The highlight of our Livingston visit was Pine Creek Lake, a 12-mile out-and-back trail to not one, not two, but three alpine lakes (AllTrails says this trail is nine miles, but dont believe it). We recommend staying somewhere walkable, so youll want to base yourself close to downtown on either side of the river. 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. 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. ), and then set out on the road. And it actually feels homey! 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. The trail is so gentle on the feet that we actually did it barefoot! Day 3-4 of your Montana Road Trip: Bozeman. Road conditions from Idaho to Montana. Here you'll find everything travel, food, and culture. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. 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! Please try again. One of the best ways to get the full Idaho experience is to road trip through the state. 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. 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!). Eat: We ate at Last Chance Pizza & Pasta in town. We mainly used Booking.com to book low-cost motels located on our route. Looking for a convenient summary of our Montana itinerary? Missoula, Montana is an adorable college town and makes a great base to begin and end your trip to Montana! 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. It is a beautiful, scenic spot. Read more Access exclusive video content, free resources, and more! Your 2nd tour option is a historical icon of Glacier National Park: the Red Buses were the first-ever motorized tour buses in a US National Park, and they have been operating since the early 1900s! 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. Are there ways for visitors to enjoy Whitefish responsibly, such as by visiting during a specific season or during a lull in tourists? Please at least include a trigger warning if not!! We arrived in the evening, so we watched the sunset at Higgins Street Bridge, took a walk downtown, and had a few drinks at The Rhino Bar, a proper dive with yummy beers on tap (this part of the country has consistently incredible beer). 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. Do NOT dump your trash on the roadways. Our final itinerary: 3 states, 3 national parks, 1 national monument, 2 state parks and 2,000 miles driven in our trusty steed, Huckleberry. We stopped off first at the Holiday Inn. The mostly flat loop takes you all the way around Lake Josephine, which is absolutely stunning. 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. Weve got an itinerary for the California bit of it to help you plan: https://practicalwanderlust.com/pacific-coast-highway-road-trip-itinerary/. Need some help planning your next adventure? It was the perfect stopping point for a quick mile hike and a dip in the relaxing, warm spring water. Youre gonna wish you had, because Montana actually has a burgeoning wine scene. 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. We ate our oatmeal and eggs while he grazed on grass and leaves just 50 yards away. It may not have happened exactly how we planned, butit all came up Dana & Alicia in the end! Of course we had to stop and try to help said dog (whose name we learned was Hank). Ive removed them from our post! Road Trip Conditions. 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. After Salmon, we drove to Missoula, a funky college town of 75,000 that we loved. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Jackson, the closest town, is crowded and expensive. I would write about Las Vegas, but really, what hasnt been said about it already? Across the street we went to lunch at Buckhorn Bar, where we sampled local beers, fried food, and most interestingly, the musings of the local people. 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. While Boxcar was certainly sassy and took a while to warm up to me enough for us to share a hug and a selfie, the llamas that come along on hikes are perfectly well behaved. 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). Apart from that, the rest of the trip is completely flexible. 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. I had a lot of questions about llama trekking, and if you do too, heres what to expect: The hike was pleasant and easy, and we ate lunch overlooking a beautiful waterfall. Its similar to a blueberry but a bit sweeter and the fruit is smaller. We knew we had to be there early because they stopped renting boards when the temperature outside reaches 80 degrees. We loved the stuffed French toast and huckleberry pie at Loulas in whitefish so much! All of a sudden, we saw her pounce up from behind a ridge, just inches away from 2 of the male tourists. So thanks again!! Just another good story to tell, right? Getting little glimpses into the real lives of the local people is one of our favorite parts of traveling the world! This looks absolutely beautiful! We traveled through Montana as the trees and mountains gave way to vast farmlands. BEHAVE YOURSELVES and be GOOD VISITORS and youll be welcomed. Today was another driving day from Wyoming to Idaho and our first stop was the Snake River Brewing Company in Jackson Hole. They had to go take care of a parking ticket and let us borrow their board until they came back. The drive from Idaho Falls to Missoula is gorgeous. Bummer. So if you want to post some cool pics of the nature you seego for it! 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. I didnt realize that thank you so much for bringing it to our attention. 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. After Teton, we embarked on the 8-hour drive towards Escalante, Utah, stopping at Salt Lake City to sleep overnight. From the Norris Basin, we continued on to the famous Prismatic Spring. Were hoping to visit late June as thats when our daughter is done with school. 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. The trip begins and ends in Portland, Oregon, but spends much of the time in and around Glacier National Park in Montana. The scenery at Pine Creek Lake is stunning, but boy, do you have to work for it. You can rent one from somebody who does on RVShare! I am always happy to help! Our alarms jarred us awake in pitch black (which felt strange since we had woken with the sun at 5:30 on the previous mornings) with the pounding of rain on the roof of our cabin. Day 5: Glacier National Park to Helena, Montana. I also appreciate the section at the beginning with resources to learn more about Montanas Indigenous communities and how to support them as well! If you choose to take on the task, make sure to bring sunblock, plenty of water, and snacks to fuel you along the way. Did you pocket some of those cheese samples for later? After closing that place down, we went next door to a little Italian place for dinner (which closed at 9), and then ended the evening down the street at Lewis and Clark Brewering (which closed at the very late hour of 10 PM). 