Downtown Missoula | Credit Glacier Country

STOPS:

• 1Ruby's Cafe
• 2Missoula County Courthouse
• 3Garlington Building
• 4Downtown Missoula
• 5Clark Fork Riverfront Trail

Begin your journey in Missoula, Montana’s vibrant university town and cultural hub of Western Montana, located between five mountain ranges and at the convergence of three rivers. With its casual, creative dining scene, thriving craft coffee and beer scene, and lively downtown, Missoula offers the perfect first impression of Big Sky Country. Walk along the Clark Fork Riverfront Trail, watch surfers at Brennan’s Wave, explore Caras Park, then enjoy the live music scene or grab huckleberry ice cream from Sweet Peaks or Big Dipper. Begin your "Yellowstone" experience with a stop at Ruby’s Café, the Missoula County Courthouse and the nearby Garlington Building, which doubled as Jamie’s AG office and Market Equities HQ.

Overnight: Downtown Missoula

Daly Mansion | Credit Glacier Country

STOPS:

• 6Glen's Cafe
• 7Daly Mansion + Hamilton
• 8"Yellowstone Ranch" + Darby
• 9Train station

Today is all about stepping into the “Yellowstone” universe with a self-drive tour through the Bitterroot Valley, where many of the show’s most iconic scenes were filmed. South of Missoula, this stretch of U.S. Highway 93 leads to the real-life Yellowstone Ranch in Darby, known offscreen as Chief Joseph Ranch. While the property is private, the ranch sign and iconic barns are visible from the road, making an optimal photo opportunity, but be mindful of traffic. While in town, catch the Darby Rodeo, featuring several events throughout the year. Further south, near Sula, is the infamous “Train Station,” a remote pullout that fans will recognize. Stop in Hamilton to see the Daly Mansion, which portrays the governor’s home, and grab lunch downtown before continuing north. In Florence, Glen’s Café served as the site of John Dutton’s memorable Salisbury steak meal with Jamie’s father, Garrett.

Overnight: Second night in Missoula

Wild Horse Island | Credit Noah Couser

STOPS:

• 10St. Ignatius
• 11Wild Horse Island
• 12Western Outdoor
• 13Conrad Mansion
• 14Downtown Whitefish

Leaving Missoula, head north on US-93, a beautiful route through the Flathead Indian Reservation. Stop in St. Ignatius to visit the hand-painted frescoes created by Brother Joseph Carignano, a self-taught cook and artist at the St. Ignatius Mission, built in the 1890s by Jesuit missionaries and the Salish people. Continue along the shores of Flathead Lake—the largest natural freshwater lake in the western U.S. Consider a guided powerboat tour out to Wild Horse Island, a protected state park in the lake, only accessible by boat. You can see wild horses, bighorn sheep and rare birds. If a classic cruise ship is more your style, a 90-minute scenic tour with narration leaves summer-daily from Lakeside. In Kalispell, explore downtown shops and stop into Western Outdoor, known for its selection of over 5,000 cowboy boots, then swing by the Conrad Mansion Museum for a glimpse into Montana’s Gilded Age. Arrive in Whitefish at the base of Whitefish Mountain Resort. Enjoy dinner at a local favorite, including Tupelo Grille, Latitude 48 or the upscale Herb & Omni.

Overnight: Whitefish. Make this your hub for the next three nights while exploring Glacier National Park.

Going-to-the-Sun Road | Credit Andy Austin

STOPS:

• 15Red Bus Tour or Sun Tour from West Glacier
• 16Lake McDonald Lodge
• 17Glacier Park Boat Co. Scenic Cruise

Today begins your adventures in Glacier National Park. Make a reservation on an iconic Red Bus Tour—a canvas-top 1930s-era red bus with a “jammer” driver as your tour guide, sharing facts about the Going-to-the-Sun Road, wildlife and alpine ecology, or book a Sun Tour—told from the Indigenous Blackfeet perspective. Led by a member of the Blackfeet Nation, this experience blends park highlights with Indigenous knowledge. At the end of your tour or after lunch at Lake McDonald Lodge, opt for a scenic boat cruise with Glacier Park Boat Co. on Lake McDonald. Embark on the park’s largest lake in a historic wooden vessel while guides share park lore and geology. Return to Whitefish for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Note: Glacier National Park is open year-round, but the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road is open to cars mid-June through mid-October.)

Flathead River | Credit Glacier Country

STOPS:

• 18Avalanche Lake Trailhead
• 19Hiking from Logan Pass
• 20West Glacier Adventure: Rafting, Fly-Fishing or Trail Ride

Today is your chance to explore Glacier National Park on foot. Start with a hike to Avalanche Lake, an easy-to-moderate out-and-back 4-mile trail. Drive to Logan Pass and hike to Hidden Lake Overlook or an out-and-back on the Highline Trail. Pick your afternoon adventure, including a half-day whitewater adventure out of West Glacier. Take a guided fly-fishing lesson on Glacier’s pristine rivers—gear and instruction provided. Saddle up for a western-style trail ride. Guided rides near Apgar and Lake McDonald offer outings suitable for all skill levels. Return to Whitefish for a well-earned dinner and relaxing evening. Take a sunset stroll near Whitefish Lake or downtown.

Triple Creek Ranch | Credit Triple Creek Ranch

STOPS:

• 21Whitefish Mountain Resort or Downtown Whitefish
• 22Guest Ranch

Choose from a fun-filled morning at Whitefish Mountain Resort, riding a chairlift up Big Mountain or taking a zip-line tour through the trees. Alternatively, spend the morning strolling downtown Whitefish, browsing art galleries, shopping at Montana-made boutiques and sampling from cafes. In the afternoon, take a scenic drive past farmland, mountain ranges and wide-open valleys highlighting Western Montana’s cinematic landscapes before arriving at your guest ranch. Options range from luxury to rustic. Consider a Relais & Chateaux property where gourmet food and wine pairings are as important as the saddle and stirrups, or a luxury glamping camp with a dedicated camp butler. For a true western experience, choose a classic dude ranch where you can immerse yourself in ranch life with outdoor activities, a welcoming atmosphere and a sense of community among fellow guests.

Campfire Circle | Credit Glacier Country

STOPS:

• 23Option 1: Bar W Guest Ranch
• 24Option 2: Lonesome Dove Guest Ranch
• 25Option 3: Flathead Lake Lodge
• 26Option 4: Rich Ranch
• 27Option 5: RiverView Ranch
• 28Option 6: Alpine Falls Ranch
• 29Option 7: Paws Up Montana
• 30Option 8: Triple Creek Ranch

For the next three days, live like a Dutton. From rustic charm to luxury comfort, these ranches have something for everyone and deliver sweeping views and western flair. Fill your days with horseback rides, roping lessons, cattle drives, ATV tours, archery, fly-fishing and evenings by the campfire. All stays include locally sourced farm-to-fork meals. Choose from rustic dude ranches like Lonesome Dove Guest Ranch in Kalispell or Rich Ranch in Seeley Lake to luxury guest ranch stays, including Paws Up Montana in Greenough and Triple Creek Ranch in Darby. Weeklong family programs are also available at Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork and Bar W Guest Ranch in Whitefish.

Missoula Montana Airport | Credit Andy Austin

STOPS:

• 31Glacier Park International Airport or Missoula Montana Airport

Fly out of Missoula, Montana, or Glacier International Airport in Kalispell, Montana, or continue to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, or the Washington or Idaho Wine Counties.