You see, Cafe Kandahar, the fine dining restaurant located in the lodge, is the best food in Whitefish and possibly all of Montana with a price point to match. We also love their biscuits and gravy, and the giant, gooey cinnamon rolls. We spent another relaxing evening having dinner and drinks with the Tetons. 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. 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. 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. With that being said, it was going to be an early night with our alarms set for 4 in the morning. Downtown Missoula is quite walkable, so pick a place to eat from this curated list and explore the town on foot! Thinking Pacific Northwest. Todays your recovery day in between hikes, so youll be taking a slow, leisurely drive around scenic Flathead Lake! Welcome to Montana, where there are two times as many cows as people and miles and miles of gorgeous, rolling wilderness to explore! Missoula, Montana is an adorable college town and makes a great base to begin and end your trip to Montana! We headed to the Target across the street (6 minutes before it closed) for pillows and blankets (we took the extra 30 seconds to get blankets that matched our houses, obviously). Whoops! Thats the beauty of a FREE country! If you plan on hiking a must on any Western US road trip AllTrails is a great resource for locating the best trails in your area. I hope you find it useful when planning your own road trip through the Western United States! About halfway through our drive back we had our second animal encounter. The next two stops, Snake River Overlook and Oxbow Bend, had gorgeous views of the Tetons and Snake River. Missoula has a plethora of hotels so we booked a Comfort Inn near downtown on our way into town. So we did, and the dog followed as promised, but.rude!!! We drove with the intention of finding a cute town to visit and we were not disappointed in Augusta, Montana . In Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, sunsets are well after 9 pm each day. Bring themalongand youll be covered with detailed information, maps, and landmarks along the way. We mainly used Booking.com to book low-cost motels located on our route. 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.). But if you do have some time in town, we recommend booking a Missoula Back Alleys tour! 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). (The verdict is still out on whether they are actually their own type of berry, or just wild blueberries, but dont tell a local that.). Just in time too, because about 20 minutes later the skies opened up. The hotels wraparound deck offers the best lakeside sunset view Ive ever seen! Not only will you be learning about the park directly from the people who originally inhabited (and still, technically, own) it, but your tour fee will be directly supporting a Native-owned business. Road conditions from Idaho to Montana. It also serves Day 7: Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton National Park, The Norris Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park. Roadtrip Idaho Montana Wyoming US Travel. come one and all but REMEMBER YOUR MANNERS. Alicia went for a run this morning on the beautiful Milwaukee Path along the river (Alicia loves to run on vacation! We each purchased a bottle and said our farewells as we headed on to our final destination. Another car stopped as well and the two of us and the gentleman from the other car tried to coax the dog to us so we could read his tag. We made it in perfect time, just 4 minutes before the geyser was set to blow. It was lightly trafficked, and we got to see more great sights in the stillness of the natural surroundings. The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. I love small towns and their charm and appreciate you highlighting restaurants and lodging, super helpful! Dont know what a huckleberry is? But before we jump into all of the amazing things youll be doing and seeing, we need to cover a few important basics. We continued for a stop at must-see on any Idaho road trip, Craters of the Moon National Monument - an insanely unique landscape in the middle of nowhere. Of course we had to stop and try to help said dog (whose name we learned was Hank). We recommend Stageline Pizza, which is a local legend for great pie. Missoula is a charming college town, and by far the most urban place youll be during your 10 days in Montana. Whats the difference between a national park and a national monument? The primary difference is the reason for preserving the land. To get you started, we mapped out an Idaho road trip for you and the family with more diversity than most cross-country trips can provide. 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. What do you suggest? After Salmon, we drove to Missoula, a funky college town of 75,000 that we loved. The mostly flat loop takes you all the way around Lake Josephine, which is absolutely stunning. and enjoyed chatting with the owner and his father. Please try again. We recommend splurging on one night here being able to wake up in Glacier National Park, with mountain goats lounging nearby and a mirror lake reflection right outside the window, was an experience I wont soon forget. Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog andpodcast! 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. Well, I for one am super happy I stumbled upon this post! On the road, we did some quick research (when we were lucky enough to get reception between the trees and mountains in the middle of nowhere) and found the Weir Creek Hot Springs in Clearwater National Forest on our route to Montana. 6. Be sure to book your boat shuttles in advance! The cabin we stayed in was adorable. Crystal (historical) 29F. This time around, we tried to keep driving at a minimum outside of a few necessary travel days. They were also aggressively anti-mask. The pass also gets you free parking at all federal recreation areas. That said, counterpoint: July is cherry season in Flathead Lake. The town is quite small, and with a few hours theres a good chance youll be able to walk every street! 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). Moon Travel Guides has a comprehensive guide to Glacier National Park, plus a Moon Yellowstone to Glacier National Park Road Trip guide. Read more Access exclusive video content, free resources, and more! I didnt even go all the way up to the top of the hill, and I still had to put my hands in the sand to slow myself down. 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. We were very happy to see our new cabin was much larger (3 beds with 2 separate rooms!) Its also a destination with much to offer those who stay for a Though Missoula is pretty small, the nightlife is young and lively and there were a lot of people out and about. A waitress showed us a photo of herself at four months old next to a bear her father had just killed. Here is a day by day breakdown of our recommended Montana road trip itinerary. Psst: Planning a trip toMontana? And of course we are always open to guest posts if youd like to create an itinerary for us . We do the Utah Big Five frequently as we live so close. The trail is so gentle on the feet that we actually did it barefoot! We passed through several dying towns of boarded-up windows before driving to Twin Falls, Idaho. :) Purchase a step-by-step guide to this itinerary. It is a must-do. Well also send our favorite travel tips straight to your inbox! 