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 trip begins and ends in Portland, Oregon, but spends much of the time in and around Glacier National Park in Montana. 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. We were averaging about $250 a night. Alicias bag didnt make the connecting flight and we had to come back and pick it up later in the afternoon. In the morning, we arrived to these views: Utah is home to Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, and other majestic but crowded national parks. 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. Although your adventurous friends Jen and Ed probably felt that they were doing a good thing by highlighting our town of Whitefish, the bummer for the residents of Whitefish is that our town has been TOTALLY overwhelmed with tourists the last few years. 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. Everythings coming up Dana & Alicia! Youre welcome. We stopped at the village near the park entrance for soups and sandwiches, and a little bit of shopping. Also didnt mention fire season which is a big part of September, so many angry tourists who cant see a dong thing because its so smokey. 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. We passed through several dying towns of boarded-up windows before driving to Twin Falls, Idaho. (note from Alicia: Who in 2021 locks a car from the door and not from the keys!?). International Selkirk Loop, 6373 Bonner St, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, USA 4. We explored both the Brink of the Lower and Upper Falls, as well as Artist Point. After a long day of driving and exploring, Big Fork Inn is the perfect place for a cozy dinner with a view. Spend your last meal saying goodbye to Montana at PLONK Wine. Not an ideal situation, but you have to be flexible on a road trip! If you are planning on coming to Whitefish, be prepared to see throngs of people walking the streets and filling our stores and restaurants. We didnt even play any car games with so much to see! Road Trip Conditions. We recommend visiting in late August/early September. We really appreciate it! It is a must-do. Never heard of it? Day 2: Riggins, Idaho to Missoula, Montana, Post white water rafting on the Salmon River in Riggins, Idaho. Day 10: Twin Falls, Idaho to Boise, Idaho, Our car bed was actually not too bad. We recommend using Kayak to price-compare flight deals & dates before you book to save money on your flight. During the summer, the traffic in town is terrible, bumper to bumper. It is a beautiful, scenic spot. Outdoorsy has a diverse selection of road trip vehicles ranging from no-frills campervans to glamping-ready RVs that fit any budget. Bozeman will be your next stop from Billings. There are a few options for exploring Going to the Sun Road. In the morning, we joined Papa Elk (aka a male elk) for breakfast. By the time we got ready to canoe back, a storm was starting to roll in. We arrived at the Glacier Haven RV Park & Campground in the early evening. 6. Drop us a comment below! There are shuttles running throughout Glacier National Park, and you can take them from the entrance of West Glacier up Going to the Sun Road all the way to Logan Pass and East Glacier (and back again) for free! I love this post! Day 16 Whitefish, MT drive to Calgary, AB. 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. 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. Canoeing on Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. We recommend staying somewhere walkable, so youll want to base yourself close to downtown on either side of the river. It was flat and easy, with gorgeous views of the lake and the Tetons. Alicia and I stayed the recommended 100+ yards away and watched through our binoculars. 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! We recommend Stageline Pizza, which is a local legend for great pie. It took us about 30 minutes to reach the turn off from the main road, and then another 90 minutes until we even reached the official park entrance (so much for the nice dinner we planned for the nightPB&J again it is!). You dont want to trust the weather report beyond a couple of days out, and even then, you pack an umbrella and a jacket. So if you want to post some cool pics of the nature you seego for it! Dont know what a huckleberry is? Be sure to bookmark this page to refer back to while youre planning! So yeah, enjoy your visit. 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. Day 15 Flathead Lake, MT drive to Whitefish, MT. Its always better to see fewer destinations more completely than more destinations incompletely. The plan was to go sand sledding and sand boarding. Your trip begins once your plane touches down in Missoula, Montana! And yes: there are llamas. 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). Lets go! Its NSFW bathrooms are just part of the quintessential dive bar charm! Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. We set out around 7 and headed first to Blackfoot River Brewing Company (which closed at 8) and sampled some very delicious IPAs. It was lightly trafficked, and we got to see more great sights in the stillness of the natural surroundings. We told all the random people we encountered back at the lodge about our experience. WebThe ultimate road trip planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share itineraries all from the map. Lumbering bears, moose, bison, and llamas. Please also be courteous and wear a mask where required. 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. Site by, 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Quitting Your Job to Travel, 32 Things Nobody Tells You About Long Term Travel as a Couple, 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America, The Ultimate Montana Road Trip: Detailed 10-Day Itinerary. You can drive Going to the Sun Road yourself in your own vehicle. 6. Were sick about it. A bicultural Taiwanese-American, she lived in Taiwan from the ages of 3-10 and finds it fascinating to analyze the differences between the two cultures that have shaped who she is. 