If you might be in search of a memorable US getaway, visiting the state of Montana is the right plan. Montana is stuffed with fascinating locations and has among the nation’s greatest artwork galleries and nationwide parks. Montana uniquely balances cultural points of interest for historical past buffs and tradition lovers and outside actions for thrill-seekers. Immerse your self in outdated conventional western aptitude or head out for a day of climbing trails and mountaineering.
But what are the very best locations to go to in Montana? Do you head to Eastern Montana or Western Montana? To Glacier National Park or to the city of Great Falls? This information will break down the easiest locations to go to in Montana. Let’s get straight into it.
Best cities and cities to go to in Montana
Some of the very best locations to go to in Montana are its cities and cities. You’ll discover many vacationer points of interest, cultures, and communities in these locations – good for getting a actual really feel of Montana dwelling. These are our prime eleven greatest cities and cities in Montana.
1. Helena
Helena is Montana’s capital metropolis. If you need motion, tradition, and a energetic however pleasant ambiance, Helena is the place to go to in Montana. The metropolis is full of artwork galleries, museums, and historic structure. You’ll spend a number of time in your toes, be it strolling Reeder’s Alley or by the reveals on the Montana Historical Society.
Helena was initially a gold camp in the Montana gold rush. Its glitzy historical past is recognizable thanks to town’s wealth immediately, and guests can get pleasure from wandering the elegant historic buildings – particularly in the downtown district.
Of course, you’ll be able to’t go to a state capital with out visiting the State Capitol Building both. Montana State Capitol is properly value visiting for its architectural and political historical past.
2. Big Sky
Have you heard of Big Sky Country? If not, Big Sky is a small ski city in the Rocky Mountain area of Southwest Montana. The city is most well-known for Big Sky Resort and is without doubt one of the greatest locations to go to in Montana for a winter getaway.
According to Forbes, the city is surrounded by ‘5,850 skiable acres. Whether you want to learn to ski or are already a pro, you’ll love the fierce winter sports activities tradition. Visiting Big Sky in winter means a number of snow, snowboarding, and après ski. For a winter wonderland expertise, you actually can’t do higher. Plus, Big Sky is simply an hour’s drive from the western entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
If you might be visiting Big Sky in winter, make sure that to seize your ski leases right here earlier than you go. It makes issues far more handy.
3. Philipsburg
Philipsburg is small however mighty. First and foremost, it’s a mining city. Philipsburg has saved an industrial, outdated west ambiance that makes it a implausible place to go to. The tiny city is not any shy wallflower on Montana’s vacationer scene both and has scored the title of essentially the most stunning small city in Montana. If you want immersive historical past and small cities, look no additional.
Granite County Museum is a superb place to uncover Philipsburg’s outdated mining trade, whereas Granite Ghost Town State Park is one other gem to go to. The deserted city is the remnants of the area’s golden years throughout the mining increase of the late Nineteenth century. Immerse your self in Philipsburg and its surrounding space’s distinct characters.
4. Garryowen
Garryowen will get its title from an outdated Irish marching music. The city itself has sturdy army hyperlinks, and it was shaped as a cavalry station. One of the city’s greatest points of interest, Custer National Cemetery, is a army graveyard marked by the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Visitors can stroll to mass burial websites marked by white memorials and go to the customer middle and museum on-site.
Nowadays, Garryowen is situated on Crow Indian Reservation. If you have an interest in Nineteenth-century American historical past or army historical past in common, Garryowen is a superb place to go to. You can be taught in regards to the city’s historical past, pay respects to native Native American tradition, or go to the Little Bighorn National Monument.
5. Great Falls
Great Falls is a surprising riverside metropolis situated in central Montana. Great Falls is called considerably of a cultural hub, and also you’ll discover museum after museum in town. You can spend your days visiting the C.M. Russell Museum, Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, or the Children’s Museum of Montana. There’s even the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, which follows the story of the Lewis & Clark western expedition with distinctive reveals, movies, and shows.
Great Falls is a wonderful selection in order for you an fascinating cultural base in central Montana. It has a energetic metropolis ambiance and is barely a two-hour drive from Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest and Giant Springs State Park – house to one of many largest pure sizzling springs in the US.
6. Bozeman
Want a nice keep in Montana? Bozeman is taken into account essentially the most habitable place in the state, making it the most effective locations to go to in Montana for a laidback getaway.
In town middle, there are extra points of interest than you’ll be able to depend. Bozeman itself is situated simply exterior of the mountainous area round Big Sky, with loads of small cities and areas of pure magnificence to discover on a day journey. If you don’t thoughts a two-hour drive, there’s Yellowstone to your south and Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest to your north.
