Always be respectful and mindful of your responsibility and leave it the way you found it! 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)! 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. Montana wasnt on my bucket list yet but your post convinced me . We also love their biscuits and gravy, and the giant, gooey cinnamon rolls. This also was the start of our educational Whats the difference between? series that became a theme of the trip. 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. Boo! There are only 100 wolves in all of Yellowstone, and some people we talked to had been working at Yellowstone for years and never saw a wolf! 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! In the next section, Ill dive deeper into what we did in each destination. Montana is a beautiful itinerary. WebThe ultimate road trip planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share itineraries all from the map. WebCheck the road conditions from Idaho to Montana and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. It hits different when you are talking to a flesh-and-blood human rather than working yourself up over the contents of a Facebook comment. Day 3-4 of your Montana Road Trip: Bozeman. The views of the powerful waterfalls were breathtaking and a must see in this park. Thank you so much for including info about Native American lands and supporting indigenous communities. The sheer magnitude and untouched rugged beauty make you feel small in the most wonderful way. Here you go! Glacier National Park the star of both Montana and our itinerary is crowded and packed with visitors in July. Note from Alicia: I would go back to this park a thousand times. The ladies at the front desk informed us that they had no rooms available, and as far as they knew there were no rooms anywhere between Idaho Falls and Boise (3 hours away and our final destination for the trip). You dont want to trust the weather report beyond a couple of days out, and even then, you pack an umbrella and a jacket. 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. Our 5-mile hike to Bond Falls was gorgeous and offered me several hours to attempt to befriend my llama, Boxcar: a beautiful, sassy 1-year-old whose respected I needed to earn. We headed over to the dune and met another family with 2 sleds. Your next stop on the lake is the Mission Mountain Winery for lake views and wine tasting. Clear Sky. Day 10: Twin Falls, Idaho to Boise, Idaho, Our car bed was actually not too bad. The drive from Idaho Falls to Missoula is gorgeous. ), and then set out on the road. That said, counterpoint: July is cherry season in Flathead Lake. An excellent reminder, and we couldnt agree more! Pictures just cant do it justice. Youre welcome. We continued south until we got to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Im planning a roadtrip through Montana and Wyoming (yanno, as soon as its safe and whatnot), so I loved how in-depth your details were! This is why we love small, local places. Even small, cute animals like chipmunks have been known to hurt humans who come too close to them. All opinions, recommendations, bad jokes, and suggestions that Huckleberries are actually just wild blueberries are 100% my own and absolutely not their fault. We were also able to see Teton and Middle Teton glaciers (ironically more glaciers than we saw at Glacier National Park). We had all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ at Ginseng BBQ on the strip and authentic, mouthwatering Shanxi beef noodle soup at Shang Artisan Noodle. Meanwhile, Alicia and I were so excited about our wolf encounter! 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. I am always happy to help! A waitress showed us a photo of herself at four months old next to a bear her father had just killed. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. We spent another relaxing evening having dinner and drinks with the Tetons. It has a beautiful outdoor seating area, the perfect place to enjoy the brewerys delicious Amber Ale. It is a must-do. From Livingston, we took a two-hour drive to Red Lodge to enter Yellowstone via the 68-mile Beartooth Highway. My trip to Montana, which was hosted by a State tourism bureau, was eye-opening; I realized how little I know about our American Indian neighbors and the ways in which my country (and by extension, myself) are still, today, complicit in oppressing Indigenous culture and communities. 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. If we could redo our trip, I would have gone this route. The primary road through Glacier National Park is a feat of engineering. 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. We had many hmmm.should we move here? moments during our visit. It literally felt like being at Disney World. Eat: Circle D Eatery has yummy BBQ ribs and a buttered trout plate. The Best Street Art in San Francisco: Mission Where to Find the Best New Orleans Street 10 Restaurants in New Orleans for Treating Yourself. Stay: Econo LodgeEat: The Hob Nob on South Higgins Street has good coffee and very filling, all-American brunch fare all at a very reasonable price. WebDay 14 Day at Flathead Lake, MT. We asked our adventurous friends Jen & Ed from Coleman Concierge, who lived in Whitefish for many years, to help us create the best itinerary for your 2 days in Whitefish! It also serves If youre interested in experiencing Indian Country during your visit to Montana, I recommend reading through this booklet or browsing this site! While our itinerary includes 2 days in Glacier NP, if youre planning to spend more time there or youd like to bookend this trip itinerary with a trip to Yellowstone, these two guides are essential. We learned that it is not uncommon for people living in these small towns to drive 1 hours to get to everyday events (like baseball games or getting your tractor fixed). Apart from that, the rest of the trip is completely flexible. We had no cell service, and there was no one around. 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 Your trip begins once your plane touches down in Missoula, Montana! And yes: there are llamas. 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! Lunch is included and carried on the llamas, who are excellent pack animals (if youre a differently-abled hiker, this is a HUGE help, particularly for overnight or multi-day treks which would be far more difficult without the assistance of a pack animal). We decided to backtrack a little to check it out since it was still fairly early and we were only an hour away from our final destination. So yeah, enjoy your visit. 