4-Day Bozeman, Driggs & Jackson Road Trip Itinerary

4 days, 3 states, and 2 PTO days spent making it happen. Here’s how I turned one long weekend into a full Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming road trip — so grab your rental car and let’s go.

Jump to: Getting There | Bozeman | Driggs & Jackson

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Getting there

We flew from Tampa to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, with one quick layover in Atlanta. I usually try to avoid layovers on short trips, but there’s no way around it getting here. Luckily, everything went smoothly, and we landed at the most picturesque little airport.

First order of business: picking up our rental car. I always book through Expedia since it makes comparing companies easy, and this time it landed us with Dollar for $590 for four days. I went with the “surprise me” option, hoping we’d end up with a more premium truck or SUV — instead, we got a Prius, lol. Not exactly ideal given the terrain we’d be driving. On the bright side, we only had to fill up on gas once the whole trip!

Bozeman, Montana (Days 1-2)

We spent 2 days in Bozeman, and it honestly really surprised me! I was so looking forward to the epic views of the Tetons that I thought Bozeman would disappoint in me in comparison, but I was so wrong. Bozeman is a beautiful city with great hikes and some amazing food. I could easily have spent more time there, and would recommend 4 days to anyone who has more time!

WHERE I STAYED

We stayed at this charming Airbnb about 20 minutes from downtown. It was nestled in between farmland and had such a rustic, vintage feel to it, which made for a really cozy place to come back to. 

While it definitely would’ve been convenient to be closer to town, hotels in Bozeman are much pricier. Plus, it was really peaceful out there, so I didn’t mind! Note: This is a shared Airbnb with the owners, however we did have our own bathroom. I personally don’t mind that arrangement , but I know some people prefer their own space. Side note: It was also along a gravel road, which our rental Prius didn’t love.

WHAT I DID

Bozeman is such a fun mix of nature and a charming downtown, and there is honestly so much to do here! You can hike, mountain bike, go tubing, or just explore downtown and the many breweries and restaurants. There are also a number of summer festivals that take over Main Street! But since we only had two days, we spent most of our time hiking!

Hike Drinking Horse Mountain:

This hike is just outside of town and takes about 45–60 minutes to complete, which made it a perfect post-dinner digestion hike — ha! But seriously, it’s a great option if you’re looking for something relatively quick that still gets you out into nature.

While it’s not a super long hike, it is STEEP, so be prepared to get your heart pumping! I recommend doing this one around sunset — the views are beautiful, and it’s a great way to end the day (although it would probably be great during sunrise too).

Details: 2.4 miles, 666 feet of elevation

See AllTrails here for details and directions.

Visit the Hyalite Reservoir area!

The Hyalite Reservoir is about a 40-minute drive from Bozeman, and it’s absolutely beautiful! There are plenty of hikes to choose from, along with opportunities to swim, paddleboard, and kayak in the reservoir itself.

We did part of the Blackmore Trailhead, and it was an awesome hike! It’s relatively easy and out-and-back, so you can make it as long or as short as you’d like. We probably did around 4–5 miles. Part of the trail runs right along the reservoir, with great views along the way.

One warning: I was REALLY wishing I had some bear spray, so I’d definitely recommend picking some up beforehand for some extra peace of mind.

After our hike, we took a quick dip in the water. It is COLD, but it was such a satisfying way to end a couple hours of hiking. Nothing makes you feel quite as alive as jumping into a freezing body of water!

Eat and drink your way around Bozeman!

I was blown away by the food and drink scene here — especially the coffee. I have a separate blog dedicated to Bozeman Food & Drink, but for this blog, I’ll call out my favorite bite and my favorite coffee in town.

Starting strong with the BEST chicken caesar wrap I’ve ever had at Revelry in downtown Bozeman. It was packed full of chicken and tomatoes, with a homemade dressing and plenty of crunch. My fiancé had a burger which was also fantastic, and both paired great with an ice cold post-hike beer.

As for coffee, it’s hard to pick a favorite, but I really enjoyed Roly Poly. It’s a fun, eclectic spot serving espresso-forward lattes — not too sweet or milky, which is exactly what I look for in my coffee.

Driggs & Jackson (Days 3-4)

After a quick 2 days in Bozeman, we headed to Driggs, Idaho! It’s about a 3.5-hour drive, but the scenery is stunning. It feels more like an activity than a wasted morning. Driggs sits just ~45 minutes from Jackson, which makes it an easy home base for day-tripping into Jackson while paying a fraction of the price for accommodations. But don’t worry, there’s also plenty to do in Driggs itself, and also has amazing Teton views! I personally prefer a more laid-back, less-touristy vibe, so I’m glad we stayed in Driggs.

