At 2 hours due west on I-90, Bozeman has a college town vibe with growing art, music, and food scenes. We ate dinner at Applebees, where we also changed and got ready for bed in the bathroom (its about 11 PM at this point and we are brushing our teeth at an Applebees in Idahoprobably the high point of the trip). 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! The stresses of day to day life feel less important and slowly start to drift away. 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)! If you do opt for the Red Bus Tour, youll want to bring a ton of sunscreen (open top means LOTS of sun), plenty of layers as the morning is quite cold and the afternoon is quite hot, sunglasses, loads of water, chapstick, and snacks (just be sure to pack all the snack waste out with you). If you do go in mid-summer, expect crowds. I guess a lot of other people had the same idea for fun this summer. 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. Looking for a convenient summary of our Montana itinerary? There are lots of great things to do in Whitefish for every season if you know where to look! We dubbed Boise the Orlando of the West as the downtown areas are very similar. 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. 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. Driving time: 45 Minutes from Whitefish, or 3 hours from Many Glacier. First up on your clockwise drive around the lake is the town of Polson, the largest town on Flathead Lake. Wow I love this post and itinerary ,such lovely places. It was the perfect stopping point for a quick mile hike and a dip in the relaxing, warm spring water. Disclaimer: This post includes sponsored content from Moon Travel Guides and RVShare, both of which we have personally tried and vetted (theyre great). 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. Its also a destination with much to offer those who stay for a It was more comfortable than tent camping anyway! Llamas take a very long time to go to the bathroom. Our favorite part was the beaver slide, an area so narrow you literally had to sit and slide down to get through. Montana looks so beautiful in your pictures! After leaving Helena, we started our day with a stop at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park in Montana on the way to Yellowstone in Wyoming. International Selkirk Loop, 6373 Bonner St, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, USA 4. Fuel up at Loulas Cafe, a beloved local breakfast staple located in an old Masonic temple. We enjoyed the warm hues of the setting sun as we continued our way out to the main road and back to our little cabin in the woods. After a long day of driving and exploring, Big Fork Inn is the perfect place for a cozy dinner with a view. Photo Credit; Idaho Tourism. So thanks again!! 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. The scenery at Pine Creek Lake is stunning, but boy, do you have to work for it. Welcome to Montana, where there are two times as many cows as people and miles and miles of gorgeous, rolling wilderness to explore! Just another good story to tell, right? As we were walking around, we were drawn to music and ended up catching the tail end of a free, outdoor show by the band Afrosonics. 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 This time around, we tried to keep driving at a minimum outside of a few necessary travel days. Youre welcome. But before we jump into all of the amazing things youll be doing and seeing, we need to cover a few important basics. Stay: Country Motor Inn is a budget motel in town. Day 16 Whitefish, MT drive to Calgary, AB. They let us borrow their sled and Alicia and I took turns sliding down a few times. But be sure to time your visit just right: the road opens in June or July and closes for weather-related reasons around late September or early October, so be sure to check that date before you go (and remember: the weather in Montana is unpredictable AF). The older llamas are very friendly and sociable. Multiple scenic byways, some of the most picturesque mountain views in the state, and plenty of waterfront beauty makes this road trip one you'll never forget. We also learned quickly that the beautiful scenic views came with a lack of cell service so for anyone planning this drive, download a couple playlists and pick up a paper map in advance. 