Self-Launched Montana: Glacier National Park & Going-to-the-Sun Road Trek
5 days · Montana, USA
Bucket List Group Travel LLC charges £2,835
No-markup version: ~£1,080 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Bucket List Group Travel's 5-day Glacier National Park llama trek and Sun Road tour, starting and ending in Missoula. You'll hire your own car, stay in budget motels and hostels around Flathead Lake, St Mary and West Glacier, and self-book the llama trek, boat shuttles and tours directly. Note: the original operator only runs this trip mid-June to mid-September when Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open — ignore the November dates on the listing and come in summer. Costs assume 2+ people sharing a car; solo travellers should budget a few hundred pounds more for solo car hire and single rooms.
Day-by-day
Arrive Missoula, drive to Flathead Lake & Wild Horse Island
Missoula / Flathead Lake
Land at Missoula (MSO) before midday, pick up a rental car (book ahead — ~£45-60/day for a compact, cheaper weekly) and drive ~1hr north to Flathead Lake. Park at Big Arm State Park and take the self-booked boat shuttle across to Wild Horse Island ($12-15 return plus small entry fee, book via Big Arm Marina or the state park operator; check days — it doesn't run every day). Spend 2-3 hours spotting bighorn sheep, wild horses and deer, then drive to your motel near Polson or Bigfork. Catering your own breakfasts and picnic lunches is where the real savings are.
🚌Rental car from Missoula MSO, ~55 miles north on US-93; boat shuttle to Wild Horse Island
🛏Budget motel or guesthouse in Polson/Bigfork (~£75-95/night, shared)
- →Boat shuttle to Wild Horse Island (~£11)
- →Wildlife spotting: bighorn sheep, wild horses, deer
- →Flathead Lake swim or lakeside walk
LLama trek, then Going-to-the-Sun Road to St Mary
Swan Valley / Going-to-the-Sun Road / St Mary
Drive north to Swan Mountain Llama Packing near Condon (~1hr) and self-book their half-day llama trek to Bond Falls — book direct by phone weeks ahead, roughly £70-90 per person, includes the creekside lunch. Then continue on Highway 83 and up into the park on Going-to-the-Sun Road: photo stops at Logan Pass, Wild Goose Island lookout and the Garden Wall. If energy allows, add the Hidden Lake Overlook hike (2.9mi, moderate) from Logan Pass. Overnight in St Mary — lodging here is limited, so book months ahead or fall back on East Glacier Park.
🚌Self-drive ~130 miles via MT-83 and Going-to-the-Sun Road
🛏Budget motel or cabin in St Mary/East Glacier Park (~£80-110/night, shared)
- →Half-day llama trek to Bond Falls incl. creekside lunch (~£80)
- →Going-to-the-Sun Road scenic drive
- →Logan Pass & Wild Goose Island photo stops
- →Optional Hidden Lake Overlook hike
Many Glacier: boat tour & Grinnell Glacier Trail
Many Glacier / Two Medicine Lake
Drive the short hop to Many Glacier early (parking fills before 8am). Book the Chief Two Guns boat tour on Swiftcurrent Lake and Lake Josephine direct with Glacier Boat Company (~£25-30) — this shaves 2 miles off the Grinnell Glacier Trail. Hike to Grinnell Glacier and back (7.6mi with the boat, ~1,600ft gain, moderate-strenuous; watch for bears and carry spray). Afternoon: drive south to Two Medicine Lake for a lakeside wander, then overnight nearby in East Glacier Park.
🚌Self-drive ~40 miles Many Glacier to Two Medicine via US-89/MT-49
🛏Budget guesthouse/motel near East Glacier Park (~£75-95/night, shared)
- →Chief Two Guns boat tour, Swiftcurrent & Josephine lakes (~£27)
- →Grinnell Glacier Trail hike
- →Two Medicine Lake shoreline walk
Highline Trail to Granite Park Chalet & Lake McDonald sunset
Logan Pass / West Glacier
Drive back up Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass and hike the Highline Trail along the Garden Wall to Granite Park Chalet (7.6mi one way, rolling contour, high exposure in places — either turn back or arrange the shuttle to the Loop). This is the park's signature hike. In the evening, self-book a Lake McDonald sunset boat cruise with Glacier Boat Company (~£25) or just paddle/wade from Apgar. Overnight in West Glacier/Apgar.
🚌Self-drive ~45 miles; optional park shuttle for the Highline Loop
🛏Hostel bed or budget cabin in West Glacier/Apgar (~£35-60/night dorm; ~£90 private)
- →Highline Trail hike to Granite Park Chalet
- →Lake McDonald sunset boat cruise (~£25)
- →Apgar village stroll
Lake McDonald morning & drive back to Missoula
West Glacier / Missoula
Slow morning: coffee at Apgar, a last lakeside walk or souvenir shopping in West Glacier village. Drive back to Missoula (~2.5hrs via US-2 and MT-200) and return the rental car in time for an afternoon/evening flight from MSO. Fill up with a diner breakfast before you go — airport food is where budgets quietly die.
🚌Self-drive ~140 miles to Missoula MSO; return rental car
🛏None (departure day)
- →Lake McDonald morning walk
- →West Glacier village shopping
Self-launched vs. Bucket List Group Travel LLC
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Bucket List Group Travel LLC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,080 | £2,835 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,755 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Bucket List Group Travel LLC-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,080
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Montana: Glacier National Park & Going-to-the-Sun Road Trek cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,080 per person for 5 days in Montana, USA. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Bucket List Group Travel LLC?+
Yes — Bucket List Group Travel LLC charges around £2,835 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,080 — a saving of roughly £1,755 (62%) per person.
How long is the Montana, USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Montana, USA.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, wildlife trip through Montana, USA, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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