June Trip

[geenamercile]

So once again I am planning a summer road trip.  I had a blast on my one last year.  Unlike last year where the focus was visiting a friend for a week in the middle, this one is about seeing areas I haven't.  The Middle and farthest part will be Glacier National park.  So there and back.  Starting point is VA.  For places that are near enough for a weekend trip, I am not stopping in.  So mostly looking at Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana.  These are the places I currently have on my list, but certainly looking for advice if they are worth the stop, or if there is somewhere else I should stop instead.  I have a national park pass, so will be able to get into National parks for free.  I also plan on doing a combination of camping and hotels.  

June 3rd-June 21

Chicago
Milwaukee Art Museum- (20$) (10am-5pm)
Olbrich Botanical Gardens- Free (10am-6pm)
Minnehaha Falls (free) (6am-10pm)
Great Lakes Aquarium ($16) (10am-6pm)
Split Rock Lighthouse Rd($12) (10am-6pm)
Bonanzaville USA ($12) (10am-7pm weekdays, 10am-5pm weekends)
White Horse Hill National Game Preserve (free) (8am to sunset)
Turtle Mountain Heritage center-(8am-4:30)
Scandinavian Heritage Park-($?) (9am-4pm)
Fort Union Trading Post/Fort Buford State Historic Site (Free)(9am-5pm)
Glacier National Park-8.5hr-(Pass) (All day)
Garden of One Thousand Buddhas-(free)(9am-7pm)
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center- ($15)(9am-4pm)
YellowStone National Park (pass)
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument-(pass)
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, South Unit-4hr (Pass)
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park- ($35)(9am-5pm)

 

[stillmovingforward]

When you do Glacier, make sure you do 'Going to the Sun' road. Both ways if you can because the road scenery is totally different for some reason. The restaurant in the lodge at the east end used to be AMAZING. If you really want to take some time, go up the west side of Glacier to Kintla lake. We saw wolves, foxes, elk, bear, etc. on our way up there. Its pretty remote for only a day drive. WELL WORTH IT.

[stillmovingforward]

Oh, and be ready for snow in June in the Glacier area. Or at least cold weather. It can change in that region in an instant. So be prepared.

[geenamercile]

I would love snow in June, I love snow....  But I honestly I wouldn't have thought to pack for it so thanks.  I do plan on spending between 2-3 days at Glacier.  

[mathsplosion]

I'm sure you've thought of this, but just in case...



Check the vehicle reservations for Glacier National Park. The park started limiting vehicles last year during peak visitation times. If you're planning on Going-to-the-Sun Road or the North Fork section of the park, you'll probably need a ticket. The Many Glacier section of the park doesn't have this requirement (as far as I know). You still might not be able to find a place to park in the main attraction parking lots.  Ticket reservations are supposed to be opening on March 2.  Last year, we didn't have to have a ticket if we entered the park before 6 a.m. or after 4 p.m.  Still very busy. 

Also, Going-to-the-Sun Road doesn't always get cleared as quickly as expected.  I think the plan is usually around the middle of June, but it may be later if we get late spring storms this year.  

We love Glacier NP!  Everything is beautiful and fun to explore.  It will probably still be pretty chilly in June.  My favorite part is around Kintla lake.  Super peaceful.  

[geenamercile]

One of the reasons I am planning now is to reserve camping places at the places I want to camp.  But I didn't know about the reservation doing the Going-to-the-sun road.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

If you are going to Yellowstone, I would swing down to grand Tetons. We went to both and the grand Tetons was Prettier and seemed less crowded. Highly recommend it!

When we went to glacier, we went in a rafting trip (right outside the west entrance). It was awesome! The water was really cold to swim in though 😀

I recommend the boundary waters up in Minnesota, if u can. It is beautiful.

Also, remember that u will have more daylight than usual so u may not feel as rushed to get through things. When I drove to the Duluth area, I was in a hurry thinking I needed to setup camp early. It was light really late so had extra time

[geenamercile]

I went to the Grand Tetons last summer.  I loved Wyoming.  It was beautiful, and is seriously the top of my on list as a place to retire too now.  I went through the south part on the way to my friends, and the north part of Wyoming on the way home, both was so different and just amazing.  

