mhull

Below is our tentative Itinerary with options. Given the time constraints, what would you suggest, and what would be local simple restaurants to go to ? We are all planned for Glacier. We are not looking for physical challenges.

Fri 6/20 - Craters of the Moon National Monument Falls on the Snake River, 2.5 mi river walk – Picnic? Museum of Idaho ? Drive 73 mi to Driggs, ID

Sat 6/21 - National Elk Refuge? National Museum of Wildlife Art? Covered wagon cookout & show? Teton Village? Grand Teton Nat Park, Snake River Jenny Lake
Aerial tram to top of Rendevouz Mtn? Trail hikes?Chapel of the Transfiguration Hidden Falls & Inspiration Point Trail Colter Bay Visitor Center Signal Mountain Spend nite in Driggs,

Sun 6/21 - Drive to Yellowstone National Park ,Fountain Flats Biscuit Basin
Old Faithful Mammoth Hot Springs, Upper & Lower & Midway geyser basins? Yellowstone Lake, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Old Faithful Inn, Lower Falls Spend nite in West Yellowstone, MT What should be our top spots?

Mon 6/22 - Yellowstone National Park Livingston, MT – Yellowstone Gateway Museum
Drive to Butte,MT –Butte Trolley Car Tour Charles Clark Chateau World Museum of Mining & Hell Roaring Gulch

Tues 6/23 - Drive to Missoula – 118 mi Along way visit – Bozeman – Montana State University Museum of the Rockies Helena – state capitol Missoula? Spend nite Missoula

Tues 7/1 - Lv Kalispell & drive to Dillon, MT - 293 mi Wed 7/2 - Drive fr Dillon, MT to SLC – 356 mi

spirobulldog

It's hard to say what would be the "top spots" in each place
In Tetons, it just depends on what you want to do/see. I assume you mean to float the Snake River?--Certainly good to do. Hiking to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point is good too
That hike isn't super hard, but isn't super easy either--not sure what you meant by physical challenges. If you want big views, then the Tram would be nice too.
I would suggest having a meal at Jackson Lake Lodge. Since, you said simple, have it in the "50's cafe dinner style", which is not the main restaurant, but the one below.
If I had a single day in Yellowstone(which is insane, IMOP)I think the top spots are Upper Geyer Basin, Canyon area, Lamar Valley. Have a meal at Roosevelt Lodge, Lake Hotel, or Both. Do step in Old Faithful Inn for ice cream or a drink as it is an awesome place.
Why are you staying in Driggs? That alone is going to cost you 3 or 4 hours of driving time to/from Tetons and Yellowstone. It's more than an hour each way.
Check Geyser Prediction times, sadly probably the only one your going to have time for is Old Faithful.

Personally, I would start all over on the planning and plan for as many days in just Yellowstone and Tetons and skip everything else you mention. Your not really going to even scratch the surface and are missing out on a TON.

utahtea

Forget about the museums and spend the time outdoors enjoying the scenery. I totally agree with spriobulldog that one day in Yellowstone is insane. If you're plans for Glacier are as fast as this segment...I would seriously consider dropping one or the other location.

Utahtea

familythattravels

You may want to tag Montana in your post to target your audience. I agree with spiro - got lots of great advice from that person (and others) when I planned a trip to Yellowstone August 2012. There is a trip report in my profile if interested. We basically flew into Bozeman, MT spent the first night in Red Lodge and took the Beartooth Highway into Yellowstone where we stayed 3 nights in 2 different locations. It was a good amount of time for us with kids but I could have stayed weeks and long to go back. I also started planning a few months ahead of the trip and was able to get into the Roosevelt Lodge and Old Faithful Inn - keep calling (like everyday). Good luck Glacier is also amazing I think each park deserves several days at a minimum. Good luck.

mhull

Thanks so much for the info. You have given some interesting and valuable advice. I did not plan the itinerary and will be sharing your advice with my travelling partners.

emalloy

In Yellowstone, the best restaurant we ate at was the one in the Hotel near the lake.

kureiff

Butte: Front Street Market for lunch.

Missoula: Biga Pizza, Big Dipper for ice cream, Montgomery Distillery for drinks, Le Petit Outre for breakfast. Good Food Store for groceries.

Dillon: Beaverhead Brewing Co for excellent local beer. Stop at the Patagonia Outlet for good deals on clothes.

Helena: Park St. Bakery. Lucca's (Italian and only open for dinner).

Bozeman: Nova Cafe (breakfast), Blackbird Kitchen (Italian), Plonk (wine bar).

Dayle

mhull,

I would suggest making the most of the Fodor's site and the Fodorites' advice by spending some time reading trip reports. Gazillions of people do this trip in different ways, various family configurations in various amounts of time.

Reading trip reports helps you get a good idea of what is possible, what will appeal to YOU, and what will work.

Honestly and bluntly, staying in Driggs and spending 1 day for the Tetons, 1 day for the 2 million sq. acres of Yellowstone is not only insane, but a crime.

Rethink this and replan. You can have a great trip given reasonable expectations and a good plan!

5OHS

@Kureiff, agree wholeheartedly with all Missoula recommendations ... stroll along the river ... Il Dolce (not at mall) is a great walk-to dinner spot as well.

One day in Yellowstone or Teton would be so hard!

@Kureiff, What is your opinion of PLONK in MSO?

Headed there in August...

ENJOY EVERY MINUTE mhull! Let us know how it goes!

kureiff

5OHS, Plonk is Missoula is very similar to Plonk in Bozeman, but Missoula's just opened last year, so I sometimes forget that it's there. The Red Bird is another great stop for wine in Missoula.

jill_h

so they BLOW through the national parks and then there's a week driving(?) in/around Montana - bozeman, kalispell…

Can't wait for the trip report.