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Your Guide to a Western United States Road Trip (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming & More!)

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. This part of the country is famously beautiful, characterized by lush green alpine landscapes and snow-capped peaks, winding rivers, and countless small towns dripping with old western charm. We rode horses and ate beef, as one must, and went on some of the most scenic hikes anywhere.

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. People live in isolated rural areas hours away from the nearest grocery store. Trump 2020 banners hang proudly in front of houses and wave in windy fields and farmland. At local businesses and restaurants, taxidermy animal mounts outnumber patrons. A waitress showed us a photo of herself at four months old next to a bear her father had just killed. Locals openly carry guns at family-friendly tourist destinations, and, I assume, elsewhere.

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. While his convictions differ significantly from mine (I’ve lived in liberal cities my entire life and have never handled a gun), it was eye-opening to hear an opposite perspective on familiar issues. It hits different when you are talking to a flesh-and-blood human rather than working yourself up over the contents of a Facebook comment.

We took our road trip at the height of summer, and I highly recommend anyone considering a visit to this region to travel during this time. In Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, sunsets are well after 9 pm each day. You’ll be able to do and see so much more compared to the rest of the year. 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. I hope you find it useful when planning your own road trip through the Western United States!

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Table of Contents

• Road Trip Tips & Tricks
• 10-Day Western US Road Trip Itinerary
• Destination Guide Stanley, Idaho Salmon, Idaho Missoula, Montana Big Sky, Montana Livingston, Montana Beartooth Highway Yellowstone National Park Grand Teton National Park Escalante, Utah Las Vegas, Nevada

Western United States Road Trip: Tips & Tricks

Consider your accommodation budget.

We mainly used Booking.com to book low-cost motels located on our route. 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. Alternatively, you can rent an RV or campervan and have your shelter conveniently on wheels. Outdoorsy has a diverse selection of road trip vehicles ranging from no-frills campervans to glamping-ready RVs that fit any budget. If we could redo our trip, I would have gone this route. If you are on a tighter budget, you can do a mix of motels and camping, or even camp the whole time. Find and book campsites wherever you are with ReserveAmerica or Campendium (roughly $30 a night) or use an app like Free Roam to locate Forest Service and BLM land where you can legally boondock.

Bring Snacks & Lots of Water!

We brought a cooler from home to use during our trip and bought groceries along the away. Doing this will spare you both money and time during long stretches of driving and help you eat a little healthier. For water, we purchased a few 1.5-liter bottles and refilled them at gas stations throughout our trip.

Aim for a Good Balance of Driving vs. Sightseeing

I’ve made the common road trip mistake of trying to pack too many stops into a short time period. This time around, we tried to keep driving at a minimum outside of a few necessary travel days. A good rule of thumb is to aim for under four hours of driving per day so you have time to enjoy your destination. It’s always better to see fewer destinations more completely than more destinations incompletely .

When planning your itinerary, keep in mind that the estimated driving time on Google Maps is often longer when you factor in bathroom and restaurant stops.

Get the AllTrails App

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. The app provides route maps, difficulty levels, trail photos, user reviews, and more.

Buy a National Park Pass

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. The pass also gets you free parking at all federal recreation areas.

Download Offline Maps & Media

The United States is an enormous country, and there are large swaths of sparsely populated land without cell service. Download offline maps on Google to ensure that you will never get lost and your favorite playlists and podcasts on Spotify to stay entertained.

Our 10-Day Western United States Road Trip Itinerary

Here is our exact day-to-day road trip itinerary from San Francisco:

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 Day 8: Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Day 9: Escalante, Utah Day 10: Las Vegas, Nevada Day 11: Drive from Las Vegas to San Francisco (~8 hours)

We had a rough plan in place prior to our trip but gave ourselves the leeway to make unexpected stops the way — hence why we hit Yellowstone twice! In the next section, I’ll dive deeper into what we did in each destination.

Western United States Road Trip Destination Guide

Stanley, idaho.

Stanley, population ~60, is located in Central Idaho, about 130 miles from Boise. With rustic log cabins, winding rivers, and rolling green meadows — all framed by the snow-capped the Sawtooth mountains — the town looks straight out of a fairy tale. Minus the ostentatious Trump 2020 banners hanging on some of the houses, of course.

In all seriousness, I had no idea Idaho was this beautiful. The entire state is a paradise for anyone who loves hiking, swimming, or anything outdoorsy. Here’s what we did in Stanley:

• Hike! We did the Iron Creek trail to Alpine Lake , a moderate seven miles out-and-back. You can go further to Sawtooth Lake, which adds an additional three miles. The hike is lovely, with wildflowers and sweeping views of Sawtooth’s jagged peaks along the way. The AllTrails app can guide you to even more hiking options in the Stanley area.
• Swim, raft, SUP, boat, or fish. It seems like you are never far from a river, creek, or lake in Idaho. Stanley is located on the banks of the Salmon River, and Redfish Lake is right nearby in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. There are numerous shops that offer equipment rentals and guided rafting adventures in the area—just give it a quick Google search once you arrive.
• Horseback riding. Mystic Saddle Ranch offers trail ride in the Sawtooth mountains and near Redfish Lake.

Stay: The Sawtooth Hotel is a charming and relatively budget-friendly option.

Eat: Sawtooth Luce’s serves up cold local beer and a mean Idaho Kobe beef burger, and we had a delicious breakfast at Stanley Baking Company. The oatmeal pancake is a must-try!

Salmon, Idaho

Salmon, two hours north of Stanley, is another small Idaho town of 3000+ residents.

Our main activity was a visit to the Goldbug Hot Springs in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. The springs, located at the top of a mountain, are reachable via a relatively short but steep hike. Once you complete the hike, you are rewarded with six warm pools, a waterfall, and sweeping views of the scenery below.

Stay : Super 8 by Wyndham Salmon.

Eat: We ate at Last Chance Pizza & Pasta in town. 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). Their pizza is cooked in a wood fire oven installed directly in the truck.

Missoula, Montana

After Salmon, we drove to Missoula, a funky college town of 75,000 that we loved.

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). Though Missoula is pretty small, the nightlife is young and lively and there were a lot of people out and about. We had many “hmmm….should we move here?” moments during our visit.

On Saturday morning, we checked out the city’s weekly farmers’ market , which we read is a must during any visit to Missoula. It was cute, and we picked up some locally grown cherries and bison pepperoni for the road.

Stay: Econo Lodge Eat : The Hob Nob on South Higgins Street has good coffee and very filling, all-American brunch fare — all at a very reasonable price.

Detour to Garnet Ghost Town On 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. The town was apparently poppin’ in its heyday and had no less than thirteen saloons. I guess when you live in the middle of nowhere you’ve got to entertain yourself somehow. Because of its recent history and remote destination in the mountains, the buildings are well-preserved and worth a quick stop if you have time.

Big Sky, Montana

Big Sky, like so much of Montana, is absolutely stunning, with wide-open skies, winding rivers, and purple-hued mountains in the distance. Here are the top things to do in the area:

• Horseback riding . We went horseback riding in Big Sky with Jake’s Horses . The horses are gentle and well-trained, and in an hour-long ride you’ll cross creeks and scale a hill for sweeping views of the valley below. At $50 per person, it is 100% worth it!
• Take in the scenery on Taylor Fork Road. Our horseback riding guide told us to visit Taylor Fork Road if we were interested in seeing bears, moose, and other wildlife. While we didn’t see any animals (much to Lenza’s dismay), the views and photography opportunities made the trip worth it. If you are looking for a free place to camp, there are many options, but be warned that Taylor Fork is a dirt road where an off-roading vehicle is ideal. Bear spray is also a must.
• Hike. Beehive Basin Trail No. 40 is a popular 7.1-mile hike with spectacular views, meadows, creeks, waterfalls, and wildflowers. Use the AllTrails app to find even more options in the area that fit your hiking level.
• Visit Yellowstone National Park. Big Sky is a scenic hour away from the West entrance of Yellowstone. We ended up driving through the park en route to Livingston and visited a few iconic attractions along the way.

Livingston, Montana

Livingston is a historical railroad and ranching town in Southwestern Montana, a short distance north from Yellowstone National Park. Downtown Livingston, pictured above, looks like an idyllic old western town, though vintage shops and cafes now line the street instead of saloons. Like everywhere we stopped in Montana, mountains frame the city in the distance.

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 don’t believe it). The scenery at Pine Creek Lake is stunning, but boy, do you have to work for it. The hike consists of six unforgiving miles straight uphill, covering 3653 feet of elevation.

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. When we reached the first lake, I came close to tears because we had worked so hard for the beautiful views.

Be warned—this trail is not for the faint of heart, but you will be rewarded with some of the best views Montana has to offer. If you choose to take on the task, make sure to bring sunblock, plenty of water, and snacks to fuel you along the way.

Stay: Country Motor Inn is a budget motel in town. And it actually feels homey!

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. All around high-quality food in a rustic but modern wild west ambiance.

Detour to The Old Saloon in Emigrant, Montana 20 minutes away from Livingston is The Old Saloon , an old western restaurant and bar established in 1902. The menu is creative and modern, with local twists like elk meatballs and a bison burger. We really enjoyed our chicken fried steak and roasted pork tenderloin with rosemary and huckleberry demi-glace.

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. 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.

Beartooth Highway

From Livingston, we took a two-hour drive to Red Lodge to enter Yellowstone via the 68-mile Beartooth Highway. 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.

If you choose to explore Beartooth, I would budget at least 3-5 hours so you can get out and explore. There are lots of unique views and hiking opportunities along the way.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

So much has been said about Yellowstone already, so I’ll just share a list of attractions we visited in the park:

• Mammoth Hot Springs
• Norris Geysers
• Grand Prismatic Springs
• Old Faithful
• Lamar Valley (to see all the bison!)

Detour to Ashton, Idaho It is impossible to find a campsite in Yellowstone in the summertime. Jackson, the closest town, is crowded and expensive. So, we made the hour and a half drive to Ashton for affordable lodging, which we found at the Eagle Peak Lodge . In the morning, we had a gluttonous, all-American breakfast at Trails Inn Restaurant in town, which was just amazing. I’d 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:

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

We walked 7.7 miles around Jenny Lake , one of the many hiking trails in Grand Teton. It was flat and easy, with gorgeous views of the lake and the Tetons. Still, I’m not sure I would choose this trail again as it was crowded and there is a large portion that runs alongside a road.

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. If I return to Teton in the future, I would try the more difficult Delta Lake vis Amphitheater Lake Trail .

Escalante, Utah

After Teton, we embarked on the 8-hour drive towards Escalante, Utah, stopping at Salt Lake City to sleep overnight. In the morning, we arrived to these views:

Utah is home to Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, and other majestic but crowded national parks. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, on the other hand, is just as impressive and a true hidden gem.

Never heard of it? Me either. But fun fact: designated in 1996, Escalante was the last part of the continental U.S. to be mapped .

We spent our afternoon hiking to the Escalante Natural Bridge , which we had all to ourselves. It is an easy walk on soft sand with multiple river crossings. The trail is so gentle on the feet that we actually did it barefoot!

Eat: Circle D Eatery has yummy BBQ ribs and a buttered trout plate. Georgie’s Outdoor Mexican Cafe has a quesadilla bursting with melted cheese and generously portioned fish tacos.

Stay: We slept at our friend’s quaint and reasonably priced Airbnb, though there are also a few motel options in town.

Detour to Capitol Reef or Bryce Canyon National Park Capitol Reef National Park is an hour and a half north of Escalante, and Bryce Canyon is about an hour South.

Bryce Canyon is obviously more famous — we’ve all seen photos of the park’s breathtaking Sunrise Point — but Capitol Reef received raving reviews from our friends and is far less crowded.

Whichever you decide, they are both great stops for your Western United States road trip!

Las Vegas, Nevada

I would write about Las Vegas, but really, what hasn’t been said about it already? The strip is obnoxious and ostentatious, crowded with symbols of American capitalism, casinos, wedding chapels, and strip clubs. Visitors range from overweight midwestern American families on their annual vacation to scantily-clad young girls ready for a night at the Marquee. 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.

Eat: Vegas is a food destination that I hope to explore more in the future. We had all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ at Ginseng BBQ on the strip and authentic, mouthwatering Shanxi beef noodle soup at Shang Artisan Noodle. I had an “I love America” moment at Shang’s because only here will you see a Hispanic person hand-pulling noodles in the Northern Chinese tradition. So good! If you are a Chinese food enthusiast and find yourself in Vegas, I highly recommend this place.

Stay: We loved our stay at Luxor, the Egyptian-themed, pyramid-shaped casino hotel located right on the strip. Obviously, there are many other options at all price ranges.

Few things are more romanticized than an all-American road trip, and I’m happy to report that they do indeed live up to the hype.

If you have any questions about this Western United States road trip guide, leave a comment below. I am always happy to help!

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Dottie is a travel blogger and YouTuber, and one part of Dots on a Map. Check out her YouTube at www.youtube.com/dotsonamap, where she tells stories about travel, food, and local cultures around the world.

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Montana Idaho Road Trip

Montana holds the Lower 48 record for the most dramatic temperature change to occur over a 24-hour period. On January 15, 1972, in Loma, the temperature rose from -54˚F to 49˚F. Remarkably, the -54 F is not the all-time record low. But remember: first, Montana is north, and second, much of western Montana is in the Rocky Mountains. The state has a dozen mountains reaching over 11,000 feet (3353 meters). However, this post is about more than Montana weather and mountain peaks! I’m talkin’ here! It’s about 10 days of road tripping in the northwestern part of the US. All things considered, I hope you enjoy this Montana Idaho Road Trip. (See the table of contents below the picture.)

Interesting Facts

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Western Montana

Famous people.

• Dana Garvey – Comedian – Missoula
• Gary Cooper – Actor – Helena
• Evel Knieval – Daredevil motorcyclist – Butte
• David Lynch – Filmmaker – Missoula
• Jeannette Rankin – First woman elected to US Congress – Missoula
• Brad Bird – Actor – Kalispell
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson – Actor – Missoula

Other facts

• Out of 56 counties in Montana, 46 are considered frontier counties meaning there are less than 10 people per square mile
• Montana has more bookstores per capita than any other state
• Montana is home to the largest grizzly bear population in the Lower 48
• There are more cattle in Montana than people
• No state has as many different species of mammals as Montana.
• Montana is the 4th largest state by land area and 44th largest by population. Montana has the third lowest population density with 7 people per square mile, just ahead of Wyoming with 6 and way ahead of Alaska with 1 person per square mile!

By the way, if you are planning to go to Montana, especially Glacier National Park, you really need to stay hydrated for all that hiking! (Full disclosure: I do earn a commission if you purchase something from here, at not additional cost to you.)

Western Montana Weather

• The coldest temperature recorded in the Lower 48 is -70 F (-57 C) in Rogers Pass on January 20th, 1954 near Missoula, (For those from other countries, the Lower 48 means the states on the North American continent south of Alaska. Hawaii is the 50th state and is officially the Hawaiian Islands about 2500 miles [4000 Kilometers] from the continental US west coast. Those two states do not physically touch any other state.)
• The warmest temperature recorded in Montana is in Glendive but that is in the east. That temperature is 117 F (47 C). Temperatures in western Montana reach over 100 F (38 C) but are of short duration. For example average summer highs in Kalispell (near Glacier National Park) are 82 F (28 C)
• Humidity in western Montana is lower than eastern Montana
• Here is a link to climate information in Kalispell . Click on the link if you really want to know about the year around weather including temperature, rainfall, snowfall, sunrise and sunset.

Terrain and other geographical facts

Western Montana is dominated by the Rocky Mountains. “The Rockies” as they are known in the vernacular, stretch from northern British Columbia in the north to northern New Mexico in the south. The mountain range includes the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. US states include Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. Here is a link to information about the the Rockies .

The Rockies make up much of western Montana and Northern Idaho. At the end of the last Ice Age, known as the Pleistocene Epoch, erosion occurred as the glaciers melted, which in turn created many U-shaped valleys. Lakes like Flathead Lake in western Montana are also the result of this Ice Age. At the beginning of the Ice Age, the earth’s plates came together to push up the land into rocky peaks and valleys. When the French fur traders came to this area in the 1700s, one of the native tribes called the mountains “the Rockies” in their native language and that became the name of this huge mountain range.

More Montana Mountains Background

Further background, the Rocky Mountains include approximately 100 separate ranges, which are generally considered in four groupings: The Canadian Rockies and Northern Rockies of Montana and northeastern Idaho. The Rockies of Wyoming, Utah, and southeastern Idaho. and the Colorado Rockies, although they extend in northern New Mexico. Lastly, the Four Corners Plateau is in the region where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico join. By the way, that’s the only place in the US where 4 states join. (Wondering if there is a place in the world where 4 countries come together? I asked this question on Facebook. My first cousin answered it! Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in sub-Saharan Africa have the only International Quadripoint.)

These four subdivisions differ from one another in terms of geology (origin, ages, and kinds of rocks) and geography (land-forms, drainage, and soils). Nonetheless, they share the physical attributes of high elevations (many peaks higher than 13,000 feet [4,000 meters]), great local relief (typically 5,000 to 7,000 feet [1525 meters to 2135 meters]) in the vertical difference between the base and summit of ranges). They also share shallow soils, great mineral wealth, spectacular scenery from past glaciation and volcanic activity, as well as similar trends in climate, economy, and early exploration.

Western Montana Definitions

The definition of Western Montana varies by source. Initially, the definition included only the area west of the continental divide. Here is the link to a Western Montana map with that definition. Over time, the definition has broadened (in some official documents and in the vernacular) to include about six counties in the mountainous area on the east side of the divide. In any case, all of the Montana information in the individual posts (below) is in the original definition of western Montana.

Native Americans

Of course, Native American tribes were the first recorded inhabitants of Montana. Originally there were nine tribes in the area that is now Montana. Originally, the tribes were: Assiniboine, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Crow, Gros Ventre, Kootenai, Salish, Sioux, Shoshoni. Over time, some tribes consolidated and others moved or were driven out by the Federal government. (That’s another story and I won’t get into it until I feel like being controversial!)

Seven Tribes in Montana Today

Today, there are seven tribes in Montana. These tribes base themselves on seven reservations which are: 1. Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Reservation, Browning Montana 2. Chippewa (Ojibwa) Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, Box Elder Montana 3. Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Pablo Montana 4. Crow Tribe of the Crow Reservation, Big Horn County Montana 5. Fort Belknap Tribes of the Fort Belknap Reservation, Harlem Montana 6. Fort Peck Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation, Poplar Montana 7. Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Lame Deer Montana The state of Montana also recognizes the Little Shell Chippewa (Ojibwa)Tribe but they don’t have a defined reservation. See map of Montana reservations below.

European Influence and Settlement

In spite of folklore, the French fur traders were not the first Europeans to venture into the area. Although the Lewis and Clark expedition is the most well-known, others came before them. In 1793 Alexander Mackenzie became the first Euro-American to reach the Pacific coast by the overland route via the Rocky Mountains. In 1798, another explorer, David Thompson, created a detailed map of the Missouri River. His trip took him to the Continental Divide. (By the way, he’s no relation to the basketball player of the same name in the 1970s and 1980s!)

Louisiana Purchase

David Thompson’s book enamored President Thomas Jefferson and his assistant Meriwether Lewis. Jefferson wanted to know more about the territory he purchased from France. (For those in other countries, the US purchased much of the center of the US from France in 1803.) Actually, the purchase only included New Orleans and much of the state of Louisiana and the “rights to acquire” the remainder through treaties and conquests. (By the way, if you are from the UK, you can’t “put us down” for colonization!) Below is a map of the area acquired by the purchase. By the way, France and Spain also owned parts of what is now the United States. European ownership ended in the mid 1800s when a treaty between the UK and the US defined the border between the US and Canada.

After the purchase and Jefferson’s need to know more about just what he did purchase, he created a plan to explore and document the new territory. His assistant, Meriwether Lewis, an Army Captain, recruited Lieutenant William Clark. Their trip is widely known as the Lewis and Clark expedition. Their assignment; explore and map the area around the Missouri River, make diplomatic contacts with many of the Indian tribes, expand the American fur trade throughout the area, and locate the hypothetical Northwest Passage (by water). Other than not finding the Northwest Passage, their trip was very successful. Here is a link to a more complete account of their journey.

Off Topic Montana Idaho Road Trip!

I’m going way off base here regarding western Montana but wanted to add an interesting sideline. A Shoshoni woman, Sakakawea, from North Dakota, accompanied the Lewis and Clark expedition. She joined them at Fort Mandan, North Dakota for the remainder of the trip. The expedition had spent the winter at Fort Mandan. (By the way, here is a link to a post from The Driveby Tourist touching on the Lewis and Clark expedition while traveling the Great River Road in 2017.)

Interestingly, her name more commonly is Sacagawea, but North Dakota officially named her Sakakawea in its history and recognition of her accomplishments. She and her husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, a French fur trader acted as guides and interpreters along the way. She became well known in American history. Her likeness is on a silver dollar initially produced in 2000. This silver dollar, along with others, lacked popular acceptance and was not circulated regularly. Why can’t we be like Canada and have “loonies and twonies”!

Now, let’s get back on the subject. Montana became Montana Territory in 1864. From the Louisiana Purchase, Montana fell under 7 different governing structures. I won’t go into all the details , but you can read about them here at this link if you want that much detail. Montana became the 41st state admitted to the US on November 8th, 1889.

Continuing on with Montana, there are many interesting facts about the state. The links above will give you much of that history. However, Glacier National Park is the only National Park fully in the state. Yellowstone is also partially in Montana and Idaho but most of it is in Wyoming. Yellowstone became the first National Park in 1872. It was the only National Park until Sequoia (in California) became a park in 1890. Glacier National Park “came to life” in 1910 and was the 8th National Park. (There are now 61 US National Parks.)

Northern Idaho

• Lillian Disney – wife of Walt Disney – Spalding
• Sarah Palin – Former Governor of Alaska and former Vice Presidential Candidate – Sandpoint
• George Kennedy – Academy Award winning actor – Boise
• Picabo Street – Olympic Champion skier – Triump (No, the name is NOT Trump!)
• Mark Fuhrman – Los Angeles detective known for his role in the O J Simpson trial – Sandpoint
• Jerry Kramer – Green Bay Packers right guard – Sandpoint
• Ben Stein – lawyer, writer, political commentator and actor – Sandpoint
• Brock Osweiler – NFL quarterback – Coeur d’Alene
• Gregory “Pappy” Boyington – World War II flying ace – Coeur d’Alene

Other Facts

• Idaho grows nearly one/third of America’s potatoes
• It is referred to as the Gem State. Seventy two types of precious stones are found here
• The Idaho State Capital in Boise is the only state capital warmed by a renewable energy source – geothermal water form 3,000 feet (914 meters) underground
• It might sound a little strange, but it is against the law for a man to give his beloved a box of sweets that weighs more than 50 pounds.
• The Idaho Panhandle approximate population is 331,000 while the state population is 1.74 million . The Panhandle comprises over one quarter of the state land and less than 20% of the population.
• Idaho has 44 counties, 16 of which are considered frontier counties with less than 10 people per square mile.

Northern Idaho Weather

Let’s talk about Coeur d’Alene weather. I know I said Northern Idaho, but since we were in Coeur d’Alene, I’ll stick with that.

• The lowest temperature ever recorded was in January – 30 F (-34 C)
• The highest recorded temperature was in August – 109 F (43 C)
• Average high and low in Coeur d’Alene in January – 35 F (1.5 C) – 25.2 F (-4 C)
• Average high and low in Coeur d’Alene in August – 82.5 F (28.1 C) – 55.5 F (13.1 C)
• Annual precipitation – 27 Inches (69 Centimeters)
• Annual Snowfall – 42 inches (107 Centimeters)
• Here is a link to more climate information

Much of Northern Idaho is very similar to western Montana. As you go toward Washington state to the west, the elevation lowers and becomes less mountainous. The elevation of Coeur d’Alene is 2,188 feet (660 meters). By comparison, Spokane Washington is 1,843 feet (562 meters). That’s 34 miles west (55 Kilometers). Again, very similar to western Montana. I’ll just say it’s the Rocky Mountains and elevation declines toward the west. It’s just smaller mountains or large hills! By the way, the highest peak in Idaho is Mt. Borah in east-central Idaho near Montana at 12,662 feet (3,859 meters).

Native American tribes were the first recorded inhabitants of Idaho. Originally there were seven tribes in the area that is now Idaho. The tribes in the Panhandle include Kootenai, Kalispell and Salish, Coeur d’Alene, Palouse, and Nez Perce. While the Nez Perce cross the line between the Panhandle and the rest of Idaho, the Paiute and the Shoshone/Bannock are in the southern part of the state. Two of the tribes continue from Montana. The Kootenai, and the Kalispel and Salish, continue across the state boundary. Of course, state boundaries didn’t exist in past history!

Four Tribes in Idaho today

Today there are four tribes in Idaho, two of which are in the Panhandle. They are: 1. Coeur d’Alene Tribe – Plummer Idaho (Panhandle) 2. Kootenai Tribe of Idaho – Bonners Ferry Idaho (Panhandle) 3. Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho – Lapwai ID 4. Shoshone-Bannonck Tribe – Fort Hall ID

Pre-statehood

Northern Idaho history is very much like western Montana. Given the information above, differences will be covered here. Of course, Lewis and Clark also crossed Idaho. Fur trading also played a role in the early development. Due to the distance away from transportation to the eastern US and to Europe, fur trading didn’t develop as it did further east.

From the 1840s through the 1860s, many settlers traveled through here on the Oregon Trail and the California Gold Rush travel route but very few people settled in Idaho. However, missionaries, both Catholic and Protestant, entered Idaho as early as 1809. Cataldo Mission, the oldest standing building in Idaho was built in 1850-53. The building is in the town of Cataldo along I-90 east of Coeur d’Alene.)

Gold was discovered at Pierce in 1860 which led to the first of several gold rushes.

Governing units and statehood

Prior to 1853, much of Idaho was part of Oregon Country, the border of which was long disputed and finally settled in 1846 by treaty with the UK. The northern boundary of the US became the 49th parallel from the Pacific Ocean to the state of Minnesota. In 1853, US Congress assigned northern Idaho to the new Washington Territory and southern Idaho to Oregon Territory.

When Oregon was admitted as a state in 1859, southern Idaho became part of Washington Territory as well. In 1863 Idaho Territory was established including the areas that today include Montana and most of Wyoming. Montana and Wyoming had been part of Dakota Territory. The following year, Montana was removed from Idaho Territory. Following additional minor changes, Idaho became a state in 1890 with the boundaries established as they remain today. In 1868, Wyoming became a Territory as well, removing it from Idaho territory.

Parks to visit on Montana Idaho Road Trip

Montana has 55 state parks. Many of them are in the west. I’m highlighting a few in the Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake area. Lone Pine State Park features dramatic views of the Flathead Valley on overlooks and along its trails. Some activities here include hiking, mountain biking, nature viewing and photography, cross country skiing, and horseback riding. Here’s a link to the park website .

