Mid-June is possible but typically the Sun Road opens in the second half of June. Also, we've been getting healthy dumps of snow all winter in the northern Rockies this year so those boys will have bunch of plowing to do.

 

Leave Sturgis very early (sun up) and hit 14 west to Cody over the Big Horns. Take Chief Joseph to the Beartooth and stay in Red Lodge at the Alpine Lodge (they will cook you a great hot breakfast (included) in their new outdoor kitchen and they're great people). Next day go back over the Bear Tooth into Yellowstone and Mammoth for a break. Take 89 North to Livingston and eat a late lunch at Marks Drive Inn. Then head to White Sulphur Springs on 89 and stay at the All Seasons Inn. Next day head to Glacier staying on 89 the whole way. Don't get gas in Browning and don't stop or make eye contact either. We stayed in a caboose at the Walton Inn in Essex MT (cool old place with a lot of railroad history) Amtrack still stops there. If you don't plan on going back to Glacier, take enough time to go both directions on Going to the Sun Road. If you stay on the West side (Walton Inn), eat breakfast at Eddies Cafe' before heading up the mountian. We made this trip last August and found great roads, places to stay and eat.

 

If I stay in East Glacier and go to Going To The Sun Rd the next day. How long of a day will that be? Trying to decide where to stay that night. Will be staying in Red Lodge or Cody the following night.

 

East Glacier to St Marys, to West Glacier and back to St Marys and East Glacier will be 5 or 6 hours. That will depend on how many times you stop for pictures.

Thats about a 150 mile flip and think about getting 30 mph average in the park.

You might want to think about staying in East Glacier that night also.

East Glacier to Red Lodge is about an 8 hr riding day. Add to that stops.

If you chose this route I would suggest 89 to Great Falls (There is a Harley Dealer there on the East side of town), then 87/89 through the Little Belt Mountains (through Neihart) and down to White Sulfur Springs, then east on 12 to highway 3 and south to Billings, then on to Red Lodge.

I have ridden all these roads, its a nice route.

 

Obviously depends on how you want to visit GNP, IMO. Think you'll stop and take pics or videos? Maybe a short walk or two at Logan Pass or Lake McDonald? Stop for lunch, etc? Stop and BS with some of the many riders you'll meet along the way? From previous posts I know you and your wife are riders....still there is much to savor along the way. But since you ask, I'd say you could have some nice time in GNP on the Sun Road, etc., and would recommend shooting for Missoula that night. Missoula is a great town and you'd be staged for making either Red Lodge or Cody the next night. As you look at your map, coming south along Flathead Lake is nice on MT 35, but fine on US 93 , too. I usually choose 35. You folks will have a great time whatever you decide. If you do make it to Missoula, The Depot (downtown) is great for steaks/drinks as is The Keep (Farviews) which has a nice view of the valley in the evening. Just ask locally for directions.

 

What is US#2 like between East and West Glacier? Thinking of doing a Loop From East Glacier up to Waterton Lakes Nat Park (Canada). Then Back to ST Mary and then working my way towards West Glacier. But not sure if we should continue back to East Glacier for a second night or move on down the road towards Red Lodge. From Red Lodge the plan is to do Bear Tooth and the Northern part of Yellowstone and spend the night in Cody. From Cody make the long boring run down to Sturgis.

 

Thinking about setting base camp at Polson for a week or so.

Couple of days GNP. Trip up into Canada , Coeur d'Alene, Kalispell, Missoula, Etc.

Any can't miss places?

 

If your hitting up to Canada, Banff to Jasper on the Columbia Icefields Parkway is a great ride. One of many in Western Canada.

 

The ride from Missoula on US12 west over Lost Trail Pass and into Idaho along the Lochsa and Clearwater rivers is typically in riders' top 10 roads. If basing in Polson you could make some of that...maybe go in to Kamiah and then back. It'd be a long day from Polson if you're returning, but doable I suppose.

 

Head North of Coleur d'Alene to Bonners Ferry, then cross the border into Canada in Creston. Head up the East side of Kootenay lake road, over the free ferry and then North to Kaslo, over to New Denver on 31A, and then south to Nelson. Once in Nelson you can head back to the Ferry and go south on Kootenay Lake back to Creston, or head South out of Nelson to Salmo and go over the Kootenay Pass back to Creston.

That route will take you all day. If you want to split it in two, and you are camping, then just south of Kaslo is Toad Rock Campground, a very well know Motorcycle place.

That is some of the best Motorcycle roads in all of BC.