Suggested stops on upcoming Montana road trip?

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Clunky

Clunky

10 Year
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Oct 11, 2015
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Prescott AZ
Mrs Clunky and I are getting ready to head out on an extended road trip to Montana and back. Here's the tentative route:

Montana Road Trip

Please let me know if any of you have recommended dispersed camping spots along this route - or any "must see" places.

Thanks in advance!
 
Well I would edit the trip in Idaho. The 33 between Teton and Victor is boring. Unless you have a specific purpose going through Rexburg, I would take the I 15 into Idaho Falls. Then take the 26 to Swan Valley. If you felt like a dip Heise hot springs is a few miles off the 26 just East of I.F. Google Maps Not a must do but they have a water slide and next door to the hot spring is a fairly popular pizza joint and a golf course. In Swan Valley I like to stop at the first convenience store Google Maps and get a square ice cream, then head north on the 31 into victor. Or you can stay on the 26 and go into Alpine and take the Hoback along the Salmon River into Jackson. Maybe do a White water raft trip while you are there. Either of these routes have much better scenery imho. I'm Surprised you are skipping Jellystone on this trip though.
 
Dimples said:
Well I would edit the trip in Idaho. The 33 between Teton and Victor is boring. Unless you have a specific purpose going through Rexburg, I would take the I 15 into Idaho Falls. Then take the 26 to Swan Valley. If you felt like a dip Heise hot springs is a few miles off the 26 just East of I.F. Google Maps Not a must do but they have a water slide and next door to the hot spring is a fairly popular pizza joint and a golf course. In Swan Valley I like to stop at the first convenience store Google Maps and get a square ice cream, then head north on the 31 into victor. Or you can stay on the 26 and go into Alpine and take the Hoback along the Salmon River into Jackson. Maybe do a White water raft trip while you are there. Either of these routes have much better scenery imho. I'm Surprised you are skipping Jellystone on this trip though.
Click to expand...

Thanks! We're going to have our dog with us and I've read that dogs / Yellowstone are not a great mix.
 
This sounds like a great trip. How extended? In August, there is going to be a super solar eclipse. There is a band across the United States where it will be total. A lot of hotel rooms in that band have supposedly been booked up. It would be cool to check out if you were in that area.

2017 Solar Eclipse info
 
We have about 2 weeks total, can't wait!
 
I like the trip from Twin Falls to Flathead Lake. The first half hour or so is boring but after that, just gorgeous. Not super familiar with the area, my daughter is just going to school in Missoula and have been up there three times now. I would take the trip to Glacier if you haven't yet. Of all the NPs, that is my favorite. Just gorgeous!

The 15 in Idaho is BORING! If you have time, head out the 90 instead and drop off of it at the 287 and head south through Yellowstone. If you like fishing, it will be hard not to stop! Lightly traveled, gorgeous country. The best part of the drive though is through the Grand Teton National Park. Again, just gorgeous. Did not spend a whole lot of time at that park but it is simply beautiful.

Flaming gorge is nice but western Colorado is, okay it's just ugly. Just like the 4 corners area. Took this route to Montrose from Missoula a couple years ago.

I Utah, do yourself a favor. You are already at Bryce canyon, take the 12 a little further out, just to Tropic. Sounds silly but, you will thank me.

Lots of wildlife throughout the trip, could be testy at night. Also, I highly recomend planning on shorter trips during the day. I can't tell you how often I wanted to stop and explore but could not because I had a timetable to meet.

I hope you are taking a couple of weeks on this trip, you are going to hit some absolutely gorgeous country!
 
I've got a lot of family up in Big Fork and just outside of Kalispell. Beartooth highway is worthy of the added distance. So few people take this route and don't know what they've missed.

IMG_0507.webp



Also if you want to see a great museum, the Cody museum in Cody, WY is fantastic. Five different museums including the Winchester arms collection and Buffalo Bill Cody collection.

Lots to see on the way up and back.

Check out the Echo Lake Cafe In the Big Fork area athe the north end of Flathead lake for breakfast, you won't be disappointed
https://www.zomato.com/photos/pv-res-17436321-u_Njk5MDQ4MTA1Nz
 
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Just got back from doing somewhat of a similar trip. I drove the family from here all the way to Seattle. Our first stop was in Jackson, Wyoming. We took the the route through southern Utah and then took the 189 out of Provo to the 80 to Evanston all the way to Jackson. The first day was about 14 hours of driving (941 miles from Scottsdael & Shea). The canyon south of Jackson has damage from spring snow melt and you might run into delays for repairs (we did.) The canyon repairs might make @Dimples route a no-go. The area from Victor into southern Montana is not very exciting, but we have to make some sacrifices.
I personally would make the trip into Yellowstone (if you have never been there). Maybe plan on camping somewhere outside the park because of the dog.
@Otter is correct about the eclipse. Jackson is marketing themselves as a destination to watch the eclipse and I would be surprised if you could get a hotel room or camping spot anywhere near there.
The drive between Jackson and Missoula is about 5-6 hours
For sure to go Glacier, it is worth the trip. Order your annual National Park pass online. You will need it for Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier.
Have a great trip.
 
We just got back from a similar trip. Through Utah to Yellowstone. On the way back came through Telluride and Silverton, did the Last Dollar and Ophir pass trails. Amazing. Will post pics from my PC.
 
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This is an excellent book on the Magruder area Indian Creek Chronicles
If you go through there check out Painted Rocks state park, not really out of the way, we stayed at Little West fork campground on Macgruder rd and it wasn't crowded at all.

I would also say Glacier is a must see, Polebridge up North Fork rd, I think they have cabins there. Continue north up to Bowman lake, we stayed there a couple nights in the campground and had it to ourselves. Welcome to Polebridge, Montana, the town without traditional electricity | Quirky Travel Guy

So much great country to see up there, Hope you have a good time! Oh I see your return trip is through Vernal, UT they have a very nice KOA with a huge grass tent camping area for a quick overnight stay.
 
X2 on Beartooth highway
 
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