They were also aggressively anti-mask. Montana has so much to offer including its crown jewel, Glacier National Park and weve designed the perfect 10-day Montana road trip itinerary through Western Montana, complete with details to help you plan each step of your trip. We really appreciate it! 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. Oooh, creepy! Youll have easy access to the boutique specialty shops and galleries in town, and still within reach of all the outdoor activities. Be careful, though: if you time your trip too late in September, everything in Glacier National Park will begin shutting down because of snow (yes, that early)! It also serves We ate our oatmeal and eggs while he grazed on grass and leaves just 50 yards away. You can drive Going to the Sun Road yourself in your own vehicle. 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. This part of the country is famously beautiful, characterized by lush green alpine landscapes and snow-capped peaks, winding rivers, and countless small towns dripping with old western charm. We were averaging about $250 a night. WebCheck the road conditions from Idaho to Montana and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. We had brunch at a small but very crowded Farmers Market (who knew Missoula was such a hip and happening place?! It was cute, and we picked up some locally grown cherries and bison pepperoni for the road. As the day went on, the skies began to clear and we were able to experience the sheer beauty of the park. Although the parks had been fairly crowded this whole time (Yellowstone more so than Glacier), this is the first time it began to feel a bit too touristy. I almost gave up and turned around halfway through but persisted with the encouragement of Lenza and a one-pound bag of Tillamook beef jerky. Please also be courteous and wear a mask where required. It was fun though, and Im glad we got to try it. To protect visitors and the park, there are a few key pointers to follow: Geotagging seems natural to many of us millennialswe want to share the cool things we see when we are traveling! Heres what we did in Stanley: Stay: The Sawtooth Hotel is a charming and relatively budget-friendly option. While Glacier is gorgous and amazing there are places in motana that are just as stunning. 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 It may not have happened exactly how we planned, butit all came up Dana & Alicia in the end! I love small towns and their charm and appreciate you highlighting restaurants and lodging, super helpful! The simplest answer I can give you is to seek out Native-owned businesses. Detour to Garnet Ghost TownOn our way to Big Sky from Missoula, we stopped at Garnet Ghost Town, a former mining town active from the late 1800s to the end of World War I. Though in true Dana fashion (and much to Alicias dismay), the owner's dogs, who live on the property, somehow found their way into our room. Youre welcome. One crucial part of the equation is relationship building understandably, many Tribal Nations arent exactly thrilled to work with the same Government who has spent the past several centuries destroying them. When we arrived at the Cold Springs Winery, the owner was out fixing the pond and opened for us even though we arrived before opening. Youre gonna wish you had, because Montana actually has a burgeoning wine scene. It was another awesome Alicia & Dana Adventure! Whats the difference between a bison and a buffalo? In case you were wondering, they are completely different animals that are often mistaken for each other, but only bison can be found in North America. Be sure to bookmark this page to refer back to while youre planning! 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). The older llamas are very friendly and sociable. Day 2: Riggins, Idaho to Missoula, Montana, Post white water rafting on the Salmon River in Riggins, Idaho. Adding it to my bucketlist. Awesome. We have included a few excellent options in our itinerary. Our favorite part was the beaver slide, an area so narrow you literally had to sit and slide down to get through. You can pick up the boat to Wild Horse Island right in the heart of downtown Big Fork just make sure to call and reserve your spot in advance! Even small, cute animals like chipmunks have been known to hurt humans who come too close to them. Georgies Outdoor Mexican Cafe has a quesadilla bursting with melted cheese and generously portioned fish tacos. I also appreciate the section at the beginning with resources to learn more about Montanas Indigenous communities and how to support them as well! Well also send our favorite travel tips straight to your inbox! Road Trip through Idaho to Missoula, Montana After splashing and sunning in Lava Hot Springs and leaving our comfy digs in Idaho Falls, Idaho, we headed straight up the I-15 and then I-90 into Missoula, Montana, our home for two nights and three action packed days. Its also a destination with much to offer those who stay for a And because were gluttons for food, we also recommend a mid-drive stop at the adorable, European-themed Windmill Village Bakery for giant, fluffy donuts on your way to Missoula! During my trip I spoke with a Montana state government employee involved in developing Indigenous tourism, who shared some of the challenges faced at the State level. And of course we are always open to guest posts if youd like to create an itinerary for us . Today, youll be spending the day hiking with a very special friend: a llama! I just love, love, love your writing style and the way you travel. Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism Jet boating, Hells Canyon. The drive from Idaho Falls to Missoula is gorgeous. The cabin we stayed in was adorable. Montana has so much to offer including its crown jewel, Glacier National Park and weve designed the perfect 10-day Montana road trip itinerary through Western Montana, complete with details to help you plan each step of your trip. It is a must-do. Apart from that, the rest of the trip is completely flexible. A farm is where crops are grown and a ranch is where livestock are raised. Well not quite. We moved along quickly because we wanted to make sure we made it out to the main road before it was completely dark. If you have any questions about this Western United States road trip guide, leave a comment below. Were hoping to visit late June as thats when our daughter is done with school. The land that is currently Glacier National Park was actually given to the Blackfeet Nation as part of their original reservation. Check