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! We had to wait in a long line just to get up close enough to see the spring, and then we had to keep the line moving, so we didnt really even get to enjoy it. The pass also gets you free parking at all federal recreation areas. This luxury condo in downtown Bigfork has spectacular views of Swan River, you can hear the sounds of rushing white water from the deck, and the loft bedroom has cathedral windows looking across spectacular views. And when thousands of people converge on a small number of specific wilderness locations, those locations are negatively impacted and at risk of being harmed, destroyed, and blocked off to visitors entirely. This was great other than your Miracle of America Museum suggestion. By Lia Garcia | Updated on: February 20, 2022. We continued on with no further interruption and made it to the park entrance. WebThe ultimate road trip planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share itineraries all from the map. After two wonderful days in Glacier National Park, its time to continue your journey through Montana. These three were runners so Alicia got to chatting with them and it turns out, the older women actually ran the Boston Marathon! This website, run by the Montana State Government, provides excellent resources. Like everywhere we stopped in Montana, mountains frame the city in the distance. That said, counterpoint: July is cherry season in Flathead Lake. 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. If youre feeling up for a few hills, you can continue all the way up the accurately named Big Mountain for sweeping vistas. 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 Most of them are comfortable yet rustic, and we had difficulty justifying their high nightly rates. Day 15 Flathead Lake, MT drive to Whitefish, MT. Do you condone those messages? The town is quite small, and with a few hours theres a good chance youll be able to walk every street! We had a rough plan in place prior to our trip but gave ourselves the leeway to make unexpected stops the way hence why we hit Yellowstone twice! Ready to pack some snacks and hit the road for your Montana road trip? We really enjoyed experiencing the beauty of the different thermal pools, as neither of us had really seen anything like them before. Today was another driving day from Wyoming to Idaho and our first stop was the Snake River Brewing Company in Jackson Hole. We stayed safely far away and used our zoom lens to capture photos of them instead! The river was low, so the water was not running fast, but we still hit 3 good class III rapids on our run. If you are on a tighter budget, you can do a mix of motels and camping, or even camp the whole time. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. We woke early and went into the Holiday Inn to get changed and ready for the day. Ethical tourism can be a great way to support and grow Indigenous communities while educating others about their culture, but immersive, sustainable Indigenous tourism such as community homestays or community-led tours of Tribal Nations doesnt currently exist in Montana. Oooh, creepy! WebTrip: Big Sky (Washington, Idaho, Montana) TakeMyTrip.com The Big Sky Trip An adventure in the Pacific Northwest The Big Sky trip is a 10-night driving trip to the northwestern United States. To quote the Essential Understandings, American Indian individuals and tribes are still here with distinct and intact governments, languages, and cultures that contribute to modern Montana. The plight of American Indians is quite complex, and relations between US citizens (and the federal government) and Tribal citizens are, in a word, tense. Our final itinerary: 3 states, 3 national parks, 1 national monument, 2 state parks and 2,000 miles driven in our trusty steed, Huckleberry. Our final itinerary: 3 states, 3 national parks, 1 national monument, 2 state parks and 2,000 miles driven in our trusty steed, Huckleberry. ), and it was Danas job to book us tickets to Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park (they were limiting the number of cars in a day due to the amount of post-Covid 19 travelers to the national parks). Well, I for one am super happy I stumbled upon this post! We really enjoyed our chicken fried steak and roasted pork tenderloin with rosemary and huckleberry demi-glace. We also learned quickly that the beautiful scenic views came with a lack of cell service so for anyone planning this drive, download a couple playlists and pick up a paper map in advance. Youre welcome. After Teton, we embarked on the 8-hour drive towards Escalante, Utah, stopping at Salt Lake City to sleep overnight. Sightsee at Idaho's Greatest Natural Wonders Google Map katie wheeler/Flickr The weather in Montana is fickle, and its not uncommon to experience all 4 seasons in the course of a day during the summer and fall. We laughed as she made fun of tourists she would encounter who called her way of living primitive. We were very happy to see our new cabin was much larger (3 beds with 2 separate rooms!) We also love that Pine Lodge is eco-friendly with many sustainability initiatives in place, and offer guests complimentary bike, kayak, or SUP rentals! We tied up our canoe on the bank and hiked halfway up to Inspiration Point, enjoying the views of the Hidden Waterfall on the way. 1. We thought we made it on time, but when we went to the rental desk, we were told it was 81 degrees outside. Dan and I get lost crossing the street so I feel we are like-minded adventurers, Hahah it does sound like we are similar travelers Depending on how much time you have, driving the PCH north starting in southern CA (only a few hours from Las Vegas) would be a fantastic road trip! Never heard of it? We tried to book a Foodie Tour, but they were sold out, so we decided to make our own! The hotel is located on the banks of the glacial blue Swiftcurrent Lake, seated at the base of jaw-dropping glacier-covered mountains. Jackson, the closest town, is crowded and expensive. 