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. 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. Is it less disruptive to visit Whitefish during the day but stay elsewhere? 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 tickets were open at 8:00 that morningand were gone by 8:03. Until next time. 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. 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. 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. Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog and podcast! Its the cutest, weirdest thing. Youll need to purchase a $10 recreation permit for any outdoor activities you do on the south side of the lake, including fishing or day-hiking. Then we went back to the Holiday Inn where the front desk ladies were nice enough to sneak us a key card so we could use the bathroom in the middle of the night if needed. new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], First up on your clockwise drive around the lake is the town of Polson, the largest town on Flathead Lake. 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. We rode horses and ate beef, as one must, and went on some of the most scenic hikes anywhere. This time it was not a dog but a Black Bear that darted out in front of our car! They need plenty of room so they dont get nervous, just like humans. Day 15 Flathead Lake, MT drive to Whitefish, MT. Insider tip: try the cheeseburger pizza! Day 11: Boise International Airport to Orlando/Boston, Our final itinerary: 3 states, 3 national parks, 1 national monument, 2 state parks and 2,000 miles driven in our trusty steed, Huckleberry. National monuments have objects of cultural, historical, and/or scientific interest. Day 3: Missoula, Montana to Glacier National Park. I LOVE LLAMAS SO MUCH. Just when winter is over and our beautiful summer is in full swing, we dont even want to go into town for groceries or to a restaurant because they are packed. That would be a dream trip! This! Additionally, my trip was hosted by Glacier Country, Montana. Downtown Livingston, pictured above, looks like an idyllic old western town, though vintage shops and cafes now line the street instead of saloons. 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. If you only have a short time in Wyoming, add this drive to your itinerary to really see the park. From the Sun Tours website: our Guides are life-time residents of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and possess extensive knowledge in many facets of Tribal History, culture, and lifestyle. Theyre now fully emboldened since the governor and other right wing extremists got elected. 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. The pass also gets you free parking at all federal recreation areas. Try not to let it bother you and focus your energy on appreciating the incredible natural phenomenon in front of you (easier said than done, sometimes). International Selkirk Loop, 6373 Bonner St, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, USA 4. Feels like 33.03 Wind speed 2.4 mph Pressure 1010 hPa. Whoops! Yellowstone travel tip: Old Faithful is, well, faithful and you can check the times it is set to go off and plan your itinerary around it. The early morning rainy start actually ended up working out in our favor, since we got to enjoy the park without the large crowds of people. And yes: there are llamas. We readied ourselves quickly (lets be honest, Alicia stared Dana down with as much intensity as one can muster at 4AM to make sure she was moving quickly enough for Alicias type-A liking) and headed out to the West entrance of the Park. and enjoyed chatting with the owner and his father. Sightsee at Idaho's Greatest Natural Wonders Google Map katie wheeler/Flickr 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. 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. If you are planning on coming to Whitefish, be prepared to see throngs of people walking the streets and filling our stores and restaurants. The scenery at Pine Creek Lake is stunning, but boy, do you have to work for it. Day 9: Grand Teton National Park to Twin Falls, Idaho. 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. It was an easy and relaxing ride. Youre welcome. Your next destination is Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater natural lake west of the Mississippi! If youre feeling athletic, you can drive around the lake and pick up a canoe, kayak or paddleboard, or SUP. Aquamarine lakes spilling into gushing waterfalls. 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). Do you condone those messages? The land that is currently Glacier National Park was actually given to the Blackfeet Nation as part of their original reservation. 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. She stays in touch with her Taiwanese side largely via food, and loves to cook, eat, and discover new dishes around the globe. We stopped at the village near the park entrance for soups and sandwiches, and a little bit of shopping. Wellwe were wrong. I havent been to The Peoples Center, but will definitely be checking it out when were home next year. If you happen to be besties with a friendly Park Ranger, youre covered! Day 15 Flathead Lake, MT drive to Whitefish, MT. 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! Its the perfect celebration of locally sourced Montana cuisine! 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. We each purchased a bottle and said our farewells as we headed on to our final destination. 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. Do NOT be rude to staff in our establishments or our National parks. We saw many more bison, along with elk, coyotes, and even a groundhog. This was one of the biggest cities we had been to so far, so we had high hopes of finding a room. Looking for a convenient summary of our Montana itinerary? 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. Though Missoula is pretty small, the nightlife is young and lively and there were a lot of people out and about. 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. 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