out some of our other posts! Its an area of incredible natural beauty, isnt it? Not only did you hit a small fraction of Montana you gave a very limit view of who and what we are. Low key stalk us here and on social media. How bout the kettle house amphitheater and seeing show how bout rafting a river. Which stop on our itinerary are you most excited about? Coming from the West Coast, there are plenty of quick, direct flights to Missoula on the budget airline Allegiant. come one and all but REMEMBER YOUR MANNERS. Llamas take a very long time to go to the bathroom. Follow along for an epic Idaho road trip through Ketchum, Stanley, Salmon, Missoula (a little side trip to Montana), Coeur dAlene, and McCall. Plus, who can resist a random winery stop on a road trip?!? A good rule of thumb is to aim for under four hours of driving per day so you have time to enjoy your destination. We thought for sure we were about to watch someone get eaten by a wild animal! And like, Im not going to lie: this was probably the best thing Ive ever done in my entire life. We also love that Pine Lodge is eco-friendly with many sustainability initiatives in place, and offer guests complimentary bike, kayak, or SUP rentals! If I return to Teton in the future, I would try the more difficult Delta Lake vis Amphitheater Lake Trail. 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. Buckle up, because this is a detailed AF post! After leaving the caverns, we continued on from Montana to Yellowstone National Park to start our Wyoming road trip. We were drawn in by a shop called Latigo and Lace, which featured authentic and local artwork. As a western montanan I dont agree with this road trip. I hope you find it useful when planning your own road trip through the Western United States! Today was another driving day from Wyoming to Idaho and our first stop was the Snake River Brewing Company in Jackson Hole. Dottie is one part of Dots on a Map. Road conditions from Idaho to Montana. Theyre now fully emboldened since the governor and other right wing extremists got elected. Across the street we went to lunch at Buckhorn Bar, where we sampled local beers, fried food, and most interestingly, the musings of the local people. Articles like this are whats ruining our small town of Whitefish. Alicia went for a run this morning on the beautiful Milwaukee Path along the river (Alicia loves to run on vacation! The venue is an experience in itself, with wild game taxidermy lining the walls, a sturdy wooden bar, and a vintage piano in the corner. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can even take the lift up, down, or both ways depending on your preference something I have wished for on literally every hike Ive ever done. After leaving Helena, we started our day with a stop at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park in Montana on the way to Yellowstone in Wyoming. We decided to hike the Trail of Cedars to Avalanche Lake, about a 5 mile out and back trail. It has a beautiful outdoor seating area, the perfect place to enjoy the brewerys delicious Amber Ale. ), and then set out on the road. We spent our afternoon hiking to the Escalante Natural Bridge, which we had all to ourselves. If youre lusting for more libations (and maybe something a little less fancy) check out the happy hour at The Bulldog for Huckleberry Wings and cheap beer. We arrived in the evening, so we watched the sunset at Higgins Street Bridge, took a walk downtown, and had a few drinks at The Rhino Bar, a proper dive with yummy beers on tap (this part of the country has consistently incredible beer). These unique and beautiful formations are a must-see on any Wyoming itinerary. That will help keep the money youre spending funneled directly to the Tribal Nations, which supports Indigenous communities. This is literally like the best Montana itinerary post Ive ever seen!! In 2016 we quit our jobs, put our stuff in storage, and took off on a (disastrous) year-long honeymoon. Even this winter, for the first time the traffic was worse than it ever has been. WOAH- NO, we do not want to support a business like that. We headed to the Target across the street (6 minutes before it closed) for pillows and blankets (we took the extra 30 seconds to get blankets that matched our houses, obviously). Weve also created a free, printable summary of this Montana Road Trip! Everythings coming up Dana & Alicia! All of a sudden, we saw her pounce up from behind a ridge, just inches away from 2 of the male tourists. What is the best time of year to visit Montana? All around high-quality food in a rustic but modern wild west ambiance. Your email address will not be published. After our musical detour, we grabbed a final meal of our road trip at Wild Root and headed back to the hotel to get some sleep before our early - and long - day of travel home. If you do opt for the Red Bus Tour, youll want to bring a ton of sunscreen (open top means LOTS of sun), plenty of layers as the morning is quite cold and the afternoon is quite hot, sunglasses, loads of water, chapstick, and snacks (just be sure to pack all the snack waste out with you). I think we ALL should be able to visit one anothers areas, respectfully of course. We really enjoyed experiencing the beauty of the different thermal pools, as neither of us had really seen anything like them before. Yellowstone travel tip: keep your distance from the wildlife! Glacier National Park the star of both Montana and our itinerary is crowded and packed with visitors in July. We recommend Stageline Pizza, which is a local legend for great pie. And it actually feels homey! It literally felt like being at Disney World. Missoula was a great place to stop on a Montana road trip because it gave us a really good sense of Montana culture while also offering the conveniences of a city (like cell service!). We recommend staying somewhere walkable, so youll want to base yourself close to downtown on either side of the river. Psst: Planning a trip toMontana? This also was the start of our educational Whats the difference between? series that became a theme of the trip. Whatever you bring in, you should bring back out againpack it in pack it out. Bozeman will be your next stop from Billings. When visiting Reservations or stopping at places that appear to be Indigenous-owned (such as a trading post), look for Native-owned signage. Photo Credit; Idaho Tourism. From there about an hours drive from Big Fork Wild Horse Island is just 45 minutes of athletic activity away! 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