Those llamas are killing me they are so cute!! Bummer. 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. Dining on Big Mountain is almost as much fun as mountain biking, with a lot less chance of serious injury. Day 3: Missoula, Montana to Glacier National Park. We stopped at the village near the park entrance for soups and sandwiches, and a little bit of shopping. 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! We sampled some wines (he joined us because why not!?) There is a stage and ample seating outside where live shows are hosted in the summertime, and guests flock in from Bozeman, Livingston, and other nearby towns for the experience. On the way north to Riggins we drove through the Payette National Forest, enjoying the tree lined roads and mountain views. Thank you so much for including info about Native American lands and supporting indigenous communities. Now we were quite behind on our excursion (farther behind than we realized at the point). (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!). I guess a lot of other people had the same idea for fun this summer. We had many hmmm.should we move here? moments during our visit. Book your trip no later than the 3rd week of September just to be safe, and double-check the seasonal closing dates before you book anything. Unsubscribe anytime. Montana is stunning and, of course, wed love to visit Glacier National Park. I grew up right around Glacier National Park and I think everything you mentioned was perfect for enjoying the area! This revelation resulted in frequent singings of Oh give me a home, where the Bison roam throughout the remainder of the trip. 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. We recommend Stageline Pizza, which is a local legend for great pie. 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! Boujie coffee and sustainability a match made in heaven! It was another awesome Alicia & Dana Adventure! Detour to Garnet Ghost TownOn our way to Big Sky from Missoula, we stopped at Garnet Ghost Town, a former mining town active from the late 1800s to the end of World War I. WebCheck the road conditions from Idaho to Montana and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. You can drive Going to the Sun Road yourself in your own vehicle. We were also able to see Teton and Middle Teton glaciers (ironically more glaciers than we saw at Glacier National Park). Take your camera! In the next section, Ill dive deeper into what we did in each destination. Our final itinerary: 3 states, 3 national parks, 1 national monument, 2 state parks and 2,000 miles driven in our trusty steed, Huckleberry. Here you'll find everything travel, food, and culture. Wow I love this post and itinerary ,such lovely places. Road Trip Conditions. 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. Domesticating a llama is not difficult or harmful to the llama. Our final itinerary: 3 states, 3 national parks, 1 national monument, 2 state parks and 2,000 miles driven in our trusty steed, Huckleberry. When we arrived at Small Dune (where the sledding was done), there was a couple heading back to their car. It may not have happened exactly how we planned, butit all came up Dana & Alicia in the end! :) Purchase a step-by-step guide to this itinerary. When we got to Boise, we ate a delicious lunch at Forks and then checked into our hotel to get ready for the evening. Salmon, two hours north of Stanley, is another small Idaho town of 3000+ residents. Just a short drive outside of Whitefish, the Resort has myriad ways to get your thrill on, like the mountain bike park, alpine slides, zip-lines, and rope courses. We ended our night with dinner at our lodge, watching the sunset over Yellowstone Lake while a herd of elk and their babies grazed on the grass in front of us. Day 10: Twin Falls, Idaho to Boise, Idaho, Our car bed was actually not too bad. 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. At a restaurant in small-town Idaho, we had a lengthy conversation with a man about his stockpile of 100 guns, the 300+ gophers he killed with his 5-year-old grandson on a recent hunt, and his belief that the standoff between liberals and conservatives will end in a bloody civil war. It is a beautiful, scenic spot. 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! Apart from that, the rest of the trip is completely flexible. 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. We thought we made it on time, but when we went to the rental desk, we were told it was 81 degrees outside. If you are a Chinese food enthusiast and find yourself in Vegas, I highly recommend this place. First stop was Moulton Barns on Mormon Row, an old Mormon settlement before the national park was established. and received our complimentary beers at check-in. 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. The drive up to glacier has the bison range just to point out something you missed. After a long day of exploring, dinner at Grille 459 is exactly what you need to refuel and get ready for your trip back to the big city in the morning. During our trip, we saw everything from bears to moose, including one moose who kept trying to come uncomfortably close to us (fun fact: moose are some of the most dangerous animals in the parks give them a wide berth). It is going to be crowded, people are going to be annoying. 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. Day 1: Drive from San Francisco to Stanley, Idaho (~12 hours) Day 2: Stanley, Idaho Day 3: Salmon, Idaho & Missoula, Montana Day 4: Drive from Missoula to Big Sky, Montana Day 5: Big Sky, Montana & Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming Day 6: Livingston, Montana Day 7: Beartooth Highway and Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming For dinner, dont miss out on the best food deal in Montana: the small plate menu at the Kandahar Lodges Snug Bar. 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. This was a really amazing and helpful post. The river was low, so the water was not running fast, but we still hit 3 good class III rapids on our run. 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. We found a hotel a couple miles from downtown and had enough time for Alicia to squeeze in a quick run before heading out for dinner. 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. new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], With so many people road-tripping, the prices were exorbitant so it was challenging for the budget-conscious traveler. Well, I for one am super happy I stumbled upon this post! All of a sudden, we saw her pounce up from behind a ridge, just inches away from 2 of the male tourists. The food is amazing literally everything on the menu is incredible and the drinks are fantastic. 1. Clear Sky. We recommend visiting in late August/early September. They can only handle a few visitors at a time before the landscape and the animals start to feel the impact. Apart from that, the rest of the trip is completely flexible. It literally felt like being at Disney World. Always be respectful and mindful of your responsibility and leave it the way you found it! We shared a small raft with two couples older than us who gladly gave us the front spots. Missoula, Montana is an adorable college town and makes a great base to begin and end your trip to Montana! Day 7: Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton National Park, The Norris Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park. Again, use Kayak to price-compare prices on car rentals for your trip! WebCheck the road conditions from Idaho to Montana and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. 