Drive from Texas to Montana?

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9:03a, 8/18/23
AG
Done this trip a few times to Bozeman. Direct route isn't much to write home about. But close enough that some deviations make it a good trip.

My trips were back when I was single and sleeping in my truck.

One time went west put of Cheyenne, spent the night in some wildlife refuge, then hit up Grand Teton and Yellowstone.

Another time had just read a book on Crazy Horse. Hit up Fort Robinson, Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Little Bighorn.

Road trip it, absolutely, just be willing to get off the main road for some excitement.
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gigemhilo
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9:15a, 8/18/23
AG
I would do it where I could see Yellowstone and Tetons either on the way there or the way back. But yes, do it.
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twk
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10:59a, 8/18/23
AG
If you've got the time to make stops along the way, and spend more like five or six days each way, then driving the whole route would be fine. But, if your time is more limited than that, it's going to be an ordeal. I did a 10 day trip driving down the West Coast from Seattle to San Diego that covered less miles than you are proposing, and we could have easily stretched that out a lot longer.
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ReloadAg
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1:25p, 8/18/23
AG
Thanks for all of the good advice. I think it's going to come down to how much time we want to invest in this trip. It only makes sense if we can take a good 6 days up and the same amount of time coming back. Like some of y'all have said, if it's just a marathon of 3 straight days of driving then it's not worth doing.
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Hoyt Ag
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2:01p, 8/18/23
AG
Could also fly to Salt Lake, rent a car, spend 2 days driving up through the Tetons, Yellowstone to GNP, then fly home from Kalispell. You could see a little bit that way with 2 days.
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ChoppinDs40
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In reply to ReloadAg • 2:02p, 8/18/23
AG
you can do it in 2

seriously though, if money isn't an issue, just fly to Kalispell and spend as much time there as you can... If you have more time, get over into Canada and go to Banff.

Yellowstone and Tetons deserve their own trip.
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lctag
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6:49p, 8/18/23
AG
Never done that exact drive. But last month we drove from Houston to Amarillo, to Dividie, CO, to Custer,SD. Went through Wyoming on way to Custer. It was a great trip!
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AggieMD95
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10:28p, 8/18/23
AG
I roughly did that drive and we stopped in canyon Tx for palo duri canyon hike and summer musical "Texas" performed there under the stars.

Then thru amarillo stopping at the big Texan. Then to Colorado Springs and saw pikes peak , garden of the gods , royal gorge, AF academy, then went to SD for mount Rushmore , badlands NP, black hills. Then on thru Wyoming for stop at devils tower. Then continental divide to west Colorado.

So sounds to me like if you have the time yeah there is stuff worth seeing on the road trip thru there. However we didn't do Montana or Yellowstone.

We spent the next week in rifle Colorado, Moab , arches NP , canyonslands np, monument valley, Albuquerque, big bend, and marathon Tx.

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ReloadAg
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8:51a, 8/19/23
AG
We're leaning towards taking 3 total weeks and doing the trip. There's a hell of a lot of beautiful country we could see if we take our time. Do a week driving up there, a week at the lake house with family then a week driving back.
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twk
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In reply to ReloadAg • 8:55a, 8/19/23
AG
ReloadAg said:
We're leaning towards taking 3 total weeks and doing the trip. There's a hell of a lot of beautiful country we could see if we take our time. Do a week driving up there, a week at the lake house with family then a week driving back.
Sounds like a plan. Certainly plenty to see if you have the time, but you'll want to look at it closely to make sure that you get to see your priority sites a long the way.
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Mathguy64
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11:21a, 8/19/23
AG
Several years ago we made this round trip from CS. Something like 4500 miles.

