1. We enjoyed our meal with a nice view of the sun setting over Jackson Lake and had our first local beer (a local beer and a local meal is our required criteria for getting to claim having been to a place). ), and then set out on the road. 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. In the morning, we had a gluttonous, all-American breakfast at Trails Inn Restaurant in town, which was just amazing. 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. It has a beautiful outdoor seating area, the perfect place to enjoy the brewerys delicious Amber Ale. 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! 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. Road Trip Conditions. Here you go! 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. We headed over to the dune and met another family with 2 sleds. WebThe ultimate road trip planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share itineraries all from the map. BEHAVE YOURSELVES and be GOOD VISITORS and youll be welcomed. We really enjoyed our chicken fried steak and roasted pork tenderloin with rosemary and huckleberry demi-glace. It is a beautiful, scenic spot. 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. 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). Insider tip: try the cheeseburger pizza! In the morning, we joined Papa Elk (aka a male elk) for breakfast. We spent another relaxing evening having dinner and drinks with the Tetons. The views of the powerful waterfalls were breathtaking and a must see in this park. It was also our first adventure since Danas fun hospital visit in Ecuador so we decided a US road trip was the way to go. We were very entertained by a lady sitting at the end of the bar, who was probably around the same age as us, talking about running her own farm (Can you believe he asked me that, Im busy, I have my own farm to run!). We arrived at the Glacier Haven RV Park & Campground in the early evening. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. How can you support Montanas Indigenous communities & Tribal Nations? After a long day of driving and exploring, Big Fork Inn is the perfect place for a cozy dinner with a view. They can only handle a few visitors at a time before the landscape and the animals start to feel the impact. The man who was helping hopped the fence to check the farm house a little ways up. Follow along for an epic Idaho road trip through Ketchum, Stanley, Salmon, Missoula (a little side trip to Montana), Coeur dAlene, and McCall. We only had one day scheduled in the park so we only had one shot to make it in before they stopped letting un-ticketed cars in at 6! Looking for a convenient summary of our Montana itinerary? As we passed through Hayden Valley (known for its wildlife sightings), we noticed a lot of people pulled over at a turn out, pointing and taking pictures. A bear ready for a dip in Hells Canyon. But fun fact: designated in 1996, Escalante was the last part of the continental U.S. to be mapped. 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 How bout the old state prison or butte or battle of the little big horn? We started at the north entrance and made our way to Mammoth Hot Springs. One of the best ways to get the full Idaho experience is to road trip through the state. We also love that Pine Lodge is eco-friendly with many sustainability initiatives in place, and offer guests complimentary bike, kayak, or SUP rentals! 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. But before too long, the Blackfeet were forced out of their re-assigned home in order to make way for luxury hotels and trains and wealthy tourists. One of the best ways to get the full Idaho experience is to road trip through the state. 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! Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism Jet boating, Hells Canyon. Eat: Circle D Eatery has yummy BBQ ribs and a buttered trout plate. Their pizza is cooked in a wood fire oven installed directly in the truck. Your next stop on the road will explore the rich Indigenous history of Montana at The Peoples Center. 6. I also loved your post on the Galapagosused it for my own trip and it was super helpful! The Lewis and Clark Brewery had one of our favorite beers of the trip: the Halo Huckleberry Hefe. Always be respectful and mindful of your responsibility and leave it the way you found it! 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. Well also send our favorite travel tips straight to your inbox! Plus, who can resist a random winery stop on a road trip?!? We mainly used Booking.com to book low-cost motels located on our route. 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. 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 spent our afternoon hiking to the Escalante Natural Bridge, which we had all to ourselves. Clear Sky. Roadtrip Idaho Montana Wyoming US Travel. The springs, located at the top of a mountain, are reachable via a relatively short but steep hike. Did you pocket some of those cheese samples for later? Lucky for the dumb tourists, she slunk away after her warning growls, and instead went on to pounce on an unsuspecting small animal for dinner. 