Stopped at the Quinault Rain Forest for a quick hike. It was tiny, and probably built a half-century or more ago, but it was affordable, comfortable, and clean. I also ventured into Canada briefly on this trip -- something I didn't have time to do in 2006. While this route will knock the socks off of just about anyone, for those willing to get out in nature to hike, kayak, and horseback ride the word epic doesnt even begin to describe it. Town:Helena, Montanas Historic District, Last Chance Gulch, has a fascinating history rooted in the citys early pioneer and mining days. Are you thinking of visiting Glacier? Perhaps you can enjoy a short visit to Mt Rainier NP. Finally made it to my friends house. Suggestions for a South West USA road trip, Suggestions for an East Coast USA Road Trip, Suggestions for a West Coast USA Road Trip. Bring a warm jacket. *Try huckleberry everything!!! We ended up staying here a couple hours longer than planned since it was cold and rainy. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. And its super crowded!! RVshare now offers one-way rentals, an unprecedented development in the peer-to-peer rental space. Now, in late June, the town was alive, and thankfully the restaurants were open. but we were about 30 minutes to late Not gonna lie, I was disappointed. There really is only one way to travel north-south through the Idaho Panhandle: its US 95. I also knew that This is what I have so far: Day 2 Sandpoint, ID drive to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? That, by my standards, is a very rushed itinerary with way too much time in the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? In order to get over to the coast, I had to take US 12 past Mount Rainier. 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. If you dont intend to stop at Craters of the Moon, see similar lava formations at the bite-sized Hells Half Acre just south of town. Breakfast: Have a traditional breakfast straight from the griddle at Limberts in the Redfish Lake Lodge. Hood area orfOregon. Have a picnic, enjoy the views and go for a hike at Windy Ridge or Spirit Lake. On both trips, I headed south from Kalispell to Missoula. The trail was somewhat overgrown and hard to follow, but I was still happy, because the weather was nice, and I knew it would probably be my last hike of the trip. 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. Stay: Almost all Eatons guests stay in individual cabins on the property, each rustic but comfortable with full bathrooms. Like between 40-50 hoursthe Pacific Northwest is huge! 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 . During the winter months, ski the 335 hectares at Beaver Mountain Ski Resort or ride snowmobiles on nearby trails. Tips for foreigners: Renting or buying a vehicle in the USA? Canyon or Lake and Old Faithful gives you good coverage. Plus, it was of course, cloudy. Road Trip USA: Great Sights of the West - Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone And The Grand Tetons. Unfortunately, it IDEAL LENGTH: 14 days. Crazy!! Those traveling from areas with high rates of Covid-19 should consider avoiding travel for now in order to reduce spread. Alternatively, you may use, Best Western Plus Park Place Inn & Suites. Grand Teton National Park. And of course, I got rained-on again. The water is all from rain and snowmelt. (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.). Reasonable, but no time to really see anything along the way. Too many destinations in this itinerary for my comfort, with not enough time to stay and appreciate any of them. We drove through Olympic National park towards Port Angeles. Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000 | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000 We rented a small boat and went out on Lake McDonald. I took US 2 around the southern end of Glacier, to my stopping point for the next two nights: East Glacier Park Village. Rest will be low to mid range prices. If youre traveling in winter, hit the slopes at Bridger Bowl Ski Area. This fall road trip originates in the Columbia River Gorge area of Oregon and ends in the Yellowstone area. Day 2 Sandpoint, ID drive to Seattle, WA 6 hrs of driving. Day 3: Bike Galena or Hike Alice Lake on the way to Stanley. Just my husband and I travelling, it will be for my 40th birthday and hubby is early 40's. Mount Rainier was our top destination today. Eat & Drink: Get a Montana-style home-cooked meal and a sip (or a bottle) of hand-crafted booze from Josephines Bar & Kitchen and the Glacier Distilling Company next door in Coram. For Jackson/Grand Tetons just stay in one place instead of moving. It will take some effort for many visitors to get to Many Glacier. There are also three suites in the Main Ranch House. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming Glacier National Park, Montana North Cascades National Park, Washington Mount Rainier National Park, Washington Olympic National Park, Washington Crater. For the afternoon, we went to Glacier National Park. I talked to the person at the front office as I checked out of the cabin. Powells claims to be the largest independent bookstore in America. Rural northern Idaho offers very few highways, so theres a good chance that youll choose Interstate 90 to get from As far as I know, theres only one beach on the Oregon coast where you can walk up to, and Longview, Washington is an industrial/timber town on the banks of the Columbia River. It was under construction, so people recommended not going until it was complete. So, it left three of us behind -- two ladies and me. Wyoming is where the untamed spirit of the West opens your mind and invigorates your senses. Answer 1 of 5: Hi, My husband and I are planning a 2 week Washington / Oregon / Idaho / Montana road trip in late May / early June starting and finishing in Calgary, AB (Canada). Last summer, we spent 10 days seeing the Pacific Northwest on a road trip. To start the day, I backtracked slightly on US 2 to Kootenai Falls, where a nearby swinging bridge spans the wild rapids of the river. When we were done, we made our way towards Cali! Unless you opt for a much longer scenic route from Denver to Yellowstone National Park and the Bridger-Teton National . hour to get there. Nature:Get out on the water at Flathead Lake, the biggest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Start and end: Starts in Cheyenne, ends in Jackson. Once again, I had a rainbow following me around. The Grinnell Glacier hike is arguably one of the best hikes in Glacier National Park. From Randle to Windy Ridge, you'll be driving one of the most scenic routes in Washington State, the NF-99. Its like saying one day in Banff. Major cities and towns along the route include Portland, Hood River and La Grande in Oregon; Seattle, Winthrop, and Spokane in Washington; Coeur d'Alene, Sun Valley, Stanley, and Boise in Idaho; and Missoula and Bozeman in Montana. Along the way, you get to see places like Mount Rushmore, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Devils Tower and, finally, Old Faithful. With the evening approaching, I drove east along Idaho 200, then Montana 200. Maybe a few short stops. Town:In the city of Billings, see the carefully maintained treasures of Moss Mansion or the Yellowstone Art Museum. I could have made the trip quicker, by driving up to I-90, then cutting across Washington and Idaho. Re: Road Trip Sept 18 Oregon-Idaho-Wyoming-Montana-Washington 5 years ago Save Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho Panhandle and its lakes, Hells Canyon and US-12 from Missoula area to Lewiston ID are some Idaho highlights. We are happy to drive as long as we need to, being in the car for long periods is fine. From I-90 just south of the Montana-Wyoming border, you'll have your pick of two scenic drives that start on US 14: the Bighorn and Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway is a roughly 200-mile route across the Bighorn and Shoshone national forests on the way to Cody, while the Medicine Wheel Passage Scenic Highway heads toward Bighorn Lake on US 14A. *Slow down and look for wildlife. I pushed through the rain and made it to my stopping point at Longview, Washington, by late afternoon. Call that an 8 hr day if we allow for a few delays and time to eat lunch. Ive Abbreviations: WY. Washington 14 parallels Interstate 84 and historic US 30 -- both of which are on the Oregon side. Outside of Libby, Montana 37 heads north along the banks of Lake Koocanusa (a combination of Kootenai -- the river that feeds it, Canada and USA -- the countries it spans). Day 1: Travel to Riggins, Idaho by way of Boise We started our Idaho road trip from Boise to Glacier National Park in Montana with a stop in Riggins, Idaho. You dont have to travel to England to ponder the origins of the mysterious Stonehenge. 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? One of my good friends moved there a year ago and this was my first opportunity to come visit. St. Helens on the way? On the way there, I took Montana 49, also known as Looking Glass Hill Road. Eat & Drink: Have an elegant dinner at Sun Valleys original dining room, The Ram, or indulge in Tuscan favorites at Ketchums best Italian restaurant, Cristinas. Now you're ready to hit the road specifically . We rented a small boat and went out on Lake McDonald. If youre hankering for an adult beverage, stop in at The Apartment Bar or purchase wine or beer from the ranch store. I did not realise just how quick this would book up and the only rooms left are a room without a bathroom. going. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); on Pacific Northwest Road Trip in 10 Days. Sweet Peaks ice cream for dessert. Discover our 7-Day Northern Idaho Itinerary for more ideas in this part of the Inland Northwest!. If youre traversing southeastern Washington, Clarkston will be the first sizeable city youve seen in several hours. After dinner, grab a pint at the WyOld West Brewing Company, which also has a wide-ranging menu of sandwiches, burgers, pasta, and more. You can also email a road trip suggestion youd like us to cover at [emailprotected]. I agree that you might want to go to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons first. This day was a mess, at least, weather-wise. *I would have really liked to have stayed in the Inn at Old Faithful. I kept a close eye on my watch, constantly calculating the time needed for the return hike before darkness arrived. Another benefit of sticking to the Washington side: you can visit the