Montana and Wyoming are beautiful states that everyone should try to visit in their lifetime! Planning a trip to Yellowstone and Glacier National Park, however, can be overwhelming- especially with limited time.
There’s so much to see and do out West. As our trip inched closer, we were nervous because of what we had read about the traffic in the summer. I guess everyone had the same idea we did about a national park vacation during COVID-19!
While traveling during shoulder season can be great, it also means that planning can become a bit more convoluted. There were some hurdles along the way, but that didn’t stop us from a national park trip. I’m here to help you plan a national park trip during the best time of year while avoiding the hurdles we experienced.
𝓐𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓡𝓸𝓪𝓭 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓹
The Destination
There are 3 major national parks that come to mind when thinking about Montana and Wyoming. The national parks of Montana and Wyoming that we chose to visit were Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Grand Teton National Park. You must realize there are more than these 3 national parks in these states; however, we were focused on the major ones!
When To Visit
The best time to visit these parks is in the Summer or early Fall. We enjoy traveling in the off-season; however, timing your travels to these national parks is very important to ensure roads will be accessible, shops will be open, and tours will be running.
All three national parks experience snowy Winters and the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is often one of the first to close during that time. While traveling during Winter is possible, getting around will be much more difficulty. If you want to avoid heavy crowds, plan your trip during the shoulder-season in September.
𝓞𝓾𝓻 𝓘𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓻𝔂
In 11 days, we set out to see 3 national parks of Montana and Wyoming: Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Grand Teton National Park. With limited time, we flew into Kalispell, MT (FCA) to begin our road trip adventures. Rental car prices were sky high, so we elected for a mini van. Oh, did I mention there were 6 of us on this trip?!
Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton 11-Day Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive in Kalispell, Montana, and drive to our accommodation in Glacier National Park
- Day 2: Glacier Full Day: Boat Tour
- Day 3: Glacier Full Day: Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road
- Day 4: Glacier Full Day
- Day 5: Drive to Yellowstone National Park
- Day 6: Yellowstone Full Day: Lower Loop
- Day 7: Yellowstone Full Day: Upper Loop
- Day 8: Drive To Grand Teton National Park
- Day 9: Grand Teton Full Day: Horseback Riding
- Day 10: Jackson, WY Full Day
- Day 11: Head Home
𝓖𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓻 𝓝𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓟𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓖𝓾𝓲𝓭𝓮
Glacier National Park stole our hearts and we hope to return in the future. Situated in the Rocky Mountains and bordering Canada, Glacier offers breathtaking landscapes, rugged mountains, and beautiful lakes.
The park spans over 1 million acres. We’d definitely suggest spending three or more days here to really enjoy the park and take in its breathtaking beauty.
Day 1: Arrive in Kalispell, Montana, and drive to our accommodation in Glacier National Park
We flew into Glacier Park International Airport (FCA), located in Kalispell, MT. The airport is located about 24.4 miles (31 minutes) from the West Glacier entrance of Glacier National Park.
Our accommodations were located in Whitefish, MT, and took around 20 minutes to arrive by car from the airport. The drive to the West Glacier entrance was longer at around 40 minutes; however, we chose this location to shorten our drive time to Yellowstone on day 5.
Where We Stayed
Where did we stay? The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. We’d go back in a second! Not only were the accommodations relaxing and elegant, but the service was wonderful. The Lodge at Whitefish Lake provided a free shuttle into town, as well as complimentary bikes. Book your stay HERE!
Day 2: Glacier Full Day: Boat Tour
Book Glacier Park Boat Company
The Glacier Park Boat Company offers scenic boat tours on 4 different lakes in Glacier National Park. A knowledgeable and entertaining guide will provide narration throughout the boat cruise. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to take pictures and it is a great way to view Glacier National Park from a different view point.
It’s important to make reservations and book ahead of time online!
Explore Lake McDonald
Of the 4 lakes that Glacier Park Boat Company offers tours, Lake McDonald is the largest at 9-10 miles across. It’s also the warmest, allowing tours to run later in the season. It’s been measured up to 500 feet deep!
Stop at Apgar Village
Apgar Village is just 2 miles from the West Glacier entrance. It’s the perfect place for a casual lunch, potty break, or quick souvenir purchase.
Day 3: Glacier Full Day: Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road
When researching what to do in Glacier National Park, every travel and blog site talked about Going-to-the-Sun-Road. I now understand why it is a top attraction at Glacier. Going-to-the-Sun-Road is a 50 mile paved road that traverses the entire park, from all types of terrains that include cedar forests and large glacial lakes.
Attractions on Going-to-the-Sun Road
- Big Bend: A great place to view the sunset.
- Logan Pass: Not only is it the highest point reachable by car at 6,646 feet, but it also has a few hikes that lead up to spectacular views.
- Hidden Lake Overlook: The Hidden Lake is located on the continental divide and it’s 1.5 miles to reach the overlook. Unfortunately, it is not an easy 1.5 mile trek to the top. You will gain approx 460 feet to reach the Hidden Lake Overlook.