Flathead Lake Parks – Montana

West Shore State Park – Glacially carved rock outcrops rise from Flathead Lake to provide spectacular views of the Swan and Mission Mountains. Activities here include wildlife viewing, bird watching, camping, and water skiing. Here’s a link to the park website .

Wild Horse Island State Park is a landmark rich with history since the Salish-Kootenai Indians used the island to pasture horses. The island is one of the largest islands in the northwestern United States. The park is only accessible by boat and still has some wild horses from the days when the Indians kept horses there. Wildlife includes bighorn sheep, mule deer, songbirds, waterfowl, bald eagles and falcons. Here’s a link to the park website . Finley Point / Flathead Lake State Park is located on the southern end of Flathead Lake. Activities here include many family activities such as swimming, camping, picnicking, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and RV Camping. Here’s a link to the park website .

Idaho’s Panhandle is home to three beautiful state parks. As stated below, Idaho has 21 state parks. I’ve highlighted three that are great examples of scenic Northern Idaho.

Heyburn State Park

Heyburn State Park is the oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest. Within the park, towering Ponderosa pine give way to flower-filled meadows and placid waters. The park contains serene cottages, cabins, and campsites. The park came into being in 1908. Many buildings owe their existence to the Civilian Conservation Corps who built them in the 1930s. Here’s a link to the park web site .

Farragut State Park

Farragut State Park is located on the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille. The park began life as a US Navy training center during World War II. Now, it provides camping opportunities with over 200 individual campsites and 7 group campsites. Interestingly, the Museum at the Brig highlights this park. (A brig is a jail in Navy terms. It was used to house “unruly” seaman during training.) Beginning in 1945, German POW’s were housed here.

However, it’s now a state park with all the activities one would expect on a park located on a lake. There are over 40 miles of trail for hiking and biking. Farragut has five 18 hole disc golf courses. Picnicking sites are available in a Day Use area. Swimming in the lake on a beach that warms enough to swim in the summer. And there are over 20 miles of horse trails on the north side of the park. The south end of the park has a boat launch for Lake Pend Oreille, the largest lake in Idaho. (And based on my comments, you probably thought Coeur d’Alene Lake was the largest!) Here is a link to the park web site .

Round Lake State Park

Round Lake State Park is a smaller park. There are 16 serviced campsites and a total of 35. Some of the sites are RV-ready with trailers limited to 24 feet (7.3 meters). Activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, biking, swimming, fishing and wildlife, and wildflower viewing. Winter activities include snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ice fishing, and ice skating. By the way, those of you from warm climates need to know that “ice fishing” is not fishing for ice! Here is a link to the park web site .

More on Idaho State Parks

Idaho has 21 state parks (link here) . In addition to the state parks, there are National Forests, National Historic Parks and National Wildlife Refuges. Using the link above will give you information on all of them, plus let you narrow your search by area of the state. (Yellowstone National Park’s great expanse overlaps briefly into eastern Idaho, although most of the park is in Wyoming.)

• David Creek Trail – The trail is a “get away from it all” experience. It’s a great place to camp for a couple of nights in the East Pioneers Recommended Wilderness Area. Torrey Lake lies at the end of trail and is just shy of 9,000 feet (2740 meters) with Torrey Peak towering above it at over 11,000 feet (3350 meters). Excellent camping with great views and time to explore around the lake.
• Palisades Trail – This hike into the Stony Mountain Roadless Area provides great views of the “other side” of the Bitterroot Mountains (across the valley) from a more “typical” route. It’s a great hike for those who want less strenuous hiking. Not too long or steep but very scenic. Also, not too crowded.
• Nelson Lake Trail – This very rugged trail is just the thing for those wanting a good workout complemented by great scenery and more solitude than other hikes. Nelson Lake is particularly intriguing due to the immense rock slide that created a natural dam.
• Canyon Creek Trail – Challenging trail with great scenic rewards. Great views of streams, a lake, and a steep, rocky climb. This hike can be a day hike but also has suitable camping at Canyon Lake.
• Upper Miner Lake Trail – The trail is also suitable as a day hike. However, several camp sites at Miner Lake are well worth the time. The added bonus of great star-gazing on clear fall nights suggest a night of camping.

While Idaho has hiking trails (and Montana has biking trails), Idaho seems to be more focused on biking. That’s likely due to the lower elevations on the western edge of the Rockies.

• Independence Creek Tour – Difficult – 21.1 Miles (33.9 Kilometers) – Point to Point – 3,032 Feet (924 Meters) Ascent – Pinehurst – Link to details .
• Beauty Bay Loop – Intermediate/Difficult – 19.8 miles (31.9 Kilometers) – Loop – 3498 Feet (1066 Meters) Ascent – Coeur d’Alene – Link to details .
• Upper Caribou Loop – Intermediate – 12.4 miles (19.9 Kilometers) – Loop – 2,418 Feet (737 Meters) Ascent – Coeur d’Alene – Link to details .
• Bernard Peak Loop – Intermediate – 18.3 Miles (29.5 Kilometers) – Loop – 2,711 Feet (826 Meters) Ascent – Spirit Lake – Link to details .
• 4th of July Pass-Killarney – Easy/Intermediate – 12.8 Miles (20.6 Kilometers) – Loop – 1,680 Feet (512 Meters) Ascent – Coeur d’Alene – Link to details .
• Gravity Hill in Grangeville Idaho. At Gravity Hill; stop, put your car in neutral and watch your car roll uphill! Actually, it’s an optical illusion but your eyes will play tricks on you. Maybe not worth going miles out of your way to see.
• Oasis Bordello Museum in Wallace Idaho. It’s a brothel turned museum! It’s probably not a place for the kids but it was an operating brothel in the 1800’s. The museum does try to keep things tasteful and even throw in some humor (how could they not!) .
• The Bar stool Ski Races, Martin City Montana – The races are actually on bar stools equipped with skis. The races are part of the Cabin Fever Days festival in Martin City near the west gate to Glacier National Park.
• The Montana Vortex and House of Mystery, Columbia Falls – Also near the west gate to Glacier National Park. It’s a gravitational anomaly. Pass through the Portal, feel the energy of the vortex. A sign says “Management is not responsible for world view changes”.

Individual posts about the Montana Idaho Road Trip

Following the information provided above, here are additional posts about the Montana Idaho Road Trip. Each one focuses on a highlight of the trip. A picture from and a link to the posts follow. A very brief commentary on each post shows you a bit of an overview and links each part of the trip to other parts.

The first day of this trip included the drive to Coeur d’Alene and time spent around the lake. It’s really a beautiful lake. Much of this post is about the lake and the resorts and sights around the lake. Coeur d’Alene is also the fastest-growing city in Idaho. With the national parks, the mountains, and more well-known lakes, Coeur d’Alene is almost a “well-kept secret”. Click on the link in the caption above to get more information.

Above is a general store on the road to Harrison. Great place to stop to browse or have a snack. The drive is beautiful with great views of the private homes along the way. Harrison is a historic town with a few eating places, a museum, and a couple of bike rental shops. More information is provided above in the paragraph above on bike routes.

How about some information on the drive from Coeur d’Alene to Kalispell? The first part is a stop at the famous 50,000 Silver Dollar Bar. Following the stop, is a viewing of the mountains and Flathead Lake. Another highlight among highlights!

RV Camping Glacier National Park

There are 13 campgrounds in Glacier National Park. However, only seven of them are suitable (and allow for) RV camping . RV campers, especially with large rigs, will need to do considerable advance planning to find a campsite that works for them. Also, keep in mind that crossing the full length of Going to the Sun road has a size limit of 21 feet (6.4 meters).

Tent Camping in Glacier National Park

There are 13 campgrounds in Glacier National Park. Six of them are strictly for tent camping. Glacier Park campgrounds cater to tent camping as many of the 7 campgrounds that do allow RV’s have a limited number of them for RV campsites. For example, Rising Sun Campground has 83 campsites and only 10 will accommodate RVs . These 13 campgrounds have over 1000 campsites. In addition to these campgrounds, there are 65 backpack campsites along the trails. These small campgrounds have a total of 208 campsites. A permit is needed for all backpack sites. The cost in 2019 is/was $7 per person, per night. Here is a link to a website that gives full details. There is a Glacier National Park backpack map included on the website.

Due to the closing of the Going to the Sun road middle section, we spent the first day and a half on the west side. We enjoyed our time in the park and dinner in Kalispell. Making use of hotel reward points saved some money as well! (Hotel and airline reward points are also a subject for another post!) As the day ended, we were fired up about a visit to the east side of Glacier National Park. By the way, below is a Glacier National Park map. Still another part of the Montana Idaho Road Trip.

Our Montana Idaho Road Trip took us to the east side of Glacier National Park. I believe the eastern side is more scenic than the west side. Apparently, many agree with me as it is more crowded. There are more open vistas to seeing the beauty of the mountains, valleys, lakes, and streams. The elevation is higher, so be prepared for more effort resulting from “thinner” air. Elevations are near and far over 5,000 feet (1525 meters). The above photo shows Glacier National Park weather on the day we were there. This suddenly descended on us as we got to the Logan Pass parking lot. Please see the post, clicking on the above link.

Garnet Ghost town is 45 minutes outside of Missoula. A fascinating place to visit. The foundation that operates Garnet calls it “arrested decay”, meaning it’s not restored but the gradual decay has been stopped by keeping it in the same condition as when they took over. Garnet was not like many of the boom-towns “back in the day”. Many of the miners brought their families and settled down in the town. There are a couple of the old homes that have been restored on the inside and are for rent during certain times of the year. Another unexpected highlight of the Montana Idaho Road Trip.

This is the last stop on our Montana Idaho Road Trip. The post includes some sights around Missoula as well as some history and terrain. The University of Montana is located here. It’s also the second-largest city in Montana.

Our Montana Idaho Road Trip was a “fun” trip for us. Both of us wanted to visit Glacier National park and Coeur d’Alene in Idaho. Coeur d’Alene has some great resorts and, of course, Coeur d’Alene Lake. Western Montana is beautiful. Much different from the eastern part which is at lower elevations and much flatter. The Driveby Tourist has now visited 14 of the 61 US National Parks. Long ways to go! So, add it to your bucket list! Take the kids! Take the grandkids! Go by yourself! (As we said back in the 60s and 70s, “whatever turns you on”.)

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Classic Rock Recollection

“The Long and Winding Road: by The Beatles The long and winding road That leads to your door Will never disappear I’ve seen that road before It always leads me here Lead me to you door The wild and windy night That the rain washed away Has left a pool of tears Crying for the day Why leave me standing here? Let me know the way Written by: John Lennon & Paul McCartney (Not sure if it’s a match but we drove a lot of winding roads!)

#glaciernationalpark #Montanaroadtrip #Idahoroadtrip

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Best Road Trips in the Northern Rockies: Montana, Wyoming and Idaho

Updated : April 19, 2023

AAA Travel Editor, Katie Broome

Bkamprath/iStockphoto.com

Best Montana Road Trips

The scenery in Montana is as impressive as it is varied. Thick forests, towering mountains, deep valleys and pristine lakes characterize the western part of the state, which includes the northern Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide. It’s the topography of Montana’s west that inspired the name montaña, the Spanish word for “mountain” or “mountainous region.” Of all Montana road trips, this one is perhaps the most popular (and is sometimes referred to as Glacier National Park’s “Road to the Sun”). The 50-mile route cuts across Glacier National Park at an elevation of 6,646 feet and is open seasonally, so you’ll want to plan accordingly. To include the road as part of a longer trip, consider AAA’s , a 374-mile journey that starts in Kalispell, Montana, and ends in the capital city of Helena. (AAA members can take advantage of exclusive member benefits with car rentals from Hertz .)

A drive through the eastern portion of Montana will have you wondering, “Why is the sky so big in Montana?” It’s the prairie grasslands and wide-open vistas of the east that gave Montana the nickname “Big Sky Country.” To see these expansive, impossibly blue skies, consider the following road trips:

• Big Sky Country Road Trip : A scenic 425-mile journey that starts and ends in Billings, Montana, looping through southern Montana and a small section of northern Wyoming. You’ll see the cowboy town of Cody, snow-capped mountains and hairpin turns along Beartooth Scenic Highway , and important sites in Native American history like Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

• Big Sky Back Country Scenic Byway : Farther east in Montana’s Great Plains region, this 111-mile journey takes you through badlands, buttes and rolling prairies.

For Montana drives under one hour, consider these additional trips:

• Flathead Lake West Shore Scenic Highway : Follows the shore of glacially formed Flathead Lake, said to be the largest natural body of freshwater west of the Mississippi River

• Bitterroot Valley Scenic Highway : Begins in rustic Darby, a filming location for the TV series “Yellowstone”

Road Trips Around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

Established in 1872, was the first national park in the U.S. and continues to be one of its most-visited, with approximately 4 million visitors each year. If you want to be among those visitors and experience one of the best places for road trips in the U.S., here are a few things to know about Yellowstone:

• The park is big — very big. Based on total land area, Yellowstone is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

• The vast majority of Yellowstone’s 3,472 square miles lie in northwestern Wyoming, but its boundaries also extend into Idaho and Montana. (Three of the five park entrances are in Montana.)

• Wildlife sightings are common from park roadways, so drive with caution; you may see grizzlies, black bears, elk, bighorn sheep, moose and bison.

• Most park roads are open May through October (weather permitting), but check the Yellowstone road status website for the most current information.

To see Yellowstone’s dramatic river canyons, geysers, geothermal pools and waterfalls in all their glory, take the road trip, a 400-mile journey from Bozeman, Montana, to Jackson, Wyoming, with plenty of national park stops along the way. You’ll enter through the park’s west entrance (in West Yellowstone, Montana) before making a scenic loop that includes the popular Yellowstone Grand Loop in the heart of the park. This Yellowstone drive includes a trip through Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park, with magnificent views of Jenny Lake, the Teton Range and the valley of Jackson Hole.

What Else to See on a Wyoming Road Trip (Besides Yellowstone)

Once you’ve done the scenic drives around Yellowstone National Park, what else should you see in Wyoming?Just outside Yellowstone’s northeast entrance is , a two-lane road that’s been called one of the most scenic American road trips. It rises to an elevation of almost 11,000 feet, with plenty of overlooks where you can stop for a photo. (If you’re starting from Cody, Wyoming, take the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway to reach Beartooth Scenic Highway; it offers more views of snow-capped mountains and deep canyons.)South of Yellowstone, you can explore the ski resorts and mountains around Jackson Hole and Star Valley. The Star Valley to Yellowstone Scenic Highway will take you from Yellowstone’s south entrance into Grand Teton National Park and then through Jackson Hole and a handful of small towns near the Idaho border. This trip is a good jumping off point for visiting Snow King Mountain and the National Elk Refuge in Jackson, Wyoming.North-central Wyoming near the Montana border offers many scenic drives and small towns worth exploring. From I-90 just south of the Montana–Wyoming border, you’ll have your pick of two scenic drives that start on US 14: the is a roughly 200-mile route across the Bighorn and Shoshone national forests on the way to Cody, while the Medicine Wheel Passage Scenic Highway heads toward Bighorn Lake on US 14A.The follows SR 120 past the vast prairies of Bighorn Basin to Thermopolis, Wyoming, a town known for its hot springs. Continue south on the Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway to Shoshoni for more views of canyons, rock formations and the Bighorn River.

Best Idaho Road Trips

Breathtaking mountain scenery, diverse wildlife, raging river rapids and a ski town that rivals Aspen — it’s easy to see why the state of Idaho makes a great road trip destination.The west region of Idaho boasts the , a 90-minute drive that snakes along the Payette River, with frequent pull-offs to admire the view.Scenic drives in Idaho’s central region will acquaint you with the state’s remote wilderness and craggy granite peaks. The follows SR 75 through Sawtooth National Recreation Area, passing the popular resort towns of Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley along the way. You may see wildlife like pronghorn antelope, deer, elk and wolves in this area.Another must-do road trip in the central region of Idaho is the , which follows the Salmon River (also known as the River of No Return, due to its strong current) past waterfalls and spectacular areas for whitewater rafting. As you near the Montana border, you can put yourself in the shoes of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who traveled through these mountain passes in 1805 on their journey west.In northern Idaho’s panhandle is a portion of the only International Scenic Byway in North America: . This 88-mile section of the Selkirk Loop offers great river scenery and wildlife watching opportunities around the Selkirk Mountains. (Make the full international loop — bring your passport! — by adding on Washington’s International Selkirk Scenic Loop to the west and British Columbia’s International Scenic Loop to the north.)Nearby is the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway , a two-lane road that follows the Clark Fork of the Columbia River from the Idaho–Montana border to Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced pond-ah-RAY), one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Pacific Northwest.

Best Time of Year for a Northern Rockies Road Trip

June to September is the best time of year for a Northern Rockies road trip, with the best chances of sunny skies and mild temperatures occurring in summer. July is the hottest month on average in these states.

Given the ideal driving conditions in June, July and August, expect plenty of crowds when road-tripping through tourist-heavy areas like Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton national parks in summer months.

If you plan to visit Yellowstone National Park in the fall or spring, keep in mind that roads may close for winter conditions as early as October and remain closed until mid-April. In Glacier National Park, roads at higher elevations (such as the alpine portion of Going-to-the-Sun Road) can close in October and remain closed until late June or early July.

Some roads in Grand Teton National Park may close from November through April or mid-May for winter recreational use.

Winters are particularly harsh in the Northern Rockies, and driving in winter months can be dangerous due to slush, frost, snow, ice and white-out conditions.

No matter the season, always be prepared for dramatic temperature changes and unpredictable weather in the Northern Rockies, especially at higher elevations.

Start Your Next Road Trip with AAA

AAA Travel provides peace of mind for travelers — from the first mile of the journey to the last. Get inspiration for your next road trip and locate AAA Diamond designated hotels and restaurants with AAA’s TripTik Travel Planner , or browse pre-planned itineraries on AAA.com/RoadTrips . Estimating fuel costs for your trip is easy with the AAA Gas Cost Calculator , and if your car needs a quick tune-up before the trip, find a AAA Approved auto repair facility near you at AAA.com/AutoRepair . For printed maps, AAA TourBook guides and trip planning advice, contact your local AAA office .

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Montana Road Trip: Authentic Adventure, Old West Towns, Yellowstone Country

By: Author Rob Taylor

Posted on Published: March 4, 2021  - Last updated: October 18, 2023

A Montana road trip is such an adventure. I’d call it one of the great American road trips. Montana roads and sights are amazing, even just along I-90, the main highway. This Montana road trip itinerary takes you from west to east (we do this as a Washington to Montana road trip) stopping in mining towns, National Parks and even antique candy stores. You’ll love it!

Our love of road trips is clear. Our most common that we do nearly every year is an Oregon Coast road trip , but our other most frequent road trip itinerary is through Montana and the Yellowstone National Park area . Whether you want to make this a 5 day itinerary or a 10 day itinerary in Montana, there are plenty of great things to do and road trip stops.

Some of the best places to visit in Montana are found in the southwestern part of the state, called Yellowstone Country, so that’s where we’ll focus. Ghost towns, Montana hikes, craft distilling and more Montana attractions lie ahead, so buckle up and take notes!

Get my book, The Road Trip Survival Guide ! (May 2021)

Planning a Montana Road Trip

Like with any vacation, you need to figure out how long you want to be gone and what sort of activities and attractions are the most important to you on your Montana road trip. Having done it several times, we know that the perfect Montana getaway plan includes both nature and history, adventure and antiques (think ghost towns), and a good balance of being active and relaxing. Also, if you’re planning to visit Glacier or Yellowstone National Parks , adding a few days of exploring is super easy.

Here’s how to plan an easy Montana road trip:

• Choose three highlights or destinations you most look forward to
• Plan to stay at least two nights in each destination
• Pre-map your activities/destinations to make your drive time as efficient as possible
• Check out the local websites for your destinations to see if there are any local events or festivals you either want to be a part of or that may impact your travel

With a few easy planning steps you can make sure that you and your traveling companions enjoy the best Montana road trip possible.

Best Time for a Montana Road Trip

If you’re traveling June through September, road conditions in Montana should be good and your route shouldn’t be impacted at all. You can always check the Montana Traveler Information site for current conditions, or call 511 from a cell phone when in Montana for up to the hour road conditions.

When you’re up in the mountains, such as in Yellowstone or Glacier, even in the summer there are random snow storms, but they are few and far between. In general, summer is always the best time for a trip. If you’re visiting in fall or spring, even frequently traveled places, like Bozeman to Yellowstone, may have snow on the road, but they are well maintained.

If you don’t want to turn your vacation into an adventure road trip due to weather, travel during the summer months.

Montana Road Trip itinerary: Western Towns & Yellowstone Country

We start this Montana road trip plan in the west heading southeast. For us, we always are driving from Seattle so are following I-90 through Eastern Washington and Idaho until we get to Western Montana. The Washington to Montana road trip is gorgeous, so if you get extra time to explore the mountains of Idaho have fun with it! Listen to our Yellowstone Country podcast episode!

Here is the route of the best Montana road trip. Note the drive times between stops and within each destination section, and you can see where we recommend for a home base in each area. As you’re planning your own Yellowstone Country vacation, know that you can break up the travel plan with time in Yellowstone National Park and then finish off the itinerary.

Also, to do a complete Western Montana trip, add our Glacier Country itinerary to cover the full span between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.  Google Maps link here for full route through Yellowstone Country.

Tip :  if you want to add the Beartooth Highway to your Yellowstone Country vacation , it’s doable by heading east through the National Park and up towards Billings. It’s different, but beautiful. Road conditions may close this road, but it’s usually open in peek summer travel times.

First Stop: Montana Mining Country

Between the Sawtooth Range of Idaho and the Rocky Mountains lies the Southwest Montana region. If you’re on the Washington to Montana road trip, you’ll have passed through Missoula on I-90 . Soon after Missoula you either head north towards Glacier National Park or continue south through the hills to the historic mining country.

While mining country may not sound amazing, this is where you’ll do your old west towns and antique road trip stops. What was once the busiest boom-town area in the United State is now quiet ranchland and ghost towns.

This include many historic mining areas, ranch lands and Lewis and Clark country. A visit to this region could be its own Montana vacation or even an antique road trip route.

Philipsburg, Montana: a Victorian mining town

This wonderful Western Montana road trip stop can be added at the end of the trip or as the first stop on your tour. You can do it before Grant-Kohrs Ranch or on your way back out of Montana. It’s just off I-90 so it’s easy to be flexible with your visit to Philipsburg. 

Confession time: we only just discovered Philipsburg on our most recent Montana road trip and on our way back out of the state at that. A beautifully preserved/restored town from the high point of western mining days, it’s the perfect way to begin a road trip through Montana history.

Near Philipsburg is the Anaconda Mine, which is quite large and famous. Dotting the surrounding hills and highways are dozens of other small mines, some open for tours or gold panning, giving Montana mining country both a historic and a present-day mining story to tell.

Location :  Google Maps link here

Highlights in Philipsburg

While the obvious reason to visit Philipsburg , Montana is because it’s a picture perfect Victoria town, much like Port Townsend, Washington , there is more to the town. Check out the really cool and interesting Philipsburg Brewing Company in the old Broadway Hotel, the Sweet Palace where they have vintage candy machines working hard to produce vintage sweets, and of course, there’s the opportunity mining and gem shopping.

Antique storefronts and shops make Philipsburg a picturesque start to your Montana road trip. Vintage, colorful, unique: perfect Montana mining country.

Note : if you want to stay in or near Philipsburg, book a local hotel or inn ( check out the Broadway Hotel !). Like has happened in Cinque Terre , Isla Holbox , and Venice , private vacation rentals in the cute, historic district have made housing for locals more scarce and expensive. Be low impact and make considerate travel choices .

Montana Life at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site

Since you’ll be seeing cattle and farms all along your Montana road trip route, you might as well learn something about it. The Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic site is a wonderfully preserved ranch that includes a Visitor Center, nature trails, ranch house (has a guided tour), chuck wagon, blacksmith shop and more. If your road trip theme is antiques and vintage Montana, this is a must-stop attraction.

To visit the Grant-Kohrs Ranch you’ll either stop in Deer Lodge, Montana as you drive on I-90 towards Butte, or you can add this to the end of the Montana road trip loop. Getting to the town of Deer Lodge is easy, and its location just off the freeway makes it a good, convenience stop with several attractions in the town.

Why visit Grant-Hohrs Ranch NHS?

A highlight of visiting Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS with kids is the living history element. Besides getting a new stamp in our National Parks Passports we got to chat with rangers manning the chuck-wagon and working the ranch. Also, the longhorn cattle and gardens were hits for our family.

Location :  Google Maps link here .  266 Warren Lane; Deer Lodge,  MT   59722

Hours :  7 days a week, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm in summer (closes at 4:30 pm from Labor Day to Memorial Day)

Deer Lodge for the Old Montana State Prison

On your Montana road trip along I-90 you’ll see lots of signs for the Old Montana Prison in Deer Lodge. This is right next door to Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS so if you do one you can easily add the other to your itinerary.

Built in the late 1800s, the Old Montana State Prison is considered one of the most haunted spots in the Old West. You can tour the Prison year round except for a month crossing between December and January. You decide if it’s right for young kids or not. Our kids wanted to skip it and we went with our gut and let them make that call. The town of Deer Lodge is cute and there are a few restaurants and fun window shopping, so it’s easy to split up your group if not everyone is into the prison.

Crazy idea: overnight at the Old Montana State Prison for a GHOST HUNT. That’s right, it’s considered to be the most haunted place in Montana, so book the overnight tour for a one-of-a-kind, unique road trip adventure! Book the Overnight Montana State Prison Ghost Hunt here!

Location :     Google Maps link here . 1106 Main Street; Deer Lodge, MT 59722

Hours :  8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Next Montana Road Trip Stop: Butte

It’s easy to drive through Butte on a Montana road trip but we’ve got five great reasons to spend some time in Butte . Since it’s actually a fairly large town/city, it’s an easy home base to put on your Montana itinerary. Stay in Butte and make day trips to the surrounding areas (noted below). There are a lot of attractions and road trip stops IN Butte itself, so stay here and enjoy.

Quick history: mining boom-town in the 1860s, population became 100K+, mining all but ended for Butte, 70K+ people up and left. Butte, the Richest Hill on Earth, became an enormous ghost town.  

Today, Butte is a really cool town with a lot of beautiful historic homes and buildings. We think of Butte as the gateway to Yellowstone Country. It’s home to some one-of-a-kind dining experiences, and it’s seeing a resurgence of life and business, including some really cool antique and vintage shops to look for cool old Montana finds.

Here are 5 great ways to enjoy Butte as both a piece of Montana history and a fun vacation town:

• Do a guided tour to hear the history and visit cool spots ( trolley tour through Visitors Center, walking tour through Old Butte Historical Adventures )
• Visit the World Museum of Mining and go into a mine shaft
• Eat at Pekin Noodle Parlour , the very first and longest continually operating Chinese American restaurant in the USA
• Spend an afternoon at the Stodden Park Ridge Waters waterpark (and bonus carousel next door)
• Visit Headframe Spirits or Butte Brewing Co to see modern craft houses at work

There is of course more to do, but these activities are fun, easy and perfect for the whole family.

