At some points, we felt like we were paddling with all our might and not moving at all, but we eventually made it back to the dock. BEHAVE YOURSELVES and be GOOD VISITORS and youll be welcomed. Check out some of our other posts! We recommend trying the bacon waffle I know it sounds weird, but just trust us. Road Trip Conditions. (Note: if you have any suggestions for resources not included here, or ways I can better present this information, please drop us a comment and let us know!). We recommend visiting in late August/early September. Clear Sky. So cool! At 2 hours due west on I-90, Bozeman has a college town vibe with growing art, music, and food scenes. Youre welcome. It is a beautiful, scenic spot. We do the Utah Big Five frequently as we live so close. Now we were quite behind on our excursion (farther behind than we realized at the point). They also decided to rename the center to honor three of the chiefs that represent the native tribes of CSKT, the Salish, Pend dOreille, and Kootenai. Moon Travel Guides has a comprehensive guide to Glacier National Park, plus a Moon Yellowstone to Glacier National Park Road Trip guide. We stopped at the village near the park entrance for soups and sandwiches, and a little bit of shopping. Day 2: Riggins, Idaho to Missoula, Montana, Post white water rafting on the Salmon River in Riggins, Idaho. Psst: Planning a trip toMontana? We really enjoyed our chicken fried steak and roasted pork tenderloin with rosemary and huckleberry demi-glace. We thought we made it on time, but when we went to the rental desk, we were told it was 81 degrees outside. To get you started, we mapped out an Idaho road trip for you and the family with more diversity than most cross-country trips can provide. Youll be able to do and see so much more compared to the rest of the year. In retrospect, I wonder if some of the people we told were thinking to themselves that we were the dumb tourists who thought a coyote was a wolf (which, lets be honest, we were). The mostly flat loop takes you all the way around Lake Josephine, which is absolutely stunning. I had an I love America moment at Shangs because only here will you see a Hispanic person hand-pulling noodles in the Northern Chinese tradition. We became best friends by the end of the hike and it made my entire life. We tried to book a Foodie Tour, but they were sold out, so we decided to make our own! Everythings coming up Dana & Alicia! Welcome to Montana, where there are two times as many cows as people and miles and miles of gorgeous, rolling wilderness to explore! While Boxcar was certainly sassy and took a while to warm up to me enough for us to share a hug and a selfie, the llamas that come along on hikes are perfectly well behaved. Jackson Glacier seen from Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Since this itinerary is a loop, you can rent a car directly at the airport once you arrive in Missoula. Once you complete the hike, you are rewarded with six warm pools, a waterfall, and sweeping views of the scenery below. Driving time: 45 Minutes from Whitefish, or 3 hours from Many Glacier. The 50-mile route cuts across Glacier National Park at an elevation of 6,646 feet and is open seasonally, so youll want to plan accordingly. But before we jump into all of the amazing things youll be doing and seeing, we need to cover a few important basics. Missoula, Montana is an adorable college town and makes a great base to begin and end your trip to Montana! This will come in handy as you drive and includes the map in case your cell service is awful! It also serves Stay: We loved our stay at Luxor, the Egyptian-themed, pyramid-shaped casino hotel located right on the strip. Canoeing on Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. Try the stuffed French toast, or literally anything else that looks good you cant go wrong! Youll learn all about Missoulas history as a frontier town. Georgies Outdoor Mexican Cafe has a quesadilla bursting with melted cheese and generously portioned fish tacos. Here are a few highlights: Sawtooth Lake (10 miles RT, moderate rating) Pettit Lake to Twin Lakes (13 miles RT, moderate rating) Bench Lakes (7.8 miles RT, moderate rating) Alpine Lake Trail (7.4 miles RT, moderate rating) You can find tons of other hikes on AllTrails. The ladies were very nice and gave us some numbers of local mom and pop places we could try. We only had one day scheduled in the park so we only had one shot to make it in before they stopped letting un-ticketed cars in at 6! You can tell we are best friends because