- Saint Mary Falls: Either hike here from the Saint Mary Falls trailhead or extend the hike by going along the Sun Point Nature Trail.
- Wild Goose Island: Snap that iconic photo of the tiny island in the middle of Saint Mary Lake.
Tips for the Journey
- Leave early: If you plan on driving the entire Going-to-the-Sun-Road, prepare for a full day of sightseeing. Start early and take your time. The road takes a minimum of 2 hours and that is without stopping. With all of the waterfalls, beautiful scenery, and hiking trails, you will want to stop and take an abundance of pictures.
- Fill up on gas: As mentioned earlier, there isn’t much on this beautiful road, including gas stations! There is gas located before and after exiting Going-to-the-Sun-Road in the towns of West Glacier and St. Mary.
- Pack snacks: There are very limited food options on the trail, especially after the summer when restaurants are closing for the season. There are restaurants located in Apgar, Lake McDonald, Many Glacier, and Rising Sun. If, however, you are traveling at times that are not peak season, I recommend checking to ensure they are open! Also, check for road closures as the Many Glacier Valley was closed due to road construction during our visit.
- Make sure you don’t need a reservation: Tickets and reservations to enter Going-to-the-Sun-Road, in addition to a Glacier National Park Pass, are required if traveling between certain dates. Because we were traveling at the end of September and the end of peak season, tickets were not required during our travel dates!
Day 4: Glacier Full Day
Explore Downtown Whitefish
Our hotel was located in Whitefish, Montana which was approx 40 minutes outside of Glacier National Park. Downtown Whitefish is a quaint town with art shops, restaurants, and clothing boutiques. If you are looking for areas to explore around Glacier, I’d recommend a day trip to this cute town.
Hungry Horse Dam
Hungry Horse Dam is located on the Flathead River, just 15 miles from the west entrance of Glacier National Park. Sitting at 564 feet hight, Hungry Horse is one of the largest concrete arch dams in the United States.
** We also checked out the town of Bigfork, MT. It is another cute town that is 45 minutes from Whitefish. Personally, I preferred Whitefish and could have spent more time browsing the area. **
𝓨𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓝𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓟𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓖𝓾𝓲𝓭𝓮
Established in 1872, Yellowstone was America’s first national Park. Combined at over 2.2 million acres, it’s larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined.
It’s best to allow a minimum of 2 days to explore the park. The Grand Loop is split into the Upper Loop and Lower Loop. While the Upper Loop is shorter (approx 70 miles), I feel like it takes longer to see all of the attractions. The lower loop is where the famous Old Faithful is located, as well as the majority of the geothermal areas and geysers.
Day 5: Drive to Yellowstone National Park
From our accommodations, it would take approximately 6.5 hours to drive to West Yellowstone. So we decided to make this a fun road trip and make some stops along the way.
Places to stop
- Phillipsburg: This was a cute town to walk around and stretch your legs. The highlight of this stop was the Candy Factory, known as the Sweet Palace.
- Butte: Another quaint shopping town if time allows
- Nevada City: If you can find this hidden gem, drive through to see the Stage Coach.
Where We Stayed
We stayed in the West Yellowstone Bed & Breakfast. If you’re looking for reasonable accommodations near Yellowstone, you’ll discover your choices are limited.
Day 6: Yellowstone Full Day: Lower Loop
We downloaded the Gypsy App that provided a self-guided narrated tour of Yellowstone. It was worth the small fee. Not only does it have driving tours of the Yellowstone/Grand Teton Area, but it also has driving tours of Hawaii, Canada, Eastern US, and more! There is a driving tour of Glacier National Park too – I just didn’t notice this until it was too late!!!
Our Favorite Attractions
- Fountain Paint Pots: At this area, you can see all 4 popular types of thermal features in 1 location: geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles. Walk the 1/2 mile boardwalk to see everything!
- Grand Prismatic Spring: Photographed more than Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring is seen with bright, vibrant colors of orange, yellow, and green rings. It’s deeper than a 10-story building with extremely hot water traveling 121 feet from a crack in the earth to reach the spring’s surface. It is wider than a football field, measuring 370 feet in diameter!
- Old Faithful: Old Faithful is your best “predictable” chance at seeing a geyser erupt. To know when her planned time to erupt will be, eruptions times are posted everywhere around the area. Take a look in the visitor center, gift shop, and/or Old Faithful Inn.
- Old Faithful Inn: This is the most requested lodging inside of Yellowstone National Park. The Old Faithful Inn is a beautiful historic landmark that features a massive stone fireplace and a hand crafted clock as the focal point. There is also a gift shop and diner located off the lobby. If you decide to stay at the Old Faithful Inn, please note that no televisions, radios, or air conditioning can be found in park lodging!
- Yellowstone Lake: Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-elevation lake in North America! It is a beautiful lake and you will have plenty of places to pull over to take a picture.
