12 days in Montana Itinerary

The town of West Yellowstone has served as a gateway to Yellowstone National Park since the early 1900s.

Do some cultural sightseeing at Earthquake Lake and Yellowstone Historic Center. Step out of the city life by going to Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center and Ousel Falls Trail. You'll find plenty of places to visit near West Yellowstone: Big Sky (The Soldiers Chapel & Grizzly Outfitters Ski & Backcountry Sports) and Horseback Riding Tours (in Gardiner). There's more to do: take a memorable tour with Tours.

For maps, photos, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our West Yellowstone trip itinerary builder tool .

San Francisco to West Yellowstone is an approximately 7-hour combination of flight and shuttle. You can also drive. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 1 hour traveling from San Francisco to West Yellowstone. While traveling from San Francisco, expect little chillier days and colder nights in West Yellowstone, ranging from highs of 64°F to lows of 32°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 30th (Mon) early enough to travel to Dillon.

Dillon is a city in and the county seat of Beaverhead County, Montana, United States. Start off your visit on the 1st (Tue): take in the awesome beauty at Pioneer Mountain Wilderness Area, then explore and take pictures at Bannack State Park, and then get your bearings at Dillon Visitor Center. On the next day, see the interesting displays at Beaverhead County Museum and then hike along Lemhi Pass.

To see ratings, reviews, where to stay, and tourist information, read Dillon visit planner.

Traveling by car from West Yellowstone to Dillon takes 3 hours. Traveling from West Yellowstone in September, expect Dillon to be somewhat warmer, temps between 70°F and 42°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 2nd (Wed) to allow time to travel to Great Falls.

Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. Start off your visit on the 3rd (Thu): identify plant and animal life at First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park, then explore the world behind art at C.M. Russell Museum, then appreciate the extensive heritage of Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, and finally take in the architecture and atmosphere at St. Ann Cathedral. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 4th (Fri): stroll through River's Edge Trail, immerse yourself in nature at Giant Springs State Park, then pause for some serene contemplation at Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, and finally get engrossed in the history at Ursuline Centre.

To find photos, ratings, other places to visit, and tourist information, read Great Falls road trip planning site .

Drive from Dillon to Great Falls in 3.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 59°F in October, and nighttime lows around 35°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 4th (Fri) to allow time to drive to Glacier National Park.

The glaciers from which Glacier National Park takes its name mostly dissipated eons ago, but they left behind a scoured landscape of high and steep mountain peaks, sparkling lakes, lush alpine meadows, and thick forests.

Get in touch with nature at Iceberg Lake Trail and Virginia Falls. There's lots more to do: tour the pleasant surroundings at Grinnell Glacier, hike along Granite Park Trail, take a memorable drive along Going-to-the-Sun Road, and take in the dramatic scenery at Apikuni Falls.

For other places to visit, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Glacier National Park trip itinerary planner.

You can drive from Great Falls to Glacier National Park in 4.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of bus and car; or do a combination of bus and train. Expect a daytime high around 56°F in October, and nighttime lows around 31°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Tue) so you can travel back home.