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. 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. Because of its recent history and remote destination in the mountains, the buildings are well-preserved and worth a quick stop if you have time. But theres a hidden loophole! The highlight of our Livingston visit was Pine Creek Lake, a 12-mile out-and-back trail to not one, not two, but three alpine lakes (AllTrails says this trail is nine miles, but dont believe it). Please at least include a trigger warning if not!! The stresses of day to day life feel less important and slowly start to drift away. Need some help planning your next adventure? 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. Drop us a comment below! Roadtrip Idaho Montana Wyoming US Travel. Its the perfect celebration of locally sourced Montana cuisine! The drive from Idaho Falls to Missoula is gorgeous. The sheer magnitude and untouched rugged beauty make you feel small in the most wonderful way. We set ourselves to brainstorming and researching what our other options for the park would be, but in the meantime, we werent going to let it spoil the rest of the day. I dont have all the answers, but as someone involved in driving tourism and educating visitors, the least I can do is share what Ive learned. But the problem is that places like Glacier are extremely delicate. At least about 1/3 of the license plates we see are from out of state. Our itinerary took us through the iconic national parks with a number of must-see stops on the way to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming! International Selkirk Loop, 6373 Bonner St, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, USA 4. Sightsee at Idaho's Greatest Natural Wonders Google Map katie wheeler/Flickr 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. 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. You can drive Going to the Sun Road yourself in your own vehicle. 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. 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. A 12-Day Road Trip Itinerary for Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas Before we dive in here, it's important to note that this itinerary does include traversing through or near some Indigenous lands, mostly belonging to I havent been to The Peoples Center, but will definitely be checking it out when were home next year. Did you pocket some of those cheese samples for later? Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Llamas are very good hikers they are native to the Andes mountains in South America, and they feel most comfortable trotting around on steep mountain slopes. The drive in itself did have beautiful views, even before we reached Going to the Sun Road. Once we got ahold of him though, we werent sure what to do! Well not quite. 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. You might recognize the town as the setting of A River Runs Through It (if not, be sure to watch it or read the book before your trip)! Whoops! How bout the old state prison or butte or battle of the little big horn? But before we jump into all of the amazing things youll be doing and seeing, we need to cover a few important basics. Again, a quick search on AllTrails will present you with a list of trails within the park that you can choose from based on scenery, difficulty level, and user reviews. Welcome to Montana, where there are two times as many cows as people and miles and miles of gorgeous, rolling wilderness to explore! 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. We recommend Stageline Pizza, which is a local legend for great pie. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. There are only two tour operators driving this route. With so many people road-tripping, the prices were exorbitant so it was challenging for the budget-conscious traveler. It was another awesome Alicia & Dana Adventure! For dinner, dont miss out on the best food deal in Montana: the small plate menu at the Kandahar Lodges Snug Bar. There is a Department of Indian Affairs as well as a program dedicated to growing Indian tourism (including through grants and other funding) at the state level, and efforts are being made. Heres what we did in Stanley: Stay: The Sawtooth Hotel is a charming and relatively budget-friendly option. The oatmeal pancake is a must-try! Youre gonna wish you had, because Montana actually has a burgeoning wine scene. We started at the Mud Volcano area, where we had to tiptoe our way past a bison that was a little too close for comfort (turns out, those lazy-looking giant cows are actually really aggressive). I hope you find it useful when planning your own road trip through the Western United States! And while youre exploring, if youre a cheese lover (and really, isnt everyone), be sure to stop by Flathead Lake Cheese for samples of local Montana deliciousness. We typically try to visit popular or overtouristed destinations during the offseason to minimize our impact and prefer to recommend the same to our readers. On the road, we did some quick research (when we were lucky enough to get reception between the trees and mountains in the middle of nowhere) and found the Weir Creek Hot Springs in Clearwater National Forest on our route to Montana. After a few hours of biking, youve worked up an appetite for Ciao Mambo with Italian dishes big enough to share, and an Italian Nachos that will have your cardiologist running for the hills. :), Purchase a step-by-step guide to this itinerary, hitewater rafting trip down the Salmon River. From there, we set out to Jenny Lake where we rented a canoe to paddle across to Inspiration Point - a great thing to do in Grand Teton. 