Inspiring travel stories, tips, and guides from a couple exploring the world one destination at a time.
The Grand Loop Road is a 140-mile system that was built in 1915 to connect all the major features of Yellowstone National Park. To try and drive it in one day can take 4-7 hours depending on the wildlife on the road and traffic. From Fishing Bridge, it was about a 1.5 hour drive to West Yellowstone. We were last here in the fall of 2020.
Last Updated: July 17, 2026
West Yellowstone in the fall is typically less crowded than summer and a wonderful time to see fall foliage and Yellowstone’s many attractions. The risk is cold weather and snow — and we had both on this trip. Because of COVID, international travel was largely off the table in 2020, so many people were exploring domestically instead, and there were more visitors than usual for the season. The animals were getting ready for winter, putting on their coats and building up reserves, and the elk rut was in full and dramatic swing along the Madison River.
Last Updated: June 22, 2026
Montana is one of the largest and least populated states in America — and one of our absolute favorites. On this leg of our Pacific Northwest loop, we pushed east from Walla Walla, Washington through northern Idaho before crossing into Big Sky Country. We would have loved to revisit Glacier and Yellowstone, but with New England fall foliage and a Florida winter on the horizon, we had to keep moving. What we did find along the way — a hidden ghost town, a cave carved by ancient seas, and a sandstone pillar signed by Lewis and Clark — more than made up for it.
Last Updated: May 2026
We thoroughly enjoyed exploring British Columbia and Alberta over the past two months. Back in the USA at West Glacier, Montana — the border crossing was quick, easy, and uneventful. The storage locker we rented in the US worked out well despite the stories other RVers had warned us about regarding theft; we chose one that was gated, fenced, and under 24-hour surveillance. After watching a couple of seasons of NatGeo border crossing documentaries, we left our firearms, ammunition, exceptional bottles of single malt whisky, and medications beyond the six-week supply limit in the USA rather than chance any complications at the crossing.
Last Updated: May 2026
From Missoula, Montana we headed north to Glacier National Park. The rugged, snow-capped mountains straddling the Continental Divide were breathtaking. The drive from Missoula was scenic throughout, especially along the western shore of Flathead Lake. We stocked up in Kalispell — it has a Costco — though we had to be strategic, as fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy, poultry, and alcohol are restricted when crossing into Canada.
Last Updated: May 2026
From Gardiner, Montana at the north entrance of Yellowstone we made our way toward Glacier National Park. Along the way, we stopped in Livingston, Bozeman, and Missoula — and were treated to one of the most vivid double rainbows over the Yellowstone River we have ever seen.
