Will be road tripping in June/July to Yellowstone and then on to Glacier NP. We've been to Yellowstone several times and are very familiar with the roads however we're looking for some insight on any of the roads between Yellowstone and Glacier... any good scenery or places to avoid? How about North of Glacier NP?


Thanks!

 

I 15 north of Helena gets pretty flat not much to look at. But from there you can get to US 12 to St Hwy 141, Then St Hwy 200 to St Hwy 83. 83 runs north along the west side of the Rocky Mountains, From there when you get to US 2 head east to West Glacier, from there you can start the Going to the Sun Road.

As for Canada, It's a bit of a drive but Banff National Park is amazing. Lake Louise is a small town in the middle of the park. 93 runs north from there in between many 10-11,000 foot peaks.

Have Fun

 

There are lots of places to view the Rockies in Montana. Some of the best motoring locations in my memory from our drive out to Washington from the midwest, are along I-90 in the mountain passes between Missoula, MT and Spokane, WA. We came at them from Billings in the early spring, so the mountains all still had a considerable amount of snow pack. I had never seen the Rockies before, and they were hundreds of miles off when we got up that morning in Billings, but as soon as the clouds cleared and I could see them in the distance, I was stunned. It was gorgeous.

I suspect that the taller peaks will still have some snow pack in July though, so you won't miss much and July would be the safest time of year to drive through the passes. Knowing what I know now, I would never take that trip in April again.

All of Montana is gorgeous and worth seeing. Montana and Wyoming were my favorite part of the drive west. I'm rather jealous that I won't be able to join you on this drive.

Oh, most important... try to avoid stopping in Butte, MT if you can. Butte just sort of sucks the life out of you and leaves you feeling exasperated for the next two hours. I have no good explanation for this, but the locals around me agree. Butte is just not a good place to stop when you're on the road.

 

Try to include Beartooth Pass between the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone to Red Lodge, Montana. It is regularly listed by travel reporters as one of the most scenic highways in the US.

 

Good info, thanks all! Pics a forthcoming upon my return.

 

John, as others have said, I highly recommend crossing the border over to Alberta and make the 150-200 mile trek towards Banff and Jasper. The most beautiful and unreal place in the world! The Canadian Rockies are simply majestic!

I also have been to Grand Teton and Yellowstone NP but never been to Glacier. That is the next park I plan to visit. Its Canadian counterpart is Waterton-Glacier NP in Alberta and I have been told is an amazing place.

3 years ago we drove the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Banff. The most incredible drive of your life in the highest most gorgeous (and isolated) road in North America. Do it by all means. You'll thank me for it! That road was built for MINIs.

More info on the Icefields Parkway in Alberta:

http://www.icefieldsparkway.ca/

Make sure to stop at the Columbia Icefield and take a tour of the glacier!