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. 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. Downtown Livingston, pictured above, looks like an idyllic old western town, though vintage shops and cafes now line the street instead of saloons. And yes: there are llamas. 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). We were exhausted and crashed quickly. Down-home ranchers and honest-to-goodness cowboys. 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. It has a beautiful outdoor seating area, the perfect place to enjoy the brewerys delicious Amber Ale. The water is the most beautiful turquoise color flowing over smooth, multicolored rocks with tree lined mountains as the backdrop. 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. 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. Youll learn all about Missoulas history as a frontier town. Always be respectful and mindful of your responsibility and leave it the way you found it! Boujie coffee and sustainability a match made in heaven! We passed a kayaker who told us to keep a lookout for a black bear he had just seen not too far from where we were going so we quietly paddled by and tried to catch a glimpse but he had disappeared back into the woods. Both boat shuttles are operated by the family-run Glacier Park Boat Company and operate from June through September. 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. 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. But fun fact: designated in 1996, Escalante was the last part of the continental U.S. to be mapped. Dont dig holes to bury things (including bodily waste), just bring a trash bag or use the park-provided facilities and trash containers! The weather can change in an instant and you can experience all 4 seasons in 1 day! 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. Montana is a beautiful itinerary. We havent been to Montana in 20 years and unfortunately didnt make it to Glacier then. Alternatively, you can rent an RV or campervan and have your shelter conveniently on wheels. 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. My partner and I went there today and we felt extremely uncomfortable and upset. People live in isolated rural areas hours away from the nearest grocery store. The story of the horses on Wild Horse Island is that the Salish-Kootenai tribe kept their horses on the island to keep them safe from being stolen by other tribes. 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. Well not quite. 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! Dan and I get lost crossing the street so I feel we are like-minded adventurers, Hahah it does sound like we are similar travelers Depending on how much time you have, driving the PCH north starting in southern CA (only a few hours from Las Vegas) would be a fantastic road trip! Learn how your comment data is processed. Torreys 33F. In the morning, we joined Papa Elk (aka a male elk) for breakfast. 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! But if you wait until after school starts, youll be able to enjoy a much less crowded park and absolutely perfect weather! If nothing else, it gave us good story to tell laterbut we decided to wait to tell family and friends of our predicament until we survived the night (which obviously we did and to be honest, it was better than some of the s**tholes weve stayed in on other trips). The town is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. This summer, we took a 10-day road trip through the Western United States, hitting Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, and briefly passing through Utah and Nevada on the way back to San Francisco. I didnt realize that thank you so much for bringing it to our attention. It also serves Heres what we did in Stanley: Stay: The Sawtooth Hotel is a charming and relatively budget-friendly option. Its similar to a blueberry but a bit sweeter and the fruit is smaller. Stanley, population ~60, is located in Central Idaho, about 130 miles from Boise. The 50-mile route cuts across Glacier National Park at an elevation of 6,646 feet and is open seasonally, so youll want to plan accordingly. We hit the beginning of the main road when it was still dark and rainy, but we found a spot to camp out along Lake McDonald to watch the sun rise. A bear ready for a dip in Hells Canyon. The United States is an enormous country, and there are large swaths of sparsely populated land without cell service. One thing that stood out to us on this trip, compared to other road trips weve taken, was the beauty of the drives. WebThe ultimate road trip planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share itineraries all from the map. By Lia Garcia | Updated on: February 20, 2022. WebCheck the road conditions from Idaho to Montana and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. The ladies were very nice and gave us some numbers of local mom and pop places we could try. Obviously, there are many other options at all price ranges. Unsubscribe anytime. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Fuel up at Pocketstone Cafe, the ultimate American breakfast spot in Big Fork. Buckle up, because this is a detailed AF post! 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. Minus the ostentatious Trump 2020 banners hanging on some of the houses, of course. In retrospect, I wonder if some of the people we told were thinking to themselves that we were the dumb tourists who thought a coyote was a wolf (which, lets be honest, we were). The variation in topography that we have seen on this short trip has just been amazing! We were also able to see Teton and Middle Teton glaciers (ironically more glaciers than we saw at Glacier National Park). Another fun place to stop on the drive between Wyoming and Idaho! We typically try to visit popular or overtouristed destinations during the offseason to minimize our impact and prefer to recommend the same to our readers. Obviously. 2021 Update: Unfortunately The Peoples Center suffered a devastating fire and has been relocated to St. Ignatius. On the way into Bruneau Dunes, we noticed a sign for a winery from the side of the road. 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. During the summer, the traffic in town is terrible, bumper to bumper. And like, Im not going to lie: this was probably the best thing Ive ever done in my entire life. 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. It was flat and easy, with gorgeous views of the lake and the Tetons. 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. 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). 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. 1. Try not to let it bother you and focus your energy on appreciating the incredible natural phenomenon in front of you (easier said than done, sometimes). 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. 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. Its also a destination with much to offer those who stay for a The oatmeal pancake is a must-try! You can learn more about wildlife respect and safety here. No Practical Wanderlust guide would be complete without a brewery recommendation, so after your pizza hit up Tamarack Brewery. WebThe ultimate road trip planner to help you discover extraordinary places, book hotels, and share itineraries all from the map. 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). 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