How far into intergalactic space would you have to go to see the Milky Way?
We can calculate the distance we need to be from an object in order for it to be any arbitrary angular size using the formula $D=\frac{d}{2\tan(\frac12\delta)}$.  In this case, $D$ is the distance from the object, $d$ is its diameter, and $\delta$ is the angular size.  The Milky Way's diameter is 100,000 light years.  If we want the Milky Way to appear as large as the Sun appears from the Earth (0.5$^\circ$), we would need to be 5,700,000 light years away.  If we want it to appear much larger, we could be closer.  For the Milky Way to be the size of a 1 meter circle held at arm's length (90$^\circ$), we would need to be 50,000 light years away.