CS to Colorado Springs via 287 and Raton
Out Colorado 24 to Breck.
Breck to Steamboat to Vernal to get to Dinosaur Nat Monument
Vernal to Rock Springs to Jackson. The drive Vernal to RS was unexpectedly gorgeous.
We had a week in Jackson and Yellowstone and left out via NE entrance and took the Beartooth Hwy to Red Lodge.
Red Lodge up to I-90 and then I-90 to Rushmore with side trips to Devils Tower and Little Big Horn. From there, Badlands and down 90 to Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, Omaha, Wichita to home down I-35

The drive down 90 in South Dakota was brutal.
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rwtxag83
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3:14p, 8/19/23
AG
Took the same route you mentioned and had a blast, except we started and ended in College Station. We did cut through Yellowstone and the Tetons. Flathead Lake is incredible. Still remember all the cherry orchards on the East side of the lake. Went for a swim in Lake McDonald in the park, but not for long as it was COOOOLLLDD!! We drove up to GNP and took Going To The Sun Road across the park. We pulled our van down a fire road in the National Forest that borders the East side of GNP just after dusk and just camped out in a desolate area. Had a bear come in our camp we had to scare off with a rifle shot. I don't know if you could get away with just camping in a non camping area these days. As far as I'm concerned, the most beautiful place on the planet (Glacier National Park), and I've been in many places.

I want to go back and take a tour through GNP on the big red open top bus. They're pricey, but you can see it and not have to worry about driving.

We wre beat when we got back, but it was worth it.
Greater love hath no man than this....
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ReloadAg
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In reply to rwtxag83 • 7:17p, 8/19/23
AG
My sister and brother in law live about 30 minutes from GNP and can see the mountains out of their back yard. It's incredible.
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wspagg
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7:22p, 8/19/23
AG
And the East side of GNP>West side depending on how much time you have.
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scott1481
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10:50p, 8/19/23
AG
I have family South of Bozeman and drove up there with the family last Summer from Austin. I took a slightly more Western route up through Albuquerque to Moab to Salt Lake City then up along West Yellowstone. Was maybe 30-60 minutes longer overall but a MUCH prettier route.

I drove back across Billings down to Denver and Austin and did it in two days with the wife and two kids. It's a really long two day drive and incredibly boring.

Lots of sights to see going that more Western route or even go Denver up to Tetons and Yellowstone too.
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ReloadAg
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In reply to scott1481 • 9:16a, 8/20/23
AG
Thanks! The western route is what we're looking at doing. How many days did you take ?
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scott1481
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In reply to ReloadAg • 10:31a, 8/20/23
AG
I think it was about 26 hours driving. I did it in 2 1/2 days up. Only problem with that route is planning out your overnight stops because there are some long gaps. We spent first night just North of Albuquerque because it's several hours across reservations after that.

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CanyonAg77
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11:43a, 8/20/23
AG
I've got to laugh at people who say the route through Amarillo is desolate, then suggest ABQ to Farmington as a great route. To each his own.

If you do the western route, ABQ has some neat stuff (National Nuclear Museum for example) but I'll suggest a longer bypass:

Santa Rosa to Las Vegas
Pecos Monument and wilderness
Santa Fe
Los Alamos
-County Historical Museum
-Bradbury Science Museum
-Manhattan Project National Park
Valles Caldera
Soda Dam
Jemez Springs
Gillman Tunnels

Then on south to join 550 to Farmington
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txags92
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In reply to gigemhilo • 9:51a, 8/21/23
AG
gigemhilo said:
I would do it where I could see Yellowstone and Tetons either on the way there or the way back. But yes, do it.
I would fly into Montrose, CO instead and it is about 17 hours driving to take a route that goes up through Jackson Hole. GTNP, Yellowstone, etc. Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP is also right outside of Montrose and is a very underrated experience.
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AgLA06
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In reply to Less Evil Hank Scorpio • 12:06p, 8/21/23
AG
GarlandAg2012 said:
I'd definitely do it but I have driven to NY from Dallas 3 times in the past few years and Aspen this year. Road trips are the best.
Agreed.

We have a 4 and an 8 year old. Wife's family is in San Diego. When Covid hit we loaded up a small class C RV and just started driving. Ended up in Ouray, Colorado straight through in 1 day from Houston. Taking things for the kids to do and them sleeping made it an easy trip. Especially with a bathroom and food / snacks / drinks within reach and not having to go into gas station bathrooms. It convinced us driving with kids is more about setting expectations and having a plan / things for them to do. And a hell of a lot easier than lugging car seats and all their crap through an airport.