Stonehenge replica, a war memorial in Maryhill, Washington. Area: 97,914 sq mi (253,600 sq km). Montana has so much to offer - including its crown jewel, Glacier National Park - and we've designed the perfect 10-day Montana road trip itinerary through Western Montana, complete with details to help you plan each step of your trip. Whidbey Island. Near the end of my day, I had made up enough time that I decided to treat myself to some two-lane roads: one was straight as an arrow, the other was a very squiggly line on the map. It is gigantic, massive, monumental and deserves your respect and time - it occupies more than 3,400 square miles! There are 13 campgrounds at Glacier National Park but the one at Kintla Lake is a bastion of solitude and beauty ($15/night). Keep your eyes peeled for bison, elk, moose, bear and other incredible animals. Eat & Drink:There arent a whole lot of options for lunch in Grand Teton National Park but Leeks Pizzeria in Colter Bay Village is worth a stop for tasty pies and a table with a view of Jackson Lake. In the Bear Pit Lounge at the Old Faithful Inn, sit back and relax with a cocktail and apps. Use tech to your advantage. The Mount Jumbo trail climbs a very noticeable hill above Missoula -- a hill that's adorned with a huge letter "L" (it's right next to a hill with the letter "M" on it, which I hiked in 2006). After the rapid consumption of a burger and fries, I drove the Akamina Parkway and Red Rock Parkway -- two scenic routes that are snowbound in the winter. You really need 3 days to get around the highlights, so with only one day, you'll be limited as to what you can get to. 3. I dont even remember the time. Pike Place is overwhelmingly amazing!!! 25th - Spend time in Olympic National Park - whale watching tour. veteran. All the while, you're staring at gorgeous views that appear before you, around every corner. Should I rent an RV to save money on a road trip? Reasonable, but no time to really see anything along the way. It was a small hike down to the beach and I was worried wed be tripping over everything after it got dark, but we were fine. 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. Our itinerary took us through the iconic national parks with a number of must-see stops on the way to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming! It was still kinda foggy, but it made for some cool pictures with the bridge. I stopped at Snoqualmie Falls as soon as the sun was coming Beautiful area!!! Maybe a few short stops. The 10th is my birthday and if I can I would really like to wake up looking over Cannon Beach but the next main destination is Yellowstone, would the weather allow us to meander back to Washington via Montana after a min 6 days in Yellowstone? On the Washington side, the pace is slower, but the views are equally spectacular. VOODOO Doughnuts had the weird theme going on. Day 3. Do: There is much to do in the university town of Bozeman. I tried to stay as clean as possible, since I wouldn't have time to change before my flight. Or at least, I told myself I'd hike as far as Appistoki Falls, and then see if I wanted to go further. Are you driving a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Even so, driving about 4 hours on day of arrival, jet lagged is not a great plan to me. Nature:Hike one of the Sawtooth National Forests two national recreation trailsthe Fishhook Creek Boardwalk at Redfish Lake or the Wood River Nature Trail at Wood River Campgroundor take a scenic drive along the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway (Hwy 21) or the City of Rocks Backcountry Byway. Want to escape the rainy days at the mountain Multnomah Falls is one of Oregons most impressive natural landmarks. Please may I ask for help regarding our itinerary!! It was HUGE! Read this trip report for ideas, Road trip ideas from Memphis down thru MS to New Orleans. After dinner, belly up to the bar at the Million Dollar Cowboy, an iconic Western dive. Most of the day was spent on the Oregon Coast. Breakfast: Wake up with traditional and international breakfast favorites from The Wild Table. I heard it, but the If youre visiting in winter, hit the slopes at the Montana Snowbowl. This park should be on your Pacific Northwest road trip agenda! I drove around Pincher Creek on the morning of Day 7, just to see what it looked like when the streets weren't piled with snow and stained with salt. I do so agree about reconsidering your plan and reversing the loop for all the good reasons already given. Good food and a patriotic theme, you could tell he was a Budget is varied, generally we find the best for the least money, I am happy spending time researching this but we would like to splash out on the first night at Cannon Beach and probably for 1-2 nights in Yellowstone. Wait a minute, you only just arrived in Craters, and you're leaving again? He called while I was in route to Spokane and told me he had a few free hours the next morning to hang out. Eat & Drink:There is very little in the way of towns or restaurants between the Yellowstone boundary and Cody but if you happen to be traveling in the evening, the Lost Buffalo Grill in Wapiti is open from 5pm-9pm five days per week in the summer months. 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