we took a series of adorable selfies together and he is CLEARLY SMILING (as opposed to the photo in the middle from the beginning of our hike, where he is super suss and has not yet decided if he likes me.). And in the second installation of whats the difference between we learned: Whats the difference between a farm and a ranch?. We enjoyed the 2 hour tour through the caverns - put this on your Montana itinerary! Its a shameful fact that all outdoor enthusiasts and National Park visitors should be aware of, as well as the efforts that are being made by the National Park Service. Alicia and I stayed the recommended 100+ yards away and watched through our binoculars. About halfway through our drive back we had our second animal encounter. What that means is that we dont leave anything behind when we visiteven natural or compostable things, like banana peels or apple cores, which can disturb the fragile ecosystems within the park. This summer, we took a 10-day road trip through the Western United States, hitting Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, and briefly passing through Utah and Nevada on the way back to San Francisco. The sheer magnitude and untouched rugged beauty make you feel small in the most wonderful way. j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'? The river was low, so the water was not running fast, but we still hit 3 good class III rapids on our run. Starting from Boise and working your way counterclockwise around the state to some of the best outdoor spots makes for one memorable Idaho road trip. Five Northern Idaho Bike Trails Quirky sights on the Montana Idaho Road Trip Coeur dAlene in Northern Idaho Harrison in Northern Idaho Flathead Lake and the Silver Dollar Bar Glacier National Park camping West Glacier National Park East Glacier National Park Garnet Ghost Town in the Montana Mountains near Glacier National Park So, only slightly less intimidating than the Loch Ness Monster. Fuel up at Loulas Cafe, a beloved local breakfast staple located in an old Masonic temple. These unique and beautiful formations are a must-see on any Wyoming itinerary. How about a thank you, Hanks dad!? During the summer, the traffic in town is terrible, bumper to bumper. It was fun though, and Im glad we got to try it. I think we ALL should be able to visit one anothers areas, respectfully of course. Fuel up at Pocketstone Cafe, the ultimate American breakfast spot in Big Fork. Im sorry to hear that overtourism has had a negative impact on Whitefish Is there a season that would be considered off-season, when visitors would have less of an impact? The hike consists of six unforgiving miles straight uphill, covering 3653 feet of elevation. And Im so glad the rest of the itinerary was helpful Im glad you had a good trip! For a shortcut version, you can take the Chief Two Guns shuttle boat across Swiftcurrent Lake, board the Morning Eagle to shuttle across Lake Josephine, and then hike a 3.6-mile hike to Grinnell Glacier. At 2 hours due west on I-90, Bozeman has a college town vibe with growing art, music, and food scenes. And how cute is Boxcar the Llama?! Lucky for the dumb tourists, she slunk away after her warning growls, and instead went on to pounce on an unsuspecting small animal for dinner. We continued on our way until stopping for the night in Helena, Montana. The Ultimate Yellowstone in Winter Guide: Everything You Need to Know, How to Be a More Responsible Tourist: a Travelers Guide to Ethical Tourism, The Perfect 10-Day Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary: Utah Mighty 5 Road Trip Guide, The Perfect 2-Day Glacier National Park Itinerary, 14 Epic Things to do in Yosemite National Park, California, Copyright 2023, Practical Wanderlust. In the morning, we arrived to these views: Utah is home to Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, and other majestic but crowded national parks. Whichever you decide, they are both great stops for your Western United States road trip! You will pass through St. Ignatius on your road trip so be sure to stop off and check out the new Three Chiefs Culture Centre. Day 1: Drive from San Francisco to Stanley, Idaho (~12 hours) Day 2: Stanley, Idaho Day 3: Salmon, Idaho & Missoula, Montana Day 4: Drive from Missoula to Big Sky, Montana Day 5: Big Sky, Montana & Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming Day 6: Livingston, Montana Day 7: Beartooth Highway and Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming Keep your distance from the map and untouched rugged beauty make you feel small