A Montana Road Trip
Many travelers to Montana wisely plan their trips to include both of our national parks: Glacier and Yellowstone. To help make the most of your time, we’ve put together several road-trip itineraries that offer authentic park-to-park experiences. For inspiration, visit Glaciers to Geysers.
Glacier > Bitterroot Valley > Yellowstone
DISTANCE: West Glacier to West Yellowstone, 467 miles
Overview: Travel through some of Western Montana’s most beautiful and quiet valleys, which are an ideal option if you’re looking to get off the beaten path.
Highlights: Flathead Lake, Missoula, Bitterroot Bike Trail, Bitterroot River, Daly Mansion, Big Hole National Battlefield, Wisdom, Ghost towns (Virginia City, Nevada City and Bannack)
Pro Tip: Set aside at least two days for this trip and plan to overnight in Hamilton or Stevensville.
Glacier > Seeley-Swan Valley > Yellowstone
DISTANCE: West Glacier to Gardiner, 394 miles
Overview: Travel through the scenic Seeley-Swan Valley—one of the prettiest roads in all of Montana, before passing through Helena, our state capital.
Highlights: Bigfork, Swan Lake, Holland Lake, Seeley Lake, Helena, Bozeman, Livingston
Pro Tip: Plan your trip to include a stop at Holland Lake—just 7 miles off U.S. Highway 83 in the Swan Valley. It’s stunningly beautiful and is a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch.
Glacier > Missoula > Yellowstone
DISTANCE: West Glacier to West Yellowstone, 446 miles
Overview: This route is mostly freeways, but, around here, even those are scenic. Travel past the richest hill on earth—Butte’s Berkeley Pit, named for its rich copper deposits—and Lewis and Clark Caverns.
Highlights: Flathead Lake, Polson, Mission Mountains, St. Ignatius Mission, CSKT Bison Range, Missoula, Butte, Ennis (great fly-fishing on the Madison River)
Pro Tip: Spend the night in Missoula and explore the city’s thriving culinary scene, world-class breweries and unique outdoor music venues.
Glacier > Rocky Mountain Front > Yellowstone
DISTANCE: St. Mary to Gardiner, 378 miles
Overview: If you want to hit Montana’s open roads and see the stunning landscape that is the Rocky Mountain Front (aka where the plains meet the Rocky Mountains), this is the route for you.
Highlights: St. Mary, Browning, Choteau, Augusta, Helena, Bozeman
Pro Tip: Stop and stroll through the cities and towns along the way. Be sure to visit local shops and watering holes, and explore some of the easily-accessible hikes and lakes in the area.