[irishpad]

I see you are going from Duluth area to Fargo.   On that path between is Itasca State Park (about 90 miles east and a little north of Fargo)   It is the headwaters of the Mississippi, good camping area (but do need to get reservations).  Also Bemidji with Paul & Babe statues could be a quick stop, just 35 miles before you would get to Itasca.  (I'm from this area, grew up 40 miles from Lake Itasca)    Trivia:  the name Itasca comes from two Latin words, the front and end of the words got cut off on early maps.   Latin words for True Head (of the Mississippi)  verITAS CAput   

[giramomma]

I'll PM you.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Feb 26, 2022 20:03:08 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

When you do Glacier, make sure you do 'Going to the Sun' road. Both ways if you can because the road scenery is totally different for some reason. The restaurant in the lodge at the east end used to be AMAZING. If you really want to take some time, go up the west side of Glacier to Kintla lake. We saw wolves, foxes, elk, bear, etc. on our way up there. Its pretty remote for only a day drive. WELL WORTH IT.

LOL!  The Going to the Sun road was closed last year when we wen5 to Calgary due to avalanches….in Oct.  We had gotten through now, I was just pissed we had to backtrack >100 miles to find a different route north.

[Tennesseer]

geenamercile -if you're going to Yellowstone National Park, travel a little further down the road to Grand Tetons National Park.  My favorite of all national parks.  The scenery is beautiful.   

[stillmovingforward]

Feb 27, 2022 10:01:35 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Feb 26, 2022 20:03:08 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

When you do Glacier, make sure you do 'Going to the Sun' road. Both ways if you can because the road scenery is totally different for some reason. The restaurant in the lodge at the east end used to be AMAZING. If you really want to take some time, go up the west side of Glacier to Kintla lake. We saw wolves, foxes, elk, bear, etc. on our way up there. Its pretty remote for only a day drive. WELL WORTH IT.

LOL!  The Going to the Sun road was closed last year when we wen5 to Calgary due to avalanches….in Oct.  We had gotten through now, I was just pissed we had to backtrack >100 miles to find a different route north.

Yes, its typically only open for the summer. By October, its definitely closed! June can be a crap shot for being open. Having cold weather gear when you go is a must. 

[debthaven]

We went to Glacier and Yellowstone in July 2019. Absolutely LOVED them both!!! We didn't realize how close Grand Teton was to Yellowstone, I deeply regret not having gone there as well. I didn't do my homework well. 

We don't camp, we stay in moderately-priced hotels close to the parks. 

We stayed in Gardiner for Yellowstone, a mile from the North Entrance, because we went with a friend who is very familiar with the western national parks. The North Entrance is MUCH less frequented than the other(s). We spent 3 or 4 days at Yellowstone. At worst, we were third in line at the entrance.  

Of course if you're camping IN the park, feel free to ignore that. :-)

 

[plugginaway22]

Gardiner has a white water rafting place we used. Took about a 2 hour trip and had so much fun!

[debthaven]

We wanted to do that but our friend's knees were bad and we didn't want to leave him, because he flew from CA to be with us. 

I LOVE rafting!!! But last rafting trip (here in France) I fell out, and the guide fished me out so hard he broke several of my ribs pulling me back in. I love it but I'm scared to do it again. 

[geenamercile]

Feb 27, 2022 13:33:54 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

geenamercile -if you're going to Yellowstone National Park, travel a little further down the road to Grand Tetons National Park.  My favorite of all national parks.  The scenery is beautiful.   

I had to make this choice last year, I did choose the Grand Tetons and did not regret it.  I want to go back during the winter at some point and see them again.  I loved that they had pull overs for snowmobiles, another thing on the bucket list.

[irishpad]

Oh, just noticed that you will also be in northern North Dakota (Turtle "Mountains")   On the Eastern edge of the Turtle Mountains is the International Peace Gardens.  (Canada/US border)   I've never been there but have heard it is beautiful and a good experience. 

[tcu2003]

We went to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in 2020 and loved it. We only had a few hours and I wish we’d stayed longer.

We’re going to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons in Late July/early August this year, so no recommendations there.