Montana is a beautiful state with majestic scenery and great sites all over. Two of Montana’s true gems are its National Parks: Yellowstone National Park in the south of the state, and Glacier National Park on the border with Canada.
Typical Montana Views
Many visitors travel between the two parks, a distance of 450 miles and approximately 8 hours of driving. It’s not a particularly difficult drive – and can be done in a day, but why hurry? Montana is so beautiful, why not take a few days explore some of the surrounding areas?
Here’s a suggested itinerary for a four-day road trip between Yellowstone to Glacier National park. Keep in mind it is just one of many options and takes you from West Yellowstone, a popular Yellowstone NP base, to the Eastern side of Glacier NP.
Day 1 – West Yellowstone > Quake Lake Visitors Center > Virgina City > Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park > Parker Homestead State Park > Bozeman
This is a busy day, so you would do well to start out as early as 8AM.
Head north of West Yellowstone on Gallatin Rd 287 then turn right towards Hegben Lake. Enjoy this scenic forested leg of today’s route with the lake in full view to your left.
As Hegben Lake ends, you are approaching Earthquake Lake, aka Quake Lake. Stop at the local visitors center and learn about the catastrophic earthquake of 1959 and the lives it took.
Between Gallatin forest and Beaverhead National Forest, you are going through prairie land with the beautiful Madison River along the road. As you reach the town of Ennis, turn left and drive to the small semi-ghost town of Virgina City and its satellite ghost town Nevada City. Both are well worth a visit for a taste of the Old West. While in Virgina City, don’t forget to take a look at George’s Club Foot! You could easily spend a few hours here, but if you want to make it to
Head back east and north up the 287 all the way to your next stop: The Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park – Montana’s first, and some say best, State Park. Take the guided tour of these spectacular limestone caverns – check for hours here. On the way east from the caves, you could stop at the small Parker Homestead Park. This tiny park’s only attraction is an original cabin of an early Montana settler, built in the 1900′s.
With a campsite and rental cabins, this could be a good place in which to end your day. Otherwise, travel the rest of the way to Bozeman when you’re done visiting the park.
Day 2- Bozeman
Bozeman is a lively college town with lots to do and see. I gave it a whole day in this itinerary, but feel free to add or take out this day as you like.
Recommended local attractions include the Museum of the Rockies, the Gallatin Pioneer Museum, and the American Computer Museum. You could also enjoy the hot springs, take a shopping trip or just enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.
Day 3 – Bozeman > Livingston Depot Center> Kings Hill Scenic Byway > Great Falls
Head out east from Bozeman. If you like, stop at Livingston for some local history at the Depot Center before heading north.
Drive up 89 until you reach White Sulphur Springs. This town marks the beginning of Kings Hill Scenic Byway. Enjoy the scenery and stops along the way, all the way up to Belt. Read more about this Byway and possible stops along the way here.
If you head out of Bozeman early enough, you should be in Great Falls, MT by early afternoon, with enough time to start exploring this beautiful town. Visit the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center – a great learning experience for the entire family. Just outside the center is a selection of nature trails for you to choose from in the Giant Springs Heritage State Park and Fish Hatchery. Make sure you take a look at the Guiness-acknowledged world’s shortest river – the Roe.
Day 4 – Great Falls > Ulm Pishkun State Park > Glacier NP East side
You can take the morning to spend some more time around Great Falls and its parks. Art lovers may want to pay the C.M. Russell Museum a visit and see Russell’s studio as well as a display of his artwork and other exhibits.
On your way west out of Great Falls, stop at the Ulm Pishkun State Park for a fascinating tour of a particularly large, some say the largest, Bison jump site. The interpretive center and the site, well excavated, offer an educational lesson about the history and culture of local Native American tribes.
Heading west and north towards the east entrance to Glacier NP, you could stop at Browning for coffee at the Espresso Tipi – hard to miss this unique structure on SE Boundary St! Depending on how long you’ve spent sightseeing in Great Falls and the area this morning, you may just get to Glacier NP in time for some afternoon activities in the park.