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. Ahh, Glacier National Park. 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. Your next stop on the lake is the Mission Mountain Winery for lake views and wine tasting. 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. We will be starting our trip from Las Vegas. National parks are protected for their scenic, inspiration, recreational, and/or educational value. Down-home ranchers and honest-to-goodness cowboys. The colorful and unique rocks at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. Make sure you give plenty of space to the animals in national parks, even ones that arent aggressive! While Glacier is gorgous and amazing there are places in motana that are just as stunning. This also was the start of our educational Whats the difference between? series that became a theme of the trip. At local businesses and restaurants, taxidermy animal mounts outnumber patrons. 6. Even though they share a border, its a long drive through Idaho to Montana and we love an adventure-packed pit stop so Riggins was the perfect place to stop on a road trip from Idaho to Montana. I guess when you live in the middle of nowhere youve got to entertain yourself somehow. In the morning, we had a gluttonous, all-American breakfast at Trails Inn Restaurant in town, which was just amazing. Note: If youre planning to stay in Whitefish, we recommend considering stopping your trip through the park mid-way at Logan Pass, going for a lovely day hike we recommend the 5 mile Hidden Lake hike using the facilities at the Logan Visitor Center, and then turning around and heading back to West Glacier or Many Glacier. Its also a destination with much to offer those who stay for a It also serves This excursion essentially a big loop back to where we started took almost the entire day, but I really wanted to see what is considered one of the most beautiful and treacherous roads in America. The United States is an enormous country, and there are large swaths of sparsely populated land without cell service. This was a really amazing and helpful post. This will come in handy as you drive and includes the map in case your cell service is awful! If youre interested in experiencing Indian Country during your visit to Montana, I recommend reading through this booklet or browsing this site! 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. Torreys 33F. Our favorite part was the beaver slide, an area so narrow you literally had to sit and slide down to get through. It has a beautiful outdoor seating area, the perfect place to enjoy the brewerys delicious Amber Ale. A waitress showed us a photo of herself at four months old next to a bear her father had just killed. The town was apparently poppin in its heyday and had no less than thirteen saloons. After our bellies were full, we swung back by the airport to pick up Alicias bag and started our Idaho road trip north towards Riggins. Crystal (historical) 29F. Its so important to respect the places youre visiting. 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. We were drawn in by a shop called Latigo and Lace, which featured authentic and local artwork. We continued for a stop at must-see on any Idaho road trip, Craters of the Moon National Monument - an insanely unique landscape in the middle of nowhere. Its also a destination with much to offer those who stay for a Apart from that, the rest of the trip is completely flexible. It was heavily trafficked (though we still carried our bear spray because safety first), and it offered one amazing view after another culminating in the majesty of Avalanche Lake at the end of the trail. She stays in touch with her Taiwanese side largely via food, and loves to cook, eat, and discover new dishes around the globe. I appreciate that you wrote about ethical tourism and what can be done to improve our relations with tribal nations and with the natural environment and places they call home. 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. FOLLOW OUR PARKS RULES. I love small towns and their charm and appreciate you highlighting restaurants and lodging, super helpful! 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. International Selkirk Loop, 6373 Bonner St, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, USA 4. They had the dairy cows right on site, along with a small petting zoo! About an hour and $50 later, we were on our way to the last stop on our Idaho itinerary before Boise. Do NOT be rude to staff in our establishments or our National parks. We do the Utah Big Five frequently as we live so close. Which stop on our itinerary are you most excited about? 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. Like, more snack breaks than me, which is really saying something. Aquamarine lakes spilling into gushing waterfalls. Its an area of incredible natural beauty, isnt it? That was more budget-friendly anyway and we got to set our own itinerary. You dont want to trust the weather report beyond a couple of days out, and even then, you pack an umbrella and a jacket. Theyre very popular. If you only have a short time in Wyoming, add this drive to your itinerary to really see the park. Bozeman will be your next stop from Billings. License plates we see are from out of state places, book hotels and! Perfect celebration of locally sourced Montana cuisine your Montana road trip challenging for the day petting zoo,... 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