It convinced us to start doing long summer road trips to San Diego instead of flying. Airfare is $3K+ and a rental car for a week is $1k with stupid taxes and fees being half. We can drive and add in a couple national parks and fun additional stops for $600 gas total and a $130 VRBO condo / hotel each night when not stopping over with friends or family. 4 wheel drive, a lot of our own stuff (including pillows) and not having to keep to a flight schedule makes things so much more easier.

We've done 4,000+mile trips over 2ish weeks each of the last couple summers. Seen more than dozen national parks, national monuments, and cool stuff in 8 or 9 states. All for half the cost of flying for just a couple of days to see her family instead. The way my kids brag to their friends about these trips, it's what we'll continue to try and do as long as we can.
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ReloadAg
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In reply to AgLA06 • 1:15p, 8/21/23
AG
Yea I think flying to Montana would be around $6k if you include rental car vs about $3500 if you drive (gas and accommodations). Sister in law is covering the lake house for the week that we're there which is cool.
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AgLA06
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In reply to ReloadAg • 2:04p, 8/21/23
AG
My suggestion is to leverage VRBO and friends / acquaintances for unique / affordable places to stay on the way up and back down.

VRBO is great for finding small cabins or condos with pull couches, murphy beds, bunk rooms and they'll show the all in price up front so you can compare to hotels, etc. Also means you can bring a large cooler or get a plug in cooler for the trip and cook meals to save a little more.

We tend to do that on the road trip and splurge for a little nice house / cabin around the main destination. While we like to eat out here or there along the way, often the quality of food wasn't worth it when we're used to great food in Houston. So we started making breakfast before hitting the road each day (or night before), packing sandwiches to eat a park for lunch and cooking at least as many dinners as we ate out on the trip. When you realize you can buy ribeyes, sides, and alcohol at Walmart for less than a subpar dinner out, it was a no brainer. And most VRBOs have grills and everything you need other than spices to do so.
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ReloadAg
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In reply to AgLA06 • 7:37p, 8/21/23
AG
Yea we're all about the VRBOs too! You can really find some cool places and like you said, cook/pack your own meals to eat along the way. We love eating out but it gets old constantly eating out on a long road trip like that and oftentimes a restaurant isn't in a convenient spot.
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ChoppinDs40
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In reply to ReloadAg • 11:08p, 8/21/23
AG
The main thing about road trip eating is setting expectations. Especially with kids.

Nope, this is it. Apple. Sandwich. Chips. 2 Oreos. We're packing up and headed back in the road. Daddy has to drive.
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TRD-Ferguson
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In reply to ChoppinDs40 • 7:41a, 8/22/23
AG
Really hardcore Dads provide a Coke bottle for the boys and a Mason Jar for the girls. "We only stop for gas"!
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Pro Sandy
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In reply to ChoppinDs40 • 8:01a, 8/22/23
AG
Our trips the food situation is usually the same pattern.

Breakfast is free hotel breakfast.
Lunch, sandwiches at a rest stop. I put a cooler on the trailer hitch tray with cokes, lunchmeat, cheese, and condiments.
Supper becomes the only restaurant meal
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MCMXCVII
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In reply to aggiedata • 9:37a, 8/22/23
AG
aggiedata said:
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.
This.

I've done this trip twice...once alone and once with a family of 4. Flying into Denver saves you a day lost to Texas nothingness and give you some extra time to really stop along the route through Wyoming and Montana and take in some sights that you might otherwise drive on by.
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HtownAg92
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10:15a, 8/22/23
AG
Glad others had my idea for return trip. Go to Rapid City, SD and hit Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park. Bear Country USA is a short, fun little excursion.

I would skip Crazy Horse, but that's just me. You can drive by it and see it from the highway. No need to go in -- just a gift shop / money grab and information about the plans that will never happen. Come back in 200 years and there may be another couple of feet carved off the horse's mane or something.

