I expect there to be some road closures tonight in Yellowstone due to snow. Technically Montana is not part of the pacific northwest, but I couldnt be this close and not visit her! Out here, the landscape is dense with national forests and national monuments lauded for their stunning beauty and cultural histories, not to mention three separate national parks: Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Day 1: (Option 1) Medford, OR to Crater Lake to Eugene, OR. Bring a warm jacket. Now, it was time to head south, and that's what I did, but of course I took my time, with detours out towards the Castle Special Place (west of Highway 6), and to St. Henry's Catholic Church, an historic structure east of Route 6. No sightseeing at all. One of my good friends moved there a year ago and this was my first opportunity to come visit. Do: Sun Valley is a posh, all-season outdoor getaway. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Its a beautiful desert landscape Ritzville is a small town along Interstate 90 that makes for an interesting stretch-your-legs stop. I could have stayed on US 2 for the drive to Glacier National Park, but instead I chose a route that looked more scenic on the map. So, it left three of us behind -- two ladies and me. Too many destinations in this itinerary for my comfort, with not enough time to stay and appreciate any of them. Art and design are woven into the fabric of Hotel Ketchum, an affordably-priced stay on Main Street that starts at around $120/night. Southern Pacific 4449, St. Louis-San Francisco 1522, Santa Fe 3751, Spokane, Portland and Seattle 700 and Milwaukee Road 261 steam locomotives to operate excursions over their rails . Made it to Port Townsend for the ferry. I found a great place to enjoy the sunset at some irrigated farmland near I-82, the highway that heads north to Pasco. This park should be on your Pacific Northwest road trip agenda! There was a beautiful lake. It spreads throughout 3 states: WY, MT and ID. I stopped at the always-beautiful Multnomah Falls, and somehow found the energy and motivation to hike to the top. The Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park is well worth the effort it takes to get there. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Interests nature, wildlife, geology, cars, food, films, unusual stuff, walking to look at things - no big hikes. 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). Just like the Spiral Road from Lewiston, Idaho, this used to be the main highway for years, until a better road was built (Interstate 82 to Yakima). I'm not sure what your plans are for (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Stay: Almost all Eatons guests stay in individual cabins on the property, each rustic but comfortable with full bathrooms. Even so, driving about 4 hours on day of arrival, jet lagged is not a great plan to me. Covering 604 miles, this 12-hour-long trip is best planned over the course of a few days. IMO, Astoria is worth some time. It was a long day. As Montana 49 ends, US 89 continues the scenic drive, all the way to the entrance to the Many Glacier area. Can you run your trip in the other direction so you do Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons earlier in your trip? This is an arid trek through Eastern Oregon with many geological oddities to see and plenty of pioneering history to explore. Largest cities: Cheyenne, Casper , Laramie, Gillette, Rock Springs, Sheridan, Green River, Evanston, Riverton, Jackson, Cody, Rawlins, Lander, Torrington, Douglas, Powell, Worland, Buffalo. We use cookies on koa.com to help improve your experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits, troubleshoot how the site operates, and learn more about how koa.com is performing. Take the Peaks to Craters Scenic Byway and stop for a hike at the Craters of the Moon National Monument, where a lava field spans 618 square miles, before traveling on to Idaho Falls, a quiet and. When I arrived, it was too early to check in, so I headed on into the park. It was still kinda foggy, but it made for some cool pictures with the bridge. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. If you are short on time, Ive detailed my trip so you can get ideas on what is possible. Only roadside stops of 10 minutes or less. I will investigate doing it the other way round following your suggestions. When I was here in 2012, I think it was foggy in Pincher Creek every day. Tight curves, narrow drops, and endless potholes and dips make the drive slow. See an impressive collection of dinosaur fossils at the Museum of the Rockies or browse the shops and galleries downtown. Always gotten lodging for summer in January or February. We were going to try and drive to the Hurricane Ridge visitor center, but it was raining, and we didnt have much time. Read this trip report for ideas, Road trip ideas from Memphis down thru MS to New Orleans. My other option would swing