Bozeman can also be house to Montana State University, giving town a sociable, pleasant ambiance. You can head to the trendiest eateries, soak in Bozeman Hot Springs, or benefit from town’s implausible location for day journeys in nature. Bozeman is the right compromise between metropolis dwelling and entry to pure wonders.
7. Whitefish
Like Big Sky, Whitefish is slightly resort city that floods with skiers each winter. The city is without doubt one of the greatest locations to go to for outside enjoyable and adrenaline sports activities. Whitefish is scenically located on the outskirts of Glacier National Park and has gorgeous alpine views – good for stunning surroundings whereas cross-country snowboarding. There’s additionally an enormous freshwater lake, the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from a dip or spend a while fly fishing in summer time.
Whitefish’s well-known ski resort is Whitefish Mountain Resort. If you desire a vacation full of out of doors actions and winter sports activities, Whitefish Mountain Resort is a implausible place to stick with a ton of services, tools leases, and shuttles.
This is a superb place to base your self for a go to to Glacier National Park. This personal full-day tour has one thing for everybody!
8. Missoula
9. Choteau
Choteau may appear off the crushed observe and unassuming. However, the city is without doubt one of the greatest paleontology websites in the world. Exciting, proper? If you like all the pieces fossils and geology, then a go to to Choteau needs to be on the playing cards. In reality, its close by Egg Mountain was used as a breeding floor for dinosaurs tens of millions of years in the past. In close by Bynum, you’ll be able to take part in fossil digs on the Montana Dinosaur Center.
Old Trail Museum is the key attraction in Choteau itself. The museum covers all the pieces from dinosaurs to teepees. Old Trail Museum is an ideal stop-off and place to spend an hour or two, particularly for those who like your museums eclectic.
Missoula has change into often called a pure retreat, regardless of its metropolis standing. The metropolis is split into two by the Clark Fork River, famed for its Blue Trout (take observe for those who love fishing). Situated in Western Montana, Missoula is correct subsequent to the Idaho border and is inside driving distance from Lolo and Flathead National Forests. Missoula is a good looking place to go to in order for you to base your self in Western Montana.
Of course, town additionally has a number of its personal points of interest, together with the Missoula Art Museum. While historical past lovers can be taught extra at Missoula Natural History Museum and the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula.
10. Butte
Butte was as soon as a gold and silver mining camp. A few centuries later, Butte is now the most effective locations to go to in Montana and one of many state’s most booming cities. Butte is someplace to recognize Montana’s previous whereas having fun with the current second. The metropolis has nice historic points of interest and a implausible leisure scene.
You can uncover town’s humble beginnings on the World Museum of Mining. You can even peer into Berkeley Pit (an outdated copper mine) from a viewing stand inside straightforward strolling distance from town middle. Alternatively, have a flutter by visiting Richest Hill. Richest Hill is Butte’s on line casino and the middle of its nightlife and partying scene – nice in order for you to let your hair down.
11. Virginia City
Virginia City is one in all our absolute favourite locations in Montana. The city is a whole time capsule, from log cabins to outdated western road indicators. Get prepared to be transported again to Nineteenth-century Montana.
The city has a small museum known as the Thomas-Hickman Museum. You can even catch a efficiency on the Virginia City Opera House. However, the primary draw of Virginia City is to simply stroll the normal city foremost road and absorb the outdated western structure and ambiance. Virginia City is definitely essentially the most genuine place to go to in Montana. You’ll find it irresistible, particularly for those who love immersive historical past.
Best pure locations to go to in Montana
Now that we’ve coated the very best cities and cities, let’s take a look at the very best pure locations to go to in Montana. From nationwide parks to state parks, these are our prime ten suggestions.
12. Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is a celeb amongst US nationwide parks. You’ll discover the world’s largest assortment of geysers, together with Old Faithful. There are additionally extra sizzling springs, mountains, and animals than you’ll give you the option to depend. If you desire a nationwide park that can present lifelong recollections, Yellowstone National Park is the one.
Yellowstone truly straddles Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. While the most important part of the park is in Wyoming, you’ll be able to expertise some elements in Montana – or simply enable time to cross the borders and see as a lot as attainable. Some points of interest, just like the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center (close to the West Yellowstone entrance) and the Museum of Yellowstone, are in Montana. Others, like Old Faithful, are situated in Wyoming, so that you’ll want to enable additional journey time.
If you have an interest in climbing don’t miss our suggestions for the Best Hikes in Yellowstone, full with issue scores and elevation.
