Our Montana Road Trip was an epic summer adventure combining hiking, history, ghost towns, and the stunning natural beauty of Montana and Wyoming. We’d been talking about the possibility of moving and had heard good things about Missoula, so we wanted to check it out for ourselves. I also really wanted to see Glacier National Park. We considered flying and renting a car, but driving our own vehicle proved more economical and allowed us to pack more generously—including our bicycles.
This trip blended vacation time with some remote work, allowing for an extended exploration of the region during the long summer days. Not everything went smoothly—midway through the trip, Justin was in a bit of pain that persisted for over a week. After visits to two urgent cares and finally a dentist who diagnosed him with abscessed tooth, we got the right medicine and he started feeling better within a few days. But even that hiccup couldn’t dampen our enthusiasm for Big Sky Country.
Table of Contents
Fun Stats
- 22 days & 3,662 miles
- 23 breweries, 2 cideries & 1 winery
- 4 ice cream places
- Animals: 4 bears, 3 moose, 8 big horn sheep, many mountain goats but one up close, lots of buffalo, a few elk, some deer & 2 golden eagles
The Journey of our Wyoming & Montana Road Trip
Day 1: Drive from Denver to Sheridan, WY for overnight stop
- Total Miles: 435 miles | about 6 1/2 hours driving
Day 2: Pompey’s Pillar & Little Bighorn Battlefield
- Morning: Visit Pompey’s Pillar
- Afternoon: Explore Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
- Evening: Stay in Sheridan again
- Total Miles: 241 miles | about 4 hours driving
Perfect for Justin, the history buff, these two sites aligned perfectly with our drive off I-90. At Pompey’s Pillar, I experienced my first Lewis & Clark site—my knowledge of the Oregon Trail came mostly from the computer game, whereas Justin was much, much more versed in the expedition’s history and hardships. Standing there, taking in the view of the river and the vast landscape, I could see why people were driven to explore. There’s so much land visible from that vantage point, stretching endlessly in every direction. You can read more about our experience here.
The battlefield offered time to reflect on our nation’s history and the hostile way we fought for land. Seeing the gravestones and markers from those who died on both sides was eye-opening and sobering.
Day 3 – Mostly Driving, but stopped at the Medicine Wheel
- Morning: Medicine Wheel
- Evening: Arrive Missoula
- Total Miles: 500 miles | about 9 hours driving
Since we were traveling through this area of the country, it was important for us to acknowledge the Native people whose land this was and is. The Medicine Wheel is a major Native American sacred complex and archaeological property used by many different tribes from times before Euro-American contact to the present day. Age estimates for the wheel range from a few hundred years to more than 3,000 years. This wheel is about 80 feet in diameter and has 28 spokes. Standing in this sacred space, we took time to honor the indigenous cultures that have called this region home for millennia.
Days 4-10: Missoula Base
Garnet Ghost Town
We enjoy visiting ghost towns—they offer a fascinating look back at how people lived, and most times I find it hard to imagine life in these places. Garnet Ghost Town was only about an hour east of Missoula and is the best preserved ghost town in Montana; I was actually shocked how many buildings still stand and the green grass and tress, it is one of the prettiest ghost towns I’ve been too. Gold was of course the motivating factor that drew people here, but still, it’s not a life I’d want to be part of. Walking through the preserved buildings and imagining the harsh winters, the isolation, and the grueling work of mining gives you a real appreciation for the determination (or desperation) that drove people to these remote locations.
The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas
The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas is about a half hour north of Missoula. I believe we found it via RoadTrippers or just zooming in on a Google map. I’d never seen anything like it before—so I wanted to. The peaceful garden with its hundreds of Buddha statues arranged in a mandala pattern was unlike anything we’d encountered in Montana so far. It was a serene, meditative space that offered a completely different kind of experience from the historic and outdoor adventures we’d been having.
Flathead Lake – Hiking & Kayaking (Polson/Kalispell area)
This day was all about immersing ourselves in Montana’s outdoor lifestyle through hikes and kayaking—and of course a brewery or two. This area is definitely for the outdoorsy crowd, though we didn’t do anything too crazy. Flathead Lake’s crystal-clear water and mountain backdrop were stunning, and getting out on the water by kayak gave us a different perspective on Montana’s natural beauty. The combination of physical activity and scenic beauty, followed by local craft beer, felt like the quintessential Montana experience.
A Hike (don’t remember the name!)
A day to stretch our legs and explore more of Montana’s incredible trail system in the Bitterroot Valley.
Around Missoula
- Drinks: Breweries: Imagine Nation Brewing ; Ten Spoon Winery; Western Cider
- Museum of the Rockies had a great exhibit on triceratops
- Enjoyed biking extensively on Missoula’s excellent trails and side roads
- We did laundry one time
- Attended Missoula Osprey baseball game (now Paddleheads)
Days 11-13: Glacier National Park
- Going to the Sun Road
- Iceberg Lake – 11 mile hike
- St. Mary’s & Virginia Falls – 6 mile hike
Glacier National Park is beautiful, and due to its location, going in summer is ideal. We arrived either the day before or the day the Going-to-the-Sun Road opened for the season—there was a long line of cars streaming into the park, and we soon understood why. The waterfalls were flowing fast with snowmelt, the landscape was brilliantly green against snow-covered peaks, and the blue skies created views that literally took your breath away. We did two hikes, saw animals in the wild and stayed at a cute little cabin within the park. The dramatic peaks, pristine alpine lakes, and diverse wildlife made it clear why Glacier is considered one of the most spectacular parks in the entire system. The long summer days—with light lasting until nearly 10 pm—meant we could maximize our time on the trails and scenic drives, soaking in every possible moment of this breathtaking place. You can read more about it here.
