WEST YELLOWSTONE TO GLACIER NP?
 

As it is such a quite a drive from Madison, Yellowstone up to the Lake Mcdonald area of Glacier NP are there any stop offs that people would recommend to break up the journey?

We only have one night in Glacier (I know, not long enough!) would people recommend biting the bullet and doing the drive in one go in able to spend 2 nights in Glacier, or having one night on the way, and one night there?


Helena looks to be about a half way point but there doesn't look like there is alot to do there.

Try to spend the last night in Yellowstone at Mammoth or in Gardiner, MT. It is 403 miles from Gardiner to Columbia Falls, MT (7.0 hr)Spend a night at the Meadow Lake resort in Columbia Falls before going to Lake McDonald. Depending on what month you are going, go over the Going to the Sun Road to come out via Logan Pass to St. Mary.
What is your destination after Glacier and what month?

tomfuller: Are you sure you don't own Meadow Lake?

DW and I spent our 30th wedding anniversary at Meadow Lake in a condo with a hot tub. We loved it. The lodge at Lake McDonald was closed at the time. The west gate to the GTTS road is next to the parking lot of the lodge.
I did take a picture along the lake shore at the spot where Ansel Adams took a famous photo.
Coming back to West Glacier we did see some elk.

The center of Helena is a nice late 19th cent. town. You could stop by the Garnet ghost town to stretch your legs.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...117942088/show

Helena or Missoula are both good stops.

I don't get the Meadow Lake Resort love. It's fine, but I prefer staying in Bigfork or Whitefish to Columbia Falls.

We aren't sure where we are staying in Glacier yet, but we know it will definitely be a camp site, so open to suggestions. I love the look of Lake Mcdonald.

We are heading to Seattle after (doing that drive in one go.) But hoping to go via Flathead Lake.

We are on a budget so don't plan on staying at any lodges or resorts, just campsites and motels.
I do like the look of the ghost town, , anywhere outdoorsy or abit different

We will be there right at the start of June, so I know the weather may affect potential plans

Do you have a rental car and where are you renting it?
If it's a one way to Seattle, you might want to turn it in in Whitefish and take the Empire Builder to Seattle.
The GTTS road probably will not be open up from Lake McDonald the first week of June unless the snow clearing goes faster than expected.
Check the Park Service website for current road conditions.

yeah we do, returning it in San Fran.
Rapid City-Badlands-Deadwood-Bighorn-Yellowstone-Glacier-Seattle-Portland-another oregon stop somewhere-Redwoods-Lake Tahoe -Yosemite-San Fran!

If your goal is to see some of Glacier then get yourself to the east side a quickly as possible and spend as much time as you can there.

The scenery and wildlife are on the east side. Logan Pass for Hidden Lake Overlook and some mountain goats and the Many Glacier area for Iceberg Lake and wildlife (Fishercap Lake and roadside grizzlies possible).

You can stay on the west side if you want to tell people you've been to Glacier.