Day 7: Yellowstone Full Day: Upper Loop
Our Favorite Attractions
- Norris Geyser Basin: Of all the thermal areas in Yellowstone, Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest, oldest, and most dynamic. It was also one of my favorites to explore!
- Mammoth Hot Springs: Many people say that Mammoth is their favorite attraction. Unfortunately, I did not have the same reaction. I feel like it’s still worth visiting as there is a lot to see in the area. Wildlife, especially elk, are commonly viewed in this area – so keep an eye out!
- Grand Canyon of Yellowstone: This was a beautiful, picturesque spot. If you are limited on time, make sure to just stop and take in the breathtaking views. If you have more time to spend, some people spend a couple of hours viewing the waterfalls from all different vantage points.
𝓖𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓣𝓮𝓽𝓸𝓷 𝓝𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓟𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓖𝓾𝓲𝓭𝓮
Ten years ago in 2011, I visited Grand Teton National Park with my parents. It was one of my favorite places, but it’s crazy how things change in 10 years. It didn’t look how we remembered it. Things have changed. The beautiful, gigantic Jackson Lake was practically non-existent as water levels have significantly dropped due to the drought out west.
I don’t have many suggestions, unfortunately, as my favorite activities in the Grand Tetons revolve around water. Sadly, there is little to no water at this time, forcing marinas to close.
Day 8: Drive To Grand Teton National Park
From our B&B in Yellowstone, the drive was only about 2-2.5 hours to the Grand Teton National Park. Be flexible with your schedule.
If you need more time in Yellowstone, you can spend the morning exploring the area and then head out to the Grand Tetons early afternoon.
Explore Grand Tetons
- 42-mile scenic loop drive: The 42-mile scenic loop drive takes approx 1-2 hours to complete, but you may want to allow some extra time for those photograph-worthy moments!
- Jackson Lake Lodge: Like Old Faithful Inn, Jackson Lake Lodge is a popular location. While it does not have the grand entrance of Old Faithful Inn, Jackson Lake Lodge has gorgeous views of the Grand Tetons. There is also a gift shop inside. You can book a room here.
- Snake River Overlook: This overlook provides a beautiful view of the snake river that is surrounded by the Grand Tetons. During the summer, you can even take some float trips down the snake river (assuming water levels are up!) See if a float trip is available here!
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the Huff House Inn, located in Jackson, WY. Jackson, WY is the cutest Western town and very walkable. This bed and breakfast was in the best location, offered a delicious breakfast, and had a hot tub we enjoyed on those chilly nights. I wouldn’t hesitate to book a place again. You can book your stay HERE!
Day 9: Grand Teton Full Day: Horseback Riding
Go horseback riding, just not with Spring Creek Ranch (if possible)
Horseback riding is a great way to see scenery that is inaccessible by car. Because we were traveling during shoulder season, our selection of horseback riding companies still operating was limited. The only company available in early October was Spring Creek Ranch.
If this was your first time on horseback, I wouldn’t recommend this company. Spring Creek, however, got wonderful reviews so it could have been just my experience. We only had 1 wrangler for 8 riders and no one inquired about our riding experience. My husband had never ridden before and had a lot of anxiety going into this ride. No one tried to put his fears at ease. Sadly, I doubt he will be riding horses again.
Day 10: Jackson, WY Full Day
Walk the Town and Relax
Jackson has the cutest boutiques, cafés, breweries, bookstores, antique shops, and more! It is possible to go in every store in a day – as my nana and papa proved – BUT you may want to pace yourself a bit. There’s a lot to see!
Day 11: Head Home
We flew out of Jackson Hole Airport (JAC). It was about a 15 minute ride from our accommodations in Jackson, WY.
Review
- Make sure things will be open if traveling outside of peak season.
- Pack snacks when touring the national parks – food options will be limited.
- Fill up on gas before entering the national park.
- Download the Gypsy Guide app – There are self-guided narrated tours available for all 3 parks!
Are you ready for your national park road trip vacation?!
Cheap flights to Kalispell
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National Park FAQ’s
How many days do you need to visit Yellowstone National Park?
Yellowstone is shaped like a figure eight and it is best to allow for a minimum of 2 days to explore the park.
Is October too late for Glacier National Park?
A very popular road in Glacier National Park is Going-to-the-Sun-Road. Often times, this road can close early October/late September due to weather. Keep in mind that traveling to Glacier National Park in October could mean more attractions will be closed.
Is the Going-to-the-Sun-Road open in October?
This road is usually closed by early October/late September due to inclement weather.
Is Lake McDonald open in October?
Of the 4 lakes that Glacier Park Boat Company offers tours, Lake McDonald is the largest at 9-10 miles across and the warmest, allowing tours to run later in the season. Boat tours usually can run into late September.
How long is Going-to-the-Sun-Road?
Going-to-the-Sun-Road is a 50 mile paved road that traverses the entire park, from all types of terrains that include cedar forests and large glacial lake.
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