Visiting the Butte Water Park

Run by Butte City Parks and Recreation, this is a small, inexpensive water park that is ideal on a hot Montana summer day. Two big water slides, a kids cove, lazy river and more, it’s only $20 for a family of four. It’s one of the best things to do in Butte and an awesome deal, much needed to cool down. Stops like this are always great to add to a family road trip .

Location :  Google Maps link here .  3103 S Utah Ave, Butte MT 59701

Hours :  Seven days a week in summer, 12:00 pm – 6:30 pm (mornings open for lap swimming)

Craft Distillery at Headframe Spirits in Butte

We recommend stopping into Headframe Spirits when you’re in Butte because the owners are really remarkable people doing amazing things. “Amazing? Making craft spirits is amazing?” It’s not just that.

They are active in the community, providing space for Pride activities in Butte. Headframe Spirits has worked to preserve and restore their historic building. Headframe has also pioneered a distilling/aging process for spirits that shortens the time and makes product available faster, making business sustainable, and has shared this technology with other craft distillers.

Beyond Butte they are helping others succeed in their ventures. We want you to visit Headframe Spirits because it’s more than good whiskey: it’s a business doing good. 

Location :  Google Maps link here .  21 S Montana St, Butte MT 59701

Hours :  Seven days a week, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Cave tour at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park

We visit a lot of caves and we try to share what makes each special and interesting. Lewis and Clark Caverns has been a favorite Montana state park of mine since I was a little kid. Why?

Lewis and Clark Caverns have some of the most spectacular rooms and formations. The experience of descending the steps in the cave and crouching down through magical portals is just one-of-a-kind. How can this not be a part of a Montana road trip?  Lewis and Clark Caverns is one of the best things to do in Montana and gets your inner science geek excited for visiting Yellowstone.

Check out our full article on Lewis and Clark Caverns here .

Know Before You Go to Lewis and Clark Caverns

When visiting Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park you need to be ready to do some physical stuff. The hike to the cave entrance is a half mile uphill.

Inside the cave you’ll descend 500 stairs and climb 200 more. You’ll be crouching down to get through tiny tunnel areas. You’ll even need to slide down a chute at one point. It’s super fun, but if you’re physically challenged or have bad joints, you’ll find it very difficult or just not for you.

Also, it’s much cooler inside the caverns than the hillside you hike on. You’ll arrive at the mouth of the cave sweaty and hot… then you go inside and you’ll be cold and drippy. It’s fun, but be prepared.

Location : Google Maps link here . 25 Lewis & Clark Caverns Road, Whitehall, MT 59759

Hours :  Seven days a week, 9:00 am – 6:30 pm

Outdoors and Hiking Near Butte, Montana

This part of Western Montana is GORGEOUS! Here in the northern part of Gallatin County you’ll find the Headwaters of the Missouri River State Park, Madison Buffalo Jump State Park, and several historic sites pertaining to Lewis and Clark. Gallatin County actually stretches all the way down to West Yellowstone and includes a portion of Yellowstone National Park, but we’ll save that info for another article all about that part of Yellowstone Country.

Missouri Headwaters State Park

For the perfect day out in nature, we suggest getting everything you need for a picnic at the Missouri Headwaters . There is a great, shaded picnic area just off the river that’s perfect for kids. Here you’ll also find river access just before the Gallatin River joins the Missouri River. You can play in the river, but children should be well supervised as the water is very strong and is moving very fast as you get into the center of the river.

There are nature trails as well from the picnic area ( Google Maps link here ) or from the Confluence area. For adults or families with older kids, there are several spots that you can put into either the Gallatin or Missouri Rivers if you’re into floating. Always exercise caution and review river maps before just jumping in though, because you don’t want to get to a part of the river you can’t handle or go farther than you’re planning to haul out.

Madison Buffalo Jump State Park

We love this spot. It’s an obscure site and lies at the end of a dirt road, but it’s worth the visit. A short quarter mile hike up the hill takes you to the lookout with a shelter and a view of a gorgeous butte. Here, you can watch for deer, pronghorn antelope, birds or all sorts and appreciate wild flowers. Google Maps link here .

If you want to hike further, be sure to have plenty of water and to watch for rattlesnakes, but go for it! There is a nice trail system , shared by equestrians (horseback riders), and the view from the top of the butte looks out across Gallatin County. It’s a perfectly picturesque Montana road trip stop.

Awesome Montana Ghost Towns

You can’t even begin to talk about a Western Montana road trip without including ghost towns. If you’re unfamiliar, a ghost town is the remnants of a boom-town that has been vacated for one reason or another, often due to the end of the mining era or relocation of timber centers. Montana’s history is full people emigrating and immigrating for the chance of striking it rich with gold or other precious metals and gems.

This historic element makes the Montana drive one of the great American road trips you must do in life. As you leave I-90 and head towards Yellowstone Country, you’ll see remnants of yesteryear towns more and more. Antique buildings and museums are just the start of Montana ghost town fun.

Nevada City, Montana

The first of the Montana ghost towns to stop in is Nevada City. Part of a former 14 mile long boom town in Alder Gulch , it’s now a living museum and one of the coolest attractions in Montana. While some of the ghost town buildings in Nevada city were rescued from other parts of the boom town strip, the town maintains its history and charm. You can even still pan for gold and garnets.

Nevada City is one of the best Montana road trip stops and really is fun and fascinating. Tour the ghost town, check out the museum, grab a coffee from the saloon and then hop on the Alder Gulch Short Line railroad to ride through Central City and end in Virginia City.

Staying in Nevada City, Montana

For being a small Montana ghost town, Nevada City actually has some wonderful accommodations . We were quite privileged for this part of our Montana road trip.

The Nevada City Hotel and Cabins is a collection of 1860s cabins and an original hotel building, nestled up next to the museum portion of the ghost town. We had a two queen bed cabin that had been nicely updated, including a very nice bathroom. It wasn’t at all what we expected upon seeing our 150+ year old cabin with cactus growing out of the roof. Super cool accommodations for a Montana road trip.   Book the Nevada City Hotel here!

Road Trip Stop in Virginia City , Montana

As we said, you can take the Alder Gulch Short Line railroad between Nevada and Virginia Cities. It’s a fun, 20 minute train ride that gives you a pretty thorough history of the area and the 14 mile boom town. Once you’re in Virginia City , it’s all old west attractions and history!

Between the exhibits that make the town feel like everybody’s just out and about to the old Cabbage Patch shacks, it’s an interesting place for kids and adults.

The most fun thing for us in Virginia City was actually finally getting to do an old-time family photo . If that sounds weird to you, here’s the scoop: you get to dress up in period costumes, from cowboys to soldiers, saloon girls to rustlers, and then they do a photo shoot with you on a set. It’s a Montana road trip must.

Note :  the original, very first old time photo studio is the Montana Picture Gallery here in Virginia City. They know their stuff and do a great job. That’s where we did ours. Loved the experience!  Google Maps link here .

One other point of interest not to miss in Virginia City is Boothill and the cemetery. If you’re not into old graves but you’re curious, at least visit Boothill and pay your respects to the Rodent Agents: a rogue band of mice that had to be trapped after causing a ruckus in town. RIP, tiny mouse friends.

Big Sky or Bozeman to Yellowstone National Park

This is where you can get really flexible with your Montana road trip itinerary. This is also where a lot of the adventure road trip activities come into play. You can either head south out of Big Sky and stay for a few days in West Yellowstone or within Yellowstone National Park, or you can head up to Bozeman and explore the area between the city and the National Park.

Here you’ll find two options for itineraries in the Yellowstone Country portion of the Montana road trip: Big Sky and West Yellowstone OR Livingston and Pray, Montana. You could do the whole area by going one route, exploring Yellowstone National Park, and then continuing onto the other route. You can also just pick one.

You’ll never be board with so many things to do and see in Yellowstone Country. Feel confident choosing EITHER option.

Exploring Big Sky Country

Going deeper into Yellowstone Country, your next Montana road trip stop is Big Sky. You’ll find everything in Big Sky from luxury resorts on the mountain to camping right on the Gallatin River. I like to think of Big Sky as the part of Montana that truly has something for everyone and every budget.  We’ve been several times now and have a great list of the best things to do in Big Sky, Montana that will make you want to spend a whole week there!

Big Sky is a great home base for both exploring Yellowstone Country and actually going into the National Park. There are hotels and vacation rentals, but the town is quite costly to stay in, so book your lodging far in advance for the best deals.

Big Sky Resort: time on the mountain

In the winter, Big Sky is THE skiing and snowboarding getaway. In the summer it’s all about the hiking and mountain biking. There are several attractions associated with the Big Sky Resort actually.

We did a guided tour up to the top of Lone Mountain, two miles above sea level, that took us from chair lifts to off-roading to an enclosed gondola to a hike. The view from the top across Yellowstone Country is remarkable.

All around the Big Sky Resort area there are activities for visitors to enjoy, both complimentary and paid experiences. The kids loved having a rock climbing playground available, while zip-lining was much more of dad-speed. The ziplining!! Wow! Again, super cool experience and there was even a few moose in the valley below! Other options including boat rentals, mountain biking, spa days and more. Also, don’t forget that the Big Sky Resort is huge with all sorts of accommodations .

Note :  if you’re planning on going on a zipline at the Big Sky Resort, it is their policy that all participants wear close-toed shoes. There can be no holes/gaps, so water-shoes or sandals aren’t allowed.

Lone Mountain and 320 Guest Ranches

Have you stayed on a guest ranch before? Make sure, either here in Big Sky or on another overnight, that you have a guest ranch stay. It’s a great way to feel like a cowboy and enjoy the Western Montana life. The 320 Guest Ranch is located just south of the town of Big Sky, right on the Gallatin River, just 15 minutes to the border of Yellowstone National Park . We enjoyed a cabin with two queen beds and a front porch at the end of the property. It was quiet and beautiful with a creek running besides. Book the 320 Guest Ranch here!

As far as horse experiences go, we haven’t done any lengthy, multi-day rides up into the wilderness, but have enjoyed other fun activities: a wagon ride with a riverside barbecue (320 Guest Ranch), mountain horseback expedition (Lone Mountain Ranch) and kids cowpoke rides (both 320 Guest Ranch and Lone Mountain Ranch).

Our kids (and us parents too) love horses, so getting to hang out with them so much in Big Sky is always perfect.

Other Big Sky experiences not to miss

Of course we can’t share everything to do, but we want to point out a few more activities to fill the time if you have an extra day or two in the Big Sky area. The first two are hikes: Bacon Rind Trail within the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park and Elkhorn Creek Trail at the Red Cliff area of the Gallatin National Forest. These hikes are both considered easy and doable with kids, going as far as you feel comfortable and not too steep. 

Note : while we visited, two sets of hikers we met encountered a grizzly bear on the Bacon Rind trail , so be cautious and prepared when hiking. Bring bear spray if you have it (or get some) and know how to act if you come face to face with a bear.

The last STRONG recommendation in Big Sky is having a meal at the Gallatin Riverhouse Grill right on the Gallatin River. You may have to wait for a table, but there are plenty of yard games and river frontage to enjoy. There’s also plenty of picnic tables and Adirondack chairs for guests to chill in and enjoy a local beer or two. The brisket and fried chick were awesome. Chris actually said that it was the best fried chicken he’s ever had.

Exploring Bozeman, Montana

We’re wrapping up our Western Montana road trip plan and ending this portion in Bozeman . A good sized city and the home of Montana State University Bozeman, it’s a fun mix of modern town and old west storefronts. Also, there are a lot of craft breweries in Bozeman. If you can’t pick one to visit, just go for the Bozeman Taproom & Fill Station so you can get the best of everything Montana beer has to offer.  Find Bozeman accommodations here .

We’ve stayed several places in Bozeman on different trips. Our two favorites have been the Holiday Inn (I know, but it’s in a great location with big rooms) and the RSVP Motel BZN. The Holiday Inn is ideal with kids and its casual setting is a nice, mellow break on a road trip. The RSVP Motel is really cool for a single traveler or couple, as it’s very retro and fun, including champagne in the lobby.

Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman

This is why we were sure to include Bozeman in our Montana road trip plan. The Museum of the Rockies is a division of MSU Bozeman and is THE dinosaur museum in Montana. The love the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver , and then the Fernbank in Atlanta is awesome too, but nobody can compare with the collection of T-Rex fossils that the Museum of the Rockies has.

The kids loved the extensive fossil collection (and we did too) but the outdoor farm and living history exhibits were, I think, a real bonus. The museum docents were in period costume and doing everything from baking in the farm kitchen to working in the garden. One lady actually showed us how the Victrola phonograph worked at played music for us.

Note : if you’re visiting the Museum of the Rockies on your Montana road trip, check their website in advance for rotating special exhibitions. We got to do the Ghengis Khan exhibit and it was really cool and a great surprise.

Location :   Google Maps link here . 600 W Kagy Blvd, Bozeman, MT 59717

Hours :  Seven days a week, 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Craft Beers in Bozeman

I think you’ll find that Bozeman is actually a really cool, dare I say hip, city. Everywhere you go has wonderful local beer on tap and offers many Montana distilleries’ spirits. For all the meals and beers we’ve had in Bozeman, two places really stand out: Montana Ale Works and Bozeman Taproom & Fill Station.

Both restaurants have great food with a lot of it being locally sourced. And their beers are awesome. Both are located in neighborhoods with lots of parking and are family friendly. Whether you’re there for a meal or a local beer flight, add one to your itinerary for your time in Bozeman.

Vintage Montana in Livingston

If ever there were a cool town to put on a road trip itinerary it’s Livingston, Montana. Neon marquees, old cafes and theaters, museums… Livingston is really fun. Being directly on the route from Bozeman to Yellowstone, you can’t miss it. It’s a good place to stock up on road trip supplies, take some cool photos and just relax.

Livingston is also home to two pretty unique museums: the Yellowstone Gateway Museum and the Livingston Depot Center . Both cover local history and have a nice collection of regional art. If you needed to add a little culture into your Montana road trip itinerary, this is the place to do it!

Historic Hot Springs and Fun in Pray, Montana

I love hot springs and we try to visit them whenever possible. From Sol Duc Hot Springs on the Olympic Peninsula to Carson Hot Springs in Nevada , we never miss a chance. And Chico Hot Springs is a MUST GO!

Whether you’re staying in the historic hot springs lodge or just visiting for the day, Chico Hot Springs is a fun Montana road trip stop. It’s located in the tiny town of Pray, Montana and it’s easy to miss if you’re just driving from Bozeman to Yellowstone quickly. BUT STOP!!! You HAVE TO!! Book a stay at Chico Hot Springs here!

Another beautiful place in Pray, Montana is the Sage Lodge. Known for its guided fishing trips and luxury close to Yellowstone National Park, the Sage Lodge is amazing. Beautiful rooms with fireplaces, epic mountain views, and delicious food, it’s my favorite lodging in all of Montana. Book the Sage Lodge here!

The town of Pray is a great place to stay for a night or two if you’re interested in fishing or horseback riding. It’s in a great location and it’s beautiful.

Visiting Yellowstone National Park on a Montana Road Trip

How can you come all this way and NOT actually visit Yellowstone National Park?! While I love Yellowstone and could spend a week there exploring every trail and geyser, not every stop within the park is required. There are some amazing views and experiences though, so make time for a few days in the park.

Please check out our complete Yellowstone National Park Guide

If I had to limit myself for the best things to do in Yellowstone over a two day period, here are the sights and attractions I’d put on the itinerary:

• Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
• Norris Geyser Basin
• Mammoth Hot Springs and the Boiling River
• Fairy Falls Hike to Grand Prismatic Spring overlook
• Picnic and Bison viewing in the Hayden or Lamar Valley

There is so much more to do in Yellowstone, but these easy sights are a good starting point if you don’t have a ton of time to spend in the Park on your Montana road trip.

5 Day Montana Road Trip Itinerary

Here is the plain and simple itinerary for enjoying the adventure of a 5 day Montana Road Trip. This itinerary starts and ends with flying into / out of Bozeman, MT. Use this plan as a starting point, adjusting it for road conditions and if you have more time you can commit.

10 Day Montana Road Trip Itinerary

This 10 day Montana road trip itinerary assumes that you’re driving from Washington to Montana. We start counting down the 10 days in Montana from the time you cross the border and start hitting our favorite Montana attractions. Something wonderful about this 10 day road trip itinerary is that you can cut out activities or road trip stops to give yourself more time in Yellowstone National Park or whichever destination you’re enjoying the most.

Remember that you don’t have to do everything. If you are able to add days, do it, but if you need to cut out stops, that’s okay. Create the Montana road trip you’ll enjoy and works with your time and budget.

From Bozeman you can easily continue onto Glacier National Park to the north where you’ll find tons of things to do and see, or Yellowstone National Park to the south, the north entrance in Gardiner being the closest at 1 hour 20 minutes. There’s really no wrong way to do a Western Montana road trip.

For an additional idea, check out our ideas for Glacier Country and all the cool things to do from Whitefish to East Glacier . Never a dull moment or a bad view in Montana .

Want to pin this for planning your own Montana road trip? Go for it!!!

Tuesday 21st of January 2020

There’s something for everyone, from skiing and fishing adventures to spa days and shopping. Kids activities are endless, and there’s no better way to get them unplugged than a visit to Montana.

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A Rookie’s Road Trip Through Montana, Wyoming and Idaho

A car-averse traveler finds freedom in the driver’s seat, covering 700 miles and three states over three days.

Heading down U.S. Highway 20 West, from Idaho Falls to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Arco, Idaho. Credit... Janie Osborne for The New York Times

Supported by

By Stephanie Rosenbloom

• June 30, 2015

If you long to answer the call of the open road but lack experience behind the wheel, look no further than the rental lot at Billings Logan International Airport in Montana.

On this sleepy strip of pavement you can spend a leisurely half-hour trying to deactivate the electronic parking brake you unwittingly turned on; practice a few turns to help ensure you won’t deep-six anyone; and attempt to allay the rising trepidation of your fellow traveler. Then, perhaps you will do as I did: drive (the wrong way) into town for lunch at the Burger Dive, a 1950s-style diner with chrome-trim chairs, burgers with names like the “Outlaw” and tattooed employees who look as if they’d just stepped off the L train from Brooklyn.

Thus, with a side of onion rings, began my all-American road trip, the one most romantics take when they’re 22 and there’s “nowhere to go but everywhere” as Sal Paradise put it in Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road.”

I’ve had a driver’s license for years, but in New York City the miles I log are on foot. Besides, I had never understood people’s fascination with driving. A car, in my mind, was merely a means to move from here to there, a burden to its owner and the environment, and potentially a way to get hurt or do harm.

Yet the remote, roughhewn beauty of the West has beckoned since I was a teenager. Who can say why you finally decide to do a thing?

On a cool June morning, I slid into the driver’s seat. The plan was to travel from the peaks of the Beartooth Range in Montana, through Yellowstone in Wyoming, to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho, some 700 miles. In the rental lot I buckled myself into a white Subaru Legacy alongside my travel companion, Dan, an unflappable, natural teacher tasked with the job of keeping us alive. To that end, he would do most of the driving. I’d try my hand at it here and there, putting my cowboy boot to the pedal where the road was wide and empty, hoping to experience a flash of transcendence.

Heading for Yellowstone along Beartooth Pass, one of the trickiest, and most breathtaking, stretches of road in the country.

West Thumb Geyser Basin, a caldera formed by a volcanic explosion 174,000 years ago, is one of the many attractions at Yellowstone.

A rear-view mirror reflects the Teton Mountains in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

Bob Turnbull, at right, assists a customer at Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters in Billings, Mont.

The road out of Jackson Hole, Wyo.

The Best of the Bash hamburger at the Burger Dive, a ’50’s-style diner in Billings.

Farmland near Rexburg, Idaho.

At the Montana Candy Emporium in Red Lodge, Mont., the walls are covered with many things, including vintage advertising signs for beer and Pepsi-Cola.

In Jackson Hole, Wyo., outdoor seating at Persephone Bakery.

Heading down U.S. Highway 20 West, from Idaho Falls to Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Arco, Idaho.

My first drive of the trip, into downtown Billings, lasted seven minutes — nine if you count my initially going in the opposite direction. I moved gingerly, never feeling entirely in control, though we skated past a sheriff’s car and arrived at the Dive unscathed. After lunch we considered touring the turn-of-the-century Moss Mansion, perhaps refining our aim at Three Sights Indoor Shooting Range. But at Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters — where cowboy boots come studded and stitched, made of reptile skins and ostrich leather — a salesman in a cowboy hat said, on hearing of our destination along Yellowstone Lake: “Some people take three days to get where you’re going.”

We planned to do it in an afternoon, driving about 200 miles from Billings through Beartooth Pass to Yellowstone, where we would spend the night at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins, which has been around in one form or another since 1891. Cresting at nearly 11,000 feet amid the Beartooth Mountains, Beartooth Pass is among the most breathtaking and perilous stretches of road in the country. It can be shut down even in summer because of ice, falling rocks, mudslides, fires and avalanches. At the airport Hertz counter a woman had said that if we made it, we should get out of the car and write our names in snow on a mountainside, “because that’s what everybody does.”

Everybody willing to drive Beartooth Pass, that is. I was not. But I’d try and get us to a nearby town where Dan could take over.

“It’s a great time of day to go,” said the salesman at Lou Taubert as we set off. “Game come out in the evening.”

Driving west from Billings, a gray road rises like the hump of a whale and you momentarily can’t see where it leads. As I approached, I thought about an old nightmare I used to have. I’d be in the back seat of a car and the highway would morph into an unfinished roller coaster track and the car would begin to fall. “Just look at the truck in front of you,” Dan said. “Focus on the truck.” I looked hard at the taillights and white-knuckled it toward nothingness. As the rest of the road came into view, the dread burned off like the morning fog.

Billings was disappearing, its Ferris wheel shrinking in the rearview mirror. The Tractor & Equipment Company and the Walmart Supercenter off U.S. Route 212 gave way to grassy fields, muted in the afternoon light like a 19th-century Albert Bierstadt painting. A billboard asked: “Where are you going? Heaven or hell?” Dan talked of curves in the road, how to glide in slow, then accelerate inside the pocket.

Mile by mile, town by town, I eased my death-grip on the wheel. I felt the road unrolling beneath me, and something else, too — a flutter of exuberance, like the scene in “Peter Pan” when the Darling children are learning to fly, though in my musical I was singing, “I’m driving!”

Around 3:15 we pulled into Red Lodge: former coal boomtown, site of a bank robbery by the Sundance Kid, rest stop for Calamity Jane, and the last stretch of civilization before Beartooth Pass. “Hemingway drank here once,” said a blackboard on the sidewalk outside a bar, “at least we thought he did.”

Inside the nearby Montana Candy Emporium, the walls were covered with vintage advertising signs for beer and Pepsi-Cola, which the young man at the register said the owner has been collecting for 40 years — apparently along with a stuffed ostrich and a bison head. Below are baskets and trays of sweets befitting Willy Wonka’s factory: chicken and waffle taffy, huckleberry (a favorite local ingredient) jelly fruit slices, and moose pies (potato chips, toffee and milk chocolate).

With a quarter-pound of peanut butter chocolate fudge, we headed for the Pass. By the time I realized I was driving a steep road around the rim of a yawning canyon, I was too stunned — by the soaring mountains and the sheer absurdity that I was the one at the wheel — to voice alarm. Though I dared not look into the abyss. Eyes on the road, I pushed up, past evergreens and a waterfall that skidded down a mountain like a vein. During seven miles of switchbacks, one of us would, on occasion, burst into the refrain from “This Land Is Your Land,” or some other song generally reserved for campfires. No car radio. No iPhone. An untested driver needs no distraction. As it is, when I adjust my window I have a tendency to drift into the next lane. There is no next lane on Beartooth Pass.

There is, however, the occasional turnout, including one overlooking glaciers and Custer National Forest. I parked on a stretch of dirt and followed Dan to the edge of a cliff.

“Listen,” he said.

From below came the sound of rushing water. We stood in silence. The sky had drained of color. There were no other cars, no other people, though there was evidence of the latter. On the mountainside by the road, in a dirty patch of snow, were block letters: ALEX WAS HERE. I stuck my finger into a slightly less filthy spot and drew our initials. No sooner were we back in the car than a rock the size of a basketball tumbled to where I’d been writing. Time to move on.

Beartooth Pass, part of Beartooth Highway, is, to borrow a phrase from the author Joseph Campbell, a “road of trials.” Along with stirring panoramas come signs warning of falling rocks, icy roads and hairpin turns to be taken at 20 miles an hour. At 9,190 feet, I pulled into Rock Creek Vista Point. “This is bear country!” said a sign in a restroom stall. “Be alert, make noise, carry bear spray and know how to use it.” Bear spray? I was still getting accustomed to carrying a car key.

It had begun raining as I zigzagged down the wet mountain byway toward the words “Open Range. Expect Cows on the Road.” Why hadn’t I done this sort of drive before? It was kind of thrilling.

“You may want to slow down, Mario Andretti,” said Dan.

At 8:31 p.m. the sign we had been waiting for materialized: “Welcome to Yellowstone.”

Nearly there!, I thought. The rain had moved out. The sky was purple, the clouds were pink, and on either side of us were big, woolly bison, as if we had driven into another time.

It wasn’t long, however, before everything was dark. The muscles in my upper back had begun to burn. Dan leaned out his window and asked some hikers how much farther to Yellowstone Lake. I heard the words “hour and a half.” I was a bit deflated but certainly not quitting this late in the game. Dan cautioned that in sports, it’s often in the last game of the day that someone gets hurt because they are tired and lose concentration. I promised we wouldn’t be those players. “Please,” I said, though it was unnecessary. He understood: “This is your marathon.”

I grinned. “Let’s drive!”

“O.K.,” he replied, glancing at the gearshift. “But how about not in reverse?”

The rain returned. So did the hairpin turns, leading us past a burned forest where trees looked like matchsticks. Whenever a car approached I switched off the brights, though in the process I would inadvertently switch on the turn signal. If I tried to shut it off, I ended up signaling in the other direction. Thus we drove through the woods, the Subaru blinking dumbly in the dark. I didn’t know that I cut it a little close on a couple of cliffs. It wasn’t until later that Dan debriefed me: “You only almost killed us once.”

We arrived at Yellowstone Lake close to midnight, too late for a victory dinner. The hotel restaurants were closed. So we ate peanut butter chocolate fudge. And moose pie. And SunChips from a vending machine. I peered out the window of the room into blackness. “We have a view of the parking lot,” I said, and drew the curtains.

When I parted them in the wee hours of the morning, the moon was still out. And there, beneath the windowsill, was Yellowstone Lake. In the night I had mistaken its placid surface for a parking lot. Transformation from lot to 20-mile-long lake is the sort of thing that happens only in dreams. Yet something even more magical happened overnight: I was looking forward to getting back behind the wheel.

