What to Pack for Yellowstone and Glacier That Will Not Go Bad

Two things surprise people driving Montana for the first time. Food inside the parks costs what it costs, and the distances between towns are longer than the map suggests.

Belgrade sits about eight miles from the Bozeman airport and on the way to both Yellowstone and the road north, which makes us the last sensible stop before the drive gets long.

What Works in a Car

The rule is anything that does not need a cooler, a fire, or a plan. Coolers work until the ice melts, which is usually the second day, and anything requiring preparation stays in the bag.

Smoked and cured meat solves this because it was preserved for these conditions long before anyone had a refrigerator. It rides in a glovebox, survives a hot car, and does not care how long the day gets.

Snack Stix, the Practical Answer

Stix are the format that fits the situation. Individually wrapped, no knife, no board, no crumbs, and you can eat one at a trailhead without stopping.

The beef version is the everyday one and the one kids will eat without discussion.

The buffalo version costs a couple of dollars more and is the one to hand somebody who has never had bison. It is leaner, slightly sweeter, and it makes the drive itself part of the trip.

Jerky for the Longer Days

Jerky takes longer to eat than a stick, which is the point on a four hour drive. It also holds up better in heat than almost anything else you could bring.

The teriyaki is the one that converts people who think they do not like jerky, since the sweetness rounds off the smoke. Buy two, because one package does not survive a day between two people.

Building a Real Lunch Instead

If you want something better than snacks, a summer sausage, a block of cheese, and crackers make a lunch at a pullout with no equipment beyond a pocket knife.

That combination has fed people in this state for a long time, and it beats waiting in line at a park concession by a distance.

What to Know About Bears

Anything with a smell belongs in the car or a bear box, never in a tent, and never in a backpack left at a trailhead. Cured meat is fragrant by design, which is the point of it and also the reason to be careful.

Standard park rules apply and they are worth following. The food is replaceable and the encounter is not.

Stop Before You Go

We are on the way, we open early, and we can put a bag together while you tell us where you are headed. Most people who stop on the way out stop again on the way back, which tells you something.

If you are flying in and renting a car, we are the first thing worth doing after the rental counter.

Questions We Get

Does jerky need refrigeration?
No. Our smoked and cured products are shelf stable until opened, which is why they belong in a car.

How far are you from Bozeman airport?
About eight miles.

What lasts longest in a hot car?
Jerky and snack stix. Summer sausage is fine too. Cheese is the one to keep out of direct sun.

Can I take this into Yellowstone?
Yes. Store it in your vehicle or a bear box, never in a tent.

Do you open early?
Our current hours are on the site. We are open before most people are ready to drive.