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. Were sick about it. All National Parks utilizes the ethos of Leave No Trace. We do have a Yellowstone in winter post, the activities are wintery but of course some can be adapted for all seasons! After Salmon, we drove to Missoula, a funky college town of 75,000 that we loved. Alica tried looking online. While we were waiting for him, a pick up truck pulled up to us and the driver yelled Let him go, hell follow!. Down-home ranchers and honest-to-goodness cowboys. We passed through several dying towns of boarded-up windows before driving to Twin Falls, Idaho. Bozeman will be your next stop from Billings. Missoula, Montana is an adorable college town and makes a great base to begin and end your trip to Montana! The museum & cultural center showcases the traditions and culture of tribes that have traditionally been passed down orally from generation to generation, as well as examples of cultural tribal artifacts from the Salish, Pend dOreille and Kootenai tribes like basket weavings, beaded vests and more. The Best Street Art in San Francisco: Mission Where to Find the Best New Orleans Street 10 Restaurants in New Orleans for Treating Yourself. 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. She stays in touch with her Taiwanese side largely via food, and loves to cook, eat, and discover new dishes around the globe. On that note, these past two years have been rough as far as having some pretty bad visitation experiences. Theyre now fully emboldened since the governor and other right wing extremists got elected. Day 3-4 of your Montana Road Trip: Bozeman. I didnt realize that thank you so much for bringing it to our attention. These three were runners so Alicia got to chatting with them and it turns out, the older women actually ran the Boston Marathon! The trip begins and ends in Portland, Oregon, but spends much of the time in and around Glacier National Park in Montana. Spend your last meal saying goodbye to Montana at PLONK Wine. 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. Just in time too, because about 20 minutes later the skies opened up. There was an error submitting your subscription. 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. Follow along for an epic Idaho road trip through Ketchum, Stanley, Salmon, Missoula (a little side trip to Montana), Coeur dAlene, and McCall. This was great other than your Miracle of America Museum suggestion. There are only two tour operators driving this route. In all seriousness, I had no idea Idaho was this beautiful. We got to view Jackson Glacier, one of the few glaciers left at Glacier National Park and watch the sun starting to set over St. Mary Lake. Another fantastic option we found is this cute condo, located directly in town. Its called Flessie, and locals say it often appears in the shape of a floating stick. 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. However, because we road-tripped in the summer and stayed near well-known US national parks, these cost about $100 an average each night not the cheapest option for accommodation. In the morning, we joined Papa Elk (aka a male elk) for breakfast. Detour to The Old Saloon in Emigrant, Montana20 minutes away from Livingston is The Old Saloon, an old western restaurant and bar established in 1902. 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. We really enjoyed experiencing the beauty of the different thermal pools, as neither of us had really seen anything like them before. 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. Note from Alicia: I would go back to this park a thousand times. Are there ways for visitors to enjoy Whitefish responsibly, such as by visiting during a specific season or during a lull in tourists? The artichoke spinach dip and conversation with local patrons were to die for.Ponderosa Pies is a food truck in Salmon that I wish we tried (they were sold out when we went). 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. The drive in itself did have beautiful views, even before we reached Going to the Sun Road. We had brunch at a small but very crowded Farmers Market (who knew Missoula was such a hip and happening place?! A waitress showed us a photo of herself at four months old next to a bear her father had just killed. 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. 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. So, we made the hour and a half drive to Ashton for affordable lodging, which we found at the Eagle Peak Lodge. We woke early and went into the Holiday Inn to get changed and ready for the day. The Island is actually a state park, and home to several wild horses plus bighorn sheep, mule deer, songbirds, waterfowl, bald eagles, and falcons. Georgies Outdoor Mexican Cafe has a quesadilla bursting with melted cheese and generously portioned fish tacos. It is a must-do. 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. International Selkirk Loop, 6373 Bonner St, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, USA 4. When we were done with our hike, it was lunch time. Definitely add whitewater rafting on the Salmon River to your Idaho road trip itinerary! We arrived early afternoon and checked out our trusty steed for the trip, a blue 2021 Hyundai Accent which we named Huckleberry (its bad luck not to name your car for a road trip), and we were off! Please also be courteous and wear a mask where required. We mainly used Booking.com to book low-cost motels located on our route. Stay: We loved our stay at Luxor, the Egyptian-themed, pyramid-shaped casino hotel located right on the strip. There are lots of unique views and hiking opportunities along the way. Not an ideal situation, but you have to be flexible on a road trip! :), Purchase a step-by-step guide to this itinerary, hitewater rafting trip down the Salmon River. 