Montana is the kind of place where the journey becomes the destination — wide-open skies, winding highways, and incredible scenery around every bend. Whether you’re chasing mountain peaks, turquoise lakes, iconic parks, or quirky small towns, planning a Montana road trip means balancing big views with big adventures.
One of the best road trip routes in the state weaves through some of the most unforgettable landscapes in the West — and it wouldn’t be complete without a stop near Glacier National Park. From world-class scenic drives to off-the-beaten-path experiences, this Montana road trip itinerary gives you the freedom to explore the state at your own pace.
Table of Contents
Why Montana Has The Best Road Trips
You will cover a lot of ground and terrain while you are here visiting from high mountaintops to valleys or plains far and wide. Sometimes you will forget this is all in the same state. We are the 4th-largest state in the nation and are known as the “Big Sky State”… And that’s no joke!
Montana boasts lots of history, diverse scenery, stunning national parks and everything in between. This is definitely a trip of a lifetime no matter how short or how long you can make the trip it will be memorable. There is lots to see and do, but also best to leave a little time for unplanned fun to be able to sprinkle it in. Give yourself a few to enjoy that fresh mountain air and really enjoy your vacation and time away. That may be around a campfire at night or enjoying a rodeo or some other Montana fun you just won’t get anywhere else.
Iconic Stops to Include on a Montana Road Trip
Glacier National Park & West Glacier
At the heart of any best Montana road trip is Glacier National Park. Known for its alpine scenery, glacial lakes, and legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road, this area offers some of the most breathtaking landscapes in North America.
The nearby community of West Glacier serves as a convenient gateway and is best experienced over multiple days rather than a quick stop. You can not go wrong spending a few days in Glacier National Park and the entire Flathead Valley as a whole. Ideally you want to spend about 3-4 days here and still that won’t fully be enough but a good amount of time to enjoy but also start your list of what to do on your return trip to Glacier.
Whitefish
Whitefish has it all around here. Mountain views, boutique shopping, great dining options and more! This town is buzzing all year round- From all the summer fun to all things skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort in the winter.
Missoula
Lively college town with breweries, river access, and cultural attractions.
Missoula is a fun, unique town to explore. The Clark Fork River runs right though it but that’s not the only thing that streams visitors here. The art and live music scene always has something going on in the downtown area. Take a small hike up the “M” for a quick leg stretch if you’re just passing through.
Bozeman
Gateway to outdoor adventures and a common stop en route to Yellowstone.
Truly a gateway to outdoor adventures and a great spot to stop and enjoy some time. Maybe you just want to peruse the downtown area or hop in a hot spring to soak away some of those sore muscles from the car. Bozeman has great fishing opportunities along the Gallatin, Madison or Yellowstone rivers. It combines rugged adventure with a growing food and arts scene.
Yellowstone National Park
Wildlife, geothermal features and Yellowstone…oh my! The road trip from Glacier to Yellowstone is a common hot lap around here. I mean you already made the trek to MT so you may as well get 2 national parks out of the deal right? I mean who wouldn’t want to see a buffalo and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
Building a Montana Road Trip Itinerary Around Glacier National Park
When planning a Montana road trip itinerary, Glacier National Park fits naturally as a central highlight rather than a quick detour. I mean, we see over 3 million people come to visit Glacier during the Summers. Instead of rushing through, the best experience comes from slowing down and spending a few nights in the area. This allows time to explore scenic drives like the Going-to-the-Sun Road, enjoy alpine views, and take advantage of nearby activities without feeling rushed.
You will definitely want more than an overnight to enjoy Glacier. Trust me. Two days at least and 3-4 days would be ideal. There is a lot to pack into even just a shorter trip like that.
Glacier is a great place for your calls to go straight to voicemail and for our emails to wait until Monday, not only just because we do tend to lack cell service but also you already booked all the things you may as well really enjoy.
Going-to-the-Sun Road is genuinely indescribable and something you have to witness for yourself. You will feel like you are on top of the world. Don’t believe me? Better let the trip leave the group chat and see for yourself….
Where to Stay Near Glacier National Park
Staying near Glacier gives you a step ahead of all of the rest. Quicker to head into the park to hit the trailhead early or you can hit the snooze button a time or two and still not waste your morning making that commute. Granted you may have to travel a bit farther for the night activities but Glacier is where you spend most of your time so smarter to be closer to where you plan to log most of your time.