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 But if you wait until after school starts, youll be able to enjoy a much less crowded park and absolutely perfect weather! Feels like 33.03 Wind speed 2.4 mph Pressure 1010 hPa. WebCheck the road conditions from Idaho to Montana and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. Whats the difference between a cave and a cavern? A cave is any cavity in the ground that does not receive sunlight, while a cavern is a type of cave that includes stalagmites and stalactites. 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. People live in isolated rural areas hours away from the nearest grocery store. 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. And of course we are always open to guest posts if youd like to create an itinerary for us . Detour to Capitol Reef or Bryce Canyon National ParkCapitol Reef National Park is an hour and a half north of Escalante, and Bryce Canyon is about an hour South. The next morning we explored the town of Riggins (population 401) and ate lunch at Kates Cattlemens Homestyle Cooking, where we were served by Kate herself (get the biscuits and gravy, youll thank us later)! })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-P6R8DKB'); 3 years ago we quit our jobs, put our stuff in storage, and took off on a (disastrous) year-long honeymoon. I grew up right around Glacier National Park and I think everything you mentioned was perfect for enjoying the area! Firstly: be aware during your trip that Glacier National Park and, in fact, most USA National Parks was originally inhabited and maintained by Indigenous peoples. We continued our way down Going to the Sun Road, enjoying the many scenic turnouts along the way. We were only able to make it about a third of the way through since a chunk of the road in the middle was closed. Awesome. However, some Tribal Nations, including the Confederated Salish and Kootnai Tribes and the Blackfeet Nation, are leading the way on Tribal infrastructure and, in turn, tourism. 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. 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. 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. The beautiful thing about visiting Whitefish particularly in August & September is that you have easy access to the town, lake, and mountain in one neat little package. When it comes to navigating unfamiliar territory especially unfamiliar wilderness territory, full of legally protected critters and forests and such it really helps to have a guide. It was another awesome Alicia & Dana Adventure! 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. 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. and we had a shared campsite bathroom (which was actually quite clean and close to us). Every few feet, Boxcar would find an exciting looking leaf to munch on, which gave me a chance to catch my breath and earn brownie points for letting him snack. Thanks for sharing all this info! Take in the views from the balcony off the spacious living room. Hells Canyon National Recreation Area A scenic view of Hells Canyon. Bozeman will be your next stop from Billings. Now we were quite behind on our excursion (farther behind than we realized at the point). By the time we got back to the campsite where we parked, the park had come to life with tons of rangers and visitors out and about. Of course we had to stop and try to help said dog (whose name we learned was Hank). This time it was not a dog but a Black Bear that darted out in front of our car! Ive removed them from our post! Torreys 33F. National monuments have objects of cultural, historical, and/or scientific interest. (Note: if you have any suggestions for resources not included here, or ways I can better present this information, please drop us a comment and let us know!). Whoops! The United States is an enormous country, and there are large swaths of sparsely populated land without cell service. You can drive Going to the Sun Road yourself in your own vehicle. Another fantastic option we found is this cute condo, located directly in town. The ladies were very nice and gave us some numbers of local mom and pop places we could try. Huckleberry ice cream at Reeds Dairy in Idaho Falls. Download offline maps on Google to ensure that you will never get lost and your favorite playlists and podcasts on Spotify to stay entertained. Once you complete the hike, you are rewarded with six warm pools, a waterfall, and sweeping views of the scenery below. Day 16 Whitefish, MT drive to Calgary, AB. Clear Sky. 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. Coming from the West Coast, there are plenty of quick, direct flights to Missoula on the budget airline Allegiant. There are several historic railroad lodges located within Glacier National Park, and we had a chance to stay at a few of them during our trip. We recommend visiting in late August/early September. Rule of thumb: Always keep 25 yards (about 2 school buses) away from a non-aggressive animal, or 100 yards (one football field) away from large/potentially aggressive ones. The menu is creative and modern, with local twists like elk meatballs and a bison burger. I guess a lot of other people had the same idea for fun this summer. We saw many more bison, along with elk, coyotes, and even a groundhog. 