widely to the east and south, then eventually end up at Missoula. You'll soon see the ghost town on your left. The first three routes are coast-to-coast road trips, while the last two run north to south along the west and east coasts, respectively. Eventually I ended up in Waterton Lakes National Park, and did some more driving around (this time I hiked Red Rock Canyon, out to Blakiston Falls). I Want To Go To Universal Studios Orlando. After the park, I packed up the car and started back towards Im honestly not sure we would have had the time anyways. After dinner, grab a pint at the WyOld West Brewing Company, which also has a wide-ranging menu of sandwiches, burgers, pasta, and more. Do: Considered one of the most spectacular national parks in the U.S., Yellowstone is festooned with hot springs and geysers, including the granddaddy of them all, Old Faithful. Breakfast: Get your caffeine fix and a breakfast wrap at Montana Coffee Traders in Columbia Falls, a local northwestern Montana chain. Make sure to check the status of the states, regions, and establishments in which youre planning to visit prior to travel. The national park in Washington State offers spectacular backwoods hiking and camping opportunities. Take a self-guided walking tour through the neighborhoods 19th-century dry goods stores, hotels, and churches to get the backstory of what was once a remote outpost of the Wild West. The rest of the day was spent looking for a Walmart or Target. Whidbey Island. A chance to rest. The downtown and wharf area have a lot of restaurants , shops and bars. On both trips, I headed south from Kalispell to Missoula. Knowing that, and having explored the west side of Glacier National Park the previous afternoon, I decided it would be best to circle around the park and check out the east side. Water is sharply diverted upstream from here for agricultural interests. For your first stop on a road trip from Portland to Yellowstone, consider making a pit stop in the Columbia River Gorge. At Gild, a brewpub on the Hip Strip, find three separate floors of fun, each with their own bar and atmosphere. Town:In the city of Billings, see the carefully maintained treasures of Moss Mansion or the Yellowstone Art Museum. I probably stayed here less than an hour. After a few hours, we finally spotted the mountain. This is a great two-week adventure road trip that starts and ends in Boise with the following stops along the way: Day 1: Boise to Sun Valley. Relief map of Oregon's downhill ski areas. Your itinerary involves huge geography with lots of driving but minimum NP time. Its in an older home by a river. I only made one worthwhile stop, at the Center of the Universe in Wallace, Idaho. 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. Nature:Get out on the water at Flathead Lake, the biggest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. As I finished up the Ptarmigan Falls hike, I was dodging storm clouds. In the Bear Pit Lounge at the Old Faithful Inn, sit back and relax with a cocktail and apps. Multnomah Falls will be a drive by on the way to the coast. We generally notice more availability after the winter holidays, so start looking again in January and you will be able to get lodging within the park with en suite bathrooms. Along the way, you get to see places like Mount Rushmore, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Devils Tower and, finally, Old Faithful. 10 . Definitely fit the whole Portland vibe! Reasonable, but no time to really see anything along the way. With sunset still hours away, I wasn't ready to quit -- so after checking into my hotel, I drove over to the coast, to see the famous shipwreck half-buried on the beach at Fort Stevens Park near Astoria, Oregon. Its less than an hour up the road. Eat & Drink: Have an upscale dinner of sustainable fresh fish and wild game at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room. Only roadside stops of 10 minutes or less. Please may I ask for help regarding our itinerary!! Do: A charming town at the base of the Tetons, Jackson is dense with art galleries and boutiques. Agree to begin in Yellowstone and the Tetons for better weather. We did a couple small hikes, because how could we NOT!! Long story short, I spent a few hours regretting the road not taken. It took nearly an hour for the boat to drop them all off, and then return to pick us up, but I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful place to be stuck. That was plenty for one day. Road maps of the Western United States region. WHEN TO GO: Late May to early October. 