Family road trip Seattle - Yellowstone - ? Back to Seattle. Too much to see!

[momma2knd]

Hmmm... just realized that we will be in Bozeman just about the same time you are heading through. My daughter will be starting college there in the fall, so we will be moving her into the dorms within a day or so of when your family will be traveling through the town. So just a heads up... Bozeman will be a very busy town that week with all of the students returning to school for the fall semester and their families in town to get them settled in. (Bozeman & Missoula are two of the biggest "college towns" in Montana so both will be busy that week with students returning after their summer breaks.) Just thought I would warn you since I noticed our over-lapping dates travel dates. ;) Have fun on your trip.

Oh wait, I forgot... you could probably take a day trip to Cody while you are staying near Yellowstone Lake. If you take the east entrance in/out of the park, you should be able to do it pretty easily.

I also think you should keep the SUV for your rental car. Although a sedan would be fine, an SUV would be a better option. Most of the roads you would be on would be paved, but there are often gravel roads on many of the scenic detours across Montana. There is also ALWAYS a possibility of snow when you come to Montana. In that case you would probably be more comfortable in the SUV with 4 wheel drive as an option. Even the main roads and common routes have a possibility of needing the SUV. We took a trip to Glacier in late August in 2006 and while we were inside the visitor's center at the top of the Going To the Sun Road, it started snowing on us!! (Not an uncommon occurance at our high elevations.) You will also see snow at the top of the Beartooth Pass. That road is typically only open from about late May until September/early October because of the snow. However, we have already had record snowfall in Montana this year, so there will likely be even more snow than normal at the top of the Beartooth Pass. The roads should be clear, but snow is often found just a few steps from the side of the road and you are better safe than sorry.

[momma2knd]

lol, sorry I keep forgetting ideas that I had when I first read your posts. Since you are staying at Yellowstone Lake... you can rent a boat to take out on the Lake. We have done that a few times while traveling through the park and the kids always love it. It's a big lake, so there is lots of space to explore.

[Lifemagician]

Hi momma2knd, and Welcome to the Great American Roadtrip Forum.

Thanks for jumping in there to help a traveller with your local knowledge. It is always appreciated. In fact, I have noted quite a bit of your information for my upcoming trip, which I hope will include Montana. Just love the big sky country.

Lifey

[momma2knd]

Glad I could be of assistance!! lol I actually came on here to get help planning my first cross country drive (MT to PA) with my kids (age 11 months, 9 years, and 17 years) and mom to visit friends this summer. I got completely sidetracked with ideas for this trip instead! lol I love Montana and there are some amazing places to explore, but you definitely need a lot of time to do it.

If I didn't love Red Lodge & the Pass so much, I would have said to spend a little more time in the Bozeman area and maybe enter the park through the N entrance at Gardiner. Bozeman is a beautiful city and any outdoorsy person could find LOTS to do there. Because it is a college town, they have hundreds of miles worth of walking/biking trails. They even have a trail that starts right in town and takes you straight into the mountains!

The road into the park through Gardiner from Livingston is known as Paradise Valley for a good reason and always offers a great place to stop for a swim at Chico Hot Springs! It is a beautiful drive, but I still love the Beartooth Pass much more. Really any route into the park from Montana has something special to offer. ;)

[glc]

Most of the roads you would be on would be paved, but there are often gravel roads on many of the scenic detours across Montana.

Even if you have a SUV, you will most likely be violating the terms of your rental contract if you take it off paved roads. You need to specifically check on this.

[momma2knd]

Vicki who is your rental car reserved with? I have read that some contracts say you can drive on paved roads and others say "regularly maintained" roads. Half the roads in Montana would be considered "regularly maintained" but are not necessarily "paved". If regularly maintained dirt/gravel is not acceptable with your rental company, I would suggest looking for a different rental company. Even the short roads leading into the picnic/camping areas of many of the state/national parks in Montana would be off limits if you can't drive on non-paved but regularly maintained roads. It would even rule out many of the small towns that only pave their main street. :( Hmmm... good luck.

[Lifemagician]

Even the short roads leading into the picnic/camping areas of many of the state/national parks in Montana would be off limits if you can't drive on non-paved but regularly maintained roads. It would even rule out many of the small towns that only pave their main street.

Entering a State Park for the purposes of camping would not really be regarded as 'driving on unsealed roads'.

In which region are you situated, momma? I have driven a lot through northern and western MT, as well as the areas around Yellowstone, Glacier and Big Horn, but I do not recall much in the way of unmade roads. Of course, you will have travelled much more extensively. However, I make a point of routing through small town America. On the Bison Range all the roads were gravel and dirt (and humps and potholes). Also coming down from Lemi Pass, there was a good stretch of dirt road. But I don't think those areas are in Vicki's plan.

[Am hoping this year to cover some of the area between Bozeman and Malta.]

Lifey

[Eris]

Rental terms, when shove comes to push, comes down the exact words used in the agreement. Say what a court would or would not accept as scrutinized by lawyers.

For example, take the wording from a Hertz rental agreement. Prohibited uses of car includes quote “use off paved roads or on roads that are not regularly maintained”

As I read this it means prohibits:

(a) use off paved roads. (simply all unpaved roads)

OR

(b) on roads that are not regularly maintained. (i.e. paved roads say full of pot holes and not regularly repaired).

Each rental car company will have different worded agreements but usually coming down to near the same thing. If you use outside the agreement you could, if it comes to light, be liable.

To be sure read the agreement for the car rented.

[Midwest Michael]

I really don't think you need to overthink the "off-road" aspect of a rental car.

A very simple rule of thumb is this: Even if you are renting an SUV or other 4 wheel drive vehicle, If you're taking the vehicle some place you couldn't easily travel in a regular sedan, you are almost certainly breaking the terms of your rental contract. If you drive on a well maintained gravel highway - which are fairly common in some rural area - you are unlikely to have any problems no matter what you rent or who you rent it from. If you try to take it down a logging road, or some other barely maintained path, then you could be in for a lot of trouble. Of course, contract language is going to override everything, but a little bit of common sense goes a long way.

Ultimately, that's a huge reason why a 4 wheel drive rental vehicle is really never a "need." Of course, plenty of people buy into the well marketed myth that 4 wheel drive is essential for travel in snow or other bad weather, and the rental will gladly rent you one, for what is usually a significant upcharge in price, but unless you really need the space, a sedan is typically a vastly better value, that will get you to the exact same places, with more comfort.

[Eris]

Must admit on my many travels to the USA I have, on many occasions driven “on a well maintained gravel highway”. I have used the reasoning, would I drive my own car on the road. If so I went ahead well aware of the risk.

On my travels I have seen many car renters use the vehicle on unpaved roads. Some in ignorance and some aware of the risk.

But, and a big but, I have always been aware that if an incident occurred, say someone bumped me, a breakdown or some other accident – nearly once hit a deer – where the matter came to the notice of the rental company I would be penalised. I know it is a percentage thing but these things happen. You could have an unlucky day.

The rental company would no conscience in enforcing the rules and making you pay if you came unstuck.