May or Sept. better for Glacier NP and Beartooth areas?
 

My DH and I are starting to plan a very long road trip to see some things we haven't b4. We are a retired couple and will either drive from SW FL in May up to the Glacier NP/WY area, maybe Banff, and then home to MA or do it in reverse in Sept. Either would be in 2007 but want to at least start gathering info soon. We aren't into hiking, just sightseeing and am wondering if one month is better than the other in terms of road conditions, crowds, etc. in those mts. We have no time constraints. I'm sure I'll have many more questions b4 I'm done planning. Thanks to all. Couldn't plan a trip without you Fodorites.

isy

May might be a bit early for everything to be open, including some roads and visitor centers. Some commercial tours don't even start until June, so that should give you some idea as to the weather/road conditions. I'd go in September, if the only alternate choice is May. Late June or July is probably better than either of those times though.

We just got back from a lovely, lovely 2-week trip out there (May 22 - June 6), and I second the idea that too early in May would not be good. Weather (we had a SNOWSTORM Memorial Day weekend between West Yellowstone and Bozeman!) is iffy and some things are not yet open. (The BEartooth was NOT open, even then.)

However, when we were there, we got to see bear cubs, little bison, and other young animals that are not going to be there in the fall. Your choice.

Are you over 62? If so, ask about a Golden Age Pass when you enter YNP! Costs ONE of you $10 and is good for life for free admission to you AND spouse!

Enjoy.

Vermonter

The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in Montana....or something to that effect. We camped at GNP in July and I was underdressed and FROZE. We drove the Beartooth in July as well and people were still skiing at the top. My brother who used to live in Bozeman called it 10 months of winter and 2 months of company.....anyway, do your research. You have chosen such breathtaking places, but you don't want to get that far and not be able to see anything due to weather. I know the Going to the Sun road in GNP closes even in summewr sometimes. Check into National Park websites for weather stats and plan accordingly. I LOVE Montana...you will too!! Have fun!!

Ten months of winter and two months of company is an accurate assessment.

I would go in September. September is usually a beautiful month in Montana. May and June are often rainy, snowy, and cold.

We live in the Greater Orlando area and have made road trips to that part of the world many times. The weather in May or Sept can surprise you. Snow in the high country can linger or come early. It is not uncommon to see morning frost year around and night time lows in the 20's in Sept or May. May is normally the weter of the two months. The crowds are at their peak in July and Aug. If May and Sept are your target dates I would suggest the first three weeks of Sept. Not to cold yet, few people, roads open and most facilities are still in operation....

Thank you all so much. I hadn't checked my post for a while. I guess it will be Sept., 2007 for us, God willing, which means we will be starting off from MA and will eventually wind up in SW FL. The resaon why we want to go off season is to avoid the crowds and not have to make reservations way ahead. We will be on the rd at least 4 weeks, maybe more, and want to only have to make reservations a couple of days ahead, depending on where we find ourselves and where we decide to head. I know some areas will require reservations farther in advance. We will probably try to plan on being in the GNP area by the 2nd week in Sept. at the latest. Over the yrs, we have seen just about everything we want to between MA and MT so that part of the trip will probably be pretty much straight driving although maybe Mt. Rushmore is worth one more look. Was also hoping to avoid being on the rd either Mem Day or Labor Day weekends but maybe not. You all may get sick of me b4 I have my planning done. Now that I know it will be Sept instead of May, I won't have to get to it right away although I think the planning is almost as fun as the trip itself. Thank you, Vermonter. We bought a sr. NP pass a few yrs ago and have enjoyed it immensely. What a bargain.

isy