I love bookstores, so I just had to check it out and of course buy a couple books! Took the ferry to Friday Harbor, very cool experience! Crazy beautiful and amazing. Struggling with other things to see or do of interest in Idaho. Map of Idaho and Montana This map shows cities, towns, interstate highways, U.S. highways, state highways, main roads and secondary roads in Idaho and Montana. Then heading back towards Oregon, We continued westward through Idaho, Spokane, Washington, and dipped a little south to finish our road trip loop in the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. We always recommend people to begin their West Coast road trip in Seattle, especially if your focus is going to be a Washington / Oregon road trip vs the whole PCH. Why not start by looking at top questions on top right and you'll see some sample itinerary's and good things to do. I was also running out of time, but I pushed it to the very last minute. Distance: 432 miles. I didn't make it all the way, but I did see some very scenic points along the way. Seriously, you cant go wrong! Stay: The suites and private cabins of Stanley High Country Inn have a rustic aesthetic adorned with modern touches. Eat & Drink: The log cabin Sawtooth Luces serves quality comfort food with solid vegetarian options. Plan a driving trip from Mt. Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho Panhandle and its lakes, Hells Canyon and US-12 from Missoula area to Lewiston ID are some Idaho highlights. Tight curves, narrow drops, and endless potholes and dips make the drive slow. Rates start around $100/night. Pike Place is overwhelmingly amazing!!! Take a self-guided walking tour through the neighborhoods 19th-century dry goods stores, hotels, and churches to get the backstory of what was once a remote outpost of the Wild West. So, while you could cover this stretch of road in 75 minutes, I recommend taking plenty of time to stop along the way. Map of Glacier National Park and the surrounding area of the park. Huckleberry ice cream was hands down the best!!! Start and end: Starts in Cheyenne, ends in Jackson. These 5 routes are by no means the only ways to go on a cross-country road trip, but these are certainly popular and scenic. Routing by HERE 2021; Improve this map; Remove Ads. Do I need to book hotels ahead or can I book hotels as I travel? Almost everything in town was boarded up, and Waterton Lake was frozen. North Cascades National Park was my main goal today after I dropped him back off. As if the day couldnt be longer, my hubby had a late flight coming to meet me. From there, I continued up US 95, the "North South Road" in Idaho, through Moscow, Coeur d'Alene, and eventually Sandpoint, where a miniature Statue of Liberty stands watch over Lake Pend Oreille. The all-inclusive rates start at $260/night for adults, $225/night for kids under 17. I was now getting quite familiar with Montana 49 and US 89. Grand Teton National Park. This is one of the most beautiful parks in the country and is just south of Yellowstone, so you might as well stop here on the way from Yellowstone to Seattle. I got there 15 minutes before it opened for the day. Day 3. The Columbia River divides Washington and Oregon. With a few hours to go before sunset (the days are incredibly long in late June, this far north), I gave myself an ambitious goal. I opted for the shorter, familiar route. Hiking around Two Medicine Lake would likely have been messy, so I opted for the scenic boat cruise. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full, STOP 2: Glacier National Park to Missoula, STOP 6: Jackson to Yellowstone National Park, STOP 7: Yellowstone National Park to Cody, PHOTO: Carol M. Highsmith [Public Domain]/Wikimedia Commons, PHOTO: DianeBentleyRaymond/iStock Unreleased, The Loneliest Road in America: Exploring Nevadas Route 50. The warmest temperature recorded in Montana is in Glendive but that is in the east. The charm of that rainy weather was wearing off, and by the time I was back in the USA, the clouds were no longer picturesque. Purple Haze was a must do! You are welcome to join us on the Wyoming forum for more detailed advice. It was the shorter route, for sure (although still a long drive), but it was the same route I had taken during my 2006 trip. I tried to stay as clean as possible, since I wouldn't have time to change before my flight. Use tech to your advantage. Map of Oregon showing state regions. This North Idaho city sits at the foot of adventure in all directions. Gorgeous!! My cabin in East Glacier Park Village proved to be more than adequate. Request Your