I am always happy to help! There are a few options for exploring Going to the Sun Road. The sun sets late in Montana in the summer, so you can still catch the sunset after your dinner; Check it out at Wayfarers State Park, a locals favorite place to see the sunset over the lake as the sun sinks behind the mountains. Until next time. International Selkirk Loop, 6373 Bonner St, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, USA 4. If you happen to be besties with a friendly Park Ranger, youre covered! We unfortunately were not one of the lucky winners of said tickets (Dana may or may not have thrown her phone across the room in frustration). Adding it to my bucketlist. We learned there used to be 7 volcanoes in the area, the last of which erupted 2,000 years ago. 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. 6. Weve also created a free, printable summary of this Montana Road Trip! Apart from that, the rest of the trip is completely flexible. Even small, cute animals like chipmunks have been known to hurt humans who come too close to them. Fuel up at Loulas Cafe, a beloved local breakfast staple located in an old Masonic temple. 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). But, adorably, they step politely off the trail to do it. Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism Jet boating, Hells Canyon. Those who complain about visitors and new residents dont seem to realize that most of these folks who have been rude to staff in establishments and our Natl Parks, who have been raging litter bugs and just generally inconsiderate have been among their own. It was another awesome Alicia & Dana Adventure! and received our complimentary beers at check-in. WebDay 14 Day at Flathead Lake, MT. The road coming in was very windy with a huge drop off over the side of a cliff (this made Alicia especially nervous since the cliff edge was just inches from the passenger side door). Looking for a convenient summary of our Montana itinerary? We of course went out for some dinner and beer sampling at Tamarack Brewing before calling it a night. Pine Lodges complimentary bike rentals are the perfect way to explore Whitefish. The water is the most beautiful turquoise color flowing over smooth, multicolored rocks with tree lined mountains as the backdrop. 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! 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. Whats the difference between a national park and a national monument? The primary difference is the reason for preserving the land. Our final itinerary: 3 states, 3 national parks, 1 national monument, 2 state parks and 2,000 miles driven in our trusty steed, Huckleberry. I, personally, drive on side streets (where possible) because the main streets get all backed up. Day 3-4 of your Montana Road Trip: Bozeman. Insider tip: try the cheeseburger pizza! We enjoyed the 2 hour tour through the caverns - put this on your Montana itinerary! 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. If youre flying in, just pick up and return your RV in Missoula: browse RV rentals in Missoula. It isnt huge like most towns in Montana but it has a cute main drag to explore. Alternatively, you can rent an RV or campervan and have your shelter conveniently on wheels. Running all the way from West Glacier to East Glacier, the road winds through the valleys before suddenly plunging upwards and climbing turn by turn through the mountains of Glacier National Park, with views of sweeping U-shaped valleys and aquamarine lakes around every corner. If you choose to explore Beartooth, I would budget at least 3-5 hours so you can get out and explore. So, only slightly less intimidating than the Loch Ness Monster. Whichever you decide, they are both great stops for your Western United States road trip! Then we headed back to the campgrounds where Dana (of course) took a nap in preparation for our evening excursion into the East side of the park, and Alicia made friends with some people at our campground. 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. Next was Schwabachers Landing (poor Huckleberry had to endure more rocky unpaved roads), where we walked a short way down to the river with a beautiful view of the Tetons. Be sure to bookmark this page to refer back to while youre planning! I hope you find it useful when planning your own road trip through the Western United States! And yes: there are llamas. This consisted of a windy, scenic drive (poor Huckleberry was a champ struggling on the inclined, unpaved roads), LOTS of bison sightings, and two short hikes with gorgeous views. Bozeman will be your next stop from Billings. Feels like 33.03 Wind speed 2.4 mph Pressure 1010 hPa. I dont know when Jen and Ed lived there, or when they last visited Whitefish, but Im sure they would be disappointed and sad to see the amount of people who cram into our small town. That said, counterpoint: July is cherry season in Flathead Lake. Take in the views from the balcony off the spacious living room. Its full of racist and sexist messaging and far right propaganda. It was another awesome Alicia & Dana Adventure! We also found another great place to see on the drive back to Boise in Arco, Idaho, the first city in the world to be lit by atomic power. Then it was time to set out on our whitewater rafting trip down the Salmon River. 