GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Welcome to your Glacier National Park Road Trip. I am so excited for your adventure. Thank you so much for trusting me in the planning process and supporting my content.

This is the itinerary that my husband and I followed during our three days in the park last July. This was the first portion of our long 10 day toad trip, so we took it slower than usual. You can definitely pack in more hikes than we did if you are feeling ambitious.

This guide will cover stops in West Glacier to Logan Pass, to St. Mary and Many Glacier, and down to Two Medicine Lake. Be sure to check https://www.nps.gov/index.htm for road closures in the park that could effect your trip.

Other things to note:

• We were lucky enough to secure last minute reservations at campgrounds that are usually booked in advance. I recommend checking for availability before beginning your road trip.
  
• To enter West Glacier from 6am-3pm, you need a permit AND a PARK PASS. This guide will have you enter West Glacier at 3pm, so you don’t need to worry about the permit, ONLY a national park pass.
  
• There is almost NO service in the park.
  
• Gas stations are not available in the park, so be sure to fill up before coming in the West Entrance.
  
• these were the rules during our trip in July, be sure to check with Glacier National Park for up to date rules!
  

bozeman, montana

• Fly into Bozeman. This is where we picked up our rental van with Campervan North America. Take this day to grocery shop and get settled in the van. You’ll drive about 3 hours to Lolo Creek Campground located in Lolo National Forrest (first come first serve, $15 a night, bathroom but no showers). There is no service once you get close to the campground.
  

• Lolo Campground is about 30 minutes south of Missoula, a popular city in Montana full of shops, restaurants, and other activities.
  

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Day 2:

**If you are entering Glacier National Park between 6am-3pm, you will need to apply for a permit (this is SEPARATE from a park pass) ahead of time. After 3pm you do not need anything but a national park pass.**

• Drive about two hours before stopping at Flathead Lake for lunch. If you don’t have a permit to enter before 3pm, this is a great area to explore before heading to Glacier.
  
• Around 2pm, head to the West Entrance of Glacier National Park where you’ll find Apgar Village Lodge at Lake Mcdonald.
  

• There are a few short and easy hikes near Apgar Village that you could do before dark such as Apgar Bike Trail (4miles), and Oxbow Trail, (0.9 miles).
  

Other things to do near Apgar Village: Rent paddle boards/kayaks at Lake Mcdonald, Apgar Village shops, white water rafting, Going To The Sun mini golf.

• Camp at Fish Creek Campground. $30 a night, showers are available, some sites face Lake Mcdonald. Reservations are recommended.
  

Glacier national park - fish creek campground

Fish Creek Campground / Apgar Village

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• Wakey wakey its hiking day! Head to the coffee shop at Apgar Village before you hit Avalanche Lake. There is one parking lot for Avalanche Lake & Trail of the Cedars so ARRIVE early to secure a spot. We spent about an hour looping the parking lot for an open spot.
  

• The Trail of the Cedars will be the first 0.8 mile portion of the Avalanche Lake Trial.
  
• About Avalanche Lake Trail:
  
• 5.9 miles, mild to moderate. About 2-3 hours to complete
  
• Lots of trees so you will have shade throughout the hike.
  
• Beautiful blue waters surrounded by glacier mountains.
  
• Expect to see wildlife
  

• From the trail head, keep heading NORTH about 16 miles on GTTSR to Logan Pass, the highest elevation reachable by car in the park. (Be sure to check for road closures on Going To The Sun Road)
  

• From Logan Pass, you can head to Baring Falls, a short 0.8 mile hike near St. Mary Lake. Because we got a late start to the day, Avalanche Lake was the only hike we did before driving GTTSR and heading out of the east side of park to the Chewing Bones Campground. But there are a couple short and easy trails I would recommend squeezing in between Logan Pass and your campground. (Baring Falls 0.8 miles, Sun Point Nature Trail 1.9 miles - both along St. Mary Lake)
  

• Head to Chewing Bones Campground and get settled in before you watch the sunset on the river.
  

• About Chewing Bones: first come first serve, showers, launch ramps for boats or kayaks, fire pit, mountain views, complimentary coffee in the morning.
  