Day 14: Drive to Bozeman through Helena
- 300 miles / 5 hours
This day was mostly driving. We did end up taking a little detour through Helena to check out the town, walk around capital building, and to get some lunch.
Days 15-20: Bozeman Base
Our Montana Road trip was going really well and about halfway through, it is good to have a little down time again. We had our bikes available here too, but used them less than in Missoula—the infrastructure where we happened to stay just wasn’t quite as bike-friendly for casual exploring but it had a washer/dryer so we were able to catch up on a little laundry and good wifi – so I could do a little bit of work.
Lava Lake Trail & Rodeo
Another opportunity to experience Montana’s diverse hiking, this time near Bozeman with its unique volcanic landscape. We opted for the Lava Lake Trail which was about 40 minutes away. The trail was 6 miles round trip and offered beautiful view when we got to the top.
While we were in town, we saw signs for the Rodeo. I had been to a rodeo before with my sister in North Carolina, but this was Justin’s first one, and I figured we are right here, he should experience it. Park County Fairgrounds was packed for the Livingston Roundup Rodeo. We had pretty good seats for the show considering we purchased at the last minute, because they only had VIP/preferred seats left. Experiencing authentic Montana culture with the locals, watching the bronc riding, barrel racing, and bull riding—it was quintessential Big Sky Country entertainment. It was a good way to spend an evening.
River Tubing in Hamilton
Well, who doesn’t like to float down a river? Madison River Tubing offered this, they tether you together (and a tube with a cooler if you pay a little extra), so you can enjoy a relaxing float. It screams relaxing and fun. This may have been my first river float experience, but it wouldn’t be my last. There’s something magical about drifting along with the slow current, cold drink in hand, surrounded by mountains and blue sky. Pure summer bliss.
Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is Montana’s first and best-known state park, featuring one of the largest and most highly decorated limestone caverns in the Northwest. I’ve been to numerous caves before, but I don’t believe Justin had, so it was fun to experience this together. The caverns are only accessible by guided tour—a semi challenging two-hour, two-mile journey that gains 300 feet in elevation, ascends over 100 stairs, and descends over 500 stairs through wet and slippery passages.
Getting underground and seeing stalagmites and stalactites is just cool—knowing that those water formations are thousands of years old, slowly built drop by drop over millennia. Our guide led us deep into the earth, through narrow passages that opened suddenly into cathedral-like chambers filled with incredible formations. The sheer artistry of nature on display—the delicate soda straws, flowing draperies, and massive columns—was breathtaking. It’s humbling to experience geological time scales like that, to stand in spaces carved by water over millions of years.
Days 21-22: The Long Way Home
- Morning: Drive through Yellowstone
- Evening: Thermopolis Hot Springs
- Total Miles: 300 miles | about 6.75 hours
Through Yellowstone National Park
I had been to Yellowstone National Park once before, but Justin hadn’t so it was a good reason of instead of hopping on the highway right away to drive home, we took the longer way, driving through part of the park. We entered through the Roosevelt Arch (“For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People”)—a fitting gateway for our final adventure. While we weren’t on the “cool” side of the park with Old Faithful and the major geysers, the ride continued our relaxing feeling. We stopped at the Mammoth Hot Springs, the Petrified Tree, did a short hike to stretch our legs, but mainly just enjoyed the drive. We saw buffalo crossing the road, bringing traffic to a halt, and spotted bears in the fields. The northeast section of the park offered beautiful views and kept us in that vacation mindset just a little bit longer. The drive added several hours to our journey home, but neither of us was ready for the trip to end.
Thermopolis, WY – Hot Springs State Park
Our final night was spent in Thermopolis. The town was much smaller than I expected since it does a bit of advertising about their hot springs. The boardwalk over the springs was kind of neat, and we soaked in the hot springs pool, reflecting on how wonderful our weeks away had been and acknowledging that we weren’t ready to get back to real life and working. Justin enjoyed the small outdoor slide at the springs. The warm mineral water and the steam rising into the evening air felt like the perfect way to transition from vacation mode back toward reality.
Then we drove back home to Denver.
- Morning: Start drive home
- Total Miles: 418 miles | about 6 hours via interstate
Montana Road Trip Highlights & Notes
- Discovery of the trip: Huckleberries! The huckleberry pie was absolutely delicious
- Long summer days: Being there in June/July meant extended daylight for activities
- First bike-packing trip: Brought bicycles – amazing in Missoula, decent in Bozeman, but questionable value for other locations
- Work-life blend: First long trip combining vacation with remote work
- Extended adventure: The scenic route home through Yellowstone was the perfect way to ease back into reality
This was our first extended road trip together, and the three week Montana Road Trip was a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and discovery in Big Sky Country. We decided as much as we loved Missoula, we were only seeing it in summer, the winter is much different, and not really where I’d want to live. We hope to make it back to Montana again.