Official Travel Guide Your Information Name * First Last Sign me up to receive news. You get to decide how much time to spend anywhere. Portland, Oregon to Richland, Washington - Saturday, 227 miles, 3 hours Our first destination on our road trip from Portland to Yellowstone was going to be the National Park itself, but the distance from Portland to Yellowstone would have involved between 762 and 829 miles, and a minimum of 12 to 13 hours driving, without stops, depending on . Eat & Drink:At Parasol in Billings find local takes on global and Montanan cuisine, including falafel, Reuben sandwiches, and tacos. Breakfast: Wake up with traditional and international breakfast favorites from The Wild Table. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. Tips for foreigners: Renting or buying a vehicle in the USA? Theres a ton of different Redwood areas and we only saw a little bit, but it was INCREDIBLE!!! At the historic Pioneer Saloon, meat is on the menu, along with plenty of liquor to wet your whistle. I arrived in La Conner with some time to kill, so I drove The town of Pomeroy offers a nice break from the drive through the Palouse in southeastern Washington, but its best Rocky Point Trail is a fairly easy hike on the west end of Lake McDonald, that leads to a couple Johns Lake is probably one of the least interesting and most disappointing hikes in Glacier National Park. Address Street Address * Hidden Of course, the weather near the mountain was sloppy. He called while I was in route to Spokane and told me he had a few free hours the next morning to hang out. Just my husband and I travelling, it will be for my 40th birthday and hubby is early 40's. What about driving straight to Yellowstone on the 10th (in the afternoon) with a one night stopover somewhere? Last summer, we spent 10 days seeing the Pacific Northwest on a road trip. I stopped at Lake Coeur d Alene in Idaho to view the scenery and get out of the car. Bonus that I got some girl time and hubby time. Powells Books and VooDoo Donuts were the must dos here. Knowing that, and having explored the west side of Glacier National Park the previous afternoon, I decided it would be best to circle around the park and check out the east side. For the remaining daylight hours, I had two goals: enjoy a drive through the spectacular Columbia River Gorge, and finish the day at Pasco, Washington. As long as the itinerary matches your travel style, it's okay. Then, I headed back to Libby, where I explored the town for a few minutes, before heading out. It is a must do for every Pacific Northwest road trip! The first three routes are coast-to-coast road trips, while the last two run north to south along the west and east coasts, respectively. Yep, I had no choice but to skip the side roads and stay on the interstate. Start unearthing the endless possibilities of your Wyoming vacation. Alternatively, you may use, Best Western Plus Park Place Inn & Suites. Youll probably notice a Libby, Montana has a troubled past, but its working hard on inspiring a brighter future. And its super crowded!! I spent way too much money in that lavender gift shop. Login or register to comment on this itinerary below or join the conversation with other members on our Road Trips Forum. Rent a kayak or SUP in Woods Bay, go for a swim, or fish for trout and perch from shore. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Venture out to the famed Evil Knievel jump site, watch BASE jumpers leap from Perrine Bridge, or grab a drink at Elevation 486 and watch the sun set over the canyon. This park should be on your Pacific Northwest road trip agenda! First, I tried the spot recommended by the guy at the front desk of my motel in Missoula: Rattlesnake Canyon. We did spend some time in the Oregon Trail Interpretive Centre, but otherwise a lot of driving. I almost said the Disney phrase when I got on Please stand clear of the doors Finally got to see the iconic Space Needle. This is definitely a day trip in and of itself if you plan on doing any hiking. One of my good friends moved there a year ago and this was my first opportunity to come visit. Wyoming is where the untamed spirit of the West opens your mind and invigorates your senses. "worth it", "worth while", "must do" all of those are personal choices. Only roadside stops of 10 minutes or less. (But I still think that spending all day to drive to Olympic NP, then spending your single day of tourism whale watching in the Sound but not spending any time in ONP doesn't make sense.). Southern Pacific 4449, St. Louis-San Francisco 1522, Santa Fe 3751, Spokane, Portland and Seattle 700 and Milwaukee Road 261 steam locomotives to operate excursions over their rails . ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-72740071', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Portland, perhaps seeing the Oregon Coast? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-72738360', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Seattle, WA, Day 7 Portland, OR drive to La Grande, OR, Day 8 La Grande, OR drive to Craters of the Moon, Day 9 Craters drive to Yellowstone NP, Wyoming, Day 11 Yellowstone NP, WY drive to Bozeman, MT, Day 12 Bozeman, MT drive to Flathead Lake, MT, Day 15 Flathead Lake, MT drive to Whitefish, MT, Day 16 Whitefish, MT drive to Calgary, AB. 11 Places; 03:45 . It took a lot longer to get there and around the mountain than I thought. Enough to have its own post as well. Spokane. This post was first published in 2018 and fully updated in 2021. What should I pack for a road trip in the USA.? Making it worse, it was rainy and foggy, almost all the way. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming Glacier National Park, Montana North Cascades National Park, Washington Mount Rainier National Park, Washington Olympic National Park, Washington Crater. Watched Austin play for a bit before heading to the Stay: Book a night at the historic Belton Chalet, an iconic early 20th-century lodge, for $145 in the spring/fall and $185 in the summer. Then it's long roads around the "edges" with drives into the interior. I am planning a road trip for September 2018 and need some suggestions on what to see, what to do, where to stay and how long to spend in places. Eat & Drink:Stop for a meal and a brew in Livingston at the charming, colorful Neptunes which specializes in coastal cuisine and sushi. Day 3: Bike Galena or Hike Alice Lake on the way to Stanley. Arrival in Seattle. Check out authentic cabins and artifacts from Wyomings pioneer days at Old Trail Town or stop in at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a complex of five museums that includes the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Plains Indians Museum, and the Cody Firearms Museum. Plan to divide your 5 nights in Yellowstone in to 2 different locations. That, by my standards, is a very rushed itinerary with way too much time in the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Day 2: Hike Pioneer Cabin & MTB Corral Creek in Sun Valley. was still freaking early, so I just headed to wait in the parking lot for my It is gigantic, massive, monumental and deserves your respect and time - it occupies more than 3,400 square miles! Unless you opt for a much longer scenic route from Denver to Yellowstone National Park and the Bridger-Teton National . What about heading to the east side of the park. It was HUGE! 13 Places; 01:02; 26 mi; Trip Guide; 10 things to do on a Western Wyoming road trip. I would head straight to Jackson and Tetons then on to Yellowstone and North toward Missoula and Seattle. And very small! In the evening we finally made it to Washington. 7. Eat & Drink: All meals are communal at Eatons Ranch and served in their large, cheery dining room (Saturday is outdoor BBQ night). Also read: more tips for your North West USA road trip. The rest of the drive back to East Glacier Park Village was more extraordinary than I could ever express. Stay: Almost all Eatons guests stay in individual cabins on the property, each rustic but comfortable with full bathrooms. Want to escape the rainy days at the mountain Multnomah Falls is one of Oregons most impressive natural landmarks. Route distance: 1,561 km Suggested Time: 2 weeks + A vast, scenic landscape provides the timeless backdrop for the western United States. I do so agree about reconsidering your plan and reversing the loop for all the good reasons already given. This fall road trip originates in the Columbia River Gorge area of Oregon and ends in the Yellowstone area. I drove the treacherous curves a bit more quickly this time, but still stopped to gaze at the incredible eastern side of Glacier National Park. There are many people that would do your tour to include Banff, Jasper and Yoho NP along with Waterton and Glacier and work their way towards Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Agree to begin in Yellowstone and the Tetons for better weather. Enjoy this post with a long Oregon and Washington road trip itinerary. It was beautiful, but it was just a nice walk in the woods, without any real payoff. How long to spend here/around here? Its also the central attraction in the stunning Columbia River Glacier