Glacier national park - chewing bones campground

Chewing Bones Campground

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• The Switzerland of North America. The best part of Glacier National Park.
  

• Head about 10 minutes north and start your morning off at Many Glacier Hotel where you can access a few hikes by foot or by the ferry across Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine.
  

• Many Glacier Hotel is a beautiful stop in itself. Enjoy the views, gift shops, snack shops, and a coffee shop. Red Bus tours, boat cruises, and other activities, including horseback riding, are also available at this Swiss-style lodge.
  

• GRINELL LAKE
  
• About 6.9 miles by foot out and back. Even though it's lenghty, this hike was pretty mild and flat hike with stunning views the whole way.
  
• You have the option to walk the whole way or you can take a ferry across Swiftcurrent Lake & then Josephine lake, which will shorten the hike by 4 miles.
  
• Be sure to check boat departure times so you don’t miss it.
  
• 
  
• Drive about 1.5hr down to Two Medicine Lake for a beautiful sunset and campground (reservations needed).
  

This is where your Glacier National Park Road Trip ends. If you are continuing my Montana/Wyoming Road Trip itinerary, you will now head 3 hours south to Helen and camp at Devils Elbow Campground before your Yellowstone road trip.

• Time to reset! Drive 3 hours to Helena and enjoy a relaxing day at Broadwater Hot Springs before heading to your campsite. They have a gym, showers, hot springs, and a restaurant. Definitely worth a pit stop!
  

• Camp at Devils Elbow Campground
  
• rates starting at $25
  
• fire ring & picnic table
  
• swimming access
  
• It’s about a 3 hour drive from Helen to your first stop in Yellowstone. Drive the full stretch or split it up by stopping in Bozeman for the night!
  

Devil’s. Elbow Campground

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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK ROAD TRIP GUIDE

Welcome to your Yellowstone National Park Road Trip. I am so excited for your adventure. Thank you so much for trusting me in the planning process and supporting my content.

This is the itinerary that my husband and I followed during our two days in the park last July. You can definitely pack in more hikes than we did if you are feeling ambitious.

This guide will cover iconic stops in Yellowstone such as Ole Faithful, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and hot springs. Be sure to check for road closures in the park that could effect your trip.

Other things to note:

We were lucky enough to secure last minute reservations at campgrounds that are usually booked in advance. I recommend checking for availability before beginning your road trip.

There is almost NO service in the park.

Gas stations are limited, so be sure to fill up before entering.

these were the rules during our trip in July, be sure to check with Yellowstone National Park for up to date rules!

Nobody warned me how BAD the hot springs smell. Just a heads up!

Time to head to Yellowstone! It’s about a three hour drive to the Gardiner entrance of Yellowstone. Gardiner is a small town full of dining, shopping, and activities You’ll be able to access the following stops by car and enjoy a short hike at each

• Mammoth Hot Springs
  
• Norris Geyser Basin
  
• Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
  
• Take Grand Loop Rd and prepare to stop at Hayden Valley where you will see lots of bisons.
  
• Dinner at Grant Village Lake House where you can enjoy tacos and a beautiful view of the sunset on Yellowstone Lake.
  
• Head to Grant Village Campground
  
• rates starting at $40
  
• showers available
  
• reservations are recommended
  

DAY 7:

• A trip to Yellowstone isn’t complete without watching Ole Faithful erupt at least once.
  
• Stop by the Yellowstone Caldera and then head to Ole Faithful.
  
• Depending on the time of year will determine how often it erupts, look up the schedule online! It erupts at least 20 times a day, so you won’t miss it!
  
• Time to head to the Grant Tetons!
  

Grant Village Campground

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GRAND TETONS NATIONAL PARK ROAD TRIP GUIDE

Welcome to your Grand Tetons National Park Road Trip. I am so excited for your adventure. Thank you so much for trusting me in the planning process and supporting my content.

This is the itinerary that my husband and I followed during our two days in the park last July. You can definitely pack in more hikes than we did if you are feeling ambitious.

This guide will cover iconic stops in Grand Tetons such as Phelps Lake, Mormon Row, and Jenny Lake Be sure to check for road closures in the park that could effect your trip.

