A MONTANA ROAD TRIP: GLACIER TO YELLOWSTONE

Many travelers to Montana wisely plan their trips to include both our national parks: Glacier and Yellowstone. To help make the most of your time, we’ve put together four ideal road-trip routes that all offer an unforgettable park-to-park experience, with plenty of sightseeing along the way.

Find more park-to-park inspiration here:

Glacier  Bitterroot Valley  Yellowstone

ROUTE: West Glacier to West Yellowstone, 465 miles

After exploring Glacier National Park and traversing the jaw-dropping Going-to-the-Sun Road, get off the beaten path. Begin your journey from West Glacier and stop in the storybook village of Bigfork before traveling south along the east side of Flathead Lake—dotted with fruit stands selling Flathead cherries in late summer. Then travel toward Missoula through the Flathead Indian Reservation. Highlights along the way include the Miracle of America Museum, Three Chiefs Cultural Center and views of the Mission Mountains. Stop in Missoula and grab a bite. From there, drive south along the Bitterroot River exploring the small towns along the way. Don’t miss the Daly Mansion and the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. Spend the night in Stevensville or Hamilton. Just west of Wisdom, explore the Big Hole National Battlefield and then make your way to Wisdom and the ghost towns of Bannack, Virginia City and Nevada City before landing in West Yellowstone.

Glacier  Seeley-Swan Valley  Yellowstone

ROUTE: West Glacier to Gardiner, 512 miles

This scenic route takes you through the pristine Seeley-Swan Valley along one of the prettiest roads in all of Montana. After a Glacier National Park adventure, make your way from West Glacier to Bigfork—an idyllic community on the northeast shore of Flathead Lake. From there you’ll take the Seeley-Swan Scenic Drive between Swan Lake and Seeley Lake, stopping along the way at Holland Lake. If you’re up for an adventure, the Clearwater Canoe Trail is a must. This peaceful float is exceptionally scenic and perfect for families. Next up, don’t miss the chance to pull over in the tiny town of Ovando before passing through Helena, our state capital. From there, explore the hip university town of Bozeman and the vibrant community of Livingston. As you make your way south to Gardiner—the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park—take in the exceptional beauty of the Paradise Valley along the Yellowstone River. Have your fly rod ready, and also be sure to stop for a soak at one of two hot springs in the area.

Glacier  Missoula  Yellowstone

ROUTE: West Glacier to West Yellowstone, 430 miles

This route is mostly freeway, but, around here, even those are scenic. Hit the road from West Glacier and travel south along the west side of Flathead Lake. Stop in Polson at the southern tip of the lake on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Between Polson and Missoula, visit the Pablo and Ninepipe national wildlife refuges and the Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana, which boasts a walking trail and Mission Mountain views. The Allentown Restaurant is right next door. In Missoula, you’ll want to do it all. Explore downtown, overflowing with artisan breweries, distilleries, culinary hot spots, galleries and eclectic local shops. Walk the Riverfront Trail along the Clark Fork River and watch the surfers at Brennan’s Wave before settling in for a stay at any number of incredible lodging options. From Missoula, travel past the richest hill on earth—Butte’s Berkeley Pit, named for the estimated $48 billion worth of metal extracted here—and Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park. In Ennis you’ll find phenomenal fly-fishing on the Madison River. Cast a line before you land in West Yellowstone.

Glacier  Rocky Mountain Front  Yellowstone

ROUTE: St. Mary to Gardiner, 378 miles

If you want to hit Montana’s open roads and experience the wonder of the Rocky Mountain Front—aka where the plains meet the Rocky Mountains—this is the route for you. After traversing one of the most beautiful drives in the U.S., the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, your journey starts in St. Mary on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Don’t miss a visit to the Museum of the Plains Indian, in Browning, for a look at the richly varied arts of the Northern Plains Tribal peoples. From there, the Rocky Mountain Front scenery will blow you away. Stop in the tiny communities of Choteau and Augusta for a quaint glimpse of life in small-town Montana. Visit local shops and watering holes, and explore easily accessible hikes and lakes in the area. You’ll pass through Montana’s capital city of Helena before landing in Bozeman. There’s so much to do in Bozeman it warrants an overnight. Then, follow the famed Yellowstone River to Gardiner via the awe-inspiring Paradise Valley.

The Montana Hi-Line: A Road Trip

ROUTE: Eastern Montana to East Glacier Park, 382 miles

Begin your road trip on Montana’s Hi-Line in beautiful Missouri River Country, where you’ll explore the unique land formations of the Great Plains. Attractions along the way include Fort Peck Lake and the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge. In Havre, visit Havre Beneath the Streets, Beaver Creek Park and the Historic Railroad District, and top off the day at a local brewery or distillery. In Shelby, don’t miss the Carousel Rest Area of Shelby and the Marias Museum of Art and History. Your next stop is Cut Bank, home to plenty of western adventures and abundant outdoor opportunities in the beautiful Rocky Mountain Front. The Cut Bank area offers a golf course and a brewery, as well as services for guided fishing trips and birding trips. Don’t miss a selfie with the Cut Bank Penguin. Moving on, learn about the culture and heritage of the Blackfeet Nation in Browning with a Cultural Heritage Workshop Hike from Iron Shield Creative, and explore the Museum of the Plains Indian, Lodgepole Gallery, Western Curios and Faught’s Blackfeet Trading Post. End your drive in East Glacier Park, the perfect place to begin a Western Montana adventure. As one of the gateways to Glacier National Park, this community is authentically down-to-earth, complete with friendly locals serving up home-cooked meals, coveted huckleberry ice cream and insider tips on area attractions.