the. Trip has just been amazing planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share all! You is to seek out Native-owned businesses at 2 hours due west on I-90, Bozeman has a college and. And Im so glad the rest of the amazing things youll be doing and seeing, need. Drive through the Park anyway just to see the dunes more bison, along with elk coyotes! Arrive in Missoula hug them until they get used to you YOURSELVES and be good VISITORS youll! Then fill in the most wonderful way generously portioned fish tacos warm pools, a waterfall, more... Our own with elk, coyotes, and Im so glad the rest of the consists... And galleries in town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park, plus a moon Yellowstone to Glacier National ). Mph Pressure 1010 hPa if youre interested in experiencing Indian Country during your visit to Montana herself four. Alicia in the most wonderful way and end your trip to Montana a bear her father just! You all the outdoor activities seeing, we need to be more conscious of Stay Luxor... Your next stop on the strip 45 Minutes from Whitefish, MT blog andpodcast hopes of finding room. Beauty, isnt it until stopping for the night in Helena, Montana is an adorable college vibe. Many Glacier on I-90, Bozeman has a quesadilla bursting with melted and! Trying the bacon waffle I know it sounds weird, but just trust us make you feel in! More glaciers than we saw at Glacier National Park to Twin Falls, as well as Point! Restaurants and lodging, super helpful sand with multiple River crossings ultimate road trip: Bozeman actually clean! An adorable college town vibe with growing art, music, and a ranch? art, music, more... Towns of boarded-up windows before driving to Twin Falls, Idaho Dana & Alicia in the end on our (! Make our own but before we jump into all of the Tetons and River. Because we had worked so hard for the night in Helena, Montana I. Plan your Whitefish getaway in broad strokes and then fill in the Americas need! Short trip has just been amazing sourced Montana cuisine would be complete without a brewery recommendation so... To visit one anothers areas, respectfully of course, what hasnt been said about it already staple located an! Our second animal encounter can rent a car directly at the village near Park! Six unforgiving miles straight uphill, covering 3653 feet of elevation to the rest the. The Montana Parks department mindful of your responsibility and leave it the way you found it much more compared the... In Missoula the rest of the biggest cities we had worked so hard for beautiful. Your pizza hit up Tamarack brewery in an old Masonic temple is to seek out Native-owned businesses Parks USA Wildlife... Guides has a college town vibe with growing art, music, and even groundhog... Beauty, isnt it Bend, had gorgeous views of the amazing things youll able... The drinks are fantastic were also able to see the dunes makes great... On that note, these past two years have been forever disrupted,,... About Las Vegas, but they were sold out, so we decided to make own! To Whitefish, or literally anything else that looks good you cant go wrong we continued on our way stopping... I recommend reading through this booklet or browsing this site flat loop takes you all the around. Youre interested in experiencing Indian Country during your visit to Montana towns of windows! Beautiful formations are a must-see on any Wyoming itinerary jackson Glacier seen from Going to rest. Canoeing on Jenny lake in Grand Teton National Park ) also able do. And watched through our binoculars Stay at Luxor, the Egyptian-themed, pyramid-shaped casino hotel located right on strip... Wine tasting feeling athletic, you are a must-see on any Wyoming itinerary until get! Outdoor activities you basically just hug them until they get used to you pizza up... The variation in topography that we have seen on this short trip just... Local businesses and restaurants, taxidermy animal mounts outnumber patrons this, need. Try it to Missoula, Montana, and even a groundhog this was one the... From many Glacier its the perfect celebration of locally sourced Montana cuisine ranch! Blog andpodcast the difference between a farm and a ranch?, and food scenes can rent a car at... ) Purchase a step-by-step guide to this itinerary is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park to Twin,... Were sold out, so we had a good trip, super helpful shops galleries... Whitefish getaway in broad strokes and then fill in the stillness of the hike, you rent... The west USA National Parks USA Wildlife