Other things to note:

• We were lucky enough to secure last minute reservations at campgrounds that are usually booked in advance. I recommend checking for availability before beginning your road trip.
  
• There is almost NO service in the park.
  
• Gas stations are limited, so be sure to fill up before entering.
  
• these were the rules during our trip in July, be sure to check with Grand Tetons National Park for up to date rules!
  
• We got lucky with dispersed camping sites we found on the Dyrt app (look for the location on Sheep Creek Rd.). They are usually first come first serve, and far off the beaten path.
  

• Time to head to the Grand Tetons! Be ready for the most beautiful drive.
  
• First stop is Jackson Lake Lodge. There are several activities you can access near the lodge such as rafting, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, etc.
  
• The views from the lodge are nothing short of amazing - browse the gift shops or grab a cup of coffee before continuing on the road trip.
  
• Stop by Jackson Lake Overlook and then Snake River Overlook for incredible views that you don’t have to hike for.
  
• Jenny Lake Visitors Center - pick a hike or two!
  
• Jenny Lake Loop
  
• the total loop can take 3-5 hours, you can do as little or as much as you prefer.
  
• Hidden Falls
  
• access Hidden Falls by the boat shuttle across Jenny Lake (tickets are purchased at the boat dock) and finish the easy 1 mile out and back hike to Hidden Falls
  
• Or hike Hidden Falls by Jenny Lake Loop - 4.9 miles
  
• continue another .5 miles to Inspiration Point
  

CAMPING OPTIONS:

• Jenny Lake Campground (book ahead of time, we were not able to stay here)
  
• starting at $50
  
• showers
  
• Dispersed camping about an hour outside of Jackson up Sheep Creek Rd
  
• bumpy dirt road
  
• first come first serve, so you run the risk of arriving with no availability.
  
• no showers but beautiful sunset views - check out the Dyrt App.
  

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Sheep Creek Road - Dispersed Camping

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• If you chose to camp in Grand Teton National Park, breakfast in Jackson Hole will be backtracking, so feel free to skip over breakfast in Jackson Hole and head to your first stop! Phelps Lake and Mormon Row is about a 2 hour drive from Jackson Hole.
  
• Start your morning off with breakfast at the famous Cowboy Coffee - and yes, it is worth the wait in line. Here’s a tip - order online ahead of time and pick up when you get there!
  

Mormon Row

• an iconic stop in the Grand Tetons for photos. The John Moulton Homestead was built in the early 1940s
  

Phelps Lake

• You can’t visit phelps lake without stopping by the jumping rock.
  
• Start at Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, which is what this post is about, at roughly 5.9 miles roundtrip - pretty flat and easy to hike.
  
• Follow the Woodland Trail sign, cross over Moose Wilson Road.
  
• Once the Woodland Trial ends, continue on to Phelps Lake Loop Trail. Stay right on the trail to reach the rock faster. You’ll find the rock a little over halfway around the lake!
  
• Head to Jackson Hole for a night out at the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
  
• Jackson Hole is NOT cheap. It is one of the most expensive places I have ever been to when it comes to accommodations. RV campgrounds can start at $200 a night and the cheap hotels are around $400 so plan ahead!
  
• The YMCA allows you to purchase a day pass for about $10 to use their showers. (we risked it and parked our van in a gas station parking lot).
  

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• Spend the day exploring Jackson Hole. Start your day off with breakfast at Persephone Bakery or Pearl Street Bagels.
  
• There are enough shops to keep you busy or book an outdoor excursion such as
  
• horseback riding
  
• a guided river float
  
• paddle boarding
  
• rock climbing.
  
• National Elk Refuge
  
• Jackson Hole Rodeo
  
• Jackson Hole Gondola
  

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• This is where your road trip ends and you can head back to Bozeman if you rented your van there or fly out of Jackson Hole. I highly recommend adding a day for a fishing trip in Ennis, MT. It is so beautiful out there!
  
• I hope you enjoyed this guide as much as we did! Thank you for supporting my blog and I hope you come back for more :)
  
• Please feel free to tag me in your adventures!
  

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