10-Day Road Trip: Wytheville, VA to Glacier National Park, MT

Day 1: Wytheville → Charleston, WV

Morning: Depart Wytheville and head west on I-64, enjoying the rolling hills of southwest Virginia. Stop at Blue Ridge Parkway for quick scenic overlooks.

Afternoon: Arrive in Charleston, West Virginia and explore the historic State Capitol and the Riverfront Market.

Evening: Dine along the Kanawha River and settle into a downtown hotel for a restful night.

Day 2: Charleston → St. Louis, MO

Morning: Travel north on I-64 and I-55, crossing the Ohio River into Indiana.

Afternoon: Arrive in St. Louis; visit the iconic Gateway Arch and take a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi.

Evening: Enjoy dinner in the vibrant Delmar Loop before checking into a city hotel.

Day 3: St. Louis → Kansas City, MO

Morning: Depart St. Louis and drive west on I-70, stopping at Meramec Caverns for a short tour.

Afternoon: Reach Kansas City; explore the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and its famous sculpture garden.

Evening: Savor Kansas City’s famous barbecue in the Country Club Plaza area.

Day 4: Kansas City → Denver, CO

Morning: Continue on I-70 across Kansas, passing through the Flint Hills.

Afternoon: Cross into Colorado and arrive in Denver, strolling through Larimer Square and the Denver Art Museum.

Evening: Dine in the historic LoDo district and relax at your hotel.

Day 5: Denver → Rocky Mountain National Park → Cheyenne, WY

Morning: Head north on US‑287 toward Rocky Mountain National Park, enjoying alpine scenery.

Afternoon: Take a short drive on Trail Ridge Road for breathtaking vistas, then continue to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Evening: Explore Cheyenne’s historic Wyoming State Capitol and have dinner in the downtown area.

Day 6: Cheyenne → Rapid City, SD (Mount Rushmore)

Morning: Drive west on I-80/I-25, crossing the high plains of Wyoming.

Afternoon: Arrive in Rapid City; visit the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the nearby Crazy Horse Memorial.

Evening: Stay overnight in Rapid City and enjoy a meal at a local steakhouse.

Day 7: Rapid City → Badlands National Park → Billings, MT

Morning: Drive east on I-90 to Badlands National Park, exploring the dramatic Badlands Loop.

Afternoon: Continue north into Montana, arriving in Billings for a quick visit to the Yellowstone Riverfront Park.

Evening: Relax at a Billings hotel and dine at a downtown restaurant.

Day 8: Billings → Great Falls, MT

Morning: Travel west on I-90, stopping at Little Bighorn Battlefield for a brief historical tour.

Afternoon: Arrive in Great Falls; explore the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and the Riverside Park.

Evening: Enjoy dinner along the Missouri River and settle into your accommodation.

Day 9: Great Falls → Glacier National Park (West Glacier)

Morning: Depart early on US‑2, crossing the scenic Flathead Valley and the Flathead Lake shoreline.

Afternoon: Enter Glacier National Park via the West Glacier entrance; take a short drive on the Going-to-the-Sun Road to the Lake McDonald viewpoint.

Evening: Check into a lodge in West Glacier and enjoy a quiet dinner under the stars.

Day 10: Glacier National Park Exploration & Return Prep

Morning: Hike the popular Hidden Lake Trail near Logan Pass for stunning alpine views.

Afternoon: Drive the full length of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, stopping at iconic spots like St. Mary Lake and Wildlife Loop.

Evening: Return to West Glacier, pack, and enjoy a farewell dinner before beginning the return journey.

Time and Cost Estimates

• Blue Ridge Parkway – 1 hour – $0 (fuel only)
• State Capitol (Charleston) – 1 hour – $0
• Gateway Arch – 2 hours – $25 (adult ticket)
• Delmar Loop (dinner) – 2 hours – $40
• Meramec Caverns – 1.5 hours – $18
• Nelson-Atkins Museum – 2 hours – $0
• Kansas City BBQ dinner – 2 hours – $35
• Larimer Square – 1 hour – $0
• Denver Art Museum – 2 hours – $15
• Rocky Mountain NP (Trail Ridge Road) – 3 hours – $30 (park pass)
• Wyoming State Capitol – 1 hour – $0
• Mount Rushmore – 2 hours – $10 (parking)
• Crazy Horse Memorial (visitor center) – 1 hour – $0
• Badlands NP (Loop Road) – 3 hours – $30 (park pass)
• Yellowstone Riverfront Park – 1 hour – $0
• Little Bighorn Battlefield – 2 hours – $20 (entrance)
• Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center – 1.5 hours – $0
• Riverside Park (Great Falls) – 1 hour – $0
• Flathead Lake scenic stop – 1 hour – $0
• Glacier NP entrance (West Glacier) – 2 hours – $35 (7‑day pass)
• Lake McDonald viewpoint – 1 hour – $0
• Hidden Lake Trail – 3 hours – $0
• St. Mary Lake & Wildlife Loop – 3 hours – $0
• Meals (average 3 per day) – 30 hours total – $600
• Accommodation (9 nights) – – $1,350
• Fuel (≈3,200 mi @ 25 mpg @ $3.80/gal) – – $486
• Parking & tolls – – $50
• Total Estimated Cost: $2,939

Tips

If you’d like to extend the adventure, add a full day in Yellowstone National Park between Billings and Great Falls, or explore the North Fork of the Flathead Valley for extra hiking. To shorten the trip, skip the Badlands stop and drive straight from Rapid City to Billings, reducing travel time by about 3 hours while still experiencing the park highlights.