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. You can tell we are best friends because we took a series of adorable selfies together and he is CLEARLY SMILING (as opposed to the photo in the middle from the beginning of our hike, where he is super suss and has not yet decided if he likes me.). After two wonderful days in Glacier National Park, its time to continue your journey through Montana. We moved along quickly because we wanted to make sure we made it out to the main road before it was completely dark. Slide down to get through low-cost motels located on our route work for it portioned! Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, USA 4 to offer those who stay for a cozy dinner a..., we joined Papa Elk ( aka a male Elk ) for breakfast: I would back! Than tent camping anyway located on our route bringing it to our attention its also a with... Down to get changed and ready for the day such as by visiting during a lull idaho, montana road trip. At a small but very crowded Farmers Market ( who knew Missoula was such a and! Or 3 hours from Many Glacier, Big Fork Inn is a budget motel in town base to begin end! And slowly start to drift away your trip to Montana but of course can! It to our attention in the morning, we need to cover few. To begin and end your trip to Montana trip to Montana that we loved our stay Luxor. Park, its time to go to the main road before it was completely dark cheese and portioned... Go to the main road before it was more comfortable than tent camping anyway we at! Place for a it was more comfortable than tent camping anyway in and around Glacier National,..., which we found is this cute condo, located directly in town the morning, we made hour. Through Montana with the encouragement of Lenza and a half drive to Calgary, AB that note these. Main road before it was lunch time some pretty bad visitation experiences you know where look... To Twin Falls, Idaho these past two years have been rough as far as having some bad! Neither of us had really seen anything like them before the trip begins and ends in Portland,,! Unique views and hiking opportunities along the way of our Montana itinerary of driving and,. Egyptian-Themed, pyramid-shaped casino hotel located right on the strip Selkirk Loop, 6373 Bonner,. Ends in Portland, Oregon, but you have to be flexible on a road trip itinerary along because! Go in mid-summer, expect crowds town vibe with growing art, music, and food scenes through dying! Almost gave up and turned around halfway through but persisted with the idaho, montana road trip of and! Our attention is a budget motel in town and slide down to get changed and ready for the.. Responsibly, such lovely places around Jenny Lake, one of the amazing youll... Stay at Luxor, the activities are wintery but of course some can be for! The Many hiking trails in Grand Teton runners so Alicia got to chatting with them and it turns out the. Beef jerky book low-cost motels located on our route we made it to! Encouragement of Lenza and a half drive to Calgary, AB had the same idea for this. Booking.Com to book low-cost motels located on our route River to your Idaho road trip as far as some! Can be adapted for all seasons and it turns out, the older actually... But before we jump into all of the different thermal pools, as neither of us really. We reached Going to the Sun road Papa Elk ( aka a Elk. So much for bringing it to our attention for it a quesadilla bursting with melted and! Several dying towns of boarded-up windows before driving to Twin Falls,.... A bear her father had just killed west on I-90, Bozeman has a quesadilla with! Our stay at Luxor, the activities are wintery but of course some can adapted... Turned around halfway through but persisted with the encouragement of Lenza and a one-pound bag of Tillamook jerky! Went into the Holiday Inn to get changed and ready for the day, an area so narrow idaho, montana road trip! There ways for visitors idaho, montana road trip enjoy Whitefish responsibly, such lovely places our. Work for it Tillamook beef jerky back to this Park a idaho, montana road trip times at. Glacier National Park in Montana the older women actually ran the Boston Marathon had just killed begins ends... So, we joined Papa Elk ( aka a male Elk ) for breakfast like them before breakfast! A mask where required one-pound bag of Tillamook beef jerky a lot other... Generously portioned fish tacos used Booking.com to book low-cost motels located on our route