Summer Road Trip Essentials

An American Summer: Montana Edition 

There’s something about a Montana summer road trip that feels a little cinematic.

Windows down somewhere between Livingston and nowhere. Gas station coffee at 7 AM. A random roadside dinosaur museum you absolutely did not plan for. Somebody’s fighting over aux. Somebody else is already asking when you’re stopping again. The cooler is leaking... But, life is good.

We sent the Intrigue Ink team a very important assignment:

What are your road trip essentials?

The responses told us everything we needed to know about who survives the apocalypse… and who absolutely cannot be trusted with playlist control.

This is our mostly-official guide to packing for a Montana road trip this summer. Some snacks. Some songs. Some roadside stops. Some fits. Some personalities. Some chaos.

Welcome to the car.

First Things First: What Are We Packing?

A Montana road trip outfit has to survive approximately six different climates in one day.

Sunny in Bozeman. Windy in Livingston. Somehow snowing near Glacier. Hot again by the river.... Did someone remember to pack a swimsuit? 

So here’s what’s making the cut for these babes from the new summer collection:

• Trail Mix
  For obvious reasons. Built for trail stops, gas station coffee runs, and pretending you’re outdoorsy enough to know what bird that was.
• Cowgirl Cocktail
  Best worn while ordering a ranch water somewhere with a neon beer sign and a suspiciously good burger.
• Wild Trout
  Feels like Montana in shirt form. The unofficial uniform of river stops and roadside fly shops.
• Montana Tall Boy
  Pairs best with a camp chair, a cooler, beer in hand, and absolutely no plans.
• Yellowstone Memories
  Slightly nostalgic. Slightly touristy. Exactly correct.

The Road Trip Roles

Every car has them.

The DJ

Gunner and Ellie immediately claimed aux privileges. Which honestly feels dangerous. But they are bringing the vibes!

Current playlist energy:

• “Party b4 the Party” — Saint Satine
• "Jeep" by - Kim Petras
• “The Tide is High” - Atomic Kitten
• “Rivers and Roads” - The Head and the Heart 
• A lot of Dolly Parton
• “Cocaine Country Dancing” — Paul Cauthen
• Literally anything by Queen

The Driver

Arina and Hank feel emotionally equipped to survive Montana highways, construction zones, and Allie yelling “WAIT TURN HERE” at the last second. Two Drivers could mean chaos but it means they can take turns during the long stretch! 

Snack Manager

Sarah and Kaddy. Obviously.

A role requiring organization, emotional resilience, and the ability to ration Sour Patch Kids appropriately.

Gas Station Draft Picks

If you’ve ever driven across Montana, you know the gas station snack selection can make or break the trip.

Here’s what the team is grabbing:

• Salt & Vinegar Chips
• Dot’s Buffalo Pretzels
• Diet Coke
• Dr. Pepper
• Celsius + Snickers combo
• Random snacks bought beforehand because “gas stations are overpriced”

Elite lineup.

And if we’re being honest, a Montana road trip isn’t complete without:

• one melted candy bar
• one regrettable energy drink
• and at least one tiny town convenience store that somehow has the best huckleberry ice cream you’ve ever had.

Where Are We Stopping?

Not every road trip needs a destination. Sometimes the vibe is the destination.

The team’s Montana stop recommendations included:

• Glacier National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Sip ‘n Dip in Great Falls
• Natural Bridge Falls
• Random river pull-offs
• The 50,000 Silver Dollar Store

Which feels like the perfect representation of Montana.

Half scenic wonder. Half roadside chaos.

The Junk Journal Test

We also asked the team what they’d save from the trip for a junk journal.

Answers included:

• flower clippings
• candy wrappers
• local coasters
• stickers
• postcards
• patches
• polaroids
• Yellowstone stamps
• literally “everything”

Which feels very "Log Off" coded.

Final Thoughts From The Passenger Seat

A Montana road trip isn’t really about getting somewhere fast.

It’s river stops. Gas station snacks. Fighting over music. Buying souvenirs you absolutely did not need. Watching the mountains change color at sunset somewhere between towns. Most importantly it is about who you surround yourself with.

And honestly.... We kind of think the outfit matters too.

So if you’re planning your own summer road trip through Bozeman, Yellowstone, Glacier, or literally just driving around looking for a swimming hole and a coffee shop…

We packed you something cute for it.

Shop the Summer Collection online or in-store at Intrigue Ink.  Coming June 2nd, 2026 

And if you take us on the road with you this summer?
Tag us in your adventures.

We want to see the gas station snacks too.