Next summer we are meeting up with my wife's sister who rented a big house for a week for everyone on Flathead Lake, MT. We were originally going to fly but are now considering maybe driving from Austin to Montana and trying to make a longer trip out of it to see some stuff along the way. A quick Google Maps route search would have us going up north through Amarillo to Colorado Springs, Denver, then north through Cheyenne, Casper, Billings, Bozeman and Missoula. It'd probably a solid 3 days of driving and obviously longer if we took our time.

Would that route be worth seeing? What would there be to do along the way? Would it be better to just fly into Kalispell and rent a car instead?

Fly into Kalispell.

Do not miss the Thursday night Rodeo at the Blue Moon and dancing afterwards.
https://glaciercountryrodeo.com/venue/blue-moon-arena/

No way would I do that drive and I'm in CO.

I'm driving DFW to Miissoula this Friday to drop off son at UofM. We're going to head West once we get to Wyoming through Laramie (we like to visit college campuses…football stadiums mostly) then to Jackson Hole. Grand Teton should be on your itinerary if you can… it's awesome. Not going to go through Yellowstone as we've been before and I can't risk traffic or anything as we need to be in Missoula Sunday. You wouldn't regret spending a little time in Missoula…pretty cool little downtown area.

We do this from Georgetown every fall on our way to northern Idaho to visit my wife's family. We flew into Spokane and rented a car when we had kids.

It's a looong way. We're retired so time isn't a factor now. Takes us 4 days to get to Sandpoint ID. We drive 6 to 8 hours max/day. Try to be in a campsite by 4. Eastern Wyoming and Montana aren't all that scenic. There are a lot of historical things to see but nothing overly exciting. The wind can be a real pain in the rear while driving.

We're leaving in a few weeks and trying to decide which direction we want to take once we get to Fort Collins. More scenic options than sticking to the interstate.

Sounds like an absolute beating. Google Maps says 28 hours, and if you stop to see anything, it adds hours a day.

But if you want to do it, here's some things worth seeing/doing:

Perini Ranch Steak House, Buffalo Gap
Ranching Heritage Museum Lubbock
Caprock Canyons State Park
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Panhandle Plains Historical Museum
Boys Ranch Museum
Dinosaur trackway, Lake Clayton
Eklund Hotel/Restaurant, Clayton
Highway 72 across Johnson Mesa
Capulin Volcano
Scenic drive from Trinidad to Stonewall to Cuchura to La Veta to Walsenburg
Air Force Academy (no weapons)

Haven't really been north of Denver much, but Yellowstone and the Tetons should be on everyone's bucket list

hillcountryag86 said:

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JustPanda said:

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No way would I do that drive and I'm in CO.

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Don't listen to Panda. Done the drive and it's great.

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I'm in Denver and we just drove to GTNP and yellowstone in July, I thought it was a beautiful drive. Would totally add another 4-5 hours to venture into Montana.

Not sure what he's talking about.

I think the drive from Denver to GNP is great. From Denver to Texas, meh. Ive done the drive to GNP from Houston around 4 times long ago and didnt mind it. Just long days trying to cover a lot of ground.

aggiedata said:

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Consider a hybrid trip by flying to Denver and renting a 4Runner. We did that on our way to Jackson Hole a few years ago. We had a really good time exploring mountain towns as we headed north. Could fly into Boise as well.

Made the trip more fun and we skipped the part through Texas which is long and hot.

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This is pretty good advice. Flying into either Denver or Springs would take away a very full day of driving on both sides

On this trip the first thing, if you do drive, is you want out of Texas as fast as possible. Once in Colorado Springs it is 17 hours to Kalispell taking the back roads. Every moment you spend in Palo Duro or Caprock is not spent somewhere better and cooler. The good stuff starts in Colorado Springs, not Amarillo.


If you start from Colorado Springs, take the back way to Breckenridge/Frisco on 24 and 9. Great drive, little over 2 hours. Spend a little time in Breck, then continue up Hwy 9 to Steamboat, which will also be no interstate. From Steamboat go up to Jackson and hit the Tetons area. Skip Yellowstone, it is awesome but it will be insane crowds.

