Seattle to Gardiner by car.
 

Hi all,
We are planning to drive to Gardiner Montana from Seattle Washington, leaving in the afternoon of 20th August and have until noon, 24th August to reach our Ranch stay in Gardiner. So basically 4 nights and 4 days total.
What we're looking for is something special to see, that we won't see along the way, or at the Ranch or Yellowstone later in the trip. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks Ian.

Where are you going after Yellowstone? Coming back to Seattle or continuing to someplace further? It would help knowing so we don't propose someplace you're already planning to see. How many in your group? Kids? By using "20th August" can I speculate that you're not from the US or Canada?

As Gardyloo said, it will help to know a bit more about your plans to properly advise. But, assuming you are driving on I-90, most people I know making the trek from Seattle to MT like to get across eastern WA as quickly as possible (about 5hrs) and make the first stop around Coeur D'Alene, ID which is a very pretty lake/developed resort area with lots of activities (boating/water sports, golf, water parks, etc). Definitely different from a Gardiner ranch stay or being in Yellowstone so depends what you are looking for. After Coeur D'Alene, there are many beautiful places to stop/explore on your way to Gardiner depending on your interests.

Well, who knows whether you've ever seen anything at all out this way before, but <b>if</b> you haven't, and <b>since</b> the optimum path from point A to point B parallels this <b><i>theme</i></b>, why don't you read up at <b>glaciallakemissoula.org</b> and familiarize yourself with the ancient ice age <u>floods</u> which carved so much of the landscape along your path.


From the middle of Washington, you could detour a bit to the north and see <b>Grand Coulee</b>... and <I>Dry Falls</i> before perhaps following a more northern path (than is Interstate 90) into Missoula for further <I>evidence</i> of the path of the vast flooding caused by <b>Glacial Lake Missoula</b>.

Then, when you pause in Missoula itself... after contemplating that the whole area used to be under water every ice age... you can look up at the canyon walls and see odd <i>lines</i> showing the different water levels during various ice ages in the distant past.


On the end of the trip, you might do well to take the detour and pass through <b>Helena, Montana</b> and then down to Gardiner.


Aaaaaaaaaaaaand, a great <b>beginning</b> to a trip with that theme would be to start from Seattle, first driving <b>south to Portland</b>... and THEN through the <U>Columbia Gorge</u>, which was <i>carved <b>by the ice age floods</b></i>.


While my idea looks rather <b><u>crazy</u></b> on a map, it involves 23-ish hours of driving, and there are a couple of parts you could cut-out to expedite the path should you wish to do so.

My first plan would involve your plotting the following spots on a map/trip plan:


Seattle
Portland
Richland
Ephrata, WA
Coulee Dam, WA
Ponderay, ID
Thompson Falls, MT
Missoula, MT
Helena, MT
Gardiner


Much of those first 8 spots would be very closely tied to better understanding the effects of the ice age floods resulting from "Glacial Lake Missoula". Lots of natural scenery involved there...

And for man-made stuff, you could stop at <b>Stonehenge</b> in Maryhill, Washington along your path.

Also, <I>Dry Falls</i> and Coulee Dam are good places to stop as well.

When wishing <b>to speed-up the trip</b>... go from Coulee Dam right to Missoula via Spokane and Interstate 90.



That changes the trip from 22 1/4 hours and 1200 miles to

20.5 hours and 1134 miles (might as well go the long way??? - to better cover the flood path from so long ago)


Cutting out Helena only saves a whopping 9 miles, and 45 minutes... so again, you might as well go via Helena.


<b><u>So lets chart this by your days/nights</u></b>...


Arrive Seattle mid-day August 20


Drive that night to Portland, which is hopefully 2 1/2 hours from the Seattle airport (except during rush hours on either end, when it can be an eternity)


Night one near Portland

Day 2 you set out going east along the Columbia Gorge, covering at least the path to Richland, WA

(that's 3 1/2 hours / 220 miles, with LOTS of stops along the way)


Night two in/near Richland, WA



Day 3 you go from Richland, WA... via Mattawa, George, Ephrata, Coulee City (visit "Dry Falls" nearby), and then toward Coulee Dam

That's 163 miles / 3 hours 20 minutes,


Then, because you do need to keep moving, drive from Coulee Dam to Spokane, for night #3. (90-ish miles / 2 hours)



On day #4, you get up and drive the 3 hours from Spokane to Missoula, where you spend mid-day looking around and having lunch, before driving on via Helena, MT and Townsend, MT toward maybe Bozeman, for the 4th night.


(Missoula to Helena to Townsend to Bozeman entails 4 hours and 213 miles of driving)


From Bozeman to Gardiner, MT it is about 90 minutes / 80 miles (on the morning of August 24)



Those ideas will be quite suitable IF you are at all captivated by the effects of the ice age flooding and their impact on the local landscape.

NorthwestMale's itinerary reminds me of this:

http://www.dolack.com/products/retur...soula-unsigned

It's a great itinerary!

Hi Gardyloo, we drive to Gardiner, stay on a Ranch for 4 nights then drive on down to Lake Lodge in Yellowstone for a few days, then on down to Grand Teton where we stay again, then Jackson where we fly out for Buffalo. Only looking for something to see along the way from Seattle to Gardiner. We are two middle age adults, reasonably fit. haha. We are Australian made. Hence..... 20th August. OR..20/8/16
where as you guys say...8/20/16 I think.

NorCal-Jo, yes we will be heading east along Highway 90- Spokane - Missoula - Bozeman - Livingston - Gardiner. So your first stop at Couer d Alene sounds nice.

NorthwestMale, We will have driven up through Portland from San Francisco so won't back track, but will definately be looking around Missoula. It sounds very interesting, thanks.

Anything else you guys can think of ? We like sports and would be happy to watch a local team play (anything) also Motor racing, (Dirt and Bitumen), Cars and Bikes. I'm a shooter and enjoy most aspects of the Sport, including Hunting. Fishing etc. My wife enjoys a good long walk. Me a short walk. Time permitting.

Thanks again...........Cheers Ian.