From Billings to Vancouver – Postcards from the road

Let’s go on a road trip!

August 2017: We hit some incredibly beautiful places, took tons of photos and we laughed, we suffered a little, we were in awe and we drove. We drove a lot. So let me tell you something about the route:

We flew from NYC via Denver to Billings, Montana. We picked up our rental car and aimed for some of America’s finest National Parks like Yellowstone and Glacier and every surprise in-between, until we reached Seattle and Vancouver, our final destinations. 4 states in 12 days and 2,000 miles – it’s been so far the most intense road trip in my life and I loved every minute of it. For me, it was my first encounter with the West and I found the West of my dreams – just bigger than imagined! We covered pretty much everything from vivid towns to ghost villages to modern cities, from desert to mountains, from farmland to forests. I’ve always been a big lover a road trips but this one totally got me. The endless roads and the vast, open spaces were unlike anything I’ve seen before in Austria or even in Europe. Although we were on a tight schedule, it felt like pure freedom!

We spent hours and hours in the car but it never felt boring! The landscape kept changing gradually. One of our first impressions was the surreal rock-desert in Wyoming, between Billings and Cody.

The surroundings became greener as we came closer to Yellowstone and also the wildlife encounters were more frequent!

The rolling hills near Henry’s Lake, Idaho.

As we were driving hours and hours through the plains of Montana, we hardly saw any other cars or people. This was probably my favourite drive of the whole trip!

No more cold drinks unfortunately…

Surprisingly this bar in the middle of nowhere was still operating! (And it’s for sale!)

Entering the reservation of the Blackfeet tribe.

Going-to-the-sun road is considered as one of America’s most scenic drives and runs through the heart of Glacier National Park.

An abandoned gas station in Ravalli, Montana.

Wildfires caused huge clouds of smoke near Missoula, Montana.

Such vintage motels like this one in Wallace, Idaho, always make some good photos!

Entering Washington, the Evergreen State 😉

A little pit-stop in Spokane, Washington.

A burger drive-in near Seattle.

Where to stay:

We stayed at the following hotels during this road trip and therefore are personally approved:

Billings: The Red Lion Hotel may not win a prize for its architectural beauty, but it’s a functional budget hotel that scores with its convenient location and cheap rates.

Missoula: The City Center Motel is pretty much the opposite of your imagination of a shabby, dated motel: The rooms have been updated recently and surprises with clean and modern interior. As the name says, the location is very central and in walking distance to most things in Missoula.

Wenatchee: If the drive from Missoula to Seattle is too long for one leg, consider to stay at the Super 8 Wenatchee – a clean and comfortable motel that comes with great amenities like outdoor pool and hot tub. The popular Bavarian-style town of Leavenworth is only a short drive away!

Seattle: Seattle Hotels aren’t cheap but we had a nice stay at the Belltown Inn but the central location, rooftop access and free bicycle rent gives you more for the money!

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. I may receive a little commission through bookings on this site. This doesn’t cause you any extra costs but at the same time you’ll support me to run this site.

---

Don’t miss the other destinations we visited on this road trip:

Yellowstone National Park – hiking from geysers to mountains

Glacier National Park – The Alps of America

Eating our way through Seattle

Our short but sweet time in Vancouver

The Wild West and the Center of the Universe