Montana is best known for its rolling wilderness, national parks, and abundance of wildflowers and other animals. This state is a natural playground for people who like the great outdoors, hiking, and other such activities and experiences. The scenery itself will vary as you go from one breathtaking location to the next during your journey.
An adventure in Montana has everything from exciting towns to excellent hiking trails to beautiful places to eat, stay and rest. It is a road trip with something for everyone, and you may select which stops to make based on how much time you plan to spend in each location. So, get started on your Montana itinerary now by packing a backpack, stocking up on road trip food, and creating a podcast playlist for your journey!
You’ll need the right rental car for your Montana road trip if you want to have the most incredible experience possible. Road trippers can pack a lot into a short period in Montana, which is why you will need a reliable vehicle to get around. The most convenient way to get to Montana is by airplane, and many head to Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell. Make a point of stopping for a few minutes to pick up a few essentials for your travels before you begin your exploration of the city. Some of the items you should get once you arrive in Montana include a compact cooler to keep beverages and picnic lunches cold, as well as folding outdoor chairs to use at beautiful locations.
Everyone can have a great time in Big Sky country! Travel along the Going-to-the-Sun Road through Glacier National Park, making sure to stop at the surrealistically blue St. Mary’s along the way. Find yourself stargazing while visiting one of the soothing hot springs neary. Montana offers many thermal hot springs that are perfect for unwinding in the summertime or winter to take a moment to relax.
Even though Montana is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, it offers much more than simply magnificent mountains, sweeping green valleys, sparkling lakes, and lush forests. Prepare to alter your plans and take unexpected pauses while planning a road trip across Montana. You never know what you’ll come across on your journey through the state because it’s full of unexpected delights.
Many visitors choose a five-day loop through southern Montana and Yellowstone National Park. This itinerary is jam-packed with outdoor activities and breathtaking beauty. Begin the first day in Livingston with a visit to Dan Bailey’s, the all-angler store established in 1938 in Montana. You can eat and stay at Livingston Bar, Grille, and Yellowstone Valley Lodge, Livingston.
On the second day, you can change your car for a horse and go out on the trail. Absarokee’s Paintbrush Adventures offers rides into Montana’s highest mountains, and Absaroka River Adventures offers a thrilling rafting excursion down the Stillwater River. You can eat and stay at Café Regis and The Pollard, Red Lodge.
On the third day, take in the beauty as you travel the Beartooth Highway, an All-American road connecting Red Lodge to Yellowstone National Park’s northeast entrance. Beartooth Café in Cooke City (late May to late September) and Silver Gate Lodging in Silver Gate are good places to dine and stay.
Prepare to be amazed on the fourth day as you travel south on the Grand Loop Road through Yellowstone National Park. Highlights include Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon, the boiling Mud Volcano region, and the Mammoth Hot Springs, a hotspot of geothermal forms. You may dine and stay at Yellowstone National Park’s Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabin.
On the fifth day in Livingston, take scenic U.S. 89 to the Paradise Valley Scenic Drive. The drive parallels the Upper Yellowstone River between the Absaroka and Gallatin Mountain ranges, passing through lower valley pasturelands and providing pure Montana mountain and river vistas. K-Bar Pizza in Gardiner, Chico Hot Springs Resort, and Day Spa in Pray are good places to eat and stay.
