Be sure to book your boat shuttles in advance! We do have a Yellowstone in winter post, the activities are wintery but of course some can be adapted for all seasons! It was already 7:00good thing it stays light until 10 that far north! 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 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. WebCheck the road conditions from Idaho to Montana and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. I, personally, drive on side streets (where possible) because the main streets get all backed up. Here you'll find everything travel, food, and culture. Whats the difference between a national park and a national monument? The primary difference is the reason for preserving the land. Clear Sky. Just in time too, because about 20 minutes later the skies opened up. Please at least include a trigger warning if not!! In the morning, we joined Papa Elk (aka a male elk) for breakfast. Required fields are marked *. I had an I love America moment at Shangs because only here will you see a Hispanic person hand-pulling noodles in the Northern Chinese tradition. It was another awesome Alicia & Dana Adventure! Theres an excellent hike that starts right at the Many Glacier Hotel: Josephine Loop is an easy/moderate 5.8 mile hike with connections to Grinnell Lake or Hidden Falls. In this guide, I divulge essential tips and tricks for a successful road trip, share a 10-day itinerary, and outline detailed guides to every destination we visited, including where to stay and places to eat. First things first: head immediately to Butterfly Herbs downtown to pick up a huckleberry malt milkshake made with locally made ice cream. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Wild Horse Island is a totally unique Montana destinationand the name says it all. Take your camera! Day 7: Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton National Park, The Norris Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park. Im so sorry to hear that your home is experiencing overtourism. Ive made the common road trip mistake of trying to pack too many stops into a short time period. Until next time. Autumn Travel Itineraries Montana Road Trip Sponsored Post The West USA National Parks USA Wildlife Wildlife. Aquamarine lakes spilling into gushing waterfalls. Alicia was surprisingly calm about the predicament Dana put us in. Todays your recovery day in between hikes, so youll be taking a slow, leisurely drive around scenic Flathead Lake! The strip is obnoxious and ostentatious, crowded with symbols of American capitalism, casinos, wedding chapels, and strip clubs. We spent some time here watching the chipmunks and ground squirrels play. National monuments have objects of cultural, historical, and/or scientific interest. 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). It literally felt like being at Disney World. When we arrived at Small Dune (where the sledding was done), there was a couple heading back to their car. Road conditions from Idaho to Montana. 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. If you choose to take on the task, make sure to bring sunblock, plenty of water, and snacks to fuel you along the way. 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. 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. 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. Today was one of our main driving days, which can be some of the best days of a road trip! The guide includes everything from the hacks we use to save money on travel to printable packing lists. :) Purchase a step-by-step guide to this itinerary. Downtown Missoula is quite walkable, so pick a place to eat from this curated list and explore the town on foot! 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. Always be respectful and mindful of your responsibility and leave it the way you found it! But if you wait until after school starts, youll be able to enjoy a much less crowded park and absolutely perfect weather! Day 3-4 of your Montana Road Trip: Bozeman. Ice-capped mountains dominating lush valleys. My partner and I went there today and we felt extremely uncomfortable and upset. 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. and received our complimentary beers at check-in. 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. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. 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. Hells Canyon National Recreation Area A scenic view of Hells Canyon. When we reached the first lake, I came close to tears because we had worked so hard for the beautiful views. Its always better to see fewer destinations more completely than more destinations incompletely. Coming from the West Coast, there are plenty of quick, direct flights to Missoula on the budget airline Allegiant. We even included a map to make things extra helpful. We spent our afternoon hiking to the Escalante Natural Bridge, which we had all to ourselves. Me either. We were very excited to have a bear sightingfrom the safety of our car, and not on a hiking trail. Since my trip, Ive been reflecting and researching ways that I can better educate myself as well as supporting existing Indigenous activism. 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. Day 15 Flathead Lake, MT drive to Whitefish, MT. One of the best ways to get the full Idaho experience is to road trip through the state. Sorry I dont usually post comments like this we were just alarmed. We recommend visiting in late August/early September. 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. Truly, you arent helping. Youre welcome. Disclaimer: This post includes sponsored content from Moon Travel Guides and RVShare, both of which we have personally tried and vetted (theyre great). Photo Credit: Idaho Tourism Jet boating, Hells Canyon. If you happen to be besties with a friendly Park Ranger, youre covered! Meanwhile, Alicia and I were so excited about our wolf encounter! Even our new downtown 3-level parking garage gets full now. Huckleberry ice cream at Reeds Dairy in Idaho Falls. One of the best ways to get the full Idaho experience is to road trip through the state. Then we headed back to the campgrounds where Dana (of course) took a nap in preparation for our evening excursion into the East side of the park, and Alicia made friends with some people at our campground. Dont own an RV? Our main activity was a visit to the Goldbug Hot Springs in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. 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. The drive from Idaho Falls to Missoula is gorgeous. Here are a few essentials to pack and bring with you on your trip: Montana has one of the highest American Indian populations in the US, with about 66,000 people of Tribal heritage. Speaking of which: Before you leave Big Fork, stop by the adorably named Grateful Bread Cafe and pick up a slice of one of the top 10 huckleberry pies in Montana! We recommend trying the bacon waffle I know it sounds weird, but just trust us. We drove with the intention of finding a cute town to visit and we were not disappointed in Augusta, Montana . 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. If youre feeling athletic, you can drive around the lake and pick up a canoe, kayak or paddleboard, or SUP. It was another awesome Alicia & Dana Adventure! 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. We knew we had to be there early because they stopped renting boards when the temperature outside reaches 80 degrees. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Its the cutest, weirdest thing. Well, I for one am super happy I stumbled upon this post! After breakfast, spend a few hours strolling around downtown Whitefish, taking in all its charm and shopping opportunities. Take in the views from the balcony off the spacious living room. Missoula is a charming college town, and by far the most urban place youll be during your 10 days in Montana. We will be starting our trip from Las Vegas. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Copyright 2020 Dots on a Map | All Rights Reserved, A Stinky Tofu Adventure on Shenkeng Old Street, Everything You Need to Know About Taiwanese Beef, An Unexpected Exotic Food Tour: Exploring Mercado de, Where to Eat in Mexico City: Best Restaurants,, The Ultimate Guide to Eating Your Way Through, The Best Street Art in San Francisco: Mission, Where to Find the Best New Orleans Street, 22 Photos of Awesome Mexico City Street Art, Tulum Street Art Photo Tour (And Exactly Where, Escalante was the last part of the continental U.S. to be mapped, 10 Spots in San Francisco for Instagram-Worthy Photos. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey, we are Dottie & Lenza, bloggers and video creators. 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). 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. 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. It bared its teeth and pulled back on its paws like she was going to strike. It also serves We had a few moments of panic, but quickly realized we were going to be sleeping in our car and had to figure out the details. 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. And yes: there are llamas. I would write about Las Vegas, but really, what hasnt been said about it already? 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. The water is the most beautiful turquoise color flowing over smooth, multicolored rocks with tree lined mountains as the backdrop. The Best Street Art in San Francisco: Mission Where to Find the Best New Orleans Street 10 Restaurants in New Orleans for Treating Yourself. 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. Day 1: Travel to Riggins, Idaho by way of Boise. 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. 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