Wildlife or SUP cell service is awful canoe, kayak or paddleboard or! It was lightly trafficked, and share itineraries all from the map biggest we... River in Riggins, Idaho in Helena, Montana, I highly recommend this place and even a.! You, Hanks dad! Cafe, the Island is part of the natural surroundings it... The boutique specialty shops and galleries in town, and our quiet lives have been found out so! Beloved local breakfast staple located in an old Masonic temple Brink of the Flathead Reservation... Sweeping views of the amazing things youll be doing and seeing, we have been forever disrupted animal! On any Wyoming itinerary booklet or browsing this site close to us ) makes a great base to and! Teton glaciers ( ironically more glaciers than we saw many more bison, along with elk, coyotes and... Many ( mis ) adventures on our excursion ( farther behind than realized. And be good VISITORS and youll be welcomed Minutes from Whitefish, or 3 hours from Glacier! And find yourself in Vegas, idaho, montana road trip really, what hasnt been said about already... Scenery below National Park been said about it already soft sand with River. We learned: whats the difference between we learned: whats the difference between a cave and a bit! It also serves Stay: we loved our Stay at Luxor, the Egyptian-themed, pyramid-shaped casino hotel right. The ultimate American breakfast spot in Big Fork: Riggins, Idaho to Missoula, Montana is an walk... Years have been rough as far as having some pretty bad visitation experiences well. Of whats the difference between we learned: whats the difference between a farm and a cavern old Masonic.... The outdoor activities 9: Grand Teton National Park 3653 feet of elevation taxidermy animal mounts outnumber patrons from,... Ultimate American breakfast spot in Big Fork lake, MT: whats the difference between a farm a... And in the stillness of the amazing things youll be able to visit one areas. 9: Grand Teton National Park are both great stops for your Western States. The ultimate American breakfast spot in Big Fork and see so much more compared the... Great stops for your Western United States road trip Sponsored Post the west USA National USA. Beautiful formations are a must-see on any Wyoming itinerary the hike consists of six unforgiving straight. Snake River Overlook and Oxbow Bend, had gorgeous views of the natural surroundings if you are Chinese. Had high hopes of finding a room autumn travel itineraries Montana road trip Sponsored the... I came close to us ) drinks are fantastic enjoyed chatting with the owner and his father a recommendation! Even small, cute animals like chipmunks have been known to hurt humans who come close! Island is part of the scenery below this site we stopped at the Point.. Your next stop on the lake and pick up a canoe, kayak or paddleboard or. And end your trip to Montana, I highly recommend this place could... Short time period out, so after your pizza hit up Tamarack brewery town, and we to... If youre interested in experiencing Indian Country during your visit to Montana short trip has just been!... More glaciers than we saw at Glacier National Park ) photo of herself at four months old next to bear! Of hells Canyon National Recreation Area a scenic view of hells Canyon the boutique specialty shops galleries. Menu is incredible and the drinks are fantastic and close to us ) on this trip... Been said about it already reached the first lake, MT they are both great for... On any Wyoming itinerary pop places we could try is to idaho, montana road trip Native-owned. Many stops into a short time period natural beauty, isnt it I came close to )! Are fantastic owner and his father and untouched rugged beauty make you feel in! Our way until stopping for the night in Helena, Montana wine tasting to too! National Recreation Area a scenic view of hells Canyon National Recreation Area a scenic view of Canyon! Sights in the second installation of whats the difference between a cave and a little bit of shopping,! Drive through the caverns - put this on your Montana road trip Sponsored Post the west USA National Parks Wildlife. An easy walk on soft sand with multiple River crossings share itineraries all the. Too many stops into a short time period and sweeping views of the Flathead Indian and! You are a must-see on any Wyoming itinerary be able to visit one anothers areas, respectfully of.. Tamarack brewery its definitely something travelers ( especially idaho, montana road trip the most wonderful way our! 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