That morning driving felt less like an ambition and more, dare I say, like pleasure. Rather than penetrate the crowds at Old Faithful, I drove us to West Thumb Geyser Basin, a caldera formed by a volcanic explosion 174,000 years ago, according to the $1 trail guide. A billboard warned visitors to stay on the boardwalk: “More than a dozen people have been scalded to death and hundreds badly burned and scarred.” There were hot springs, miniature mud volcanoes (mudpots), geysers and microbial mats whose pigmented bacteria set the earth aglow in spectacular colors: turquoise, green, orange. Tourists posed in front of Fishing Cone where, in the early 1900s, fishermen came to “hook and cook”: catch a trout from Yellowstone Lake, then cook it while still on the line by dangling it over the geyser.

Though it’s quieter than the scene at Old Faithful, West Thumb was still too busy for us. We returned to the road. It was a crisp morning. The windows were down and the seat heaters were up and, without any fanfare, Dan reached forward and switched on the radio. I had proven myself worthy of Kenny Rogers.

“The Gambler” took us toward Grand Teton National Park. I sang and Dan motioned for me to pull over every once in a while, like at Snake River Overlook on Route 191, where the photographer Ansel Adams used to capture the landscape. I was beginning to feel in control.

“Beautiful,” Dan said every now and then when I cut a smooth curve.

That night I had booked the cheapest room at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Jackson Hole, figuring we would be in need of a luxurious retreat to unwind after two days of high-altitude driving.

On the contrary, we were invigorated. And by the next morning the weather couldn’t have been better. We sat outside on the wood deck at Persephone Bakery in downtown Jackson nibbling croissants and scones made with currants and ginger, black pepper and Cheddar, watching people come and go around Jackson Town Square. The Square is the heart of a grid of quaint streets with boutiques selling whatever it is one might need on a deluxe Western holiday: Pendleton wool blankets, Swarovski crystal, cowboy hats. We were staying in Teton Village, but had it been open, we would have tried the new Hotel Jackson downtown, now up and running with 58 rooms, all of which have fireplaces.

I wanted to linger, but we were hours from Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, a more than 600-square-mile dormant lava field formed between 15,000 and 2,000 years ago.

To get there we crawled through proverbial one-horse towns like Tetonia, Idaho, population 269 according to the sign. Between them, we flew. By then I knew I was going to try to finish the road trip without ever taking the passenger seat.

U.S. Highway 20 West shoots straight through waves of green fields. Sightlines stretch to the horizon. There are Belted Galloway cattle, named for the thick white stripes across their middles; signs that say “Historical Site,” encouraging drivers to stop and check out a cave or a trail; and irrigation apparatus that Dan likened to giant mechanical centipedes.

The sky was storybook blue and I was going 70, my highest speed so far. Through the windows came the sound of the wind and the smell of cut grass, and sometimes of skunk. Dan called it ambience. I was pushing 75 when he began fiddling with my iPhone. The opening bars of The Who’s “Baba O’Riley” blasted through the speakers and out into the plains.

We seemed to be living the moment in Robert Penn Warren’s novel “All the King’s Men” when the narrator says: “I was headed out down a long bone-white road, straight as a string and smooth as glass and glittering and wavering in the heat and humming under the tires like a plucked nerve.”

What felt so good? The speed, the sun, the wind, the fantasy of never looking back? Perhaps it’s just freeing to sing along with Guns N’ Roses while tearing through eastern Idaho.

Outside Arco, which bills itself as the first city in the world to be lit by atomic power, a billboard says NUCLEAR REACTORS. This is the birthplace of the nuclear Navy, the Idaho National Laboratory, where since 1949 more nuclear reactors have been built than anywhere else. Beside the billboard are tidy bathrooms.

You’ll know you’re nearing Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve when you see the scorched earth. The black mounds are cinder cones, part of a 52-mile chain of fissures. Pull over just before the entrance to the preserve and in the height of wildflower season you’ll find big sagebrush and shocking pink monkey flower defiantly blooming up out of the black rock.

In the 1920s a geologist described this area as “the surface of the moon as seen through a telescope.” By the 1960s, NASA astronauts were studying volcanic geology here to prepare for moon missions. Given its charred landscape, the preserve can feel stark after a while, though climbing the Inferno Cone is a must for the panoramic views.

Before leaving we asked the women at the visitors’ center where to find the falls that give Idaho Falls its name. They laughed.

“There are none.”

About an hour and a half later I unlocked the door to a room at the Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls and there, off the balcony, were the falls. So they’re man-made. So what. They exist. They flow onto a dam on the Snake River.

That evening the sky burned neon pink over the Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Families of geese waddled around a five-mile greenbelt on the banks of the river shared with skateboarders, bicyclists and, ah, pedestrians. From the balcony we watched the day extinguish, the last families pushing their strollers toward home.

The next morning, it was our turn to go home. The odometer was just shy of 700 miles. I drove them all. Not for a second had I thought I could do it and, frankly, it would have been impossible without the right person riding shotgun. It was about 80 degrees when I parked the car at Idaho Falls Regional Airport.

Somewhere in the mountains on U.S. Route 212, my initials were melting. The grille of the once-gleaming Subaru was peppered with bug carcasses. I twirled the key ring around my forefinger, clicked the lock button one last time and walked toward the terminal, slightly wistful, my left arm sunburned from holding the wheel.

Billings Logan International Airport, 1901 Terminal Circle, Billings; flybillings.com .

The Burger Dive, 114 North 27th Street, Billings; 406-281-8291; theburgerdive.com . Price of a meal for two, about $30.

Lou Taubert Ranch Outfitters, 123 North Broadway, Billings; 406-245-2248; loutaubert.com .

Montana Candy Emporium, 7 South Broadway Avenue, Red Lodge; 406-446-1119.

The Beartooth Highway (including Rock Creek Vista Point), Yellowstone National Park; wyomingtourism.org .

Yellowstone National Park, Northeast Entrance; 307-344-7381.

Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins; GPS coordinates to Lake Yellowstone Hotel Check-In: N 44 33.005 W 110 24.084; reservations: 866-439-7375; yellowstonenationalparklodges.com . Summer nightly rates in the hotel (as opposed to the lodge or cabins) from $363.

West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park; nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/westthumbgrantvillage.htm .

Snake River Overlook, Highway 89.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole, 7680 Granite Loop Road, Teton Village; 307-732-5000; fourseasons.com/jacksonhole . Summer nightly rates from $379.

Persephone Bakery, 145 East Broadway, Jackson; 307-200-6708; persephonebakery.com . Price of breakfast for two, about $19.

Jackson Town Square, Jackson.

Hotel Jackson, 120 North Glenwood, Jackson; 307-733-2200; hoteljackson.com . Summer nightly rates from about $450.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, 18 miles southwest of Arco, Idaho, on Highway 20/26/93; nps.gov/crmo/index.htm .

Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls, 700 Lindsay Boulevard, 208-522-9500; hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com. Summer nightly rates from $102.

Idaho Falls Greenbelt, idahofallsidaho.gov/city/city-departments/parks-recreation/parks-reservations/parks-main/greenbelt.html .

Stephanie Rosenbloom writes the Getaway column for the Travel section.

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TRAVEL: Road Trip through Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, + Idaho

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June 5, 2017

As kids, my sisters and I grew up hearing the most wonderful stories about the cross-country road trip my parents took on their honeymoon in the ’80s. Every few years, we’d pile onto their bed and watch slideshows projected on the bedroom wall of the photos they took as they adventured through the country in the back of my dad’s old work van. It wasn’t the most extravagant honeymoon, but it was oh-so-them in every way. My mom always spoke of the awe she felt upon seeing the Badlands in South Dakota, and my dad always swore that Utah was by far the most beautiful state in all of the U.S.

Taking the same trip was something my sisters and I always dreamed about, but unfortunately never got around to as kids or teens. When my mom passed away in 2014, my dad shared a new dream of taking all of us on an adventure where we could create new memories. After tossing around a few ideas (Europe? An all-inclusive beach vacation?) we realized that a trip out west was the perfect way for us to bond and honor mom’s memory while getting to discover some of those incredible sites and experiences that my parents had on their honeymoon.

What started as a plan to visit Utah quickly grew into a wishlist of sites we each wanted to visit and experiences we all wanted to share. It can be hard to coordinate a family vacation now that we’re all older! But before long, we had booked an RV (we booked through Road Bear RV in Las Vegas – they were great!) and started charting our trip.

We flew into Las Vegas from Boston, spent a night on the strip, started our first morning with a brunch buffet at the Paris Casino (yum!), and we were off on our way. We picked up our RV  (a childhood dream come true!) and headed straight for Utah. 

Our first destination was Zion National Park which couldn’t have been more beautiful. We camped out at Zion River Resort and started the next day with a drive through the stunning National Park. We stopped on the side of the road a couple of times to take in the views, and even went for a short hike through some of the natural pathways. I still can’t get over how gorgeous the red rock was in person!

We had intended to stay awhile and hike some more, but ended up driving a bit too far and found ourselves in a tunnel leading out of the park. We decided to just go with it and vowed to try and come back before the end of our trip! One tip I have if you plan to rent an RV is to do some research ahead of time to make sure it’s allowed on certain paths/roads. Dirt roads are almost always a no-go (mostly for your own sanity, and for the sake of the RV dishes – RIP glasses!) and it can be really tricky to find a place to turn around.

A quick stop for lunch at Thunderbird Restaurant and to peruse through the gift shop, and then we were back on the road to Bryce Canyon.

I didn’t think it was possible, but I found Bryce to be even more beautiful than Zion. The views, the colors, the landscapes, and the wildlife were all jaw-droppingly stunning and I could have stopped and stared for hours. We drove up to the top of the road at Bryce and went for a short hike. There are a few different trails to choose from, but all are amazing. 

Our RV park for the night had the friendliest folks and the most beautiful sunset. Not to mention these gorgeous flowers as far as the eye could see. I can’t get over all of the colors!

A man we had met in Bryce recommended that we take Route 12 through Escalante on our way towards Arches National Park. The route wasn’t the quickest by any means, but the views around every corner made up for it. If you’re headed that way, I highly recommend taking Route 12! I truly didn’t know how anywhere we went would top Zion or Bryce, but I was pleasantly surprised the entire way. We stayed overnight at Shooting Star RV Park in Escalante after stopping for the most delicious pizza in town (and I think the only pizza in town?) at Escalante Outfitters . That night we had the most magnificent view of the stars, and again, I could have stared forever.

Per a recommendation, we had planned to hike Spooky Gulch and Peek-A-Boo Gulch in Grand Staircase-Escalante, but about 10 minute into the dirt road drive it took to get there, we realized the RV couldn’t handle it. By car, it’s about a 30 minute drive off the paved road, and seems totally worth it!

The next day had us back on the road, and we stopped at a pull-off where there were some other cars, and were pleasantly surprised to find one of the most beautiful hiking trails I’ve ever seen. It was the perfect spot for some of us to stretch our legs, read a book, or take a nap in the sun while my sister Julia and I went exploring. We kicked off our shoes, crossed a small stream, and took a sandy path flanked on both sides by red rock cliffs. The smell of sage was overwhelmingly lovely and we had so much fun exploring the natural rock formations. I don’t know that I’ve ever been somewhere so magical. We continued on through Capitol Reef National Park, and I probably sound like a broken record but the views were to die for. There’s no other way to put it!

We spent the night in Green River, Utah which boasted the most quintessential western-town main street, and the best neon signs of the trip.

Right around this part of the trip is when we realized we were going slower than we had planned (we just couldn’t keep ourselves from stopping to take in the views!) and we reached Colorado. We hugged the western border of Colorado by Utah, and went north to Dinosaur National Park. If you know me, you know I have a not-so-secret love of dinos, so I was especially excited. Unfortunately, after a long day of driving we got there just as they were closing and weren’t able to see the fossil exhibits. BUT we were still able to get a peek of the petroglyphs which left me in complete awe. It’s so hard to believe that these cave paintings are still visible, and it was so fun to think of the stories and history the artists wanted to convey as they painted. If you ever find yourself in the area, I highly recommend camping at their campground overnight. We didn’t because we still had a lot of ground to cover, but signs there boasted of incredible starry sky views since they have the least light pollution in the US. I’m already planning a trip back to check it out!

Our travels continued on into Wyoming, where we stopped for breakfast in Jackson Hole and explored the shops. Dad’s classic “Indiana Bob” hat that he’d had for 20+ years blew off while taking in the views at Bryce which was so sad, so my sisters and I all pitched in and got him an early Father’s Day present at the local hat shop. We spent a little too much time at a sweet little shop called Roam , and bought some fudge at the local candy shop before continuing on our way.

We traded in the earthy reds and sage greens of Utah for the icy cool blues of Wyoming as we approached the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park.

Between the colorful hot springs, the anticipation of seeing Old Faithful, encountering wild bison, and taking in the fresh air and unbelievable sights, we could have stayed in Yellowstone forever. We hiked, explored, and soaked it all in, and were even able to snag a last minute camping spot to stay overnight. I definitely recommend planning to stay at least a couple full days in Yellowstone if you visit. There’s so much to see and do!

Our drive out of Yellowstone took us through a little corner of Montana where we stretched our legs and explored the Main Street of West Yellowstone, MT. Of course, there was ice cream involved.

As our trip came closer to the end, we took in the views through Idaho, ranging from forest to mountains to open field, and during a quick stop to eat dinner on one of our last nights, Dad called us out of the RV. We all gathered around to see the smallest little turtle who had somehow made its way up a pretty steep hill from the river below. If you know my family or knew my mom, you likely know that turtles were “her thing”, so it was the most perfect feeling to know she was there with us. She really would have loved this trip!

After a short stop in Salt Lake City, we finished up our trip back in Southern Utah with a final stop in Zion so that Julia and Sarah could hike the Angel’s Landing trail (a bucket list item for sure!). After spending almost 10 days in an RV, we were ready to be back in the comforts (and let’s be honest, the privacy) of home, but I’ll always remember these beautiful places and incredible sights. How lucky are we to live in a country with so much beauty?! I can’t wait to go back!

Hi! I read this blog a few months ago and wanted to revisit it for a trip i’d like to plan. But none of the words are showing up…is it me? Is this how the end of net neutrality presents itself?!! Help 🙂

Thanks for following along – I hope my post can help with planning your trip. The text not showing up was a design glitch on my end, but I think I’ve fixed it now! Let me know if you have any trouble reading, or if you have any other questions. Happy planning!

Curious as to how long your trip was. Planning 5-7 days out west and can’t decide where to go!

The entire trip was 11 days, including travel days in and out of Las Vegas. I think we easily could have made it a full two weeks or more – it would have been nice to spend one more day in southern Utah, one day at Dinosaur National Park (we arrived right at closing and couldn’t appreciate it – it’s supposedly one of the places in the US that you can see the night stars the best!), and one more day in Yellowstone. But all in all my best tip is to pick your 3-5 top must-see’s and prioritize getting to and staying at those locations for as long as you need to! Have a wonderful trip!

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She Makes Her Own Adventure

Adventuring through small towns, good books and coffee shops

12 Days Road Trip through Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, & Wyoming

Teddy and I took the road trip of a lifetime in the late summer of 2022. We headed to five states that were new for the two of us to visit together – Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming. I’d been to each of these before, but some were brand new to Teddy. We wanted to see National Parks and Monuments, small towns, the open range and mountains, wildlife, and beautiful scenery of more rural parts of the United States. We accomplished all of that and so much more. This was also the trip where Teddy proposed and we were able to enjoy our new engagement in some of the most beautiful areas of the United States.

Below you’ll find suggestions on what to do each day if you plan to do some portion or all of this trip. I’ve linked both blog posts to a deeper dive into some of the areas as well as posts to business or location websites to help you in your research. Teddy and I don’t mind driving and being in the car for 3-6 hours a day to get places. We call these trips our “Scouting Trips” so that then we know where we’d like to go back to and where we’d don’t necessarily need to visit again. While some places like Glacier you may know ahead of time you’d like to visit for a few days, others like the Black Hills or the Bitterroot National Forest area you may not realize until you’re there. After each trip, he and I write down what we would like to revisit in the area and for how long and what we’re okay to not do again. We also include anything we missed or just didn’t have time for along the way. So by the end of each trip, we have a few additional trips planned in our minds for the future.

I’ve also included a map at the bottom of the post to show. you where exactly we went in each state. It doesn’t include every single stop but includes most of them. We drove about 3000 miles in 12 or so days which is about 250 miles a day or 4 hours of driving on average per day. If you’d like to travel slower than that, cut out some of the stops or add more days to your trip. We are fully aware that our travel style is not everyone’s travel style.

DAY 1 – Boise & Southern Idaho

• Fly into Boise. Depending what time your plane lands, grab lunch or coffee in town before beginning your exploration of southern Idaho .
• Visit Box Canyon. Go for a hike on the Box Canyon Springs Trail . We did part of this trail but the heat was quite awful the day we were there so we opted to just get a few looks over the trail, and not finish it completely.
• Drive 30 minutes east to Twin Falls. Check out the Perrine Bridge and see if you can spot any base jumpers. We saw so many the afternoon we were there.
• Walk under a waterfall at Perrine Coulee Falls . I’ve never been able to do that at a waterfall before, so this was a stop we both have as a highlight of our trip.
• Drive over to the 900 foot wide falls at Shoshone Falls. I do think it’s worth a look, but keep in mind it is man made because of the hydroelectric plan there. It’s not a fully “natural” waterfall.
• Head to South Market in town for dinner. It’s a food hall and you have an opportunity to try an array of food and ice cream!
• Stay overnight along I-84 (We stayed in Blackfoot)

DAY 2 – Tetons National Park

• Get up early the next morning and begin making your way to Wyoming. Try to get up early enough that you’re able to see sunrise in Teton National Park .
• Drive to Mormon Row and check out the various old barns along the dirt road.
• Check out the Snake River Overlook and Oxbow Bend
• Take the boat across Jenny Lake and then hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
• Get lunch in Jackson Hole downtown where there are quite a few options or grab coffee at Cowboy Coffee Co. in town. Stretch your legs and walk into some of the shops.
• Head back into the park and go on the hikes from String Lake to Leigh Lake . This is one of the most peaceful ares that’s easy to get to in the park. (And a special place for us since Teddy proposed here)
• Find a spot for dinner in the park at one of the Restaurants or back in Jackson. We enjoyed the sunset view at the Mural Room in Jackson Lake Lodge as an engagement celebration dinner. We probably would have eaten somewhere a little lower key if it hadn’t been for us celebrating.
• Check into your lodging for the night within the park or in Jackson. We stayed in a small cabin at Colter Bay which was perfect for us.

DAY 3 – Tetons & Yellowstone National Parks

• Get up early and go to Schwabacher Landing for sunrise. It’s one of the most magical experiences in the park. Try to get there 30 minutes before sunrise.
• Head into Jackson for Breakfast. Bonus points if it happens to be their farmer’s market day like it was when we went.
• Head back into the park and hike one of the trails like Taggart Lake or Moose Ponds . We opted to hike the other direction at String Lake which we didn’t see the day prior and because we wanted to take some photos of where got engaged.
• Drive north into Yellowstone National Park . It’s a pretty drive but not a lot along the way until you get into the park.
• Take the left at the branch to drive into the West Thumb toward Old Faithful. Since we both saw Old Faithful before, we skipped it, but if it’s your first time, it’s worth a stop.
• Head to the parking lot for the Fairy Falls / Grand Prismatic Overlook trail. Depending on how much energy you have, at least hike to the Grand Prismatic Overlook . If you want, you can head a few miles further to Fairy Falls. Our intention was to go to both on our trip but we had a thunderstorm roll in when we were hiking so we headed back to the car after the Grand Prismatic.
• Drive to West Yellowstone for dinner. We loved our food at The Buffalo Bar and highly recommend the Bison Queso and the Huckleberry Margarita
• Drive toward the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone area and check out some of the scenic stops along the way. We were able to see a bear along our drive!
• Stay overnight inside the park. We picked Canyon Village since it was a good location for us.

DAY 4 – Yellowstone National Park, Cody, & The Big Horns

• Get up early and try to go see some wildlife. We went to the Hayden Valley to hopefully see some wolves. Unfortunately no wolves but quite a few bison.
• The next stop was Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. While I appreciate the waterfall, I thought the view looking the other way with the red rocks into the canyon was even more spectacular.
• We grabbed breakfast at one of the lodges before heading out of the park through the east entrance. Teddy and I have both been to Yellowstone on previous trips, so we intentionally planned our time here to be just one day, especially since some portions of the park were still closed after the flooding earlier in 2022.
• Drive to Cody and stop in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West . Teddy and I are not really museum people but we went to this one for a few hours and loved it. It is 5 museums in one so I checked out the Plains Indian Museum and Teddy visited the Cody Firearms and part of the Natural History museum. To see this whole museum would probably take days, so choose 1-2 areas you’d really like to see.
• Have lunch in Downtown Cody. We ate at the Proud Cut Saloon . We loved the decor and the food was our vibe. Walk around some of the shops in town before heading further toward Ten Sleep.
• If you’re hungry, grab a bite to eat in 10 Sleep before heading into Big Horn National Forest. There’s the Sleepy Coyote Cafe & Bar and 1 Cow.
• Go for a hike in the Bighorns. We loved the James T. Saban Lookout hike. It’s short but steep and had beautiful views. We were also the only ones there during our visit.
• Stay overnight in Buffalo.

DAY 5 – Devil’s Tower, Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial

• Drive to Devil’s Tower National Monument. Like most other days, this is a great one to get up early to not only beat the crowds, but to see Devil’s tower in a beautiful bluish purple light in the morning.
• Hike around the base of the Tower. You can choose either the Devil’s Tower Trail at 1.7 Miles or the Red Beds Trail at 2.8 miles. Or both! It’s really hard to describe our experience here but it felt a little magical, very peaceful, while also feeling like you were part of something bigger that happened there. Again, really hard to describe, but it was one of my favorite places on our entire trip and we were only there for about 2-3 hours.
• Head toward Rapid City, South Dakota.
• Take a cave tour through Wind Cave National Park . You’ll need tickets for this one since you can only do a guided tour, but worth it. It’s very different than other caves I’ve visited like Luray , Carlsbad , and Mammoth .
• Drive north after your tour into Custer State Park . On the way, check out the fire lookout hike to a firetower on Rankin Ridge .
• Drive the scenic Wildlife Loop in Custer. This one does cost an entrance fee, but is good for 7 days and you’ll use it the next day. Hopefully you will see bison, wild burros, and other unique animals along your drive!
• Drive into Custer for dinner. Go to The Begging Burro . Teddy loved his meal so much he wanted come back the next day. He got a Mezcal Steak and it was incredible.
• Watch the Light Show at Crazy Horse Memorial . While you wait for the show, visit the museum and learn about the individuals who lived in this area initially as well as the development and meaning of the Crazy Horse structure. This was another favorite stop.
• Pick a spot in the Black Hills to stay overnight. We opted to stead in Hill City because of it’s location to what we were doing in the area.

DAY 6 – Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, Spearfish Canyon

• Walk the Presidential Trail at Mount Rushmore . Did you know the park opens at 5 AM? If you get there at first light, again no crowds, and yes beautiful light on the faces of the rock, but also you can see an incredible sunrise over the parking deck.
• Drive to Sylvan Lake . Again, another perk of this being first thing in the morning is that the sunlight on the rocks and lake is beautiful but also it is not packed full of people. This was another really special place to use on our trip. It was peaceful, surprising, and majestic. The 1 or so mile walk around the lake is worth the stop. If you want, check out the Sunday Gulch Trail that starts at the back of the lake for a more epic hike.
• Since it’s still early, drive the Needles Highway and go through the tunnels with again, pretty much nobody else on the road. If you have time, stop at the Cathedral Spires hike. We wished we would have done the hike as it looks incredible.
• Wall Drug & Badlands National Park is the next stop. It was about lunch when we got there, so we ate at the Badlands Saloon & Grill after checking out the famous Wall Drug. We also picked up coffee at Wall Stompin Grounds Coffee House before heading into the park.
• Drive the Scenic Road from west to east in the park. Stop at the various pulloffs and if you can, download the GyPSy guide to learn about the park while you’re driving.
• Hike the Windows, Doors, or Notch Trail (or all 3) and visit the Ben T. Reiffel Visitor Center and learn about the wild and mind blowing animals that used to live in this park millions of years ago.
• Drive back toward Rapid City and check out Spearfish Canyon – both the waterfalls and the wildlife. We did a short waterfall hike and on the way saw mountain goats along the stream.
• Stay overnight in the northern part of the Black Hills.

DAY 7 – Theodore Roosevelt National Park

• Stop at Blackbird Espresso for coffee and breakfast in Spearfish before your drive to Theodore Roosevelt National Park
• Make the 3 hour drive north to Theodore Roosevelt National Park . Grab a picnic lunch in Medora or sit down to eat prior to heading into the park as there aren’t options inside.
• Choose a few hikes in the park you’d like to do as you drive the scenic route. We opted for the Wind Canyon Trail which was short and ideal for a very hot day. We stopped at Buck Hill as well as the Coal Vein Trail area.
• Go to the Medora Musical. We didn’t get a chance to do this as we were tired and wanted to get more sleep rather than stay up for the musical.
• Overnight in Medora or Glendive

DAY 8 – Glacier National Park

• Pack your snacks and drinks and get ready for a long day of driving. Depending where you stay overnight, you will have about 8-9 hours of driving ahead of you to get to Glacier .
• We stopped at Milk River Mocha for coffee along the way, and then grabbed gas and snacks at a gas statoin, but other than that we just kept doing so we could get to Glacier by late afternoon.
• We stayed in Apgar Village because they had 2 nights of availability and it was within the park which meant we didn’t have to get passes for those days into the park.
• We relaxed at our cabin along the river before heading into Columbia Falls for dinner at Gunsight Saloon and to watch the Penn State Game.

DAY 9 – Glacier National Park

• Time to get up early again. To get a parking spot and beat the crowds, you will want to get to the trailhead for Avalanche Lake early. We got there before the sun even rose and were able to see that bluish purple light again on the mountains and lake. We even got to see a bear from a safe distance at the lake. This 6ish mile hike is a must do on the trip. The waterfalls in the background of the lake are beautiful as is the trail.
• Drive to Polebridge Mercantile for a Bearclaw. Be prepared as the roads to get there are more country stone/dirt roads than paved but it’s worth it. You can even grab lunch there too at the food truck or cafe.
• Relax by Lake MacDonald in the afternoon before getting dinner in Columbia Falls, Apgar, or somewhere else in the park. Then drive up to Logan Pass to watch the sunset.
• Then back down the Going to the Sun Road to your accommodations for the night.

DAY 10 – Glacier National Park

• Another early morning. Get up before sunrise so you can get to the trailhead for either the Highline Trail or Hidden Lakes Overlook Trail in the morning. They both depart from Logan Pass. While we wanted to do part of the Highline Trail, heights aren’t really our thing and neither are crowds, so we opted for the shorter and less crowded hike.
• We drove down the other side of the mountain with the attempt to go to Many Glacier. It was already full by the time we got there, but if you are able to get in, please go. So many people told us it was their favorite part of the park.
• Otherwise, grab lunch in St. Marys at the Snowgoose Grill & Gift Shop. We had a bison quesadilla which was divine.
• Go back into the park and hike the St. Mary’s, Virginia, and Baring Falls Hike. We only made it to Baring Falls because of where we parked and the heat, but would have loved to make it to all of them.
• We were tired, so we headed to our lodge in East Glacier for the night. We had intended to do another hike in the evening, but decided dinner and relaxing at the lodge sounded more appealing.

