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Best of the West

Click the (city) on the map for a detaliled daily itinerary.



  1. Boise, ID
  2. Coeur d'Alene, ID
  3. Missoula
  4. Kalispell/Whitefish
  5. Glacier National Park
  6. Helena
  7. West Yellowstone
  8. Yellowstone National Park
  9. Billings
  10. Thermopolis, WY
  11. Casper, WY


Day One

Start the tour in Boise, Idaho. After a tour of the city, head for McCall, Idaho, traveling along the Payette Scenic Route. After a stop for lunch on the shores of Payette Lake, depart for Hells Canyon for a jet boat ride to Copper Creek Lodge.

Overnight at Copper Creek Lodge.

Day Two

Start out with an early morning jet boat ride through Hells Canyon to Lewiston. Enjoy lunch in Lewiston and then visit the Nez Perce National Historic Park. From Lewiston, travel to Coeur d'Alene for a cruise of the lake.

Overnight in Coeur d'Alene.

Day Three

Depart Coeur d'Alene for Wallace, Idaho, and tour the Sierra silver mine. After lunch in Wallace, leave for Missoula, Montana, traveling along one of the most scenic stretches of I-90.

Overnight in Missoula.

Day Four

Begin the morning with a visit to the Smokejumper Visitor Center, which offers tours of the parachute loft and training facilities throughout the day. Continue north to the Flathead Valley at the base of Glacier National Park, stopping along the way at the St. Ignatius Mission and then at Bigfork, where arts and crafts shops and galleries line the streets.

Overnight in Kalispell or Whitefish.

Day Five

Tour Glacier National Park. Options include short day hikes through lush, green forest, scenic boat rides or float trips, or the spectacular drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Jammer Buses.

Overnight in Glacier National Park.

Day Six

Depart from Glacier National Park for Great Falls via Browning. After a visit to the Museum of the Plains Indian, head to Great Falls for lunch with Lewis and Clark at Giant Springs Heritage Park (by special arrangement only). Also visit the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center located near the park or the C.M. Russell Musem. It's a 90-mile drive to Helena with a stop along the Missouri River for a boat cruise through the Gates of the Mountains.

Overnight in Helena.

Day Seven

Following breakfast, head southeast for Bozeman. Activities and attractions in this city nestled in the mountains include wonderful shopping in the historic downtown district, and the Museum of the Rockies. Dinosaurs and dinosaur eggs unearthed in Montana, Plains Indian artifacts, pioneer exhibits, and Western art are just some of the attractions. Leave Bozeman for the scenic drive to West Yellowstone.

Overnight in West Yellowstone.

Day Eight

Before touring Yellowstone National Park, visit the IMAX Theatre and Grizzly Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. In the park, marvel at the incredible thermal activity, spectacular canyons, and abundant wildlife. Don't miss Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone Lake, the Lower and Upper Falls of the Yellowstone, and Tower Falls.

Overnight in Gardiner.

Day Nine

Leave Yellowstone behind, and head for Billings via the Beartooth Highway, described by former CBS news correspondent Charles Kuralt as the most beautiful drive in America. Take a break at the alpine town of Red Lodge before continuing to Billings for dinner.

Overnight in Billings.

Day Ten

Travel east from Billings to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. After a tour of the Battlefield, head for Sheridan, Wyoming, for lunch and a tour of the city. From Sheridan, travel to Buffalo via various battlesites.

Overnight in Thermopolis.

Day Eleven

An early morning soak in the hot springs starts the day. Then, on to Casper. Stops along the way may include the North American Indian Heritage Center in Riverton, Independence Rock (part of the Oregon Trail), and a boat excursion in the canyon outside of Alcova.

Overnight in Casper.

Day Twelve

After breakfast, enjoy a tour of Fort Casper, followed by a float trip and tour of the Casper area.



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