GreatFalls to Shelby (Billings, Missoula, Great Falls: rent, live, bus)

[Coyleth]

Hey all,

I'm planning a trip out to MT from NJ next June (09). Always wanted to see this gorgeous part of the country. I am flying in to Great Falls, taking the train from Shelby to Whitefish, and bus from Whitefish to Missoula. But I can't figure out how to get from Great Falls to Shelby. Is there a bus line? I know I can rent a car in GF, but I don't see a place to return it in Shelby. Is there any hope??

Thanks,
Tom

[mattman3seven]

Originally Posted by Coyleth

Hey all,

I'm planning a trip out to MT from NJ next June (09). Always wanted to see this gorgeous part of the country. I am flying in to Great Falls, taking the train from Shelby to Whitefish, and bus from Whitefish to Missoula. But I can't figure out how to get from Great Falls to Shelby. Is there a bus line? I know I can rent a car in GF, but I don't see a place to return it in Shelby. Is there any hope??

Thanks,
Tom

Toole County Website

[rickers]

There is a bus that goes from Great Falls to Shelby on Monday mornings @ 7 AM.
Reservations are required and it is donation for the ride. If you are poor you can ride for free. The phone number is 406-470-0727 for reservations or more info. I hope this helps you and good luck with your trip.

[bigtrees]

Originally Posted by Coyleth

Hey all,

I'm planning a trip out to MT from NJ next June (09). Always wanted to see this gorgeous part of the country. I am flying in to Great Falls, taking the train from Shelby to Whitefish, and bus from Whitefish to Missoula. But I can't figure out how to get from Great Falls to Shelby. Is there a bus line? I know I can rent a car in GF, but I don't see a place to return it in Shelby. Is there any hope??

Thanks,
Tom

Well I think you're running into the traditional problems of small towns in Montana. A couple suggestions.

You could fly into Whitefish and rent a car or bus between Whitefish and Missoula and you'd see the prettiest part of the state. You could take the train from Whitefish to Shelby and back if you wanted to see that part of the country.

Personally, I think you'd have a great time spending all week in the Whitefish area and renting a car to go to Glacier Park, Missoula, etc. There's hundreds of things to do and it's by far the nicest part of the state. It's fun to venture as far east as Cut Bank, but I've never been to Shelby because it's flat and much drier than the western part of the state. (I lived for 23 years in Whitefish).

If you'd like to do a loop, you could fly into Whitefish (Kalispell) and fly out of Bozeman or Billings and take the bus between the two locations. You'd see a lot of territory between those two locations and it's quite varied. I think you'd be wasting a nice vacation day though when there is so much more you could do besides look out the window of a bus or train.

Hope that helps!

Greg

[rickers]

Just a note about the post previous to this one, Whitefish may look fine but it is a full on tourist trap and full of rich and very snooty people now. Also Shelby is not flat, it just looks that way to people who have never been there ! If you want to see the real western Montana don't waste time in Missoula or Whitefish, try visiting places like Thompson Falls, or Libby !