DAY 11 – Missoula & Hamilton

• Drive 3.5 toward Missoula stopping in Columbia Falls on the way for breakfast at coffee at Copper Mountain Coffee. Make a short stop at Great Gray Gifts along the drive.
• Grab lunch in downtown Missoula and walk around the city. We enjoyed our lunch at Tamarac Brewing Company and had hoped for ice cream at Sweet Peaks but it was closed the day we were there. We walked around town for a bit before heading just outside of town.
• Hike the “M” Trail. We didn’t get to as the smoke was coming in from the wild fires in the area but plan to next time we’re in the area.
• Drive to Hamilton and hike Blodgett Canyon . This was another we didn’t get to do because the smoke was awful further south and it was not a good idea to be outside for longer periods of time.
• Enjoy dinner downtown and check out some of the spots where scenes from Yellowstone were filmed.
• Stay overnight in Hamilton.

DAY 12 – Red Fish Lodge, Stanley, & Craters of the Moon National Monument

• Continue the drive south toward Red Fish Lodge in Stanley, Idaho.
• Hike the Fishhook Creek Trail. You’ll start off by taking a boat over to the trail. This is another one we didn’t get to do because of wildfire smoke. The road we planned to take to even get to this area had intermittent closures so we ended up detouring over to Craters of the Moon National Monument.
• Get your permit at the Visitor Center to go into a cave at Craters of the Moon or just enjoy a hike like the Devil’s Orchard Trail in the park. Check out the splatter cone and Inferno cone along the Scenic Loop.
• Head into Ketchum for dinner and walk around the cute shops.
• Stay overnight in the Ketchum and Sun Valley area.

DAY 13 – Homeward Bound

• Drive to Boise for your flight. If you’re from the east coast, stop at Dutch Bros. one last time before you leave. Don’t forget to dispose of your bear spray at a local recycling facility or check with your hotel if they take them.

Below is the map of about what we drove on our 3000 mile trip.

Happy travels!

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Ultimate Itinerary: The Great Pacific Northwest Road Trip

Posted by Arthur McMahon August 31, 2020 Updated September 01, 2023

The Great Pacific Northwest Road Trip is an epic journey that showcases the PNW’s most iconic scenery as well as a number of hidden gems.

This trip has it all. Get ready to embark on a grand tour of the region encompassing all that makes the Pacific Northwest a special place beloved by adventurous people. The coast, the Cascades, the desert, the rainforest, and every town along the way all add to the magic of the PNW. It’s time to see it all for yourself.

Related Read: The 10 Best Scenic Drives in Oregon

The Great Pacific Northwest Road Trip

Traversing the most epic territories within Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, this road trip leaves plenty of room for customization. This is an excellent route broken down into several sections. For each section, you’ll find highlights, interesting side trips, places to stay, plus some place where you can save some time if you’re on a tight schedule.

This epic PNW road trip includes:

• 54 Hours of driving
• 14 National Forests
• 4 National Monuments
• 4 National Parks

The journey as we put it together starts and ends in Seattle, but the road also passes through other urban areas including Portland, Boise, Bend, and Spokane. You can start this loop from wherever you’d like.

Take a look at the complete route on Google Maps  to follow along as you read the guide below. At a comfortable pace, the entire journey will take about two weeks. Make it your own, though, and enjoy the ride.

Related Read: The Ultimate Portland to Seattle Road Trip Itinerary

PNW Road Trip Section by Section

Seattle to Spokane

This first stretch of the Great Pacific Northwest Road Trip starts off in the skyscraper canyons of downtown Seattle. Our chosen route travels northward along the eastern edge of the Puget Sound and then turns east as it winds through the magnificent Northern Cascades.

Once you’re done exploring the evergreen mountains, you’ll drop down to the Columbia Plateau and cross over an early stage of the grand Columbia River at Chief Joseph Dam before arriving at The Lilac City of Spokane.

Related Read: 14 Vanlife Hacks: How to Make Van Living Easier

North Cascade National Park

The rugged mountain landscape and heavy snowfalls of North Cascades National Park severely limit winter exploration of the area, but the roadside views are spectacular throughout the year. The entire park is mostly protected as wilderness. There are wondrous hikes and backpacking trails aplenty for the most intrepid of explorers.

Ross Lake National Recreation Area

Ross Lake is a popular recreation destination in the Northern Cascades. It’s a 23-mile long reservoir that extends beyond the national border into Canada. There are camping and hiking opportunities galore, and the lake is renowned for its stellar fishing. You can also opt to spend some time at the unforgettable floating Ross Lake Resort.

Lake Chelan

Certainly worthy of its own mention, Lake Chelan is the largest lake in the state of Washington and is the 26th deepest lake in the world with a maximum depth of 1486 feet. Visitors can stay at the remote tourist town of Stehekin which can only be accessed by long-distance hikers, such as those that arrive via the Pacific Crest Trail or by boat. The Lady of the Lake passenger ferry is a relaxing and romantic trip that carries travelers across the lake.

Where to Stay

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Spokane to Boise

Incredibly scenic and remote, this section of the Great Pacific Northwest Road Trip starts with a short drive to the beautiful lakeside town of Couer d’Alene. Leaving the city behind, the road turns south and hugs the Salmon River as it threads its way between three different national forests.

Our route loops out to eastern Idaho to include the Sawtooth Mountains and the Craters of the Moon National Monument . Though these are stupendous places worthy of a visit, this part can be easily cut out to save a full day or more of driving by rerouting directly to Boise.

Related Read:   10 Scenic Drives in Washington State That’ll Blow Your Mind

Coeur d’Alene

The waterfront district of Coeur d’Alene is a delightful place to grab a meal or stay the night. The marina, golf course, restaurants, and parks allow for hours or even days of entertainment. Tubbs Hill is a fantastic urban hiking area along the waterfront with easy trails and excellent views of both downtown and the lake.

Take a Hike: Guide to the Best Hikes Near Spokane

Craters of the Moon National Monument

Craters of the Moon is an awe-inspiring destination. It is literally a vast ocean of lava rock. Here you can explore 410,000 acres of basalt floodplain filled with lava caves, gigantic cinder crags, and, of course, plenty of extraordinary volcanic craters.

Wallowa Whitman National Forest

Full of hiking and backpacking trails, the Wallowa Whitman National Forest stands out because of its sky-high granite peaks and the lush diversity of its flora and fauna. It’s an expansive forest that includes the Eagle Cap Wilderness within its borders, a hidden gem of the Pacific Northwest reminiscent of California’s Sierra Nevada.

Wallowa Lake

Taking a detour a Lewiston, Idaho will lead you toward Joseph, Oregon and Wallowa Lake, as well as the primary entrance into the grand Eagle Cap Wilderness. The town of Joseph is named after Chief Joseph, of the Nez Perce Tribe . The area is rich in indigenous history. The lake is gorgeous, and there is a spectacular tramway that can take you straight to the mountain tops.

Save Time: Stay the course due south on Highway 55 and head straight to Boise.

Boise to Bend

This is an arid trek through Eastern Oregon with many geological oddities to see and plenty of pioneering history to explore. The route we chose travels north to Baker City and cuts through John Day. The southern Highway 20 is a quicker route, but the northern passage is much more interesting.

You’re on the historic Oregon Trail now, and there are plenty of points of interest in the early stages of this section for history buffs to discover. Most of the towns on this road have the look and feel of the Old West, and that’s because some of these places haven’t changed much in the last 100 years.

Baker Historic District

Located smack dab in the middle of downtown Baker City, this district is rife with artifacts and properties that date back to the 1800s. The Baker Heritage Museum is a treasure trove of interesting stories to absorb, and the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center lies just 5 miles down the road.

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is actually divided into three sections, two of which are on this route. The Sheep Rock Unit features a mesmerizing canyon drive and an awesome fossil museum filled with animals that no longer exist which were discovered in the nearby John Day Fossil Beds. The Painted Hills Unit is another spectacle deserving of a pit stop.

Lake Owyhee State Park

If you’re interested in a remote, lightly-visited state park to spend some time exploring, Lake Owyhee is a gorgeous place to stay. It’s a long lake that fills a deep canyon, the walls of which are vibrant with colorful volcanic rock. Bighorn sheep frequent the area, and there are several varieties of fish to catch in the reservoir.

Smith Rock State Park

Smith Rock is known as the birthplace of rock climbing, but you don’t have to scale the cliff faces here to enjoy their beauty. This is a relatively small park with a 4-mile loop trail that covers most of what there is to see, but it is absolutely stunning. There are often dozens of climbers at a go which can be just as interesting to observe as the lovely scenery.

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Bend to Crescent City

Outdoor lovers could easily spend a week or more in Bend without running out of fun things to do and places to explore. From backpacking around the Three Sisters to skiing to slopes of Mount Bachelor and kayaking the white water of the Deschutes River, the recreation opportunities are truly endless.

Yet there is so much else out there between Bend and the coast that you’ll have to whittle down your options to make the most of your time. Your mind will be blown the first time you see Crater Lake in person, Cave Junction has awesome spelunking tours, and a walk through the Northern California redwood forests can be a life-changing experience.

Crater Lake National Park

Oregon’s crown jewel, Crater Lake ‘s sapphire waters are breathtaking to behold. This is the only national park in all of Oregon. It is a natural wonder that one could see from every possible angle without growing tired of its presence. There are trails and roads all the way around its rim to explore.

Take a Hike:  Guide to the Best Hikes in Crater Lake National Park

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

For as much time as you spend looking down at Crater Lake, you’ll be spending an equal amount of time looking up at the mighty redwoods at Jedediah Smith . These behemoths are a world apart from any other type of tree on this road trip, and they are a marvel that can only be truly experienced in person with your own eyes. This park contains 70% of all the old-growth redwood trees remaining in the entire world.

Newberry National Volcanic Monument

If you chose to skip over Craters of the Moon, you still have miles upon miles of lava to explore just outside of Bend. This monument features the Newberry Caldera, a large walk-thru lava cave, two lakes, the Deschutes River, and many hiking trails. Here you’ll also find the High Desert Museum which succinctly encapsulates the area’s geological and biological diversity.

Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve

Near the Oregon town of Cave Junction lies the Marble Halls of Oregon. There is a massive marble cave to check out, parts of which are family-friendly, ADA-accessible, well lit, and offer interpretive signage. Cave tours are given by rangers. Within the cave lies the River Styx, the only designated subterranean Wild and Scenic River, which was named after the underground river from Greek mythology.

Save Time: Head northwest from Crater Lake toward Eugene and cut over to the coast at Florence, or head straight up to Portland.

Take a Hike:  Guide to the Best Hikes Near Eugene, Oregon

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Crescent City to Portland

The Oregon Coast is special not only for its pacific beauty, but also because all 362-miles of coastline are designated as public land. From the sea up to the existing line of vegetation, all ocean beaches in Oregon are open to the public. This scenic coastal drive is made all the better by the fact that you can pull over at any of the countless waysides to dip your toes in the sand and surf.

And each town along the coast offers its own unique experience to travelers. Coastal towns are welcoming to tourists because tourism is a large part of the coastal economy. There are dunes for off-roading all up and down the coast, lighthouses and state parks aplenty to visit, and numerous charming seaside shops and restaurants to try with excellent seafood fare and cute beach town gifts.

At a glance, most people who see Astoria on a map would assume it’s just another coastal town, but it’s not actually on the pacific coastline. Astoria is a historic port town set on the southern bank of the Columbia River Delta. Nearby Fort Stevens State Park is a popular beachside park and campground, and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park is another historic park worth a visit.

The big city has its appeal too, and it’s a nice change of pace after a long trip up the laid back coast. Portland has its own vibe, and it’s generally a pretty friendly city to explore on foot. If you’ve still got the itch to get outside and hike, though, you’ll want to take a look at our article on the best hikes in and around Portland .

The Beach, Everywhere

No two stretches of beach are the same in Oregon. Some are riddled with dazzling agates to collect, others are home to mini-ecosystems like tidepools and sea caves, while others are loaded with piles of driftwood, broken apart by freshwater streams, or adjacent to lively boardwalks. You’re sure to find something special about each beach you visit along this route.

Shore Acres State Park

Once a lavish estate of a wealthy timber baron, Shore Acres State Park is a beautiful combination of both natural and human-made wonders. Much of the park rests atop tall sandstone cliffs above the raging ocean where waves crash against upturned strata. A large, manicured botanical garden is maintained on the property, and there are multiple magical beach coves to discover.

Take a Mailboat up the Rogue River

This is less of a side trip and more of a thing to do, but you can turn this into an overnight or multi-day excursion. The Wild and Scenic Rogue River is mostly accessible only to hikers, rafters, and these mailboats. You can take a ride over 100 miles long and stay at a remote lodge far upriver from civilization and deep within the Wild Rogue Wilderness.

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Portland to Seattle

It’s all about those snow-capped Cascade peaks, baby! This final stretch of the Great Pacific Northwest Road Trip winds through the region’s tallest mountains. Starting with a scenic drive up the Columbia River Gorge, the road skirts past awe-inspiring Mount Hood and then crosses the river to weave between Washington’s regal giants.

Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier are the climax of this grand tour. But the final leg of the journey sweeps back over to the coast for one last glimpse of the Pacific Ocean and a tranquil ride through the temperate rainforests of Olympic National Park before arriving back at the Seattle Metropolitan Area.

Columbia River Gorge

A scenic drive unlike any other, the Historic Columbia River Highway follows the gorge upriver as the scenery transitions from temperate rainforest to arid grassland. Attractions along this road include dozens of plummeting waterfalls , volcanic geological oddities, and the ever-present looming peaks of Mount Hood and Mount Adams.

Mount Adams and Goat Rocks Wilderness

Driving by Mount Adams, you may not be able to help yourself from finding a trail to hike. There are several popular paths up to sky-high trails on Mount Adams and within the neighboring Goat Rocks Wilderness . Here, on a clear day, you’ll find alpine lakes, wildflowers, goats, marmots, and epic views of the surrounding mountains.

Olympic National Park

Return once again to the coastal beauty and dark rainforests of the Pacific Northwest’s coastline, but crank all of it up to 11 here at the national park. Olympic National Park is a verdant wonderland set just outside of Seattle. It’s wet, wild, and everything is covered in green. Moss and lichen abound, as do the terrific ocean views.

Take a Hike:  Guide to the Best Easy Hikes at Olympic National Park

Mount Hood and the Timberline Lodge

You’ll miss much of the majesty of Mount Hood by bypassing it along the Columbia River Gorge. If you have a spare day, we suggest heading up to the mountain from the town of Hood River. The lodge is quite an interesting place, and it provides access to year-round ski slopes as well as the Timberline Trail which circumnavigates Mount Hood.

Take a Hike: Guide to Best Hikes at Mount Hood

Mount Rainier National Park

The pinnacle of the Pacific Northwest’s Cascade Range, Mount Rainier reigns above the region and can be seen from all across Washington and Oregon on a clear day. The national park provides a closer view of this iconic monolith. The mountain is what you make of it. There are miles of trails, suburban tourist attractions, scenic gondola rides, and so much more to discover on this mountain’s slopes.

Take a Hike: Guide to the Best Hikes at Mount Rainier

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Known for its destructive eruption from a few decades past, Mount St. Helens offers a unique experience for adventurous folks who seek to climb or hike around the active volcano. You can experience first hand the remnants of the recent lava flow, the newly formed glacier, and numerous lava caves.

Save Time: Cut out either the mountains or the coast, or both, by heading up I-5 directly to Seattle.

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Seen in: Idaho , Oregon , Road Trips , Washington , West

Posted by Arthur McMahon

Arthur loves to walk. It’s as simple as that. Whether it be in the mountains, on the beach, or along the city streets — he believes walking is the best way to experience the world. Thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail was his first backpacking foray, and he hasn’t stopped crushing miles since. Arthur and his wife now regularly travel into the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest seeking new trails to hike.

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Pacific Northwest Road Trip in 10 Days

Last summer, we spent 10 days seeing the Pacific Northwest on a road trip. I was able to visit Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and a little bit of California in 10 days! The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful area that you MUST visit! If you are short on time, I’ve detailed my trip so you can get ideas on what is possible. My philosophy for travel is fit in as much as I can, because I never know if I’ll get back to the area. I can always sleep when I get home, lol.  I know that doesn’t work for most, but my husband tolerates me.

Day 1: Montana

I flew to Spokane solo, rented a car and then headed towards Whitefish, Montana. One of my good friends moved there a year ago and this was my first opportunity to come visit. Technically Montana is not part of the pacific northwest, but I couldn’t be this close and not visit her!

I stopped for a quick breakfast at Frank’s Diner in Spokane, super cute! It’s in a train car!

I took the scenic route by accident, but it was gorgeous! Of course, I’m from Dallas, so any kind of elevation makes me happy.

Stopped in Libby at Kootenai Falls and Swinging bridge.  Very easy to get to, right off the highway. Short walk to a beautiful waterfall in one direction and a swinging bridge in the other. It was perfect. Just what I needed after being in a car and plane for hours.

Finally made it to my friend’s house. So jealous of her, she wakes up to mountains every day now!

Day 2: Montana

First full day of fun! We explored the cute downtown area of Whitefish in the morning.

For the afternoon, we went to Glacier National Park. We rented a small boat and went out on Lake McDonald. Gorgeous!! Unfortunately, it down poured after that, so we headed back to her house.

We had Kobe Steak & Sushi for dinner, Hibachi style, very good!

Sweet Peaks ice cream for dessert. Huckleberry ice cream was hands down the best!!!

Day 3: Montana

My last day in the area, and it happened to be the first day the Going to the Sun road opened in Glacier National Park!!! I had been watching that website daily for the past couple weeks hoping the road would open.  It was so awesome, it has its own post .

After the park, I packed up the car and started back towards Spokane.

I stopped at Lake Coeur d’ Alene in Idaho to view the scenery and get out of the car.

Quick note, we decided on a Pacific Northwest road trip so we could visit my son who was playing for a drum corp in the Seattle area. He called while I was in route to Spokane and told me he had a few free hours the next morning to hang out. My plan was NOT to drive all night to be in La Conner, Washington the next morning, so I don’t recommend it!

The original plan included hanging out by Lake Coeur d’Alene longer. If the timing was right I would have loved to kayak around this beautiful lake. Dinner at Capone’s Pub, because I try and hit all the Triple D places I can while I travel (Diners, Drive Ins and Dives). Relaxing in a hotel in Spokane, getting up early and seeing a bit of this city and then driving towards La Conner going through the North Cascades National Park via the east entrance.

A few things to note about Montana:

*Try huckleberry everything!!! I had pie, ice cream and huckleberry lemonade! Seriously, you can’t go wrong!

*Cell reception sucks!!! Have a map, know where you’re going.

*Slow down and look for wildlife. On my way to Spokane, I saw a bear running in a field!! So cool!!

Day 4: Washington

I stopped at Snoqualmie Falls as soon as the sun was coming up….it was an ungodly hour. I don’t even remember the time. Unfortunately, it was very foggy, so I could not see the waterfall at all. I heard it, but the clouds would not lift. It’s supposed to be beautiful, maybe next time.

I arrived in La Conner with some time to kill, so I drove around the area. It’s super cute!! And very small! Nothing was open, because it was still freaking early, so I just headed to wait in the parking lot for my son to come out. I may or may not have fallen asleep….

Anyways, my son had a few free hours and we were going to make the most of it. We drove to Deception Pass and hiked down to the coast. Beautiful area!!! It was still kinda foggy, but it made for some cool pictures with the bridge.

North Cascades National Park was my main goal today after I dropped him back off.  It was AMAZING!! Enough to have its own post as well. This is a must do on a Pacific Northwest road trip!

As if the day couldn’t be longer, my hubby had a late flight coming to meet me. So, I drove to Seattle around midnight to pick him up and then drove back to the La Conner area. Needless to say, when my head hit that pillow, I was out!!

Day 5: Washington

Started the day early with breakfast at Frank’s Place on Whidbey Island. Good food and a patriotic theme, you could tell he was a veteran.

Watched Austin play for a bit before heading to the Anacortes ferry.

Took the ferry to Friday Harbor, very cool experience! I’ve been on a ferry before, but not with this kind of scenery. It took about an hour to get there. FYI, very cold and windy! Bring a warm jacket.

We met up with some friends and they took us on a tour of San Juan Island . Post is here . This is another must do in the Pacific Northwest!

Day 6: Washington

Left San Juan island and stopped at a roadside stand that sold huckleberry ice cream! YUM!

Mount Rainier was our top destination today.

After a few hours, we finally spotted the mountain. GORGEOUS!!! I think I stopped at almost every turnoff and took a million photos.

We went to the Paradise visitor center to get my passport stamped and a better look up the mountain. Hiking a couple easy trails was on our agenda, but Patrick’s ankle was hurting so we weren’t able. I’m honestly not sure we would have had the time anyways. It took a lot longer to get there and around the mountain than I thought. This is definitely a day trip in and of itself if you plan on doing any hiking. Mount Rainier must be added to every Pacific Northwest road trip itinerary!

We tried to make it to Mount St. Helens before the sunset, but we were about 30 minutes to late ☹ Not gonna lie, I was disappointed. I also knew that it would have been a miracle to fit everything in as well, so I got over it quickly. One more reason to go back to the area. We did see it from a distance and that was pretty cool.

Portland was our next stop. Powell’s Books and VooDoo Donuts were the must dos here. Powell’s claims to be the largest independent bookstore in America. It was HUGE! I love bookstores, so I just had to check it out and of course buy a couple books!

VOODOO Doughnuts had the weird theme going on. Definitely fit the whole Portland vibe! The donuts we got were huge and delish! I will be back. FYI, cash only!

We drove for a couple more hours to get a head start on our destination for tomorrow.

Day 7: Oregon & California

Crater Lake National Park!!!

I feel like I’ve said this all week, but this place was GORGEOUS!!! It had the bluest water I’ve ever seen. It took about an hour to drive around the lake. We learned so much about volcanos at the visitor center. This volcano explosion was like a 100x bigger than Mount St. Helens! Crazy!!

Apparently, you can drink the water out of this lake, because the lake is enclosed. The water is all from rain and snowmelt. This is also the deepest lake in America. Another must do that should be on every Pacific Northwest road trip!

When we were done, we made our way towards Cali! We stopped for lunch at the cutest quirkiest place in Shady Grove called Mac’s Diner. It’s in an older home by a river.

Redwood National Park was up next! I’ve wanted to come here forever!!! There’s a ton of different Redwood areas and we only saw a little bit, but it was INCREDIBLE!!! We did a couple small hikes, because how could we NOT!!

We headed back towards Oregon and tried to watch the sunset from the coast. Our pizza ended up taking to long and we missed it.

Day 8: Oregon

Most of the day was spent on the Oregon Coast . Click here for all the details. The Oregon coast is beautiful! I could have spent many more days here. It is a must do for every Pacific Northwest road trip!

In the evening we finally made it to Washington. Stopped at the Quinault Rain Forest for a quick hike.

We made our way to Ruby Beach for the sunset. Again the weather was not cooperating and it was very cloudy. However, the area was still beautiful. It was a small hike down to the beach and I was worried we’d be tripping over everything after it got dark, but we were fine. There was a good amount of light to see going back and we stayed down there at least 30 minutes after the sunset.

Day 9: Washington

Forks Washington- Home of the Twilight series! Yes, I was a Twilight fan and you can click here for more details on Forks.

Olympic National Park is huge! There are many different areas of the park with a lot of diversity. I only hit a tiny portion, but I plan on coming back to see the rest. This park should be on your Pacific Northwest road trip agenda!

I got up early to take a hike solo in Hoh Rain Forest. The hubby’s ankle was still bothering him. This place was amazing!

We drove through Olympic National park towards Port Angeles. There was a beautiful lake.

We were going to try and drive to the Hurricane Ridge visitor center, but it was raining, and we didn’t have much time. Port Angeles was such a cute town! I wanted to eat at Bella Italia, but they were only open for dinner and we decided to rush through everything to try and see Austin this evening.

Purple Haze was a must do! Even though I already went to a lavender farm on San Juan Island, I had to see another one!

This one was bigger and sold white chocolate lavender ice cream! Ugh, yes, please! It was good, not as good as the huckleberry but still good. I spent way too much money in that lavender gift shop.

Made it to Port Townsend for the ferry. We walked around town until the ferry was ready to leave.

The rest of the day was spent watching Austin and then driving to our hotel in downtown Seattle.

Day 10: Seattle

Seattle Day! A must see city in Pacific Northwest!

First stop, Biscuit Bi$%#! for breakfast. Yummy! I got there 15 minutes before it opened for the day. By the time it did open, the line was already 20 people long!

Hopped on the monorail and headed to the Seattle Center. Seriously people, Seattle has a monorail! I almost said the Disney phrase when I got on “ Please stand clear of the doors…” Finally got to see the iconic Space Needle. It was under construction, so people recommended not going until it was complete. Plus, it was of course, cloudy.

Chihuly Garden and Glass has been on my bucket list for a while, so I was thrilled to finally be here. Crazy beautiful and amazing. I probably stayed here less than an hour.

Next stop, Museum of Pop Culture . I stayed a little over an hour here, but I did rush to meet back up with Patrick. Favorite exhibits: Marvel, Nirvana and the Fantasy area. You can read more about it here .

Pike Place is overwhelmingly amazing!!! So much to see and eat! And it’s super crowded!! We ended up staying here a couple hours longer than planned since it was cold and rainy.

The rest of the day was spent looking for a Walmart or Target. I bought way too many souvenirs, so we had to buy another suitcase to get everything back home….whoops.

Looking back over the whole trip, it was a LOT of driving! Like between 40-50 hours…the Pacific Northwest is huge! But I’m so glad I got to see all that I did!  Obviously, this itinerary isn’t for everyone, but hopefully it’ll help some who are on a time budget or some who have a couple weeks and can spend their time enjoying the different areas. The Pacific Northwest is such a beautiful area with so much to do! There’s something for everyone!

Bonus that I got some girl time and hubby time. We haven’t had a vacay with out kids in over 10 years, so this was much needed!

You might also enjoy:

Best Stops Along the Oregon Coast

New England Winter Road Trip

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Winter Road Trip Through the Western US

Last Updated on May 1, 2024 by Grant

When most people plan a winter road trip they head south. And for good reason… winter weather can stop a road trip anytime. If you’re prepared and ready for the unexpected, though, a winter road trip can be just as successful as a summer road trip.

Of all of our trips, this trip remains the most unique. While we were on a vacation and we were having a good time, this trip served a completely different purpose. In short, it was a test for us.

Over the years, we’ve talked about moving west a lot. There’s just something about the wide open spaces, lack of traffic and natural beauty that we are drawn to. After having a heart attack in the summer of 2015 , it was time to seriously consider a change. We figured that we should visit some western cities in the winter to see if we could really handle the weather.