From there you roll through Idaho Falls and up to Missoula. If you see something cool, then stop for a few hours. You got 3 solid days of driving if you drive all the way from Texas. But if you turn it into 5 days of driving then you will make it very enjoyable.


Take you time, there is just so much. Stop in the towns and eat riverside every chance you get.


I wouldn't want to do that drive from Texas if I had to take the interstates and 287 the whole way. That route through Amarillo and Denver and Cheyenne and Casper and Billings sucks. Totally 100% sucks. But the route through the hills is great.

Last thing, you don't need a 4runner. This is going to be a highway trip, not a gravel road trip. Any car will be fine.

minivan/swagger wagon 100%

Would definitely take the wife's Odyssey.

Love it! I like this route for our upcoming trip. We'll swing west from Idaho Falls and go up the Salmon River Valley to Missoula and on to Sandpoint ID.

Used to live in Billings and made drive to Texas many times over the years. The route straight through is pretty boring as it is Texas panhandle, a corner of NM and then up the interstate middle of Colorado and Wyoming where all the pretty stuff is to the west You would have to configure a western route to catch the Tetons etc. Flathead Lake and that area is wonderful though and you will greatly enjoy. Wish I had bought property in NW Montana when we lived there.

ChoppinDs40 said:

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TO ranch!

Nothing like that one curve you come around on the "Plains to Port Corridor" and then boom! Snow capped mountains of the Sangre de Cristo.

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Yes!!!

TO is my, "… if I win the Lottery…"

The TO Ranch is amazing. Even more amazing is to drive across the top of Johnson Mesa, just north of it.

[url=https://www.flickr.com/gp/chs_girls_soccer/r242V19WWA][/url]IMG_0679 by Drifter 77, on Flickr

[url=https://www.flickr.com/gp/chs_girls_soccer/HB2igrfK80][/url]IMG_0680 by Drifter 77, on Flickr

[url=https://www.flickr.com/gp/chs_girls_soccer/NZEAY0706w][/url]IMG_0696 by Drifter 77, on Flickr

We flew to Salt Lake and rented an SUV and drove to Montana and Yellowstone. It was a great trip.

jackrabbit said:

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I'm driving DFW to Miissoula this Friday to drop off son at UofM. We're going to head West once we get to Wyoming through Laramie (we like to visit college campuses…football stadiums mostly) then to Jackson Hole. Grand Teton should be on your itinerary if you can… it's awesome. Not going to go through Yellowstone as we've been before and I can't risk traffic or anything as we need to be in Missoula Sunday. You wouldn't regret spending a little time in Missoula…pretty cool little downtown area.

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Game day is Missoula is awesome.

We are driving from Georgetown to Kalispell, leaving in 3 weeks. Our plan is pretty ambitious, but we are going due west to Antelope Canyon, AZ -> North Rim Grand Canyon -> Zion NP -> Bryce Canyon -> Moab, UT (Canyonlands and Arches NPs) -> Salt Lake City -> Jackson, WY (Zion NP) -> Yellowstone NP -> Kalispell (GNP,Whitefish, etc).

Coming back, taking in Little Big Horse -> Mt Rushmore -> Golden, CO (family visit) -> Raton/Lubbock/Home.

I've driven from Dallas to Portland Oregon several times which shares a large portion of the same route. Boring as crap. You will be in the flatland portion of all the states you'd think as exciting. Boring ass drive. And for reference I've also driven Portland to Minneapolis (much better drive), and also Minneapolis to College Station.

wspagg said:

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Game day is Missoula is awesome.

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Flying up end of October to experience that for first time..,looking forward to it…although will miss SC at Kyle that day.

You could go the direct route, and it's a bit boring. Just following I-25 isn't the most thrilling thing. Or, you could go the fun route...head west to Albuquerque, then up to Moab, Salt Lake City/Park City, Idaho Falls, and on to Montana. From these places, you're within easy side-trips to Monument Valley, Arches, Canyonlands, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Bozeman, etc...I'd certainly want more than 3 days if doing this, though. Happy travels.