WHERE I STAYED

We stayed at an Airbnb right outside of Downtown Driggs and I highly recommend it. It’s technically a shared Airbnb with the owners, but they’ve turned it into something that feels more like a boutique hotel. There are multiple guest rooms, each with its own bathroom, and every detail thought through. That’s by design: the owners genuinely want their guests to feel welcome. There are amazing views of the Tetons from the house, and they serve a delicious breakfast every morning. The hosts even took us on a free 2-hour kayaking trip, which ended up being one of the highlights of the whole trip!

WHAT I DID

Driggs and Jackson are an outdoor lover’s dream! There are views everywhere you look of the insane mountain peaks. Whether you’re looking for something more intense like mountain biking, something more chill like kayaking, or hikes of every level, this is the place to be. Here are some highlights from my time there:

Check out Grand Targhee Resort!

Grand Targhee Resort has so much to do! It was probably my favorite part of the trip. I’m a sucker for a chairlift, and they have a very long one with views to match. We rode up and down a few times, taking in the views from the top, before deciding to hike down! We did the Bannock Trail, which was about 3.2 miles. It’s a challenging hike thanks to steep and uneven rocky terrain — so you have to be cautious about where you’re stepping. Honestly, it might’ve been easier to climb up instead. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this hike — the views were stunning, packed with wildflowers, and we felt super accomplished afterward. It took us about 75 minutes to complete

Kayak (or paddle board) down the Teton River

We spent a morning kayaking down the Teton River, and it was a great mix between fun and relaxing. Unfortunately, nearby wildfire smoke meant hazy views of the Tetons that day, but on a clear day, this stretch must be stunning. The real highlight, though, was the wildlife: river otters, plenty of birds, and — best of all — a moose. Apparently moose hang out along this river, and seeing one in person was such a cool moment. We launched from the Bates Bridge Boat Ramp.

Go to the Jackson Rodeo

You can’t go to Jackson without hitting the rodeo. It’s the perfect setting to sit back with a beer and people-watch — everyone’s decked out in their cowboy hats, and it feels like an event. I will say, though: do your research before buying tickets. I bought tickets for $100 each, which I don’t think was worth it — I’ve heard you can find them for a lot less, so I may have gotten ripped off. Either way, if you can snag a cheaper ticket, it’s absolutely worth spending an evening there.

Visit Mormon Row

I’d had these views on my dream board for years, so I was so excited to finally visit Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park, and had to do an obligatory photo shoot. It’s an absolutely stunning spot — the views of the Tetons are unreal. I went at sunset and loved it, but I bet it’s just as beautiful at sunrise, when the light hits the mountains head-on. If you’re looking for a great photo spot or just want to soak in the views, I highly recommend it. On the way there, you pass Jackson Hole Airport, and it’s such a cool sight watching planes take off right between these huge mountains.

Hike in Grand Targhee National Forest

If you’re looking for a hike with great views of the Tetons near Driggs, check out the Mill Creek Trail. It’s about 15 minutes outside of town and delivers epic views the whole way — though once again, I found myself wishing I’d brought bear spray!! This area also draws a lot of mountain bikers, for anyone into that (I’ve been traumatized by mountain biking in the past, so it’s not really my thing anymore, lol).

A few other food/drink honorable mentions: Wydaho Coffee Roasters and Tetonia Grinders.

Eat the best sandwich at Figgies

Figgies was hands-down my favorite bite we had in Driggs or Jackson. It’s a local sandwich shop serving up fresh, delicious sandwiches and homemade chips. We ordered the Buckingham Green — turkey, pesto aioli, Havarti, tomato, cucumber, and sprouts on local ciabatta — and I also got the homemade chicken salad, which paired perfectly with the chips. I was ready to go back for round two, but they’re closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly!

Final Thoughts

Four days, three states, two PTO days — and every mile of it (even in that Prius) was worth it. This trip was a good reminder that some of the best parts of a trip come from driving around.

If you’re on the fence about whether a long weekend is “enough time” for Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming — you can definitely make it work with some effort. Just bring the bear spray!

If this itinerary helped, save it for your own trip — then stick around, because Bozeman’s food and drink scene and more posts are coming soon.