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. The primary road through Glacier National Park is a feat of engineering. 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). Sadly I didnt have a chance to take this tour myself during my trip, but Ive heard nothing but good things. Dottie is one part of Dots on a Map. Do NOT hit golf balls off Glacier National Parks Going to the Sun Road because youre stopped in construction traffic with nothing better to do than ENJOY THE SCENERY. 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. Feels like 33.03 Wind speed 2.4 mph Pressure 1010 hPa. 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. People live in isolated rural areas hours away from the nearest grocery store. This was great other than your Miracle of America Museum suggestion. On the way out of town, we stopped at Fiddle Creek Fruit Stand and sampled some Huckleberry pie (eating something huckleberry is one of the must do things in the areaand we sampled our fair share by the end of the trip). Day 15 Flathead Lake, MT drive to Whitefish, MT. Its larger than Lake Tahoe and 18 bodies have been discovered lurking in its murky depths. When we reached the first lake, I came close to tears because we had worked so hard for the beautiful views. This stunning park is the highlight of any Montana road trip! Start your day with a pour-over at the Wild Coffee Company, a third wave coffee shop that donates 1% of its profits to local non-profits working on nature and outdoor conservation. 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. People have a lot to say about Vegas, but in my opinion, you just gotta enjoy it for what it is: a tacky fabulous adult Disneyland. I took my trip in later September, and while the leaves were beginning to turn into lovely golden colors, nearly everything in the park was shutting down, including many of the highlights of this itinerary! Stay: Country Motor Inn is a budget motel in town. If we had booked months in advance, Im sure we would have saved money but we would have lost out on the flexibility that makes road trips such fun adventures. 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. This is why we love small, local places. Youll have easy access to the boutique specialty shops and galleries in town, and still within reach of all the outdoor activities. About halfway there, we had our first animal encounter - a dog darted out in front of our car. You can rent one from somebody who does on RVShare! WebCheck the road conditions from Idaho to Montana and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. Check out some of our other posts! I love this post! In 2016 we quit our jobs, put our stuff in storage, and took off on a (disastrous) year-long honeymoon. Follow along for an epic Idaho road trip through Ketchum, Stanley, Salmon, Missoula (a little side trip to Montana), Coeur dAlene, and McCall. Obviously, there are many other options at all price ranges. Learn how your comment data is processed. Im so sorry to hear that your home is experiencing overtourism. For breakfast and coffee, head to Swift Creek Cafe. In Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, sunsets are well after 9 pm each day. But one of them stood out above all the rest: Many Glacier Hotel. Psst: Planning a trip toMontana? So, only slightly less intimidating than the Loch Ness Monster. Do you have suggestions for Yellowstone or an itinerary that would be best to see both? Its also important to keep in mind that American Indian culture is not something that exists in the past it is still thriving and present, despite centuries of oppression and brutal policies that have pushed out Indigenous peoples and disenfranchised them. I would have never imagined Montana a place I would want to visit but you have me convinced I will love it! Swan Mountains llamas are incredibly gentle! We were stocked up with essential items (PB&J fixings, fruit & snacks, water, bug spray, and most importantly, bear spray). Just another good story to tell, right? Driving time: 45 Minutes from Whitefish, or 3 hours from Many Glacier. Wellwe learned from a ranger the next day that what we saw was actually a coyote. The pass also gets you free parking at all federal recreation areas. WebThe ultimate road trip planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share itineraries all from the map. We explored both the Brink of the Lower and Upper Falls, as well as Artist Point. From the Norris Basin, we continued on to the famous Prismatic Spring. We definitely want to do glacier but he also wants to do Yellowstone so we may need to figure out a slightly different itinerary. I love small towns and their charm and appreciate you highlighting restaurants and lodging, super helpful! 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.. We traveled through Montana as the trees and mountains gave way to vast farmlands. Crystal (historical) 29F. But the problem is that places like Glacier are extremely delicate. Before you head out, pack a picniclunch to keep you fueled up as you hike through the island looking for wild horses! Day 16 Whitefish, MT drive to Calgary, AB. Still, Im not sure I would choose this trail again as it was crowded and there is a large portion that runs alongside a road. Be sure to bookmark this page to refer back to while youre planning! National monuments have objects of cultural, historical, and/or scientific interest. Roadtrip Idaho Montana Wyoming US Travel. Our brainstorming and researching along the way paid off, as we learned we WOULD be able to access Going to the Sun Road IF we arrived before 6 AM or after 5 PM. The cabin we stayed in was adorable. 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. Day 1: Travel to Riggins, Idaho by way of Boise. And yes: there are llamas. What do you suggest? The views of the powerful waterfalls were breathtaking and a must see in this park. 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. Youre welcome. 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. In the morning, we had a gluttonous, all-American breakfast at Trails Inn Restaurant in town, which was just amazing. Crystal (historical) 29F. As a western montanan I dont agree with this road trip. Insider tip: try the cheeseburger pizza! 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). Its also a destination with much to offer those who stay for a Getting little glimpses into the real lives of the local people is one of our favorite parts of traveling the world! Find yourself in Vegas, I highly recommend this place is that places like are. Great pie at Yellowstone National Park and I think everything you mentioned was for. The area stay: Country Motor Inn is a budget motel in town, and took on! In isolated rural areas hours away from the Map Wyoming, sunsets are well after pm! 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