But warning -- the problem with coming back through South Dakota is the straight-shot home is over some pretty desolate and boring country.
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MAS444
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5:48p, 8/22/23
AG
We've taken our kids on long road trips since before they could walk. Our usual destination that we do at least once (but sometimes 2 - 3 times) a year is 19 hours. I love it - probably more so than everyone else (the drive part). But it's always an adventure and time spent together that is invaluable. Our twins are 8 now and in ____ years, we won't spend near as much time with them ...ever again. Just the way it is. I'll keep doing the road trips as long as we can.
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TxAg20
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8:10p, 8/22/23
AG
Even stretching a 30 hour drive each way into a week, you're not going to have time to see everything. I've driven most of that route several different ways and I would push west and hit:
Gallup,NM - nothing worth stopping for, but cool scenery on the drive
Durango, CO - do a raft trip, train to zipline park (the whole train ride is way too long unless you're a train enthusiast), Lake Nighthorse floating playground
Million dollar highway from Durango to Telluride - just an incredibly scenic drive that goes through Silverton and Ouray.
Walk Main Street (called Colorado St.) in Telluride. Ride the free gondola up and over to Mountain Village. Eat dinner at Allred's and get a table by the windows.
From Telluride, head to Park City, UT. Moab is typically really hot in the summer, but the drive through Moab is pretty and the drive from Price to Spanish Fork is pretty. Spend a night in Park City. Lots to do there if you want to spend a day or two. Jackson, WY - another town like Telluride or Park City, but each has their own unique vibe.

Palo Duro, Caprock, and Colorado Springs are all worth seeing, but Palo Duro and Caprock are pretty hot in summer and not great kid attractions. Colorado Springs has enough to keep a family busy for a few days, but I think the family would prefer Durango and Telluride to the Springs.
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ReloadAg
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In reply to TxAg20 • 9:36p, 8/22/23
AG
Thanks for the suggestions!
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jja79
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In reply to MAS444 • 10:24a, 8/23/23
AG
Right with you there. My bonus son and I road tripped pretty often and both loved it. Now that he's grown it's something I really miss but that doesn't stop me from taking them solo. It goes by fast. I don't miss the times we spent in airports but do miss the spontaneous left or right turns to go see something we had never seen.
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mpl35
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12:09a, 8/28/23
AG
Late to reply but I'd probably fly. I moved from BCS to Pullman Wa. Part of that trip was a drive. Did BCS to Lubbock. Than to Cheyenne. Then to Missoula. Than to Pullman.

Longest day was Cheyenne to Missoula.


Getting from Texas to Denver is the long boring part. You can get to your spot in two very long days. It's "ok" but I'd fly up there and enjoy the area. It's better than the drive.
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rather be fishing
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11:16a, 8/28/23
AG
I live in Montana and have made that drive a few times. Did it last year in a 28ft U-Haul and would absolutely advise against that.

Last trip, I went from Cheyenne over to Rock Springs and then north. That was probably the worst stretch of the 30+ hour drive for me (Kip Attaway was right). Although, Pinedale, WY was a decent layover that day.
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ReloadAg
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2:27p, 2/15/24
AG
I finally got our itinerary figured out for this big road trip and our lodging booked a few weeks ago. Here is our itinerary for anyone that is interested.

1. Leave Austin on June 20th and drive to Albuquerque, NM (10 hrs) and spend the night there.
2. Next day we drive to Moab, UT (6 hrs) and stay 4 nights there while exploring Arches NP and
Canyonlands NP.
3. After that we drive to Jackson, WY (8 hrs) for 4 nights while exploring Grand Teton NP.
4. After that we drive to Flathead Lake, MT (7 hrs) for 6 nights there at the lake house with the in-laws and will probably hit up Glacier NP at some point during that stay since it's just an hour away.
5. The drive back is going to suck since we don't have time to loiter anywhere since the kids have to be back for a summer camp on July 8th. So basically we spend 3 straight days driving back to Austin to arrive home on July 7th.

Does anyone have any thoughts about this itinerary? It's a total of 4 national parks in one trip which is pretty cool and I think it mixes up the driving (not counting the trip home) with days where we're just having fun.
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