Discover Montana | Montana Travel

Since you already know what the “indirect” route is like, I’d take the “direct” one this time. You’ll get to see new things and places. It’s roughly 1200 miles. Would three days be too long?

Try to make about 400-450 miles the first day. Towns are a little scarce in that part of Idaho. On your second day most of your driving will be on Nevada Interstate 80. I would try arrange my schedule to spend the second night in Reno, Nevada. See the town. Then on the third day it’s a short drive over the mountains getting you into the Bay area in the after noon.

I would go the direct route (1179 miles):–#mvt=m&q2=San%20Francisco&q1=billings,%20mt&trf=0&lon=-115.455322&lat=41.779505&mag=12
However, to include “scenic drives” I would travel through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I would most defiantly take Beartooth Pass between Billings and Yellowstone. The Beartooth Highway is spectacular it has been called “America’s most beautiful highway.”
Billings / Cooke City (126 miles):–#mvt=m&q2=cook%20city,%20mt&q1=Billings,%20MT&trf=0&lon=-109.216461&lat=45.401343&mag=9
Cooke City / Jackson Hole (153 miles):–#mvt=m&q2=cook%20city,%20mt&q1=Jackson%20hole&trf=0&lon=-110.32196&lat=44.325813&mag=10
Jackson Hole / San Francisco (931 miles):–#mvt=m&q2=San%20Francisco&q1=Jackson%20hole&trf=0&lon=-116.553955&lat=40.705628&mag=12