Best route to St. Mary,Mt.

[Red_Eagle]

Will be traveling to St. Mary next month (from Helena). Campground host told me to take Hwy 464 from Browning to St. Mary instead of Hwy 89 due to ascents & descents on Hwy 89. Which route did you take (for those who have been to St. Mary). I will be pulling a 31' 5er with my 20015 GMC 2500 4X4. Appreciate your advice.

[TyroneandGladys]

89 if you want gravel sections and delays for roadwork

[Uncle_Rj]

I just came back from West Glacier yesterday and travel this route multiple times each year. We always use 464 and do not go on 89 even when not towing. The road (89) is scenic but very slow given all the turns and traffic.

Even with backtracking, you will arrive quicker by going 464, especially in the summer with all the traffic.

Try going into Google Earth and use Streetview to see the road. It might help with your decision.

[Lauren]

Been there a few times - did the 89 once towing; learned my lesson. Use the 464!

[2lazy4U]

I grew up driving the mountain roads in Colorado and am used to windy twisty roads, but I definitely found 89 to be very tiring, and I was in a car, not towing. In fact, last time I came through Canada I decided to come down through Kalispell instead of Browning just to avoid that twisty slow narrow road. Didn't care for it and wouldn't want to tow on it.

[CloudDriver]

We drove our 24 ft Class C over route 89 into St Mary a couple of years back. We went north out of Browning then west on Starr School Road to 89. This cut off some of the up and down, plus a number of curves on 89. It certainly wasn't a difficult drive going that way, just slow.

If you have Google Earth on your PC, you can preview the road from above before deciding whether you want to drive it.

[n7bsn]

Eh, I've done both and don't see the issue here.

[Dick_B]

Follow the CG advice unless you like traveling a 25 mph.

[paulj]

US89 north of Browning crosses foothills, and was built long enough ago that they didn't try to straighten out the twists and turns. It doesn't go up and over some big mountain, it just keeps you busy at the wheel. And even in a car it can be tiring if driven at the end of a long day.

[coolmom42]

Red Eagle wrote:
Will be traveling to St. Mary next month (from Helena). Campground host told me to take Hwy 464 from Browning to St. Mary instead of Hwy 89 due to ascents & descents on Hwy 89. Which route did you take (for those who have been to St. Mary). I will be pulling a 31' 5er with my 20015 GMC 2500 4X4. Appreciate your advice.

I agree with the campground host. Have driven 89 several times in a truck but would not want to do it towing--it's a narrow road with sharp turns, steep climbs, and steep drop-offs with no railings in places.

It's a pretty drive, but do it without your 5th wheel.

[Tom_Barb]

from west glacier we towed a 25 foot tag along trailer to St. Mary's over 89, didn't seem to be a big deal.

[lanerd]

We took 89 in our previous 35' DP and would not recommend this road at all. Very, very narrow. Can't speak for 464 or 460...

Ron

[Bumpyroad]

I took 464 based on a recommendation. it was fine.
bumpy

[rv2go]

I prefer Hwy 460. Lots of others on the forum prefer this route also.