Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Trip Out West

Good gawd....what are you stopping in Missoula for?


Butte I can kinda see.....maybe.

The Butte Hole of Montana? Nothing to seek there but delicious pasties. (The food kind, not the strip joint kind. But they have both in Butte.)

I agree about Missoula, though. Nice city to drive past.

Glacier, and the entire area is great, Wish I had float fished the Flathead, May go back just to do that. Could spend several days right there around GNP

Yellowstone was very enjoyable, Some might spend one day there, We could spend a week there, Go early in the season and rise early, you can beat the crowds,

Numerous Parks right in Utah, Moab, Zion etc…….You could spend several days just in Utah alone, We spent a week there in 3 different locations, in just the southern half Utah.

Drive time can be lengthy between destinations.

You could spend weeks even months trying to see all that interests you, You have about 10 days? It will go quicker than you think.

Enjoy your trip

Although the security at SLC airport isn't what they claimed to be

Some dude went past security barriers

Climbed into a jet engine on the tarmac....

Pilot started engines...dude ded right now

This

he ded now

I’d gladly trade a blue ribbon yellow perch and rock bass trip for one of your salmon trips!

Many thanks for all the comments and suggestions. We are in SC so the point about hiking at altitude is noted and very helpful. The highest altitude I have been at for longer than a connecting flight is Breckenridge which is around 9600 and that was a challenge to walk the streets. We have 10 days, including travel days, so one concern is biting off more travel than we can chew during that time. We will also have our kids who are 15, 13 and 10 so we need to be sensitive to drive times between locations. Given time constraints we have decided to focus on areas in SLC, north to Bozeman and West to Cody. I don't think we will have time to make it to Glacier given how far out of the way it is relative to the other locations we will be seeing. Likewise, I would like to see Arches National park in Utah but it is somewhat out of the way and would require a full day it appears.
The Browning museum as well as the Cody Museum will be mandatory. The Teton's, SLC, Yellowstone, Beartooth and a stop in Montana will also be on the list as well. I would love to see Deadwood, Black Hills, Devils tower etc but I think it would be too far out of the way for us to cover in the time we have.

Any suggestions on places to stay or additional advice on routes are appreciated.

With kids that age, I'd book hotels now in at most 3 locations then ask for things to do near there. Just doing SLC, Teton NP, and Yellowstone, I'd estimate 1/2 of that 10 days is gonna be spent in the car...

When in around SLC, might want to consider looking into some of the summer activities that the ski resorts offer. Something like the Alpine slide would be of interest to the kids.
https://www.snowbird.com/summer-activities/

I always liked Butte. Was once one of the richest cities in the world because the mine. I love the street after street of Victorian homes. Very cool architecture. I liked the mine museum and the Clark mansion. Clark was one of the richest men in the world. Became a US Senator. Founded Clarkdale, Arizona and Clark County, Nevada. He was the Jeff Bazos of the period.

Whatever you do, treat your family to a huckleberry shake available in Montana. You’re welcome!

I have been exploring Montana for over 70 years and haven’t seen it all yet. The vastness is off the charts. Because of its diversity and immensity, Montana includes everything from arid high plains to the Rocky Mountains in the west. Lewis and Clark spent more time in what would become Montana on the Corps Of Discovery than any other state.

From the headwaters of the Missouri River, (which is longer than the Mississippi River) to Fort Peck and all its tributaries, you could see how commerce was built on rivers during the frontier times. The History is huge and sights outside of the historical places make for a destination that you could spend weeks exploring.


Whatever you do, don’t bypass the Custer Battlefield. It is one of the most significant battles in American history. They are tearing down the old visitors center to rebuild it before the upcoming 150th anniversary in 2026. The battlefield itself is something you won’t experience anywhere else. Markers show where every trooper was found after the battle. There is something special about the battlefield you won’t be able to deny. Don’t miss it!

I understand the desire to fly and eliminate travel time.
But it's a damn shame.

Everyone should take a road trip across (at least most) of our country at least once.

Including me.

Other than coast to coast trucking and hunting trips, all balls to the walls.
One big regret was the weeks long trip with the kids we could never get time for,
or afford. Seems like life has given us money, or free time. Never together.

They closed down the Paul Bunyan sandwich shop. Not over it yet.



I was born there....but see no need to return.

Seems like a very, very ambitious itinerary, especially with 3 kids of that age.

The firearms museum in Cody, at a rushed pace, is a half day alone,

JMHO……….Regardless, Hope you all enjoy your trip…

this museum is fantastic and will be a memory for life , there is so much to see at that museum its almost a 2 day thing to do . enjoy your trip ,Pete53

I agree that Custer Battlefield is incredible. I spent 10 hours there last July. Unforgettable.

And I agree with you Shrapnel, Montana is an amazing State. If I were ever to leave Arizona, that is where I would head. Or maybe Idaho. I have a fondness for both of those States as those are where my heredity and family are from, so naturally, I am biased.

Yellowstone is pretty good, but the crowds of ASIANS make it WAY less enjoyable. There, FIFY.

If you pass through Dubois, Wyoming this place is well worth the time. I passed through intentionally and told the Wife I was spending the entire day there and She could shop or whatever.

National Museum of Military Vehicles

https://www.nmmv.org/

You can make a 10-day trip either north or south out of SLC, but not both. I cannot emphasize enough how big the West is. I can show you a place where the road sign says "Next Exit 75 Miles. No Services." And the next gas is many miles beyond that. I can also show you a road sign that says "Litter Pickup Next 25 miles by Bob and Linda." Because there are so few people living around there that you just know who Bob and Linda are. And yes, they patrol 25 miles of highway for litter.

When time gets closer, PM me about the Browning and/or Hill AFB museums.

Dubois is a neat area.

Depending on the kids interests, you might consider atv in the sand dunes at St Anthonies. Which would then bring you into West Yellowstone. Watch the bears “test” the bear proof containers at the discovery center.
And then cut through the park to Cody for the museum or to the museum in Bozo. Maybe a whitewater rafting trip Bozeman or Livingston.
Back down through Grand Tetons.