A MONTANA ROAD TRIP: YELLOWSTONE TO GLACIER Many travelers to Montana plan their trips to include both of our national parks: Yellowstone and Glacier. To help make the most of your time, we’ve put together four road-trip itineraries taking you through different parts of the state as you travel from park to park.
Bitterroot River © GLACIER COUNTRY TOURISM
Downtown Missoula © GLACIER COUNTRY TOURISM
ROAD TRIP #1: YellowstoneBitterroot ValleyGlacier
ROAD TRIP #2: YellowstoneMissoulaGlacier
DISTANCE: West Yellowstone to West Glacier, 465 miles OVERVIEW: This trip will have you traveling through some of Western Montana’s most beautiful and quiet valleys and is an ideal option if you’re looking to get off the beaten path. HIGHLIGHTS: Ghost towns (Virginia City, Nevada City and Bannack), Wisdom, the Big Hole National Battlefield, Bitterroot River, Daly Mansion, Missoula, Flathead Lake PRO TIP: Set aside at least two days for this trip and plan to overnight in Hamilton or Stevensville.
DISTANCE: West Yellowstone to West Glacier, 402 miles OVERVIEW: This route will keep you mainly on freeways, but around here even those are scenic. Plus, you’ll travel past the richest hill on earth and Lewis and Clark Caverns. HIGHLIGHTS: Ennis (home to great fly-fishing on the Madison River), Butte, Missoula, National Bison Range, St. Ignatius Mission, Mission Mountains, Polson, Flathead Lake PRO TIP: Plan to spend the night in Missoula exploring the city’s thriving culinary scene, breweries and live music.
Clearwater Canoe Trail © GLACIER COUNTRY TOURISM
Rocky Mountain Front © GLACIER COUNTRY TOURISM
ROAD TRIP #3: YellowstoneSeeley-Swan ValleyGlacier
ROAD TRIP #4: YellowstoneRocky Mountain FrontGlacier
DISTANCE: Gardiner to West Glacier, 390 miles OVERVIEW: Along this route, your travels will take you through Helena, Montana’s capital city, before driving through the scenic Seeley-Swan Valley—one of the prettiest roads in all of Montana. HIGHLIGHTS: Livingston, Bozeman, Wheat Montana’s flagship location in Three Forks, Helena, Seeley Lake, Holland Lake, Swan Lake, Bigfork PRO TIP: Plan your trip to include a stop at Holland Lake—just 7 miles off of U.S. Highway 93 in the Swan Valley. It’s stunningly beautiful and is a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch.
DISTANCE: Gardiner to St. Mary, 381 miles OVERVIEW: Hands down, if you want to hit Montana’s open roads and see the stunning landscape that’s affectionately known here as The Front (aka where the plains collide with the Rocky Mountains), this is the route for you. HIGHLIGHTS: Bozeman, Helena, Augusta, Choteau, Browning, St. Mary PRO TIP: Stop and stroll through the cities and towns along the route. Be sure to visit local shops and watering holes and explore some of the easily-accessible hikes and lakes along the Rocky Mountain Front. #GlacierMT |
13