We have a variety of options from a studio apartment to a 3-bedroom home. A little something for everyone. You will find most of our rental inventory is more condo-style living but a perfect place to call home. All of our properties are equipped with all you need while you are here.
We are 7 miles and just 10 minutes from the West entrance of Glacier National Park.
Why pick our properties? We are just a hop away from Glacier and will set you ahead of the rest for the day’s adventure, spending less time commuting and more time enjoying Glacier! Another great perk to staying with us? Discounted adventure pass tickets to Glacier Highline! A great way to un-hike some of your muscles and a way to challenge you and your crew.
Things to Do While Stopped in West Glacier
- Outdoor Experiences to Add to Your Road Trip
- Rafting Adventure with Wild River Adventures
- Horseback ride with Swan Mountain Outfitters
- Fly fishing with Montana Raft and Glacier Guides
- Thursday Rodeo with Brash Rodeo at the Blue Moon Arena
- Adventures offered by Glacier Highline
- Glacier Highline is a great way to fly high and try something new. Harness us and experience adventure on your own path through our ropes course with zip lining. Climb our rock wall and see who can make it to the top. Channel your inner child again in racing your kiddos or friends through our 80’ inflatable obstacle course and make a splash in our pond off of our inflatable waterslide. Truly a great way to spend part of one of your days here in the area.
- Hungry yet? Our Tower Grill and Coffee Shop is a great place to go while you are at Glacier Highline or swing by on one of your trips to head on your next adventure. Breakfast, coffee, lunch, just a quick bite or a frozen huckleberry lemonade?! We got you covered! Sit and enjoy your meal with our outdoor seating area or order online and take it to go!
Sample Montana Road Trip Itinerary
- Day 1–2: Arrive in West Glacier, settle in, explore nearby
- Travel days are good to get yourself here, grocery shop, settle into your new digs, and then find a great place to grab a bite to eat on your first night. Gunsight Saloon in Columbia Falls is great for nightly live music and a patio area that will really let you shake off the long day of travel. Get a lay of the land and maybe venture into Lake McDonald and pack a picnic dinner and venture up Going-to-the-Sun Road and see what all the hype is about.
- Day 3: Glacier National Park highlights
- Wake up with the sun and set out for a day of adventure; plan your hike or rafting trip and if you are up early enough…maybe both! Lots of great opportunities to pack your days with. Maybe even set sail on an evening boat tour with Glacier Park Boat Company.
- Day 4: Adventure day or rest day
- Maybe you plan to grab a paddle and hit the river or hike another trail? There are lots of miles to hike in Glacier, over 700 maintained hiking trail miles to put that into perspective. So lace up your boots, grab your bear spray and see where the trail takes you.
Pack up the car and continue onward to the next Montana destination.
What Makes a Montana Road Trip So Memorable
Montana road trips have you constantly surrounded by changing landscapes. Stops like Glacier National Park create natural anchors in your journey, while smaller towns and scenic byways will fill the spaces in between. Sit back and enjoy the open roads with a podcast or que up a playlist to make the drive fly right by.
Planning Tips for a Montana Road Trip
- Best time of year to go
- Late spring through early fall offers the most reliable weather and full access to roads like the Going-to-the-Sun Road. But honestly, Montana is beautiful in any season.
- Weather considerations
- Our weather can always change at a drop of a hat. Just makes the adventure that much more memorable, right?! Best to pack a variety of light layers so you are prepared for whatever Montana weather throws at you.
- Booking lodging early for popular destinations
- The early bird gets the best place to hang your hat…you know the saying. There is lots of variety for lodging options while you visit. Maybe you want a certain Montana experience or maybe you have certain boxes to check when you look for a place to stay. Best to find a spot to call home sooner rather than later.
Planning Your Montana Road Trip
- Glacier National Park is THE highlight vs. a highlight along their trip to Montana. Due to its dramatic glacier-carved scenery the title of “Crown of the Continent” fits perfectly for Glacier and definitely makes sense as holding the title of the Crown of the Continent. With over a million acres inside Glacier’s borders, you will definitely want more than 24 hours in the area. I would say 4 days will be the most sufficient, but you will need at least 2 to make your PTO worth your while. There’s not a better place to stay close to Glacier and be equipped with all you need to make your trip flow smoothly.