First Timers Missoula, Glacier, or Other
 

I need some help.

Our info first...

Some of my family will be driving from Lewiston, ID to Montana next week (May 12) for 2 days. It will be myself (29), my mom and aunt (in their late 40’s), my grandma (I have no clue…60’s?), my twins boys (3), and my nephew (8).

My grandmother wants to see Glacier NP, but I don't know if there is still too much snow to allow enough of the park to be open for us to make this trip.

My grandmother isn't able to get out and hike or walk long distances, so it would basically be sight seeing from a car. And I don’t know what the kids would do. I’d love to see the scenery but somehow I don’t see 3 year olds and 8 year old excited about it.

We were thinking of going to Missoula and taking Hwy 12. Is that a good route? Is there a better route? It says it takes about 4 and half hours on mapquest. Is that right? We aren't snow drivers (we don't get snow where I live) so we are a little worried about that.

Is there a website that has travel cams for Montana?

Do you have better suggestions on where to go in Montana if Glacier isn’t feasible?

Even though my grandma is disabled, she's still an outdoors type of person, so she wouldn’t enjoy a big city. We were thinking of even finding a place she could fish, but know nothing of the area.

This will be the first time in Montana for all of us, so I know to have the best part of Montana that I can get in two days.

Any and all suggestions would help a lot.

Thanks

I think the main road across Glacier Park (Going to the Sun Highway) will still be closed by snow, but you can go part way to view the scenery. I think the drive is too long for a two day trip.

Highway 12 is a beautiful route to Missoula, and there is a sort of Lewis and Clark center on the ID-MT line where the kids can run around for a while and the adults can use the toilets!

Out of Missoula, you can make a really nice loop north by taking 83 (east of Missoula) northbound to Kalispell, Whitefish, or even West Glacier. Then you can come south along Flathead Lake on 93. There is more traffic on 93, but there are really interesting views and some historic sites as well.

I don't know what will be open in West Glacier. If you don't go that far, you can stay in Whitefish, a really nice town with a lot of lodging choices and plenty of places to eat in all price ranges. The Eastbound Empire Builder stops at the railroad station every morning, which may be a treat for your kids. There is also a big, energy absorbing park right across from the station.

There are webcams in Glacier which you can find by Googling.

Have fun!

And in between the demands of your twins :) check out http://www.visitmt.com/

Have a great trip!

As of today, most of the roads in Glacier are still closed. Only 17 miles of the Sun Road are open.
On the west side, you can drive only as far as Lake McDonald Lodge.
On the east side, perhaps as far as Rising Fawn lodge.

The other roads are shown on the latest map I could find as being still closed.

I doubt if the much of the road will be open by May 12, which is only 6 days from now. A few additional miles may open, but I have not seen a projected date for opening the whole road. I would not expect full opening until late May at the earliest. Usually the date is in June.

The lastest information I have seen says that the road to Many Glacier is now open. That is a good viewing area. I do not know what facilities will be open at that time.

Looking at the mountains that will be covered with snow from that location should be rewarding because they will be snow covered. Also there are lakes near the road.

The snow plows still have a way to go before the Sun Road is open.

Montana travel webcams:
http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/weather/rwis.shtml

Thanks all.

Do you think it's better to stay in West Glacier (is it a town?), Whitefish, or somewhere else?

On where to stay poses a good question. I have never found a satisfactory place near the west entrance to Glacier.

I am sure some of the lodges must be fine, but the motel situation in years past has been less than the best.

We did find a good place in Big Fork, but it is a few miles toward Kalispell.

Whitefish is interesting, but it has grown quite a bit in the lat 5 years and motel prices have escalated accordingly.

The place in Big Fork is the Timbers. I have not been there in about 5 years, so I don't if it has changed or not.

The old town part of Big Fork is interesting with some quaint shops.

The roads are fine over Hwy 12. It's long and windy and slow. But it's beautiful! It'll take you just over 4 hours to get from Lewiston to Missoula. My sister lives in Lewiston, by the way, and I have lots of family in the Grangeville/Cottonwood area. :)

The best rest stops along Hwy 12 are the Wilderness Gateway and The Cedars campgrounds. The rest stop at the top of Lolo pass is new and nice, too.

Have a good trip.