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 We recommend visiting in late August/early September. Crystal (historical) 29F. Our visit was during late September (in 2019) and I honestly didnt notice that many crowds, though I also dont have a frame of reference to compare to! When we arrived at Small Dune (where the sledding was done), there was a couple heading back to their car. This gave us the perfect excuse to check out downtown Boise. Then we crossed back over the border and found a perfect place to stop on the drive between Wyoming and Idaho: Idaho Falls for some yummy Huckleberry Ice Cream at Reeds Dairy. The cabin we stayed in was adorable. We ate dinner at Applebees, where we also changed and got ready for bed in the bathroom (its about 11 PM at this point and we are brushing our teeth at an Applebees in Idahoprobably the high point of the trip). Plus, who can resist a random winery stop on a road trip?!? First stop was Moulton Barns on Mormon Row, an old Mormon settlement before the national park was established. Bozeman will be your next stop from Billings. First things first: head immediately to Butterfly Herbs downtown to pick up a huckleberry malt milkshake made with locally made ice cream. We stopped first to walk through Freak Alley, an awesome display of street art and fun thing to do in Boise, and then got appetizers and drinks at Juniper (potatoes of course) and Chandlers, a fancy steakhouse. Like everywhere we stopped in Montana, mountains frame the city in the distance. It was crowded, as we expected, but we stayed a ways back and got a leg up on a log for a good view of the show. When planning your itinerary, keep in mind that the estimated driving time on Google Maps is often longer when you factor in bathroom and restaurant stops. So, how can you help support Indigenous communities during your trip to Montana? Id never seen so many taxidermy animals in one place, and near the counter, a sign read gun safety rule #1: carry one. Seriously, look at this place: We walked 7.7 miles around Jenny Lake, one of the many hiking trails in Grand Teton. Those llamas are killing me they are so cute!! Though Missoula is pretty small, the nightlife is young and lively and there were a lot of people out and about. Day 7: Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton National Park, The Norris Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park. All of a sudden, we saw her pounce up from behind a ridge, just inches away from 2 of the male tourists. The next two stops, Snake River Overlook and Oxbow Bend, had gorgeous views of the Tetons and Snake River. Well, I for one am super happy I stumbled upon this post! So cool! Lumbering bears, moose, bison, and llamas. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. People live in isolated rural areas hours away from the nearest grocery store. 1. She stays in touch with her Taiwanese side largely via food, and loves to cook, eat, and discover new dishes around the globe. Once youve made it to the top of the mountain (however it is that you got there), stop in at the Summit House Restaurant on top of the chair lift for amazing views and a cold drink. Torreys 33F. The simplest answer I can give you is to seek out Native-owned businesses. 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. Our final itinerary: 3 states, 3 national parks, 1 national monument, 2 state parks and 2,000 miles driven in our trusty steed, Huckleberry. 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. Day 16 Whitefish, MT drive to Calgary, AB. There are lots of great things to do in Whitefish for every season if you know where to look! With so many gorgeous scenic byways and charming rural towns to stop in along the way, the journey can be as much of a draw as the destinations themselves. The views of the powerful waterfalls were breathtaking and a must see in this park. Ready to pack some snacks and hit the road for your Montana road trip? You can also turn this road trip into a fantastic RV trip, complete with some of the best RV camping the country has to offer in Glacier National Park. Its similar to a blueberry but a bit sweeter and the fruit is smaller. One thing we had been noticing by this point is that things around here close early. And Im so glad the rest of the itinerary was helpful Im glad you had a good trip! Your trip begins once your plane touches down in Missoula, Montana! Here is a day by day breakdown of our recommended Montana road trip itinerary. As we headed on towards our cabin at Lake Lodge, we got to experience some of the awesome wildlife that Yellowstone has to offer. 2021 Update: Unfortunately The Peoples Center suffered a devastating fire and has been relocated to St. Ignatius. Day 15 Flathead Lake, MT drive to Whitefish, MT. Download offline maps on Google to ensure that you will never get lost and your favorite playlists and podcasts on Spotify to stay entertained. 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. 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. It was lightly trafficked, and we got to see more great sights in the stillness of the natural surroundings. You can learn more about wildlife respect and safety here. Do you have suggestions for Yellowstone or an itinerary that would be best to see both? Theres an excellent hike that starts right at the Many Glacier Hotel: Josephine Loop is an easy/moderate 5.8 mile hike with connections to Grinnell Lake or Hidden Falls. It was cute, and we picked up some locally grown cherries and bison pepperoni for the road. :) Purchase a step-by-step guide to this itinerary. 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. How bout the kettle house amphitheater and seeing show how bout rafting a river. After breakfast, spend a few hours strolling around downtown Whitefish, taking in all its charm and shopping opportunities. Do NOT be rude to staff in our establishments or our National parks. Id like to update this post to include a heads up to our readers about visiting Whitefish, and Id love your input or any other locals reading this. Youll have easy access to the boutique specialty shops and galleries in town, and still within reach of all the outdoor activities. The last of which erupted 2,000 years ago tree lined mountains as the backdrop created a free, summary! 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