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Return-Loop Options: Glacier/Banff → Star, ID

Instead of retracing US-93 / I-90 / US-95, turn the trip into a circle. Three loops below — all trailer-friendly with notes on passes to avoid.

Rig reminder: F150 + 16’ Lance. Watch grades, pass heights, and campground length limits.

Option A: Yellowstone + Grand Teton (~5 extra days, +~700 mi)

The legendary loop. Adds two crown-jewel parks on the way home.

Route (from Glacier/Waterton side)

  1. Glacier/Waterton → Great Falls, MT via I-15 S or US-89 S (scenic, through Browning/Choteau along the Rocky Mountain Front). ~3 hrs.
  2. Great Falls → Bozeman on I-15 S → US-287 S through Townsend/Three Forks. ~3 hrs, easy towing.
  3. Bozeman → Gardiner (North entrance) via US-89 S through Paradise Valley. 1.5 hrs, gorgeous.
  4. Exit south via John D. Rockefeller Pkwy into Grand Teton (Colter Bay area).
  5. Tetons → Idaho Falls via US-26 W through Swan Valley (trailer-friendly — avoid Teton Pass on WY-22, 10% grades not worth the risk).
  6. Idaho Falls → Star via I-15 → I-84 W. ~4 hrs.

Where to Camp

Park Campground Trailer fit Notes
Yellowstone Madison Up to 40’ Central to Old Faithful + Norris. Reservable via recreation.gov.
Yellowstone Canyon Up to 40’ Best base for Canyon + Lamar Valley. Flush toilets, showers.
Yellowstone Fishing Bridge RV Park Full hookups Only hookup site in park. Books out 13 months early.
Yellowstone Grant Village Up to 40’ Base for West Thumb + south loop to Tetons.
Grand Teton Colter Bay RV Park Full hookups Best base, near Jackson Lake. Reservable.
Grand Teton Signal Mountain Up to 30’ (tight) Iconic lake views. First-come + some reservable.
Grand Teton Gros Ventre Up to 45’ Huge, easy, close to Jackson.

Priority Stops

Yellowstone (3 nights min): 1. Old Faithful + Upper Geyser Basin — Grand Prismatic overlook from Fairy Falls trail is the real shot. 2. Lamar Valley at dawn or dusk — wolves, bison, bears. “America’s Serengeti.” 3. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone — Artist Point, Uncle Tom’s Trail, Brink of Lower Falls. 4. Norris Geyser Basin — hottest, most active. 5. Mammoth Hot Springs — travertine terraces; elk often in town.

Grand Teton (2 nights min): 1. Jenny Lake — boat shuttle + Cascade Canyon / Hidden Falls (easy-moderate). 2. Schwabacher Landing at sunrise — the postcard shot. 3. Mormon Row — barns with Tetons behind. 4. Signal Mountain Summit Rd — 360° view (trailer-OK road). 5. Oxbow Bend — moose at dawn. 6. Jackson, WY — dinner/supplies stop, antler arches on the square.

5-Day Add-On Sketch

Day Plan
+1 Banff/Glacier exit → Great Falls or Bozeman (long drive)
+2 → Gardiner, set up Canyon or Madison. Afternoon Mammoth.
+3 Old Faithful + Grand Prismatic + Lamar sunset
+4 Canyon of the Yellowstone → move to Colter Bay
+5 Jenny Lake + Schwabacher + drive south to Idaho Falls
+6 Idaho Falls → Star

Option B: Sawtooths via Salmon River (~3 extra days, +~200 mi)

Way less crowded than Yellowstone. Gorgeous, and technically “on the way” if you come down US-93.

Route

  1. Missoula → Salmon, ID via US-93 S over Lost Trail Pass (7,014’, graded, truck lanes). 2.5 hrs.
  2. Salmon → Stanley via ID-75 through Sunbeam along the Salmon River. 2 hrs, scenic canyon driving, trailer-fine.
  3. Stanley → Ketchum via ID-75 over Galena Summit (8,701’, 7% grade — the only real concern of the loop; take it slow, use engine braking). 1 hr.
  4. Ketchum → Star via US-20 W through Fairfield → I-84 W. 3 hrs.

Skip: ID-21 from Stanley to Lowman (Banner Summit, steep + narrow, sketchy with 16’ trailer).

Where to Camp

Campground Trailer fit Notes
Redfish Lake (Glacier View, Outlet, Point) Up to 35’ Crown jewel. Reservable via recreation.gov, books fast.
Stanley Lake (Inlet, Lake View) Up to 32’ Quieter than Redfish, McGown Peak reflections.
Mormon Bend (on Salmon River) Up to 30’ Between Stanley and Sunbeam, easy riverfront.
Sunny Gulch Up to 45’ Largest near Stanley, easy in/out.
Easley (on Big Wood near Galena) Up to 30’ Between Stanley and Ketchum.

Priority Stops

  1. Redfish Lake — rent a kayak/SUP, boat shuttle to Transfer Camp for Redfish Lake Creek hike.
  2. Sawtooth Lake hike — 10 mi RT from Iron Creek TH, the iconic Sawtooth photo.
  3. Alice Lake / Toxaway Loop — epic if you have a layover day (day hike to Alice is 11 mi RT).
  4. Stanley Lake + McGown Peak at sunset.
  5. Salmon River hot springs — Sunbeam, Bonneville, Kem (free, primitive, varying driving access).
  6. Ketchum / Sun Valley — Sawtooth Brewery, Warm Springs lift-served hikes.
  7. Galena Summit overlook — pull-off at the top; whole Sawtooth range spread below.

3-Day Add-On Sketch

Day Plan
+1 Missoula → Stanley via Salmon. Set up Redfish or Stanley Lake.
+2 Sawtooth Lake or Alice Lake hike; evening on Redfish
+3 Stanley → Ketchum → Star

Option C: Craters of the Moon Dip (~1 extra day, +~80 mi)

Quick add-on if coming south via Idaho Falls (works with Option A, or as a solo detour).

Route

Camping + Stops

Half a day is enough if you’re not camping. A night in Lava Flow is memorable just for the dark sky.

Combined Mega-Loop (all three, ~7 extra days)

Banff/Yoho → Great Falls → Yellowstone → Grand Teton → Idaho Falls → Craters of the Moon → Sun Valley → Sawtooths → Star. ~25 days total from home. Ambitious but the Rockies in one go.

Only do this if: You have the time, your rig is dialed, and you’re not getting trip fatigue. Probably better as two separate years.

Pass Summary (all loops)

Pass Route Elev Grade Trailer OK?
Lost Trail US-93 MT/ID 7,014’ Moderate, truck lanes Yes
Galena Summit ID-75 8,701’ 7%, winding Yes, go slow
Banner Summit ID-21 7,056’ Narrow, steep Avoid with trailer
Teton Pass WY-22 8,432’ 10% Hard no with trailer
Togwotee US-26 WY 9,658’ Graded, truck lanes Yes
Monida I-15 MT/ID 6,823’ Mild Yes

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