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. It bared its teeth and pulled back on its paws like she was going to strike. 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)! Our main activity was a visit to the Goldbug Hot Springs in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. You can plan your Whitefish getaway in broad strokes and then fill in the details once you get there. Pine Lodges complimentary bike rentals are the perfect way to explore Whitefish. Day 7: Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton National Park, The Norris Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park. How about a thank you, Hanks dad!? We recommend staying somewhere walkable, so youll want to base yourself close to downtown on either side of the river. While we were waiting for him, a pick up truck pulled up to us and the driver yelled Let him go, hell follow!. 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. Guess we should have had wolf vs. coyote in our whats the difference between? series! And be sure to get something comfy: this is a road trip, after all! Or, you can charter a boat shuttle. You cant visit Idaho on an adventure-packed road trip without whitewater rafting! At 2 hours due west on I-90, Bozeman has a college town vibe with growing art, music, and food scenes. 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. The hiccups are part of the adventure. For the national park lodges, we booked a few weeks in advance). Day 15 Flathead Lake, MT drive to Whitefish, MT. Note that shuttles have limited seating and you may find yourself waiting for a seat during high season. From the Norris Basin, we continued on to the famous Prismatic Spring. Your next destination is Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater natural lake west of the Mississippi! Youll be walking distance from everything in Whitefish! 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 Fuel up at Pocketstone Cafe, the ultimate American breakfast spot in Big Fork. What do you suggest? Unfortunately, the bad weather thwarted our planned 2nd hike of the day, so instead, we did a scenic drive, hitting all the Big 4 things to do in Grand Teton National Park along the way. Alicias bag didnt make the connecting flight and we had to come back and pick it up later in the afternoon. It isnt huge like most towns in Montana but it has a cute main drag to explore. Jackson, the closest town, is crowded and expensive. Thanks to stuff like this, we have been found out, and our quiet lives have been forever disrupted. It may not have happened exactly how we planned, butit all came up Dana & Alicia in the end! 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. On Saturday morning, we checked out the citys weekly farmers market, which we read is a must during any visit to Missoula. 1. Aquamarine lakes spilling into gushing waterfalls. The sheer magnitude and untouched rugged beauty make you feel small in the most wonderful way. Like, more snack breaks than me, which is really saying something. Rest time was over at about 5 PM, and we were back out on the road heading to the East park entrance. Be sure to book your boat shuttles in advance! There were several people who had walked out into the brush (not on a trail or path-stupid people) looking to get a better glimpse of the animal. Youll be able to do and see so much more compared to the rest of the year. We enjoyed the 2 hour tour through the caverns - put this on your Montana itinerary! It was another awesome Alicia & Dana Adventure! 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. Photo Credit; Idaho Tourism. 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. A good rule of thumb is to aim for under four hours of driving per day so you have time to enjoy your destination. How bout the kettle house amphitheater and seeing show how bout rafting a river. We arrived at the Big Iron Motel just before 9 (and it was still light outside!) 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. We even included a map to make things extra helpful. Never heard of it? Boise was actually the only place we could find a rental car. 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. Not only did you hit a small fraction of Montana you gave a very limit view of who and what we are. One of the many amazing pieces of street art in Freak Alley in Boise, Idaho. Minus the ostentatious Trump 2020 banners hanging on some of the houses, of course. Need some help planning your next adventure? Day 3: Missoula, Montana to Glacier National Park. For dinner, dont miss out on the best food deal in Montana: the small plate menu at the Kandahar Lodges Snug Bar. Bozeman will be your next stop from Billings. But nothing was going to keep up from experiencing the wonders of Glacier National Park! The land that is currently Glacier National Park was actually given to the Blackfeet Nation as part of their original reservation.

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