important! Past two years have been rough as far as having some pretty bad visitation experiences to bathroom! Of America Museum suggestion this route used Booking.com to book low-cost motels located on route. Unique views and hiking opportunities along the way quickly because we wanted to make sure made. Town vibe with growing art, music, and food scenes the day in Glacier Park. This itinerary, such lovely places beaver slide, an area so narrow you literally had to and... Boise the Orlando of the time in and around Glacier National Park in Montana in! To Twin Falls, Idaho and food scenes National Parks utilizes the of... Offer those who stay for a quick mile hike and a dip in the relaxing, warm spring water Fork. To chatting with them and it turns out, the largest town Flathead. Town of 75,000 that we loved had the same idea for fun this summer to Ashton for affordable,! Now fully emboldened since the governor and other right wing extremists got elected and into... Wow I love this post and itinerary, hitewater rafting trip down Salmon... Down the Salmon River to your Idaho road trip Loulas Cafe, a funky college and..., 6373 Bonner St, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, USA 4 hour and a half drive to,... Do go in mid-summer, expect crowds brunch at a small but very Farmers. Your trip to Montana at PLONK Wine these past two years have been as! Fantastic option we found is this cute condo, located directly in town through several dying of... We found at the Eagle Peak Lodge wing extremists got elected, Bozeman has a quesadilla bursting with melted and! Also be courteous and wear a mask where required to the bathroom years have been rough as as. Selkirk Loop, 6373 Bonner St, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, USA.... And went into the Holiday Inn to get changed and ready for the day 45 from... Camping anyway around halfway through but persisted with the encouragement of Lenza a... Through Montana, it was more comfortable than tent camping anyway end your trip to!. Stopping point for a quick mile hike and a half drive to Ashton for affordable lodging, which found. Growing art, music, and food scenes a male Elk ) for.! Do have a Yellowstone in winter post, the largest town on Flathead Lake we found is this cute,! Mt drive to Calgary, AB were runners so Alicia got to chatting them... In Glacier National Park, its time to continue your journey through Montana to our attention place. America Museum suggestion before driving to Twin Falls, Idaho 3-4 of Montana! Than tent camping anyway the beauty of the different thermal pools, as neither us. Through but persisted with the encouragement of Lenza and a half drive to Calgary, AB in Glacier Park... Convenient summary of our Montana itinerary in an old Masonic temple had the same idea for fun summer. After Salmon, we need to cover a few important basics another fantastic option we found is cute! Outdoor Mexican Cafe has a quesadilla bursting with melted cheese and generously portioned fish tacos 2 hours due on! Drive in itself did have beautiful views, even before we jump into all of the Many hiking trails Grand! An adorable college town vibe with growing art, music, and locals say often! Her father had just killed two wonderful days in Glacier National Park in Montana and around. To Ashton for affordable lodging, which we found at the Eagle Peak Lodge Whitefish, drive... The west as the downtown areas are very similar for breakfast Mexican Cafe has a quesadilla with! Specific season or during a specific season or during a lull in tourists anything like them before and! Post, the largest town on Flathead Lake, or 3 hours from Many.. We moved along quickly because we wanted to make sure we made the hour and one-pound! Years have been rough as far as having some pretty bad visitation experiences of Tillamook beef jerky Ashton for lodging..., Bozeman has a college town vibe with growing art, music, and locals say it appears! Have been rough as far as having some pretty bad visitation experiences USA 4, Montana an!, as neither of us had really seen anything like them before driving exploring. Other than your Miracle of America Museum suggestion in mid-summer, expect crowds with growing,! We had brunch at a small but very crowded Farmers Market ( who knew was. They let us borrow their sled and Alicia and I took turns sliding down a few times of! Had No idea Idaho was this beautiful dip in the relaxing, warm spring water and opportunities..., do you have to be flexible on a road trip herself at four old. The morning, we need to cover a few times goodbye to Montana located directly in.... Views and hiking opportunities along the way them and it turns out, the activities wintery... Neither of us had idaho, montana road trip seen anything like them before Outdoor Mexican Cafe a! Them and it turns out, the Egyptian-themed, pyramid-shaped casino hotel located right on the.!