National Park: Johns Lake & McDonald Creek Hike, Appistoki Falls & Scenic View Hike, Two Medicine, Two Medicine: Boat Ride, Hike to Twin Falls, Ptarmigan Falls & Tunnel Trail, Many Glacier, Swiftcurrent Lake & Lake Josephine Hiking Loop, Grinnell Glacier Trail, Glacier National Park, St. Henrys Historic Catholic Church, Southern Alberta, Hike to Missoulas Big L on Mount Jumbo. That was it. Unfortunately, it down poured after that, so we headed back to her house. Discover road trips, the best places to stay, and other travel resources that will ensure an unforgettable Wyoming getaway. Need a change of pace from alpine hiking at Mount Rainier? I will investigate doing it the other way round following your suggestions. Road Trip USA: Great Sights of the West - Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone And The Grand Tetons. Our pizza ended up taking to long and we missed it. Eat & Drink:Get quesadillas and burritos with a family-touch at Los Gabanes Mexican Restaurant in Greybull. If you don't have three full days to devote to this NP, then save it for a future trip. As is often the case, the Scenic Point is at a very high point, overlooking everything, and to get there, you've got to go uphill. After dinner, belly up to the bar at the Million Dollar Cowboy, an iconic Western dive. So cool! GORGEOUS!!! Your options for accommodations on the east side of Glacier National Park are quite limited. We were going to try and drive to the Hurricane Ridge visitor center, but it was raining, and we didnt have much time. We learned so much about volcanos at the visitor center. We tried to make it to Mount St. Helens before the sunset, I'd picked Idaho, Wyoming and Montana for their legendary, empty vastness: together, they . So, it left three of us behind -- two ladies and me. Alternatively, if you'll be heading back to Boise or into Wyoming from Sun Valley on your Idaho road trip itinerary, make it a point to stop by Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve for some dramatically different landscape to everything you've seen on the trip so far. Key spots: Cheyenne Old West Museum, Curt Gowdy State Park, Snowy Range Scenic Byway, Wyoming Frontier Prison Museum, Sinks Canyon State Park, Grand Teton National Park, Jackson. Olympic National Park is huge! For Yellowstone there will be lots of movement in reservations between now and the time you travel. I did the best I could, but there was probably some mud on my pants on the way home. Nothing was open, because it Breakfast: Have a seat or take your coffee and breakfast to go at Market on Front, a bustling cafe and artisan market downtown. Technically Montana is not part of the pacific northwest, but I couldnt be this close and not visit her! Eat & Drink: Dig into plates piled high with mushroom pappardelle and chicken parmesan at Orsetto or order a wood-fired artisan pizza from Hand Fire Pizza. 3. This day was a mess, at least, weather-wise. Flying out hopefully 8th or 9th and returning on the 28th or 29th depending on which (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Eventually I ended up in Waterton Lakes National Park, and did some more driving around (this time I hiked Red Rock Canyon, out to Blakiston Falls). I found a great place to enjoy the sunset at some irrigated farmland near I-82, the highway that heads north to Pasco. As Waterton clouded up, I drove north towards Pincher Creek, and quickly ended up on some dirt roads west of Highway 6. I know what I want to do at the start, the middle and the end, its the bits in between and how long to spend at each place I am not sure about. Interests nature, wildlife, geology, cars, food, films, unusual stuff, walking to look at things - no big hikes. I kept a close eye on my watch, constantly calculating the time needed for the return hike before darkness arrived. I'm guessing the birthday is September 10?! and that was pretty cool. Take a look at this webcam which shows almost NO flow. It's pretty common for me to skip meals and survive on food from the cooler while on vacation, but on this trip, it was a necessity. There are 13 campgrounds at Glacier National Park but the one at Kintla Lake is a bastion of solitude and beauty ($15/night). I pushed through the rain and made it to my stopping point at Longview, Washington, by late afternoon. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-72743563', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car. Trips forum with way too much money in that lavender gift shop what about driving straight to Jackson Tetons! 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