7. Even outside the city, US 93 is an overused road that's still two lanes in many parts. Seriously people, Seattle has a monorail! In winter, skiers flock to Whitefish Mountain Resort while during the warmer seasons locals and visitors alike hit the hiking trails in the Flathead National Forest or the beachfront at Flathead Lake. Seriously, you cant go wrong! Bachelor, Broken Top, South Sister, and 14 different alpine lakes. Portland. They also do overnight pack trips in the neighboring national forest. Keep your eyes peeled for bison, elk, moose, bear and other incredible animals. Eat & Drink: All meals are communal at Eatons Ranch and served in their large, cheery dining room (Saturday is outdoor BBQ night). You dont have to travel to England to ponder the origins of the mysterious Stonehenge. Area: 97,914 sq mi (253,600 sq km). So, I drove to Seattle around midnight to pick him up and then drove back to the La Conner area. I had pie, ice cream and Town:In Idaho Falls, stroll along the River Walk to see the eponymous waterfall. Here are our suggestions for places to visit near or on the way to Yellowstone in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah, South Dakota and Colorado. 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. was still freaking early, so I just headed to wait in the parking lot for my We learned so much about volcanos at the visitor center. Around sunset, I ended up at the railroad tracks and grain elevators north of Pincher Creek. The reason we are starting / finishing in Calgary, is because that is where we live, and we would like to take our own vehicle. Town:In Salmon, Idaho, take a rigorous hike to the Goldbug Hot Springs for a soak or stop in at the Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural and Education Center which delves into the history of the Lewis & Clark Expedition and the Agaidika Shoshone-Bannock Nation from which their indigenous guide hailed. Eat & Drink:Tuck into a massive burger with all the fixins at The Savage Grill in Salmon. Also read: more tips for your North West USA road trip. There really is only one way to travel north-south through the Idaho Panhandle: its US 95. Of course, Im from Dallas, so any kind of elevation makes me happy. With the evening approaching, I drove east along Idaho 200, then Montana 200. Should I rent an RV to save money on a road trip? Address Street Address * Hidden Take a fly-fishing float trip on the Yellowstone, one of the great waterways of the West. Perhaps you can enjoy a short visit to Mt Rainier NP. I drove aimlessly, in any direction that looked like it might yield a good photo. If the timing was right I would have loved to kayak around this beautiful lake. Also explore Yellowstone's neighboring parks with suggestions on things to do and see at Grand Teton, Glacier, Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt national parks plus Devils Tower, Craters of the Moon and . You might notice that this trip follows a similar route as the 2006 Northern Rockies trip. Sub-region Pacific States (Alaska, Washington, Hawaii, California, and Oregon). Or at least, I told myself I'd hike as far as Appistoki Falls, and then see if I wanted to go further. going. I thoroughly enjoyed both roads, but I was very happy to call it a night, once I got to Yakima. Road trips The Perfect Idaho to Wyoming Road Trip. Hiking around Two Medicine Lake would likely have been messy, so I opted for the scenic boat cruise. Take a look at this webcam which shows almost NO flow. Mapbox . Thanks to the late-season snowstorm (which dumped the snow that was keeping GTTS Road closed), many of the trails in Two Medicine and other areas were soggy, muddy, or outright flooded altogether. I didn't make it all the way, but I did see some very scenic points along the way. One-way RV rentals make it easy to spend every second of your vacation time enjoying and exploring; you can drop the rig off in a different location and fly back to save time! And unfortunately, the plan I eventually chose could have been better. My DH loves the Tetons and great restaurants in Jackson. Crazy!! It took a while to get out of the traffic mess of Portland, but eventually I made my way across the Columbia River and into Washington. The hubbys ankle was still bothering him. I tried to stay as clean as possible, since I wouldn't have time to change before my flight. It makes for one of the most epic road trips there is - this 12-stop itinerary is one of the best ways to do it right. 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. I gave up on Rattlesnake Canyon after a while, and found another trail that did have a payoff. As is often the case, the Scenic Point is at a very high point, overlooking everything, and to get there, you've got to go uphill. Route distance: 1,561 km Suggested Time: 2 weeks + A vast, scenic landscape provides the timeless backdrop for the western United States. I don't know exactly yet what days we will be there until I can fill in the blanks. Ive wanted to come here forever!!! It is, indeed, a special place, made even more special by a magical mix of rain, clouds, and sunshine. Many regions continue to see high infection rates and deaths, while many states and counties remain under varying stay-at-home orders. 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