We visited several small to medium-sized cities in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Colorado – some of our favorite states! Seriously, we’re ok with the biggest traffic jams being those caused by wildlife.

In addition to being a test to see just how well we handle the REALLY COLD temperatures, it was an opportunity to scope out a few cities. We returned to a few places we’d been before ( Cody, WY and Bozeman, MT) and checked out a lot of new places, too.

Check out our tips on Preparing for a Winter Road Trip .

(Disclaimer: When we link to places where you can buy our stuff or places we stayed, we are using special codes that earn us commissions on the sales at no additional cost to you. Please see our  Review Policy   for more information.)

Our Route West

When we head West, especially in the winter, we often travel across I-40 for much of the drive out then turn north. We do this for several reasons: 

• We prefer crossing the Mississippi River in Memphis , which is a great town in its own right, as opposed to St. Louis. The traffic getting across the river is much lighter and easier to deal with.
• We avoid the serious blowing snow and high winds of the Plains.
• There are two Hampton Inns along the way which charge very little in terms of Hilton Honors points, making them very cheap places to stop. We often stay in the Hampton Inns in Clarksville , AR and Dumas, TX , both of which are category 2 hotels and charge the point equivalent of $50 per night. (Dumas has since changed categories but nearby Pampa, TX remains a good stop.)

Book the Hotel | Read TripAdvisor Reviews

From the Texas Panhandle, we cut northwest across New Mexico to Interstate 25 for the drive north along the Front Range of Colorado. There’s plenty of cool stuff to see along this drive (like Capulin Volcano National Monument, Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site or Garden of the Gods ) but, this time, we kept trekking to make Cheyenne by nightfall.

One thing that is weird to deal with is how quickly the sun goes down in the winter further north. We aren’t used to it being dark by around 4:30 in the afternoon! 

The temps certainly dropped as we headed north and were well below freezing by the time we reached our hotel in southern Wyoming.

Winter Road Trip Itinerary

We spent a total of 15 nights on the road, traveling from Atlanta out to Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah and Colorado. Yes, we did a lot of driving! We also saw a lot of great cities, several national park sites and even got to visit family along the way. Thankfully, we only ran into a little winter weather.

Where we stayed on our winter road trip:

• Clarksville, AR
• Laramie, WY (2 nights)
• Cody, WY (2 nights)
• Bozeman, MT
• Missoula, MT
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Pagosa Springs CO (2 nights)
• Woodstock, GA

Cheyenne and Laramie

Our first true “destination” was Laramie, WY. We spent a night and a day exploring Cheyenne and Laramie, walking the town and looking at the neighborhoods.

Both towns were neat, but quite a bit smaller than what we are used to. We live in a small suburb of Atlanta of about 24,000 folks. While the town is great, the greater metro Atlanta population is more than 5 million and living in a large metro area definitely wears on us.

Cheyenne only has about 60,000 folks and Laramie is half that. Indeed, there are fewer folks living in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming combined than in the greater Atlanta area.

We really enjoyed both cities. Cheyenne certainly feels larger than Laramie and had a lot more in the way of stuff to do but Laramie is home to the University of Wyoming which brings a lot in the way of culture, etc. to the town. 

The nice thing about both towns is there were smaller, older homes that were affordable for folks like us and it is not that far a drive to Denver for the airport there. 

We did run into some snow on the drive back to our hotel in Laramie ( the Hilton Garden Inn ) so Bonnie got some experience driving in snow.

Cody and Powell

Driving across Wyoming in the winter was a lot of fun. The state takes on a completely different character in the snow. Even areas which aren’t all that scenic, like the Great Divide Basin, become pretty in the snow. 

We have been to Cody before and love the town. It is one of our favorite places out West. We are particular fans of the rodeo in the summer and it is located right outside Yellowstone National Park.

We got in early enough to spend some time walking around the streets of the town. Surprisingly, most of the bars and restaurants were open. Cody is a summer tourist town so we expected most everything to be closed for the season. 

We decided to stay in the historic Irma Hotel , which was originally built and owned by Buffalo Bill Cody, founder of the town. It was comfy but nothing to get excited about. 

Read TripAdvisor reviews and book the hotel.

We spent Christmas Eve day driving out to Powell (an even smaller town east of Cody) and exploring the neighborhoods of Cody. Both towns were homey and we could easily see living in either town. There is a small university in Powell and it’s about halfway between the Bighorn Range and Yellowstone National Park, so there would be a lot to do, outdoor recreation-wise.

We decided to spend the afternoon driving out to Wapiti and into the Shoshone National Forest, i.e. the road into Yellowstone NP. The entrance to the park is closed in the winter but the drive proved to be quite scenic with plenty of wildlife, including bighorn sheep!

After gassing up the truck and making sure we had something for breakfast for Christmas morning, we grabbed dinner, then headed back to the room to watch Love, Actually , my favorite Christmas movie. 

Pro tip: when traveling on Christmas Day in rural areas, finding open things for food and gas is sometimes difficult. Plan ahead.

While, yes, we miss seeing our family at Christmas, sometimes we want to do our own thing and, to us, this was a perfect way to spend the holiday. 

We woke up early on a Christmas morning and drove north into Montana. We got hit by a good amount of snow heading west on the interstate but we made it through just fine.

The snow continued throughout the morning as we drove through Bozeman. We spent the morning exploring the downtown and neighborhoods. We loved Bozeman. The town is gorgeous but we were limited by the snow and the fact that it was Christmas Day.

Were it any other day, the roads would have been more clear but because it was Christmas Day, the roads start to fill with snow. We headed to our hotel and relaxed for the rest of the day. We thought we might find a few restaurants or bars open for lunch but no such luck, so lunch was microwaved burritos and soup in the room. 

One of the reasons we like staying in Hilton Garden Inns on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is you can typically get dinner that night at the Garden Grill. So, we relaxed, worked out, enjoyed the hot tub and watched the snow fall until dinner.  

Overall, it was a great Christmas.

Missoula and Hamilton

The next morning we woke up to some beautiful, snowy views in Bozeman. We continued our trek west, driving to Missoula.

Along the way, we were rewarded with amazing scenery at almost every turn. We drove through and around several mountain ranges throughout the day and the snowy vistas just never got old.

We enjoyed driving through the city, checking out the various areas in town and really liked the vibe. Missoula was the home of Norman Maclean, one of my favorite authors, so I have always enjoyed spending time there.

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in town, which had a good redemption and great sunset views!

We decided to also check out the small town of Hamilton, which is just about 45 minutes south of Missoula. Its population is only about 3,000 but it was a nice town with a great park.

Hamilton is nestled in the midst of the Bitterroot and Sapphire mountain ranges and is gorgeous. We could seriously stand to live here, especially with easy access to Missoula to the north.  

Driving Through Idaho

Our drive into Idaho officially added another state and another time zone to our road trip resume. 

As we left Missoula, we drove west through the north/central part of Idaho through the Bitterroot, Clearwater and Nez Perce national forests. 

Lolo Pass in the winter was one of the prettiest places we have ever been. We crossed right at dawn and the light was amazing.

We drove through some fairly uninhabited area of northern Idaho and had long sections with little to no cell phone service. Still, it was rugged and gorgeous. It even got above freezing in a couple of spots but not for long. We have not been above freezing at this point since we passed through Denver.

But that quickly gave way to more National Forest and more beautiful scenery. We stumbled upon the resort town of McCall, ID, which receives the most snowfall of any city in Idaho. 

The amount of snow on the ground (and rooftops) was incredible; easily several feet of snow and they hadn’t even hit the snowiest month yet! It was a remote town with a lake for summer tourism and mountains and trails for winter tourism. And they have one of the best schools in the state! It may be a small town, pretty much in the middle of nowhere but the restaurants, shops and scenery were all top-notch.

Technically, we have driven through Idaho before, but only for about four minutes, so we don’t count it. Our destination of western Idaho was a little spontaneous, so we weren’t expecting the Pacific Time Zone. As we passed the sign, we both said “oh” in a little bit of surprise/confusion. It was only for a few hours though, so no “transitioning” needed.

We continued our drive to the greater Boise area. The suburb of Meridian was recently named the best place to live in the US. We spent the evening driving around Meridian and Boise. It is a very clean area, with some obvious zoning restrictions which keep everything looking very nice. 

For the biggest metropolitan area in the state, traffic was almost non-existent… a lot different than Atlanta!

Idaho is very remote. We definitely drove through LOTS of parts that have no residents at all, in fact, that was probably most of our day. We were amazed at the varying amounts of snowfall. Some places had several feet, while others had almost no snow at all. There were some patterns, but it was somewhat sporadic.

Visiting Idaho National Parks Sites

Today, we continued our quest to visit as many National Parks sites as possible. We got three more of them, bringing our total to 98 sites visited together (December 2015).

The day started with a surprise two-for-one. We headed to Hagerman Fossil Beds National Historic Site, about an hour and a half southeast of Boise. When we arrived at the visitor center, we found that it was also the visitor center for the Minidoka National Historic Site, a Japanese Internment Camp.

The fossil beds consisted mainly of Hagerman Horse fossils, one of the oldest horses which predate horses being brought by European explorers. Today, the site is really just a big open area. And this time of year, it was covered in snow.

We didn’t realize that Minidoka NHS was as close as it was (about a 30-45 minute drive). The visitor center had a basic display of the history of the internment camps and the life of those who were forced into them. The site itself had a guard tower (a replica, I’m sure), and the foundations of a couple of buildings right at the entrance. Again, snow-covered everything, so it was pretty much impossible to follow the trail, but it was still worth the trip.

There are two other NPS sites in southern Idaho: Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve and City of Rocks National Reserve. We didn’t have time this trip to do those sites justice, so we saved them for a later day.

The third stop for the day was the Golden Spike National Monument, just north of Salt Lake City. It was the site of the last spike that joined the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads, completing the transcontinental railroad. They had a replica of the Jupiter, a steam locomotive, that did a quick run up and down the local tracks, just for show. It was interesting to read about the work and everything involved in building the railroad.

We ended the day just south of Salt Lake City at the Hilton Garden Inn in Sandy , which was another good redemption.

Canyonlands National Park

This morning we woke up just south of Salt Lake City to about a half-inch of snow on the truck and still falling. Thankfully, it was light snow and didn’t last too long, so no major problems getting on the road.

We drove south through central Utah. We decided Utah definitely gets prettier and has better scenery the farther south you drive! Southern Utah is full of national parks and monuments, state parks and other protected sites. We wish we had more time here!

We spent most of the afternoon in Canyonlands National Park at Island in the Sky. The various canyons and other land formations are just amazing. Words can’t even describe it. We are so blessed to have the time and money to be able to experience the beauty that our country holds!

We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Moab , Utah for the night.

Arches National Park

We got up before dawn and toured Arches National Park (our 100th unit of the National Park Service!). We tried taking pictures of the sunrise but, sadly, the clouds didn’t cooperate.

On a personal note, I generally never have a problem with other photographers. Whoever gets there first has dibs and you don’t get into another person’s shot. In the morning, you don’t get loud.

This morning was just the opposite. Apparently, Arches was the destination of the large tour group we had seen the day before. The group was so very loud and so very…  Squirrel! Seriously, it was like being in a pack of ADD golden retrievers.

After it became apparent the sunrise shots were going to be a bust, we headed to Delicate Arch. We decided to take the trail, a 3-mile strenuous hike. It wasn’t bad until the trail took a 5-foot ledge with a 30-foot drop below. These kinds of heights really bother Bonnie, but the view at the end was worth it!

The sun finally came out and I got some great shots with my SLR. I took out my iPhone to grab a panorama… Dead. We have discovered our iPhone batteries do not like the cold. We each got one picture before the battery “died.”

The hike back… Well, it was bad. I slipped and landed on my back… Which still hurt a couple of days later, though thankfully no major bruises. The camera, not so lucky. I busted the preview screen and it does not appear to be autofocusing properly. Ultimately, it was better to just buy a new camera, so I upgraded to the Canon 7D Mark II .

We continued on to several other sites in the park, using our recharged iPhones to pick up the slack, camera-wise.

We are so glad to make time on this trip to see five NPS sites. I know a lot of folks think it is just about seeing pretty places, but it is so much more than that. 

In three days, we saw ancient fossil beds, an internment camp for the Japanese during WWII, the location where we joined transcontinental railroad together and two diverse desert canyon areas with amazing, unique landscapes.

After Arches, we drove to Pagosa Springs, CO, where we visited with Bonnie’s uncle Al, leading to a late night.

New Year’s in Pagosa Springs

The next day, New Year’s Eve, we toured Pagosa Springs, then rested and watched football in our room at the Econo Lodge . While it was comfortable, it was not up to the quality we are used to from Hilton properties. Still, there aren’t many inexpensive hotels in Pagosa Springs.

We’ve had a couple of long days recently and will have some relatively long and boring driving ahead of us, so having time to rest today was great. Watching college football made it even better if you ignore the fact that FSU lost.

We also took some time to drive around town. We have visited some lovely towns with great mountain scenery, but we really might have saved the best for last. 

The mountain views as you drive around town are just spectacular. We caught a glimpse of the sunset coloring on the mountains and it was amazing. 

The town is home to the largest/deepest hot spring in the world. There is a lot of tourism for the springs and also for the ski area just northeast of town. 

The Wolf Creek Ski Area gets the most snow of any city in Colorado. We didn’t get all the way out there, but we’ve certainly seen a decent amount of snow buildup in town, so it’s easy to believe. And both yesterday and today, we could see the clouds and likely snow on the mountains while it was relatively clear and sunny in town.

Pagosa Springs typically only gets around 30 inches of snow per year and around 300 days of sunshine, making it a great place to live in my book. 

New Year’s Morning was spent at Bonnie’s uncle’s place to get the full tour of his property. He has a large lot (30-40 acres) just west of Pagosa Springs. In addition to the house, there is a garage, a barn, a blacksmith shed and a shed for the fifth-wheel. The house looks out over a canyon with mountain views in the distance.

The property (and the entire subdivision) is absolutely beautiful. There are amazing mountain views around every corner. The lots are huge, and most houses are back off the road, so each house has its privacy.

Bonnie’s dad also owns a lot in the same subdivision. Right now it is blanketed in snow, so we weren’t able to really explore it much, but it is obvious that is just as amazing and would be a great place to build.

Driving Home on Our Winter Road Trip

After exploring and visiting, we grabbed some lunch and officially started the drive home. We decided to take the back roads through northern New Mexico. We drove through some very remote places today. Most were very scenic.

Our drive took us through Taos, NM, which did not really meet our expectations (not that we had much). The building code requires adobe buildings, which are interesting, but when everything looks exactly the same it gets old.

Since we got a late start, we ended up driving after dark. That part was the not-as-pretty part (northeastern NM and northwestern TX)… we’ve been through this part before, so we weren’t too upset to miss the “scenery.”

We did enjoy the Hampton Inn in Dumas, TX ; the last two nights in the Econo Lodge were a good reminder of why we like Hilton properties. The next day, we continued our drive east, crossing back along I-40 to the Hampton Inn in Clarksville and then home.

The one thing we had going for us was all the bowl games on the radio… SiriusXM makes road trips so much better.

Leaving Dumas, the temperatures finally topped above freezing. We were on the road for 16 days. On day three, the temps dropped below freezing and other than one brief peek above freezing in Idaho, stayed below freezing until day 15. 

Overall, we did well with the cold. There were quite a few places we would happily live. We found others we wouldn’t. Still, we loved the trip and spending time out West.

Ultimately, we decided to stay put in metro Atlanta. While we love the Western US, all of our immediate family is in Georgia and Florida. Additionally, Bonnie is only about 10 years from being able to retire if she continues teaching in Georgia. Being able to retire at 53 is not something to be overlooked. We’ll still continue traveling west often, I’m sure.

And, who knows, we may still end up moving one day.

Travel Resources

What do you use to find a flight.

We use Skyscanner to find deals on flights. Skyscanner has a great interface and compares tons of airlines for the best pricing and routing. That said, it does not always have every airline and some airlines will have better deals on their website. Still, Skyscanner is a great place to start. Click here to search for a flight.

What do you use to find a hotel?

We typically stay at Hilton properties , so we use the Hilton website . You can find good Hilton Honors discounts or AAA discounts for a hotel there. We make great use of our free night certificates from our Hilton Honors American Express. Click here to book a Hilton property.

If there are no Hilton properties available, we use TripAdvisor to read reviews and book the hotel. We find we can get the best price that way. Click here to search for a hotel.

We recently partnered with Stay22 to add interactive maps to each of our destination posts. This will allow you to see a plethora of hotels and vacation rentals all in one responsive map of the area.

What if I need more space than I can get at a hotel?

We use Vrbo for the times when we have rented a cabin for a weekend getaway, like this cabin in Townsend, TN , or needed to rent a house for a large family vacation. We had a great experience with them in terms of refunding deposits when COVID hit and will continue to use them. Click here to search for a vacation rental.

Who do you use for rental cars?

As a general rule, we book with Hertz for rental cars. We have had nothing but good experiences with them. Plus, we really like unlimited mileage and not worrying about crossing state lines. We have even rented from Hertz overseas in both Slovenia and Croatia . Click here to book a rental car.

How about booking a cruise?

We have found some amazing prices for booking a cruise through Cruise Direct . We have saved a lot of money on our cruises compared to what we found elsewhere, making a last-minute Bahamas cruise even cheaper. Click here to book a cruise.

What if I want to rent an RV?

We highly recommend Outdoorsy for RV rentals. We rented a camper van for a week to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for the elk rut and Custer State Park for the Buffalo Round-Up and had a blast. The program was easy to use and we really enjoyed the freedom of having a camper van for that trip. Click here to rent an RV.

What do you use for booking tours?

We don’t often book tours. Typically, we like to do stuff on our own. That said, there are some experiences you can’t have any other way. So, when we do want to book a tour, we always check Viator first. Click here to book a tour.

Do you use anything to get discounts on the road?

We make extensive use of both Good Sam and AAA on the road. Good Sam is normally regarded as a discount card for RVers at campgrounds and Camping World but anyone can use the 5 cents off a gallon at the pump at both Pilot and Flying J. Click here to get a Good Sam membership. We have had AAA as long as we have been married and it has more than paid for itself in discounts at hotels, aside from the peace of mind of having roadside assistance. Add in paper maps and the ability to get an international driver’s license and it is more than worth it for any traveler out there. Click here to get a AAA membership.

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Western US Road Trip: A California to Montana Itinerary

Are you planning a Western US road trip? We did a 20+ days epic California to Montana road trip with our kids and I’m sharing with you our exact itinerary.

This road trip will bring you through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Utah, with a quick stop through Nevada and Arizona. It will show you the marvelous landscapes of Western USA: Red rocks, natural hot springs, waterfalls, volcanos, waterfalls, and wildlife.

In this article, I’m giving you our day-by-day detailed California to Montana road trip itinerary to help you plan your trip. It’s filled with fun stops along the way.

Disclaimer: Just a heads up, this free article contains affiliate links . If you purchase after clicking one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost . Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your support helps me continue to provide helpful and free content for you .

Overview map of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana road trip

You’ll see that our route wasn’t optimal for this road trip. There are a few reasons for that, but mostly because:

• We had some commitments first in Idaho, so we had to start in Idaho . We then drove down to Utah and back up.
• We wanted to be flexible for this trip. We didn’t book campgrounds or hotels in advance , but that meant we had to change plans a few times.
• We had to be in Alberta, Canada, on a specific date, so we sadly had to skip some places and rush through some. This road trip could easily be done twice/triple the time.

If you’re planning this Western USA road trip from California to Montana, I recommend starting in Utah, then Idaho, Wyoming, and finishing in Montana .

💡 INSIDER TIPS to make the most of your Western US road trip 🚗 If you’re renting a car or campervan , most car and RV companies charge a one-way fee if the drop-off location differs from the pick-up location. Keep that in mind when planning your trip . 📱 Download a few apps to help you plan your road trip! The  GoWhee app  is perfect for finding fun, kid-friendly activities along the way.  AllTrails  is our app for looking at trail reports and seeing if the trail is kid-friendly. Harvest Hosts for lodging. Also, don’t forget to download GuideAlong  audio tours to learn about the areas you’re road-tripping to while driving.

Detailed itinerary for a Western US road trip from California to Montana

Day 1: sacramento to winnemucca sand dunes:.

🚗 The drive from Sacramento to Winnemucca is 285 miles (459 km).

We left Sacramento in the afternoon and slowly went to Winnemucca Sand Dunes following I-80. We stopped in Lovelock for the boys to play in the playground.

🏨 Sleep at: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Winnemucca

👉 If it’s your first time in California, I recommend stopping in Lake Tahoe . It’s a beautiful lake and a great way to cool off on a warm summer day. You may also want to stop in Reno, NV. There is also the Lovelock Cave in Lovelock , which is worth a stop. They were sadly closed when we arrived. Also, for a California west coast road trip itinerary, check this 10-day itinerary along the Pacific Coast Highway .

Day 2: Winnemucca to Givens Hot Springs

🚗 The drive from Winnemucca to Givens Hot Springs is 219 miles (352 km)

We started our day at the Winnemucca Sand Dunes . This is the largest dune field in Nevada. The dunes do not reach more than 100 feet but span almost 40 miles. The kids had so much fun.

👉 On the way to Givens Hot Springs, you might want to stop at the Pillars of Rome . They are imposing formations of fossil-bearing clay that look like Roman ruins. The 100-foot-high rock formations measure about five miles long and two miles wide.

When we arrived at Givens Hot Springs , we relaxed at the campground. The kids played in the playground and swam in the hot springs.

📝 Note that the “hot springs” is an indoor pool heated by natural hot springs. It was great for the kids, but nothing special if you are not sleeping at the campground.

🏨 Sleep at Givens Hot Springs Campground

Day 3: Givens Hot Springs to Boise

From Givens Hot Springs, we were only an hour away from downtown Boise. In Boise, we started the day at Esther Simplot Park .

We walked around the park, did some paddleboarding on the lake, and the kids played in the playground. Then, we walked downtown, stopped at THE STIL for ice cream , and played at JUMP .

🏨 Sleep at KOA Meridian Campground

Day 4: Boise to Three Island Crossing State Park

🚗 The drive from Boise to Three Island Crossing State Park is 73 miles (117 km).

We started the morning at the Old Idaho Penitentiary . Plan at least 2 hours to visit. Then, we did the short Old Oregon Trail hike before going to Three Island Crossing State Park . It’s only about an hour from Boise.

There is a local winery, the Y Knot Winery , a few minutes before the state park. We stopped by, visited the winery, and grabbed a bottle of wine.

At the Three Island Crossing State Park is the Oregon Trail Interpretive Site to learn more about the Oregon Trail and the emigrants who traveled that trail.

We spent the end of the day enjoying the beautiful campground and park.

🏨 Stay at Three Island Crossing State Park Campground

Day 5: Three Island Crossing State Park to Twin Falls

🚗 The drive from Three Island Crossing State Park to Twin Falls is 60 miles (97 km)

On our way to Twin Falls , we stopped at the Malad Gorge Unit of the Thousand Springs State Park . There is a nice short trail to do, the Devil’s Washbowl Overlook.

We then stopped at Shoshone Falls Park to admire the falls. There is a nice park with picnic tables.

After the falls, we went to Dierkes Lake, where the kids played in the playground. There is also. A lovely small beach and swim area

🏨 Stay at TownePlace Suites Twin Falls

Day 6: Twin Falls

We started the day visiting downtown Twin Falls (and a good breakfast at Twin Beans). We then made our way to Centennial Waterfront . We stopped at Perrine Coulee Falls on the way down.

At Centennial Waterfront , we inflated the paddleboard and spent a few hours on the Snake River . We ended our day at First Federal Playground . Check out this detailed article for more information on things to do in Twin Falls .

👉 AWOL Adventure Sports is a great place to rent paddleboards and/or kayaks. In the summer, they have a booth at Centennial Park where we can rent paddleboards and kayaks directly. Otherwise, they have an office downtown in Twin Falls.

Day 7: Twin Falls to Buhl/ Hagerman

We started the morning at the Banbury Hot Springs . It’s a pool-style hot spring facility, but it was so much for the boys.

👉 Miracle Hot Springs is also a pool-style hot spring and close by. If time allows, you may want to add this to your list if you’d like while in the area.

Then, we visited the three units of the Thousand Springs State Park: Box Canyon, Niagara/Crystal Springs, and Ritter Island . They are all unique and beautiful. Worth exploring. We even paddled a little around Ritter Island (but be careful; the water current is strong).

We ended the day relaxing at the beautiful Billingsley Creek Lodge.

🏨 Stay at   Billingsley Creek Lodge

Day 8: Hagerman/Shoshone to Twin Falls

Today was all about volcanos and lava tube caves. We started our day at Idaho’s Mammoth Cave , where we walked in the lava cave. It’s a quarter-mile in and a quarter-mile out. The temperature in the cave is 41 degrees all year round.

Then, we drove to Shoshone Ice Cave . Sadly, we didn’t get to visit the ice cave due to an unexpected cave closure. But the owner told the time to talk to us and gave the boys each a gem kit so they could try gem panning. It ended up being a lot of fun.

We then slowly drove back near Twin Falls for our last night there.

🏨 Stay at KOA Twin Falls/Jerome Campground

Day 9: Twin Falls to Lava Hot Spring 

The drive from Twin Falls to Lava Hot Spring is 149 miles (240 km).

👉 We drove from Twin Falls to Lava Hot Spring without really stopping, but Lake Walcott State Park and Rupert would be two good stops.

In Lava Hot Springs, we spent a few hours soaking in the five different hot spring pools and then walked in the garden.

We ended our day with a wagon tour on the bison farm, where we were staying overnight with Harvest Hosts .

🏨 Sleep at : Diamond P Grassroots Bison (with Harvest Hosts membership )

Day 10: Lava Hot Springs to Salt Lake City

🚗 The drive from the bison farm to Salt Lake City is 144 miles (232 km).

Today, we are changing states as we head south from Southern Idaho to Utah. We made a quick stop at Crystal Hot Spring and arrived early in Salt Lake City.

👉 If time allows, you may want to do a detour to Antelope Island State Park to see the bison’s herd.

We first visited the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City and walked around Memory Grove Park . We then headed to downtown Salt Lake City and spent a few hours at the Clark Planetarium. The boys loved it.

We ended the day with an evening stroll at the City Creek Center . They have nice water fountains and outdoor stores and restaurants.

🏨 Stay at: Salt Lake Plaza Hotel

Day 11: Salt Lake City

We first drove to the Great Salt Lake State Park for our full day in Salt Lake City. It’s a short 25-minute drive outside the city. We spent a few hours there, having a picnic lunch. Note that there is a minimal parking fee.

We had much fun playing in the water and on the beach. The boys went on a brine shrimp hunt. They could easily have spent the entire day.

Back downtown, we did a guided tour of Temple Square to learn about the Mormons.

Day 12: Salt Lake City to Torrey

🚗 The drive from Salt Lake City to Torrey is 213 miles (343 km)

On our way to Torrey, we stopped at Hidden Falls , a super quick 0.3-mile (0-5 km) out-and-back hike just outside Salt Lake City.

