My husband and I are driving from Rapid City (or thereabouts) after spending a week in the Badlands/Black Hills area. Our goal is to take a scenic route spending 2 to 5 nights total while travelling from this area to East Glacier dependent upon what we might/should see while on this venture.
What thoughts might you have on a route to take and "must sees". Also, places to stay/eat on route? I hate to plan the time in Glacier (which will be about 4 or 5 nights) before we determine this segment.
Our time frame is early September.
Kathy
Rapid City to East Glacier by Car
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LOL... well, my most prominent thought is that I have NEVER found anywhere a place more barren and remote than the area of I-90 just west of the South Dakota state line (except for dozens/hundreds of billboards assuring complete thrills upon reaching Rapid City).
It would make the most sense to include Yellowstone Park on your itinerary. That should be your very first priority between the two locations. Then, there are some fairly scenic paths in the Helena/Missoula/Butte/Bozeman region of Montana, so perhaps you should be studious when choosing a path or two through that area.
Perhaps, beginning at West Yellowstone, Montana... make your way to Bozeman, and then Livingston, and then Hwy #89 to Great Falls on the way to East Glacier.
Then, upon exit at West Glacier, maybe south on Hwy #83... east on Hwy #200... south on Hwy #279 to Helena... then back through Butte...
I've been to many of the towns/cities in that area and the larger ones each have reasonable enough appeal to allow that you just plan to stay where it is most convenient.
I agree with the Yellowstone idea. Be sure to take time for the Grand Tetons as well.
If you choose not to go to Yellowstone, you might enjoy Cody, driving the Beartooth Highway, Little Bighorn Battlefield, Bozeman (we enjoy their downtown).
We've been all over Montana and I would suggest not scheduling so many days in between Rapid City and Glacier unless you spend them in Yellowstone.
Now, after you leave Glacier, if you want to spend time on the western side of Montana, I would give it a few days. There's just not much to see in the central or eastern side of Montana, IMO.