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. After leaving the caverns, we continued on from Montana to Yellowstone National Park to start our Wyoming road trip. Its also a destination with much to offer those who stay for a The hotels wraparound deck offers the best lakeside sunset view Ive ever seen! This website, run by the Montana State Government, provides excellent resources. Apart from that, the rest of the trip is completely flexible. We will also send you our favorite tips to help you plan your Montana road trip! On Saturday morning, we checked out the citys weekly farmers market, which we read is a must during any visit to Missoula. Bozeman will be your next stop from Billings. In the morning, we had a gluttonous, all-American breakfast at Trails Inn Restaurant in town, which was just amazing. Hells Canyon National Recreation Area A scenic view of Hells Canyon. Alternatively, you can rent an RV or campervan and have your shelter conveniently on wheels. 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. It was the perfect place to stay for the night in this tiny, charming western town. 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? I havent been to The Peoples Center, but will definitely be checking it out when were home next year. Ahem: Remember all that stuff from earlier in the post about how you can support Montanas Indigenous communities? Low key stalk us here and on social media. Please at least include a trigger warning if not!! For breakfast and coffee, head to Swift Creek Cafe. It may not have happened exactly how we planned, butit all came up Dana & Alicia in the end! All opinions, recommendations, bad jokes, and suggestions that Huckleberries are actually just wild blueberries are 100% my own and absolutely not their fault. We started at the north entrance and made our way to Mammoth Hot Springs. But the problem is that places like Glacier are extremely delicate. Well, I for one am super happy I stumbled upon this post! 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). The cabin we stayed in was adorable. You'll also be subscribing to our monthly newsletter. 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 recommend adding it to your Montana itinerary. But one of them stood out above all the rest: Many Glacier Hotel. One thing that stood out to us on this trip, compared to other road trips weve taken, was the beauty of the drives. 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. Driving time: 45 Minutes from Whitefish, or 3 hours from Many Glacier. 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! Both boat shuttles are operated by the family-run Glacier Park Boat Company and operate from June through September. What is the best time of year to visit Montana? Of all Montana road trips, this one is perhaps the most popular (and is sometimes referred to as Glacier National Parks Road to the Sun). Stanley, population ~60, is located in Central Idaho, about 130 miles from Boise. Driving time to West Glacier: About 30 minutes. We had many hmmm.should we move here? moments during our visit. One of the best ways to get the full Idaho experience is to road trip through the state. Like, more snack breaks than me, which is really saying something. If I return to Teton in the future, I would try the more difficult Delta Lake vis Amphitheater Lake Trail. But nothing was going to keep up from experiencing the wonders of Glacier National Park! Stay: We slept at our friends quaint and reasonably priced Airbnb, though there are also a few motel options in town. Aquamarine lakes spilling into gushing waterfalls. That all sounds amazing, I would love to get back to Montana and experience more! So good! These unique and beautiful formations are a must-see on any Wyoming itinerary. They need plenty of room so they dont get nervous, just like humans. Montana is a beautiful itinerary. We were very happy to see our new cabin was much larger (3 beds with 2 separate rooms!) They provide an all-encompassing history and experience surrounding the landscape of Glacier National Parks inhabited areas: Park history; animal species; common plants and roots used for nutrition and medicine; and the Blackfoot spiritual and philosophical perspectives/stories of life in the Buffalo Days as well as modern times.. So, how can you help support Indigenous communities during your trip to Montana? Stay: Country Motor Inn is a budget motel in town. Swan Mountains llamas are incredibly gentle! We decided to drive through the park anyway just to see the dunes. Awesome. 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. Dont own an RV? 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. We headed back to our lodge where we (annoyingly) had to change rooms, since there were no rooms available 2 nights in a row. Do NOT be rude to staff in our establishments or our National parks. Today was one of our main driving days, which can be some of the best days of a road trip! If we could redo our trip, I would have gone this route. The ladies were very nice and gave us some numbers of local mom and pop places we could try. 1. Montana Road Trip Itinerary Summary & Map, Moon Yellowstone to Glacier National Park Road Trip, program dedicated to growing Indian tourism, Montana Indians: Their History and Location, great things to do in Whitefish for every season, efforts that are being made by the National Park Service, Where to Stay Near Yosemite National Park, 9 Awe-Inspiring Things To Do in Zion National Park, Utah: The Ultimate Guide to Zion, https://practicalwanderlust.com/yellowstone-in-winter/, https://practicalwanderlust.com/pacific-coast-highway-road-trip-itinerary/, Santa Cruz Galapagos Island Guide: What to Do, Where to Eat, & Where to Stay on Santa Cruz, Ski Trip Packing List: 32 Essentials to Pack for the Snow, Traveling with curly hair: the low maintenance guide to amazing curls abroad, Where to Stay in Barcelona (& Where NOT to), Its important to note that the south side of the lake belongs to the Flathead Reservation, home of the Salish, Pend dOreille and Kootenai Tribes. 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