When we arrived in Torrey, we headed straight to Capitol Reef National Park , one of the five national parks in Utah , where we did the following:

• A quick stop at the visitor center to grab the Ranger Program booklets
• Drive a section of the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive, a sixteen-mile round-trip stunning drive
• Hike the Sulphur Creek Waterfall Trail (1.8-mile round trip easy hike with a natural swimming pool hole

🏨 Stay at :  Wonderland RV Park Campground

👉 If you have extra time and energy, you may want to hike the Hickman Bridge Trail (a 1.8-mile round trip hike in full sun) and do some fruit picking in Frutas. Also, make sure to download the self-guided tour of Capitol Reef National Park offered by GuideAlong .

Day 13: Torrey to Bryce Canyon National Park

The drive from Torrey to Bryce Canyon National Park is 116 miles (287 km) and is STUNNING. We drove on the scenic Byway-12. There are so many things to see that we had to choose from. We ended up stopping at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Calf Creek Recreation Area .

For a detailed Utah National Park road trip itinerary, check this 10-day itinerary through Utah’s Mighty 5.

We made many stops and took most of the day to drive the 116 miles between Torrey and Bryce Canyon.

Arriving near Bryce Canyon, we stopped at Mossy Cave, a 0.8-mile out-and-back trail leading to a waterfall, where we cooled off. We ended the day at Bryce Canyon City, a small town where we stayed overnight.

🏨 Stay at : Bryce View Lodge

👉 Make sure to download the self-guided tour of Bryce & Zion National Parks offered by GuideAlong .

Day 14: Bryce Canyon National Park

We woke up early and headed to the main section of Bryce Canyon National Park . We took the park shuttle from Bryce Canyon City to the furthest stop: Bryce Point .

We then returned to the visitor center, stopping at Inspiration Point, Sunset Point, Bryce Lodge, and Sunrise Point . Each stop offered breathtaking viewpoints and nice little hikes.

Day 15: Bryce Canyon National Park to Page

The drive from Bryce Canyon NP to Page is 151 miles (243 km)

A few minutes outside Bryce Canyon City, we stopped at Red Canyon and took pictures of the beautiful arch. We then did a playground stop in Kanab before arriving at our campground at Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Recreational Area .

We spent the rest of the day in the water of Lake Powell, swimming, playing, and paddleboarding.

The lake was super low, so access to water was hard. We ended up neat at the marina boat launch. There is a small beach.

🏨 Stay at :   Page Lake Powell Campground

Day 16: Page (Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend)

We first drove into town from Lake Powell, stopping for a quick view of the Glen Canyon Dam. Then, we drove to Antelope Canyon X for our hiking tour in the Slot Canyon. It was amazing, and not crowded at all (I highly recommend it as an alternative to busy Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon) .

After the slot canyon, we went to Horseshoe Bend, where we had lunch and walked to the viewpoint, a short 0.75-mile walk (a really hot and sunny walk…bring LOTS of water).

We ended the day back at the marina beach to enjoy the water and cool off.

🏨 Stay at : Page Lake Powell Campground

Day 17: Page to Zion National Park

🚗 The drive from Page to Zion National Park is 104 miles (167 km)

From Page, we stopped at the Coral Pink Sand Dunes for a few hours. We played in the sand but didn’t do the sandboarding.

👉 If you have extra time, you may want to stop at Moqui Cave and /or at Best Friend Animal Sanctuary . Make sure to download the self-guided tour of Bryce & Zion National Parks offered by GuideAlong .

We then slowly crossed Zion National Park , admiring the view (it was raining a lot, so we sadly didn’t stop much). Arriving in Springdale, we enjoyed the campground facilities for the rest of the day once the rain stopped.

🏨 Stay at : Zion Canyon Campground

Day 18: Zion National Park

From our campground, we had to walk almost to the park entrance since all shuttles were full when they passed our stop. We then took the park shuttle to the Temple of Sinawava stop, where we walked the Riverside trail .

After, we hopped back on the shuttle to The Grotto stop, where we had a picnic and walked on the trail to Zion Lodge. The boys played in the grass area while enjoying an ice cream cone. We ended the day on the Lower Emerald Pool trail , a 1.4-mile out-and-back.

Day 19: Zion National Park to Park City

🚗 The drive from Zion National Park to Park City is 310 miles (499 km).

I think this is one of the longest driving days we did on the trip. But we stopped for a long and amazing time at Meadows Hot Springs , where we got to soak in 3 different natural hot spring pools. It was perfect and gave us the energy to drive the second half of the day.

When we arrived in Park City, we enjoyed the pool and hot tub at the hotel and got some delicious oven-baked pizza from the hotel restaurant.

🏨 Stay at :  Park City Peaks Hotel

Day 20: Park City to Bear Lake

🚗 The drive from Park City to Bear Lake is 119 miles (192 km)

We spent the morning walking around Park City and exploring this Olympic town before traveling from Utah to Idaho

But we did one last stop in Utah before Idaho at Rendez-Vous Beach around Bear Lake . Bear Lake is a lake at the border of Utah and Idaho, often called “The Caribbean of the Rockies.” We spent the rest of the day at the beach.

🏨 Stay at : Rendez Vous Beach – Bear Lake State Park

Day 21: Bear Lake to West Yellowstone

The drive from Bear Lake to West Yellowstone is 281 miles (452 km)

On that day, we drove from Utah to Idaho, then from Idaho to Montana.

We first stopped in Soda Spring , where we saw the Soda Spring captive geyser erupt. We also tasted some naturally carbonated water at the Soda Springs Historic Site .

Then, we drove a little more to Idaho Falls , where we walked in the Idaho Falls River Park and admired the falls.

We arrived late afternoon in West Yellowstone and enjoyed our campground.

🏨 Stay at : Yellowstone Park / West Gate KOA Holiday

👉🏻 If you’re looking for the best Things to do in Idaho with kids? Add this item to your list!

Day 22: West Yellowstone to Jackson Hole

🚗 The drive from West Yellowstone to Jackson Hole is 130 miles (209 km)

Today, we are exploring a section of Yellowstone National Park one of the best National Parks in the U.S . To help you plan your trip to Yellowstone, read this article , where you’ll find lots of tips.

• Fountain Paint Pot
• Grand Prismatic Spring
• Old Faithful 
• and a few other lookouts

We then stopped at Oxbow Bend for an outdoor dinner. We stayed there for a few hours to enjoy the sunset before heading to Jackson Hole , where you spent the night.

👉 Make sure to download the self-guided tour of Grand Teton National Parks offered by Gypsy Guide .

🏨 Stay at: The Hostel at Teton Village

Day 23: Jackson Hole / Grand Teton National Park

We drove across Grand Teton National Park . We did the loop in the clockwise direction. It was a recommendation from the visitor center. We have a better view of the Teton mountain range in that direction.

• Mormon Row Historic District (the famous barn)
• Cunningham Cabin trail
• Jackson Lake Dam

Day 24: Jackson Hole / Grand Teton National Park to Gardiner

🚗 The drive from Jackson Hole to Gardiner is 150 miles (241 km).

We woke up early to enjoy our second day in Yellowstone National Park. We did:

• Yellowstone Lake
• Fort Yellowstone
• Hayden Valley 
• Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone
• Mammoth Hot Springs

We were really fortunate to have seen many bison (one of them crossing the river). Also, we went to Yellowstone National Park during elk rutting season, so we had quite a few at Mammoth Hot Springs.

We ended the evening at our campground.

🏨 Stay at Yellowstone RV Park in Gardiner

👉 Make sure to download the self-guided tour of Yellowstone National Parks offered by GuideAlong.

👉 Then, if you still have some time, you could continue this road trip to Montana up to Glacier National Park .

👉🏻  For families planning to camp in or around the park, make sure to  download some camping apps  such as  The Dyrt  to find all the camping options around.

How Far is Montana from California

If you’re planning a road trip to Montana from California, the total driving distance between California and Montana is 20 hours and 50 minutes (1,306 miles) to make the journey. Starting in California, you’ll drive north through Nevada and Idaho before reaching Montana.

Once you arrive in Montana, explore Montana’s incredible natural resources, forests, lakes, mountains, and more!

Final Thoughts

We had an amazing 25-day road trip from California to Montana. This road trip was way too quick, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

We saw so many amazing landscapes, from red rock formations to geysers and natural hot springs. We saw so many wild animals. Each state of the western United States is unique and worth exploring.

We did a lot in only 25 days because we couldn’t decide where to cut 😉

I hope this itinerary will help you plan a memorable Western US Road Trip through Wyoming , Montana, Idaho, and Utah.

Related Articles

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like to read the following articles:

• Canada & USA Road Trips for Families: Our Best Itineraries
• 21 of the Best National Parks for Kids ? (USA Edition)
• 10 Day California Road Trip with Kids: San Diego to San Francisco

Emilie is the founder of Love Life Abroad. She helps moms plan epic road trips and outdoor adventures with their families. Because who said adventuring had to stop once we have kids? She’s based in the Canadian Rockies and shares her love for the region as well as other unique places in Canada & USA. She works with tourism boards and outdoor brands to inspire families to experience new unique destinations and outdoor activities.

The Ultimate 2 Week National Park Road Trip: Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah 

So you’re looking for an epic, once-in-a-lifetime road trip? One filled with the perfect mix…

So you’re looking for an epic, once-in-a-lifetime road trip? One filled with the perfect mix of awe-inspiring mountain peaks, vast desert landscapes, and crystal clear lakes? You’ve come to the right place. This route kicks off in Denver, Colorado and takes you through some of the country’s most photo-worthy scenery and diverse terrain. Explore five National Parks, ranging from Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons to Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon, before closing the loop via Lake Powell and Arches National Park, and returning to the Mile High City.

The ideal length for this route would be two to three weeks to really soak up everything it has to offer (which is a lot).

Day 1: Denver, Colorado → Yellowstone National Park

Denver is the ideal spot to kick start this adventure. You’ll fly into Denver International Airport and take the quick 20-minute uber ride (approx. $20) to the  Denver VanCraft depot . The office opens at 9am making it easy to get a morning flight in and pick up your VanCraft van just in time for a late breakfast in Denver (check out Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen in Five Points near I-25) before hitting the wide open road due north.

With eyes on the prize, it’s time to crank out some miles to get up to Yellowstone National Park. A quick disclaimer: Doing this trip in 10 days is not for the faint of heart. We’d recommend baking in a few extra days on the front end to explore the 9-hour stretch up to the northern entrance to Yellowstone. If you are cranking out the drive though, don’t forget to slow down for a commemorative shot with the Wyoming state sign to mark the official start of the multi-state road trip. And if you’re itching to get the tires a little dusty, be sure to check out Chugwater Basin Road to quench your thirst for dirt and get you amped for what’s to come on this route.

Want to ease into vacation mode and experience the greater Denver area before hitting the road?

● Book an extra day in Denver to take in the plethora of breweries, local hikes, and unparalleled bites before starting your journey North ● Looking for a thrill to kickstart the trip? Give rafting a go ● See who’s playing at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre ● Head to Coors Field for a baseball game ● Explore Rocky Mountain National Park.  See here  for more information on Colorado’s National Parks

Day 2: Yellowstone National Park

Start your day at camp (campsite options below!), coffee in hand, overlooking the mountains of Yellowstone National Park. After whipping up a hearty breakfast on the VanCraft two-burner stove, hit the happy trails and head out for your first taste of what Yellowstone has to offer.

First up is Mammoth Hot Springs, a martian-like terrain boasting terraces of steaming travertine pools. This boardwalk trail is just the warm-up you’ll need for today’s adventure.

Once you’ve taken in every last drop of the springs, start the journey to Canyon Village, stopping to stretch your legs for the quick 100-yard walk to the Tower Fall Overlook to take in one of the most popular waterfalls in the park, cascading down 132 feet.

Next stop was a hike down to the top of Lower Falls. A few must-see vantage points to fully appreciate the scale of these falls are:

● The Brink of Lower Falls ● Red Rock Point Yellowstone ● Inspiration Point

Pro Tip:  While you’re in Canyon Village, near Lower Falls, stop by the village store and grab yourself a mix of local beers for camp later.

Round off the day with a drive through Hayden Valley, one of the most popular spots for spotting Yellowstone’s famous bison, elk and deer, and a scenic snack spot at Yellowstone Lake, before heading back to camp.

Wind down with tacos (a camp favorite), a well-deserved ice cold beer, and a shower off the back of the van before curling up for the night.

Yellowstone Campsites:

● Epic wild-camp spot just outside of Gardiner, MT. (GPS Coordinates 45.07225, 110.67154) ● Eagle Creek Campground: First come, first serve. ● Rocky Mountain RV & Campground. Great showers! (Gardiner, Montana) ● For the latest information on Campgrounds inside Yellowstone check out  this page

Pro Tip:  Want to stay inside Yellowstone National Park but don’t have a reservation? Check out Indian Creek Campground first thing in the morning to nab a first come, first serve spot if there’s any available, or pop by other reservation-only campgrounds in the early morning to see if there’s been any day-of cancellations.

Day 3: Yellowstone National Park → Grand Teton National Park

Today you’re officially starting to make your way south, winding and trekking your way through the remaining must-sees of Yellowstone, on your way to Grand Teton National Park.

As you head South, take in these noteworthy hikes and iconic Yellowstone sights:

● Norris Geyser Basin ● Artists Paintpots ● Grand Prismatic Spring ● Fairy Falls hike to see it from above ● And last, but certainly not least, Old Faithful (be sure to look into the  time predictions )

After catching the show at Old Faithful, take in the sunset next to Jackson Lake with the Grand Tetons towering in the background, before heading to camp for the night.

Grand Teton National Park Campgrounds:

● Colter Bay Campground ● Jenny Lake Campground ● Gros Ventre Campground (our team stayed here and loved it!) ● Kudar Log Cabins and RV in Jackson, Wyoming

For more camping information,  click here .

Heads Up:  Keep an eye out for bison, elk, and deer! If you’re lucky, you may even see an entire herd traveling up the road like the VanCraft team did.

Day 4: Grand Teton National Park

Wake up and take in the view of the Grand Tetons peeking through the trees of the campground. You’ve been pounding pavement and cranking out the miles on foot and deserve a relaxing morning among the trees. Today’s going to be low-key, with scenic drives and short overlook strolls at the heart of it. Here’s what’s on the to-do:

● Roadside breakfast/lunch at Glacier View Turnout ● The Moulton Barn on Mormon Row: An infamous spot for photographers ● Jenny Lake Scenic Drive: A favorite for it’s close proximity to the Tetons and expansive lake with jumping rocks for those who fancy a dip. ● Signal Mountain drive with panoramic views at the top ● National Museum of Wildlife Art on the way into Jackson Hole ● Shopping, a bite and brews in Jackson Hole ● Set alarm for sunrise in the Tetons

Interested in staying in town instead of in the park? Check out Kudar Log Cabins and RV in Jackson to be in walking distance from the shops and restaurants.

Day 5: Grand Teton National Park → Zion National Park

Sunrise in the Grand Tetons is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. If you’re not an early riser, fear not! The beautiful thing about having a van is you can quite literally roll out of bed and drive to your viewpoint of choice in your pjs, before coffee and breakfast even enter your mind.

Here’s some of the best places to watch the sunrise in the Grand Tetons:

● The Moulton Barn: If you’re into photography, you’ll probably recognize the barns of Mormon Row, known as one of the best places to take in the sunrise of the Tetons. ● Snake River Overlook ● Schwabacher’s Landing ● Turnouts along Teton Park Road

After taking in the sunrise, sipping on freshly-brewed coffee, and enjoying a home cooked breakfast in the fresh morning air, it’s time to start the journey south to Zion National Park.

Optional Detours (If you have time):

● Park City is worth a detour. Grab a bite on Main Street, spend a day on the mountain (Lake Catherine Via Brighton Lakes Trail is a great 4 mile hike and worth the drive), and stay on any of the surrounding BLM land (queue iOverlander). ● Bryce Canyon: You’ll thank us later!

When you make it into Springdale (the town at the entrance to Zion), treat yourself to a meal at King’s Landing. A classy-yet-casual, spot with come-as-you-are vibes, mountain views, and outdoor seating. A perfect place to take in the sunset with Zion’s signature red peaks in the background.

● BLM land: There’s no shortage of free camp options around Zion, with miles and miles of BLM land surrounding the park. Check out iOverlander, and take your pick. A favorite of mine was at the top of the Smithsonian Butte pass. It’s one of those spots that makes you truly thankful for public land. ● Watchman Campground (in Zion) ● South Campground (in Zion)

Need a night to refresh after the drive or a place to escape the heat if it’s the heart of summer? There’s plenty of hotel options in Springdale and surrounding areas that hit every price point and taste (the Driftwood Lodge definitely lived up to the hype).

Day 6: Zion National Park

Today’s the day to see what Zion is all about! It’s time to stretch the ol’ legs and hit the happy trails again, but this time with a twist. You’ll be hiking through water. The Narrows is one of those must-do bucket-list hikes. Pack a lunch and get ready for a one-of-a-kind, out-and-back, trail!

Other hikes that are worth the effort:

● Angel’s Landing: If you’re feeling adventurous and up for the challenge ● Canyon Overlook Trail (see Day 7)

Post hike head over to Zion Canyon Brew Pub for some locally brewed craft beers and classic pub food.

Pro Tip:  In the warmer months most people arrive at the park around 8am attempting to beat the crowds and the heat…if you want to feel a little more “out there” and a little less like you’re in Disneyland, you’ll either need to be at the Zion Shuttle 30 minutes before the first shuttle heads out, or hold off on heading out until early afternoon when everyone else is calling it quits for the day.

Day 7: Zion National Park → Grand Canyon National Park

Today you’re headed to the Grand Canyon! Whip yourself up another homemade feast or start the morning with a to-go breakfast from Oscar’s in Springdale as you make your way out of town. Your morning drive will take you through Zion, giving you a whole new appreciation for the park as you climb in elevation to the trailhead of the Canyon Overlook Trail. This quick 1-mile out and back trail is the perfect way to end your time in Zion as you charge on towards Grand Canyon National Park.

Along the way consider stopping off at some of these:

● Moqui Cave. A quick 1-mile round trip hike up to the caves is a great pitstop. ● The Wave: 6.7 mile out and back trail to sandstone feature known as “The Wave” ● Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch Trail: 5.6 mile trail to Slot Canyons ● Cameron Trading Post – a Grand Canyon classic for souvenirs

You’re camping at Desert View Campground tonight, mere steps away from the southern rim of the Grand Canyon. On your drive down, stop at Walmart in Page, AZ to restock and treat yourself to something sweet for a sunset picnic. Once you’ve settled into camp and cooked up a feast, head on over to the Watch Tower parking lot with a bottle of wine and dessert. Follow the rim all the way to the left until the crowds disperse, and pick your favorite secluded spot to take in the sunset and enjoy your treat.

Enjoy a campfire back at Desert View Campground before hitting the hay for the night.

Day 8: Grand Canyon National Park → Lake Powell

Much like the Grand Tetons, a sunrise over the Grand Canyon is also a must-see at least once in your life. There’s a .25-mile trail from the campground that leads straight to the edge, close enough to bring your coffee with you for the trek. Soak it up and take it all in before heading back to camp for an early breakfast.

If you have an extra day it’s definitely worth heading to the Grand Canyon Village to hike down into the canyon, but if you’re strapped for time pack up and head to Lake Powell. Today you’re going kayaking. This ain’t your average summer-camp paddle. This 7-mile round trip paddle will take you from Antelope Point Marina to Antelope Canyon, one of the area’s most impressive slot canyons, where you’ll be able to explore on foot before returning to the water.

For kayak rentals checkout :  https://lakepowellxperience.com/  and/or  https://lakepowellpaddleboards.com/

If you have time, check out Horseshoe bend while you’re in the area as well!

• Beehive Campsites, 6 established sites for $14/night, overlooking Lake Powell. First come, first serve. (GPS Coordinates: 36.936710, -111.497730)
• Wahweap RV & Campground
• Plenty of off-grid spots as well around the lake (see iOverlander)

Day 9: Lake Powell → Arches National Park

Day nine is all about detours and deserts. As you head north, take some time to take it all in:

● Grey Mesa: Fun network of dirt trails to break up the drive. ● Monument Valley: A must! ● Valley of the Gods: Great network of dirt trails for lunch.

In Arches National Park there’s countless must-sees, but if time is limited pick a few of these to take in:

● North Window, South Window and Turret Arch – 1.0 round trip ● Double Arch – 0.5 miles roundtrip ● Delicate Arch – 3.0 miles roundtrip ● Park Avenue Overlook – 20 yards from parking lot

More time? Check out Moab and Canyonlands while you’re in the area.

There are plenty of options around Moab and Arches, but if you’re interested in starting the journey back to Denver today, head to “A Trail Through Time” for an awesome mountaintop campsite, with mesa and mountain views, to ring in your last night on the road.

Day 10: Arches National Park → Denver

It’s nearing the end of the trip, but the adventure isn’t quite over. As you wind your way back to Denver, take in the mountainscapes and rushing rivers as your cruise down I-70 through Vail, Breckenridge, and Idaho Springs, before pulling into the Denver VanCraft depot.

Have a little time to kill before your flight? Check out Station 26, just around the corner from the VanCraft depot, for some local beers to cap off this trip of a lifetime!

We said it, and we’ll say it again. This route is one for the books. And there’s nothing quite like having the comforts of home and the peace of mind that a VanCraft provides, as you hit the road for this 2,500-mile, jam-packed, adventure.

Happy adventuring and don’t forget to tag #vancraft on your own epic adventure. We can’t wait to see where it’ll take you!

• South Dakota
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• Pennsylvania
• Washington, DC
• West Virginia
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• British Columbia
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• London, England
• Another Alaska Road Trip
• Big Sky (Washington, Idaho, Montana)
• Crater Lake & Yosemite
• Evergreen (Washington & Oregon)
• Northern Rockies
• Oregon & Northern California
• Surf & Volcanic Turf
• The Best of Alaska
• Yellowstone and Tetons
• Canadian Maritimes in Autumn
• New England Leaf-Peeping Tour
• Arches in Winter
• Tahoe & Sequoia
• Vegas Hiking Long Weekend
• Death Valley Superbloom
• Colorado Hiking Week
• A Week In Utah
• 5 Days, 4 Corners
• Southwest Utah
• Fallorado (Fall in Colorado)
• Golden Aspens
• Golden State (California)
• The Loneliest Trip
• Red Rocks (Sedona)
• Utah and Colorado
• Winter Escape (AZ & NM)
• Allegheny and Blue Ridge
• Weekend in Chicago
• Appalachian Foothills
• Florida Keys Weekend
• Georgia Weekend
• Lake Erie Loop
• Lone Star (Texas)
• The Route and the Trail
• The Southeast
• 100 Hours in London
• Canadian Rockies
• Canadian Rockies in Winter
• Best of Arizona
• The Enchanted Land (New Mexico)
• Rocky Roads
• Ohio’s Bridges and Backroads
• Desert Trails
• Olympic Ring
• California Dream
• Arches and Canyons
• Balloon Fiesta
• Breaking Bad ABQ
• Guide to Mount Rainier National Park
• Photography
• License Plates

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. the trip begins and ends in portland, oregon, but spends much of the time in and around glacier national park in montana..

You might notice that this trip follows a similar route as the 2006 Northern Rockies trip . Just like then, I started my trip with a drive through the Columbia River Gorge. This time, though, I took a longer route through eastern Washington and Idaho, before ending up in the Kalispell area near Glacier National Park. In '06, I was able to drive across Going-to-the-Sun Road. This time, the road was closed at Logan Pass, so I had to circle around on US 2. I also ventured into Canada briefly on this trip -- something I didn't have time to do in 2006.

On both trips, I headed south from Kalispell to Missoula. In 2006 I headed on into Idaho, then cut across Oregon to get back to Portland. This time, I made a bee-line on I-90, then spent a little time in Yakima before finishing the journey.

Through the Columbia Gorge to Pasco, Washington

Stonehenge Replica at Maryhill

Columbia River Gorge: Washington 14

This is really just a half-day, since my plane landed around noon. For the remaining daylight hours, I had two goals: enjoy a drive through the spectacular Columbia River Gorge, and finish the day at Pasco, Washington. I had to cover enough ground on Day 1 to make Day 2 possible.

It took a while to get out of the traffic mess of Portland, but eventually I made my way across the Columbia River and into Washington. Once there, my route was simple: take Highway 14 eastbound, for most of the rest of the day. Washington 14 parallels Interstate 84 and historic US 30 -- both of which are on the Oregon side. On the Washington side, the pace is slower, but the views are equally spectacular. The Oregon side offers access to several waterfalls, but you can see the biggest one, Multnomah Falls, from the Washington side as well.

Another benefit of sticking to the Washington side: you can visit the Stonehenge replica, a war memorial in Maryhill, Washington. After admiring the concrete recreation of England's ancient attraction, I continued up the Gorge. I found a great place to enjoy the sunset at some irrigated farmland near I-82, the highway that heads north to Pasco.

The Palouse, and scenery in Idaho

Bull River, Bull Lake, Montana 200 & 56

Scenic Idaho Route 200

Idaho’s Statue of Liberty: Sandpoint

Moscow, Idaho

Idaho’s North-South Road: US 95

The Spiral Road: Lewiston, Idaho

Clarkston, Washington

Dayton, Washington

Pomeroy, Washington: Neon Town

More driving awaited on this day, but if you're planning a trip to Glacier National Park, you have to accept a good bit of driving. I could have made the trip quicker, by driving up to I-90, then cutting across Washington and Idaho. Instead, I chose to explore the Palouse -- a region of rolling hills, where every turn looks somewhat like that desktop image on Windows XP computers.

Washington Route 124, then US 12 cuts across the Palouse, to the twin cities of Clarkston, Washington and Lewiston, Idaho. At Lewiston, I drove up the Spiral Road -- an historic section of US 95 that includes dozens of hairpin curves, to climb the mountain north of town. From there, I continued up US 95, the "North South Road" in Idaho, through Moscow, Coeur d'Alene, and eventually Sandpoint, where a miniature Statue of Liberty stands watch over Lake Pend Oreille. With the evening approaching, I drove east along Idaho 200, then Montana 200. Montana 56 and US 2 then took me to Libby, where I spent the night.

Exploring Northwest Montana

Rocky Point Hike, Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park: Johns Lake & McDonald Creek Hike

Glacier National Park’s West Side

Eureka, Montana & US 93

Lake Koocanusa & Libby Dam

Libby, Montana

Kootenai Falls & Swinging Bridge

To start the day, I backtracked slightly on US 2 to Kootenai Falls, where a nearby swinging bridge spans the wild rapids of the river. The bridge and falls were used in the movie, The River Wild. Then, I headed back to Libby, where I explored the town for a few minutes, before heading out.

I could have stayed on US 2 for the drive to Glacier National Park, but instead I chose a route that looked more scenic on the map. Outside of Libby, Montana 37 heads north along the banks of Lake Koocanusa (a combination of Kootenai -- the river that feeds it, Canada and USA -- the countries it spans). I checked out Libby Dam, then drove north, almost to Canada, then took US 93 south to Whitefish. While Montana 37 was pretty, US 93 was somewhat boring and filled with traffic.