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. We became best friends by the end of the hike and it made my entire life. 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 Salmon, two hours north of Stanley, is another small Idaho town of 3000+ residents. Note that shuttles have limited seating and you may find yourself waiting for a seat during high season. If you are on a tighter budget, you can do a mix of motels and camping, or even camp the whole time. Our itinerary took us through the iconic national parks with a number of must-see stops on the way to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming! We continued south until we got to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We explored both the Brink of the Lower and Upper Falls, as well as Artist Point. Day 7: Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton National Park, The Norris Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park. Today, they have free admission to visit the park but are not allowed to live on their land despite the original agreement made between the Tribe and the United States Government. And how cute is Boxcar the Llama?! If you plan to go to more than one national park, opt to buy an annual pass for $80 instead of individual day passes at $35 a pop. Torreys 33F. 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. How bout the kettle house amphitheater and seeing show how bout rafting a river. WebCheck the road conditions from Idaho to Montana and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. Alica tried looking online. Bring themalongand youll be covered with detailed information, maps, and landmarks along the way. So cool! Its also a destination with much to offer those who stay for a 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. Road Trip through Idaho to Missoula, Montana After splashing and sunning in Lava Hot Springs and leaving our comfy digs in Idaho Falls, Idaho, we headed straight up the I-15 and then I-90 into Missoula, Montana, our home for two nights and three action packed days. Crystal (historical) 29F. 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. 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)! A farm is where crops are grown and a ranch is where livestock are raised. It was another awesome Alicia & Dana Adventure! This was great other than your Miracle of America Museum suggestion. After leaving the caverns, we continued on from Montana to Yellowstone National Park to start our Wyoming road trip. A bison at the National Bison Range in Charlo, Montana. 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. They also detest all those who are moving here especially if youre from California but theyre happy to take your money. Day 3: Missoula, Montana to Glacier National Park. Once you complete the hike, you are rewarded with six warm pools, a waterfall, and sweeping views of the scenery below. 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. Disclaimer: This post includes sponsored content from Moon Travel Guides and RVShare, both of which we have personally tried and vetted (theyre great). Missoula is a charming college town, and by far the most urban place youll be during your 10 days in Montana. And yes: there are llamas. Unfortunately we here in Montana have our fair share of right-wingers. Ethical tourism can be a great way to support and grow Indigenous communities while educating others about their culture, but immersive, sustainable Indigenous tourism such as community homestays or community-led tours of Tribal Nations doesnt currently exist in Montana. This! First up on your clockwise drive around the lake is the town of Polson, the largest town on Flathead Lake. It bared its teeth and pulled back on its paws like she was going to strike. Sightsee at Idaho's Greatest Natural Wonders Google Map katie wheeler/Flickr Whichever you decide, they are both great stops for your Western United States road trip! A bicultural Taiwanese-American, she lived in Taiwan from the ages of 3-10 and finds it fascinating to analyze the differences between the two cultures that have shaped who she is. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Its larger than Lake Tahoe and 18 bodies have been discovered lurking in its murky depths. We recommend Stageline Pizza, which is a local legend for great pie. We were averaging about $250 a night. We recommend using Kayak to price-compare flight deals & dates before you book to save money on your flight. Day 3-4 of your Montana Road Trip: Bozeman. From Livingston, we took a two-hour drive to Red Lodge to enter Yellowstone via the 68-mile Beartooth Highway. It was another awesome Alicia & Dana Adventure! You dont want to trust the weather report beyond a couple of days out, and even then, you pack an umbrella and a jacket. Feels like 33.03 Wind speed 2.4 mph Pressure 1010 hPa. 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. Our itinerary included three out of the five most conservative states in America Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho and I now know what it feels like to experience culture shock in my own country. It was a nice way to kick things off with cold Idaho beers and world-famous Idaho potatoes in the form of french fries at Bittercreek Ale House. Even though they share a border, its a long drive through Idaho to Montana and we love an adventure-packed pit stop so Riggins was the perfect place to stop on a road trip from Idaho to Montana. You'll also be subscribing to our monthly newsletter. There are only two tour operators driving this route. How bout the old state prison or butte or battle of the little big horn? 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. Whatever you bring in, you should bring back out againpack it in pack it out. Since this itinerary is a loop, you can rent a car directly at the airport once you arrive in Missoula. And yes: there are llamas. Wellwe learned from a ranger the next day that what we saw was actually a coyote. Plus, there are miles of scenic hiking trails up and down the mountain. and we had a shared campsite bathroom (which was actually quite clean and close to us). And yes: there are llamas. 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. Clear Sky. 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