I checked into my motel in Columbia Falls, then spent the rest of the day on the west side of Glacier National Park. My first hike was to Johns Lake, which was unimpressive, but I added a walk along McDonald Creek, which was quite nice. Since Going-to-the-Sun Road wasn't open past Avalanche, I couldn't go all the way to Logan Pass, so I found another trail on the west side, at Rocky Point, where I hiked to finish the day (and ended up in a thunderstorm).

Glacier National Park's East Side

Appistoki Falls & Scenic View Hike, Two Medicine

Two Medicine: Boat Ride, Hike to Twin Falls

East Glacier Park Village, Montana

US 2 Around Glacier National Park

I anxiously checked for news about Going-to-the-Sun Road on the morning of Day 4, but it was still closed. Knowing that, and having explored the west side of Glacier National Park the previous afternoon, I decided it would be best to circle around the park and check out the east side. I took US 2 around the southern end of Glacier, to my stopping point for the next two nights: East Glacier Park Village.

When I arrived, it was too early to check in, so I headed on into the park. The closest access point to East Glacier Park Village is the Two Medicine area. Thanks to the late-season snowstorm (which dumped the snow that was keeping GTTS Road closed), many of the trails in Two Medicine and other areas were soggy, muddy, or outright flooded altogether. Hiking around Two Medicine Lake would likely have been messy, so I opted for the scenic boat cruise. At the far end of the lake, I hopped off (and waded through some frigid ankle-deep water) to get to the trail to Twin Falls. As trails go, it was okay, and as waterfalls go, it was alright.

Arriving back at the dock, a long line of hikers were already waiting for the boat to return -- so many, the boat couldn't hold us all. So, it left three of us behind -- two ladies and me. It took nearly an hour for the boat to drop them all off, and then return to pick us up, but I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful place to be stuck. And when it finally did return, the three of us had the whole boat to ourselves.

With a few hours to go before sunset (the days are incredibly long in late June, this far north), I gave myself an ambitious goal. I set out to hike the Scenic Point trail. Or at least, I told myself I'd hike as far as Appistoki Falls, and then see if I wanted to go further. Often, I do this to trick myself into longer, tougher hikes. I tell myself I'll hike for a while, then turn around -- but inevitably, once I'm up there, I go further. And this time, I kept going, as far as time allowed. I kept a close eye on my watch, constantly calculating the time needed for the return hike before darkness arrived.

The hike to Scenic Point wasn't just time-consuming, it was strenuous. As is often the case, the Scenic Point is at a very high point, overlooking everything, and to get there, you've got to go uphill. After a very full day of driving and hiking, I was exhausted by the time I approached the destination. I was also running out of time, but I pushed it to the very last minute. I didn't make it all the way, but I did see some very scenic points along the way.

Another great day on Glacier's east side

Ptarmigan Falls & Tunnel Trail, Many Glacier

Swiftcurrent Lake & Lake Josephine Hiking Loop

Grinnell Glacier Trail, Glacier National Park

Many Glacier Area, Glacier National Park

Glacier’s East Side: US 89

Looking Glass Road: Montana 49

My cabin in East Glacier Park Village proved to be more than adequate. It was tiny, and probably built a half-century or more ago, but it was affordable, comfortable, and clean. I started the day refreshed, and drove up to the stunning Many Glacier area.

On the way there, I took Montana 49, also known as Looking Glass Hill Road. This is an impossibly bad road with unbelievably good views. Tight curves, narrow drops, and endless potholes and dips make the drive slow. All the while, you're staring at gorgeous views that appear before you, around every corner.

As Montana 49 ends, US 89 continues the scenic drive, all the way to the entrance to the Many Glacier area. I understand why so many people consider this to be the 'heart' of Glacier, with some of the best trails, and best views.

I tackled two trails while I was in Many Glacier: the Grinnell Glacier Trail (which starts with loops around Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine), and the Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail. Of course, I didn't make it to the end of either one. In the case of the Grinnell Glacier Trail, snow was still blocking the upper portion of the path. The Ptarmigan Tunnel Trail had a washed-out bridge above Ptarmigan Falls, so I made the falls my turn-around point. Both hikes combined probably amounted to 11 miles or more of hiking. That was plenty for one day.

As I finished up the Ptarmigan Falls hike, I was dodging storm clouds. After a few brief showers, I made it back to the car, and drove out of the Many Glacier area. The rest of the drive back to East Glacier Park Village was more extraordinary than I could ever express. At least half the way, I had a rainbow and storm clouds to my left, and sunshine and mountain peaks on my right.

The drive north into Alberta

Pincher Creek at Sunset

Southwest Alberta: Castle Special Place

Akamina Parkway, Waterton Lakes

Guide to Waterton Lakes National Park

Canada’s Chief Mountain Highway

Chief Mountain Highway: MT 17

As I checked out of my cabin, I had reached the end of my reserved accommodations for this trip. From here on out, I was making it up as I went along, day by day. I decided on this day, I'd head north into Canada, check out Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, then spend the night in Pincher Creek -- a town I grew quite fond of, during a wintertime stay in 2012. I reserved my same cabin for Day 7, giving me one more night in East Glacier.

I was now getting quite familiar with Montana 49 and US 89. I drove the treacherous curves a bit more quickly this time, but still stopped to gaze at the incredible eastern side of Glacier National Park. North of Many Glacier, I turned off onto Highway 17, the Chief Mountain Highway -- named for the prominent peak that stands watch over the road to Canada.

Once across the border, it was just a short drive downhill to the town of Waterton, where I ate my first real meal in several days. It's pretty common for me to skip meals and survive on food from the cooler while on vacation, but on this trip, it was a necessity. There were few places to eat, everywhere I went, and with the sun setting so late, I wasn't getting back into civilization until well after 10 p.m.

My first visit to Waterton in March, 2012, was snowy and cold. Almost everything in town was boarded up, and Waterton Lake was frozen. Now, in late June, the town was alive, and thankfully the restaurants were open. After the rapid consumption of a burger and fries, I drove the Akamina Parkway and Red Rock Parkway -- two scenic routes that are snowbound in the winter.

As Waterton clouded up, I drove north towards Pincher Creek, and quickly ended up on some dirt roads west of Highway 6. These roads criss-cross farmland and ranchland in the rolling prairieland at the foot of the Rockies -- an area known as the Castle Special Place. It is, indeed, a special place, made even more special by a magical mix of rain, clouds, and sunshine. Once again, I had a rainbow following me around. I drove aimlessly, in any direction that looked like it might yield a good photo. Around sunset, I ended up at the railroad tracks and grain elevators north of Pincher Creek.

Waterton Lakes, then back into the USA

East Side, Going-To-The-Sun Road

Red Rock Parkway, Waterton Lakes

St. Henry’s Historic Catholic Church, Southern Alberta

Red Rock Canyon & Blakiston Falls

I drove around Pincher Creek on the morning of Day 7, just to see what it looked like when the streets weren't piled with snow and stained with salt. It's quite nice -- and the endless chain of mountain peaks in the distance were an unexpected addition to the landscape. When I was here in 2012, I think it was foggy in Pincher Creek every day.

Now, it was time to head south, and that's what I did, but of course I took my time, with detours out towards the Castle Special Place (west of Highway 6), and to St. Henry's Catholic Church, an historic structure east of Route 6. Eventually I ended up in Waterton Lakes National Park, and did some more driving around (this time I hiked Red Rock Canyon, out to Blakiston Falls). And of course, I got rained-on again.

The charm of that rainy weather was wearing off, and by the time I was back in the USA, the clouds were no longer picturesque. It had grown grey and cold, and I didn't feel much like hiking or picture-taking in that kind of weather. I explored the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road just briefly, then called it a day, and drove back to my familiar cabin.

The drive south, then exploring Missoula

Hike to Missoula’s Big “L” on Mount Jumbo

Hiking in Missoula: Rattlesnake Canyon

Flathead Lake & US 93

On Day 8, my goal was to make it to Missoula by nightfall. That was it. I had no other plan. And unfortunately, the plan I eventually chose could have been better.

I talked to the person at the front office as I checked out of the cabin. She recommended circling around the park on US 2, then taking US 93 south, past Flathead Lake, towards Missoula. It was the shorter route, for sure (although still a long drive), but it was the same route I had taken during my 2006 trip. My other option would swing widely to the east and south, then eventually end up at Missoula. It would be a longer drive, and further from the mountains, but I'd cover new territory.

I opted for the shorter, familiar route. It's not ugly by any means, but it's slow-going through the traffic of Kalispell. Even outside the city, US 93 is an overused road that's still two lanes in many parts. Long story short, I spent a few hours regretting the road not taken.

On the bright side, I ended up in Missoula early enough to hike in two places. First, I tried the spot recommended by the guy at the front desk of my motel in Missoula: Rattlesnake Canyon. It was beautiful, but it was just a nice walk in the woods, without any real payoff. If I had a mountain bike, I could have covered more ground and seen more, and I think it would have been more rewarding.

I gave up on Rattlesnake Canyon after a while, and found another trail that did have a payoff. The Mount Jumbo trail climbs a very noticeable hill above Missoula -- a hill that's adorned with a huge letter "L" (it's right next to a hill with the letter "M" on it, which I hiked in 2006). I hiked to the "L" and beyond, then came back and sat on the "L" for a while, and thought about dinner. Some online reviews led me to the pizza at Ciao Mambo, near the University of Montana.

As I walked back into my motel room, the guy at the desk asked me about Rattlesnake Canyon, then noticed the pizza box. He told me it was one of the best pies in Missoula.

A long drive back to Washington

Yakima Canyon Scenic Drive

Ritzville, Washington

Rosenoff Road: I-90’s Scenic Alternative

Center of the Universe: Wallace, Idaho

Interstate 90 Across Idaho

This day was a mess, at least, weather-wise. And, I had to cover a lot of ground. I reserved a room in Yakima, Washington, exactly 400 miles away, via Interstate 90. Yep, I had no choice but to skip the side roads and stay on the interstate. Making it worse, it was rainy and foggy, almost all the way. I only made one worthwhile stop, at the Center of the Universe in Wallace, Idaho. It's such a neat little town, that I always enjoy walking around there.

Near the end of my day, I had made up enough time that I decided to treat myself to some two-lane roads: one was straight as an arrow, the other was a very squiggly line on the map. The straight road was Rosenoff Road, west of Ritzville, Washington. It paralleled I-90 through some scenic farmland. The squiggly line was Washington 821 through Yakima Canyon. Just like the Spiral Road from Lewiston, Idaho, this used to be the main highway for years, until a better road was built (Interstate 82 to Yakima). I thoroughly enjoyed both roads, but I was very happy to call it a night, once I got to Yakima.

Through Washington, to the Pacific Coast

Shipwreck! Fort Stevens State Park

Longview, Washington

Umtanum Creek, Yakima Canyon Hike

I had much more driving to do on this day, but I figured I had enough time to enjoy one more hike, before starting the long push to the coast. So, I drove back up Yakima Canyon to Umtanum Creek, where a suspension bridge takes hikers over to a trail that winds up a side canyon. The trail was somewhat overgrown and hard to follow, but I was still happy, because the weather was nice, and I knew it would probably be my last hike of the trip.

In order to get over to the coast, I had to take US 12 past Mount Rainier. Of course, the weather near the mountain was sloppy. I pushed through the rain and made it to my stopping point at Longview, Washington, by late afternoon. With sunset still hours away, I wasn't ready to quit -- so after checking into my hotel, I drove over to the coast, to see the famous shipwreck half-buried on the beach at Fort Stevens Park near Astoria, Oregon. I drove back to Longview after dark.

Finishing the trip near Portland, Oregon

Multnomah Falls: Hike to the Top

My flight home departed from Portland in mid-afternoon. Since I'm the kind of person who likes to squeeze every last minute out of a vacation, I decided to do some more sightseeing. I drove down to Portland, then took Interstate 84 into the Columbia River Gorge. I stopped at the always-beautiful Multnomah Falls, and somehow found the energy and motivation to hike to the top. It's a pretty exhausting climb -- and quite muddy, too, thanks to some passing rain showers. I tried to stay as clean as possible, since I wouldn't have time to change before my flight. I did the best I could, but there was probably some mud on my pants on the way home.

I had to hurry to finish the hike, and then hurry back to the airport, but I made it with time to spare. Not a lot of time, mind you, but just enough.

Utah National Park Road Trips With Scenic Stops

• There are plenty of scenic Utah national park road trip routes, especially since the state offers unique national parks with dramatic formations like arches, bridges, and canyons.
• Invest in an America the Beautiful Parks pass for $80 to save on entry fees at multiple park sites.
• Explore themed national park road trip itineraries in Utah, with routes featuring multiple park stops all in one trip.

Utah is one of the top destinations in the US for outdoor adventurers, home to many of America's bucket list hiking trails . With five national parks and 11 other national park sites (including national monuments, recreation areas, and conservation areas), it's no surprise some of the most bucket-list-worthy national park road trips take place in Utah.

Utah's national park sites protect some of the most unusual formations in the world. Hoodoos, natural bridges, mineral caves, and sheer canyon walls are just some of the dramatic structures road trippers can expect to find on a trip around Utah. From weekend loops to treks across the state, these Utah national park road trip routes are excellent ways to explore the national park sites in the Beehive State.

For those worried about the price tag of a national park road trip, consider investing in an America the Beautiful Parks pass , one of the best ways to visit national parks for cheap all year long. At $80, the pass grants free entry for the pass holder and their passengers to all NPS, BLM, and USDA Forest Service sites for one year, which can save a lot for those who visit parks often.

10 Dog-Friendly State Parks In Utah

Arches & bridges of utah, national park sites visited: 4.

Arches National Park may host the highest concentration of natural arches and bridges in the world, but there are actually three national park sites in Utah dedicated to these natural formations. Both Natural Bridges National Monument and Rainbow Bridge National Monument also protect one-of-a-kind arch formations, and they combine nicely with Arches National Park for a themed Utah national park road trip itinerary.

Starting in Moab with Arches National Park, Utah road trippers move south towards Natural Bridges National Monument. This is where the road trip takes a bit of a turn. Rainbow Bridge National Monument is part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, meaning that guests can enjoy two national park sites at once.

However, while this may be a road trip, getting to the Rainbow Arch itself won't be that easy. The only way to see one Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the world's largest natural bridges , is to catch a boat ride from Lake Powell or take the multi-day 14-mile (each way) hike through the Navajo Nation . As the last stop of this national park road trip route in Utah, these exhausting excursions may be the perfect escape from the car for a grand road trip finale.

• Road Trip Route: Moab → Arches National Park → Natural Bridges National Monument → Glen Canyon National Recreation Area/Rainbow Bridge National Monument
• Recommended Time: 3–4 days

Arches National Park is one of several US national parks that require reservations in 2024 . Be sure to visit the National Park Service website to get a timed entry reservation made ahead of time.

The Alpine Loop

National park sites visited: 2.

The Alpine Loop is a favorite for local Utahns looking for an afternoon drive, but with the right stops, this drive can easily become an exceptional national park road trip in Utah.

The entirety of the Alpine Loop is, in fact, in Uinta National Forest. Camping opportunities along the Loop, which stretches from American Fork Canyon to Provo Canyon, are plentiful, as are scenic hiking trails through the Aspen trees. The steep canyon walls also lend themselves to dramatic waterfalls, like the scenic Stewart Falls Trail .

As a Utah national park road trip, however, there is one more can't-miss stop on this weekend getaway. Timpanogos Caves National Monument in American Fork Canyon is one of Utah's most unique national park sites, requiring a moderate hike up switchbacks before reaching the caves themselves. Timpanogos Cave can only be explored as part of a tour, but the stalactites and stalagmites in the damp mountain caves are well worth the effort.

• Road Trip Route: Alpine Loop Byway (American Fork Canyon to Provo Canyon)
• Recommended Time: 1–2 days

10 Affordable Small Towns To Retire In Utah

Southeastern utah road trip, national park sites visited: 3.

There are countless scenic Utah road trips , ranging from just a few miles to all-day drives across the state. If even exploring half of the state isn't quite possible, one of the shorter Utah national park road trip itineraries through a small region may be the perfect solution. The Southeastern portion of Utah is rich in national and state park sites, ideal for a smaller-scale road trip.

Moab makes an excellent home base for this road trip, sitting just outside Arches National Park and just an hour from Goblin Valley State Park, one of the many Utah state park alternatives to Zion National Park and the perfect substitute for making the drive to the other side of the state.

At just 370 miles to drive, this loop is far more manageable for those looking for a long weekend-length road trip through Utah's national parks.

• Road Trip Route: Moab → Arches National Park → Canyonlands National Park → Goblin Valley State Park → Natural Bridges National Monument → Moab

Utah National Monuments Road Trip

National park sites visited: 8.

Utah has eight dedicated national monuments, in addition to the famous national parks. Seven of these national monuments work nicely to create one of the most unique and varied national park road trips in Utah from Salt Lake City. Following I-15 from Salt Lake to American Fork, road trippers will first detour to the Alpine loop to explore Timpanogos Cave National Monument in Uinta National Forest. A challenging hike to a mountain cave, Timpanogos Cave is the perfect first stop before heading to the rocky terrain of the rest of the trip.

The other four national monuments are in the southern portion of the state. From the ancient structures of Hovenweep National Monument to the red rocks of Cedar Breaks National Monument, this expansive road trip is a chance to explore the hidden gems of Utah, with fewer crowds but plenty of scenic national park views.

• Road Trip Route: Salt Lake City → Timpanogos Cave National Monument → Bears Ears National Monument → Hovenweep National Monument → Natural Bridges National Monument → Rainbow Bridge National Monument/Glen Canyon National Recreation Area → Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument → Cedar Breaks National Monument → Cedar City
• Recommended Time: 7–10 days

Zion National Park & Dixie National Forest Road Trip

Zion National Park is the most-visited national park in Utah and was one of the most visited national parks in the US in 2023 . Many travelers recommend spending two or even three days exploring this spectacular park, including taking several scenic drives (or hopping on the eco-friendly shuttle) through the park.

Given the time spent in Zion National Park itself, limiting additional road trip stops might be necessary. By starting in Saint George in southwestern Utah, adventurers on a Utah national park road trip itinerary with scenic stops can stop in Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and Snow Canyon State Park on their way to Zion. After spending the desired time in Zion, and potentially even taking on one of America's most dangerous hikes (Angel's Landing), the road heads north to Dixie National Forest.

One of the numerous hidden gem destinations in Utah, Dixie National Forest is full of unique attractions of its own, including an arch that travelers can drive through and Red Canyon, one of the most underrated and worthwhile places to visit in Southern Utah.

• Road Trip Route: Saint George → Snow Canyon State Park → Red Cliffs National Conservation Area → Zion National Park → Dixie National Forest
• Recommended Time: 4–6 days

Got more time? By ending in Dixie National Forest, Utah national park road trip travelers are well-positioned to add Capitol Reef and even Canyonlands National Park to the road trip itinerary.

10 Hiking Capitals Of America

Route 89 road trip: the utah stretch.

Route 89 is often considered America's most scenic road trip , and for good reason. In its entirety, Route 89 visits seven national parks and 14 national park sites between Montana and Arizona. The Utah stretch of this picturesque drive takes travelers from Kanab in Southern Utah all the way to Bear Lake on the Utah-Idaho border.

The main national parks along this road are Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, both of which have their own scenic drives and hiking trails. For those interested in going further north, views of national forests as well as opportunities to detour to major cities like Provo and Salt Lake City help balance the attractions along this one-of-a-kind Utah national park road trip route.

• Road Trip Route: Kanab → Zion National Park → Bryce Canyon National Park → Provo → Salt Lake City → Logan → Garden City/Bear Lake

Mighty 5 Utah Road Trip

National park sites visited: 5.

The five national parks in Utah are perfectly spaced for one of the best national park road trips in the US with scenic stops , and it is arguably the most popular road trip route in Utah.

Starting in Salt Lake City, travelers can point their loop toward either Zion National Park or Arches National Park. For those starting in Zion National Park, road trippers will slowly move east across Southern Utah before moving north, ending at Arches National Park and returning to Salt Lake City.

One of the great advantages of the Mighty Five road trip is the ability to add plenty of additional stops, including Snow Canyon State Park near Zion and Goblin Valley State Park near Moab and Arches.

• Road Trip Route: Salt Lake City → Zion National Park → Bryce Canyon National Park → Capitol Reef National Park → Canyonlands National Park → Arches National Park → Salt Lake City
• Recommended Time: 5–8 days

There are a variety of ways to enjoy the Mighty 5 Utah road trip. For a more linear route, travelers can start in Salt Lake and go towards Arches National Park, moving westward and ending in Zion National Park. This opens the possibility of heading to Las Vegas, Nevada instead of simply returning to Salt Lake at the end of the trip.

The northern lights danced across the US last night. It could happen again Saturday.

Amazing auroras sparked by a massive solar storm — the strongest in decades — set the world abuzz Friday night as colorful glowing light radiated into the skies as far south as Florida and the Bahamas, to the surprising delight of many who waited up and kept watch.

And good news for anyone who missed it: You may get another chance Saturday night or Sunday.

"Overnight, aurora were visible across much of the United States. Weather permitting, they may be visible again tonight," the Space Weather Prediction Center said in a Saturday morning update . A later update suggests the possibility of widespread viewing in the U.S. on Sunday too.

(A word of caution, experts have previously told USA TODAY that forecasting space weather is difficult . Researchers must rely on observations of the 93-million-miles-away sun to make their predictions.)

Northern lights are only visible at night time, and experts say it's best to view them away from the hustle and bustle of city life to get the best show. Still, Americans in cities said they could see the lights overnight, including in metro Detroit .

Wisconsinites got to see the lights dance across the sky in green and purple hues. Even residents of downtown Milwaukee caught a glimpse despite the bright city lights obstructing the view.

See photos: Northern lights on full display across US, Europe on Friday

Will the aurora be visible this weekend?

It could be.

The Space Weather Prediction Center offers an experimental forecast map that showed on Saturday the aurora may be visible Saturday in a wide swath of the U.S., possibly in states including Oregon, Nebraska, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York. But visibility will depend on shifting factors that include weather.

For Sunday, space weather forecasters said the aurora could become visible again over the northern half of the country, with sights extending as far south as Alabama and northern California. The effects of that storm are expected to arrive Sunday morning ET.

What is the cloud forecast Saturday night? Will clouds block the northern lights?

If you missed the aurora borealis Friday night, you might still catch a glimpse on Saturday or Sunday, depending on where you live. But not if clouds get in the way.

The cloud forecast for Saturday night is generally good for most of America, but some of the people who missed their chance last night due to clouds may have a similar problem Saturday, said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines. Areas that are likely to be cloudy include New England and Mid-Atlantic regions, as well as parts of the Southern Plains, including Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado.

“Even just a few breaks in the clouds will allow the aurora to be visible,” Kines said. “There’s always hope.”

Peak visibility time Saturday night will be between 9 p.m. and midnight, with some chance until 2 a.m., Kines said. The best views will be in dark areas away from the light pollution of cities, he said, though some reported seeing the auroras Friday night from metro areas like Milwaukee and Detroit.

Sunday night, if there is any aurora to see, those in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic can rejoice, because Kines said the skies should be clearer.

What is causing the northern lights this weekend?

The spectacle is being caused by geomagnetic storm that erupted from a sunspot cluster on the sun.

The storm was unusually strong — classified as "extreme" (or a G5) storm, the highest level, the  Space Weather Prediction Center  said Friday evening. It's the first G5 storm to hit our planet since 2003.

The geomagnetic storm's effects (which aren't all as pretty as the northern lights) are likely to linger through the weekend. The  Space Weather Prediction Center  said the storm is likely to continue through Sunday.

"There have been reports of power grid irregularities and degradation to high-frequency communications and GPS," the Space Weather Prediction Center said in a Saturday morning update.

Where were the northern lights seen on Friday night?

Across much of the United States and Europe where skies were clear — as far south as Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Arizona.

To the great disappointment of many in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, cloud cover dimmed or obstructed the stunning display altogether.

Although it's unusual, auroras have been seen in the far southern United States in the past. This happens when a particularly large coronal mass ejection arrives in the Earth's outer atmosphere, triggering a geomagnetic storm, NOAA reports.

On the night of Nov. 5-6, 2001 , aurora displays were seen in Texas and Arizona.

What causes the aurora?

NASA describes an aurora as an "intricate dance of particles and magnetism between the Sun and the Earth."

The Sun's activity creates strong electrical currents known as geomagnetic storms.

These eruptions are mostly happening at a large, complex sunspot cluster, NOAA'S Space Weather Prediction Center said. Sunspots, which increase and decrease on a 11-year cycle, are areas where the magnetic field is about 2,500 times stronger than Earth's.

The reason the auroras move is because of how the Sun's ionized gases interact with the Earth's magnetic field.

If you took a great photo, NASA wants to know

In a collaboration with the National Science Foundation and the New Mexico Consortium aurora sightings and photos are being collected at the Aurorasaurus web page.

Why was the aurora borealis so red on Friday?

Mike Theiss, an extreme nature photographer and hurricane storm chaser, who lives in Florida was shocked to see posts Friday night about how far south people were seeing the auroras. To his amazement, he was able to step out of his front door in Key Largo in the Florida Keys and see and photograph the aurora. Hours later he was still incredulous, and surprised at the colors in the aurora.

"I’ve documented the Northern Lights in Iceland, North Dakota, Arctic Circle in Canada but never this red color," Theiss said. "This is the first time I’ve seen red."

The multiple colors seen in auroras are related to the types of gas being bombarded at various levels above the Earth. Auroras occur within one of Earth's upper atmosphere layers, the thermosphere, according to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Solar particles trapped there interact with various gas molecules, such as nitrogen and oxygen, according to the research corporation's website. Oxygen gives off green and red lights, while nitrogen glows blue and reddish purple. For example, nitrogen gas glows blue at 75 to 110 miles altitude.

The less common red auroras form from interacting with higher altitude oxygen molecules, the website explains.

'Two incredible spectacles of the universe': Northern lights come about a month after eclipse

Seeing the aurora amazed Antonella Fruscione, an astrophysicist at Harvard University. She sent photos of the sight as well as the April total solar eclipse to her friends in Italy.

"And I sent them the picture that I took at the solar eclipse and I said, 'Can you imagine how fortunate I was this year, one month apart, I see these two incredible spectacles of the universe,'" she recalled telling them.

The phenomena seen Friday and possibly Saturday night is unusual, she said.

"It's a very rare occurrence, especially because last night it was really visible," Fruscione said.

What was the Halloween storm in October 2003?

Over two decades ago in late October 2003, three massive sunspot groups appeared on the sun's surface with little warning, accompanied by 17 major solar flares, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information.

Satellites, radio and GPS systems went on the fritz around the world, causing some major disruptions. But it also offered a stunning view of the auroras as far south as California and Florida. People in Australia and Mediterranean countries even caught a glimpse.

Contributing: Doyle Rice and Krystal Nurse , USA TODAY