In West Yellowstone, you’ll discover the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center. The animal refuge middle has resident grizzly bears, gray wolves, and birds of prey. It is a wonderful place to go to in order for you to assist an area not-for-profit and don’t handle to spot animals in the wild.
Fancy an adrenaline rush? Go whitewater rafting down Yellowstone River. Yellowstone River snakes by the nationwide park’s middle with many thrilling sections of rapids – good for an adventurous day trip.
13. Flathead National Forest
How does 2.4 million acres of mountain forests sound? In winter, you’ll be able to zip by Flathead National Forest on snowmobiles and skis. In spring and summer time, you’ll have climbing trails galore and no scarcity of area for tenting and multi-day treks. Flathead National Forest is a wonderful pure place to go to in Montana, whatever the season.
The forest is house to many animals, together with black bears and grizzlies. You’ll see bighorn sheep, elk, moose, and mules. And, for those who maintain your eyes on the skies, you might get fortunate and catch sight of an eagle or owl. Flathead National Forest is without doubt one of the most rewarding pure locations to go to in the state of Montana.
14. Gates of the Mountains Wilderness
Just exterior of Helena, the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness is without doubt one of the most accessible locations of pure magnificence to go to in Montana. It can also be some of the thrilling to discover since the easiest way includes hopping on a ship.
The nature protect is located alongside a piece of the Missouri River that winds by a jaw-dropping mountain park. Sailing up the river, you’ll be able to admire and be humbled by the size of the mountain vary surrounding you – undoubtedly carry a digicam.
You can take a guided tour or hire water sports activities tools to recognize the Gates independently. The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness is greatest visited in heat, dry climate, as crusing can get extraordinarily chilly with the sturdy breeze and publicity to the weather. We advocate visiting in late spring or summer time for the very best expertise. Plus, the mountains might be coated in stunning greenery throughout these months.
15. Giant Springs State Park
The title Giant Springs State Park speaks for itself. The park is house to one of many US’s largest freshwater springs, and the Giant Springs produces an unimaginable 156 million gallons of water each day. It is claimed that water takes roughly 26 years to attain the springs from its origin in the Little Belt mountains – an enchanting idea.
Aside from viewing this pure phenomenon although, guests can benefit from river actions like fishing, swimming, and boating. There are additionally trails for mountain biking and horseback driving in order for you to discover slightly in another way than on foot. The park was first found on the Lewis & Clark Expedition in 1805 and is a vital location in the early mapping of Montana.
Giant Springs is the very best place for you for those who like pure points of interest with a big community of trails and a historic backstory.
16. Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is a wonderful pure place to go to in Montana. The 3,000-acre park is greatest recognized for its limestone caverns, named the Clark Caverns. Visitors can take guided excursions into the Clark Caverns for an final caving expertise. Allow just below two hours for a tour of the caverns, however a complete day to expertise the very best of the park.
The park is an thrilling place to witness underground magnificence and discover stunning hikes in the sunshine above floor. It is undoubtedly some of the distinctive locations to go to in Montana in order for you to expertise pure magnificence.
17. Flathead Lake State Park
Flathead Lake is cut up into six totally different park sections, so select which space you need to go to correctly (our favourite is West Shore). The park is located round Flathead Lake, making it preferrred for fishing, swimming, and water sports activities actions. The park is the very best place to spend a lake-side vacation and is dreamy in late spring and summer time.
Flathead Lake is an effective choice if you’re in search of nice tenting spots in Montana. The park has many well-established campgrounds with loads of services, which is superb in order for you a soothing, entry-level tenting expertise.
18. Spring Meadow Lake State Park
Spring Meadow Lake State Park is a cheeky addition to our listing of pure magnificence spots. The 61-acre park has a synthetic lake – so technically, it’s a artifical space of magnificence. However, it’s so gorgeous we simply had to add it to the listing.
The park is greatest for many who need clear trails and purpose-made strolling paths. You can comply with the paths, cease for a chew to eat on one of many picnic benches, or get pleasure from some water actions. Spring Meadow Lake State Park is a well-liked spot for kayaking and paddle boarding, and you may rent tools on-site for those who don’t have your personal to carry alongside.
The better part about Spring Meadow Lake State Park is that it’s situated simply exterior of Helena. The park is lower than a ten-minute drive from Helena’s middle and a good way to get a while in the outside throughout a metropolis break.
19. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Have you ever seen a wild horse? If not, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is the place you simply may. With a little bit of luck, you’ll spot herds of untamed horses when exploring the realm’s climbing trails. There are additionally loads of ranches the place you’ll be able to saddle up to see the wild horses on horseback.
Located on the Montana-Wyoming border, the realm is centered round Bighorn Canyon itself, which is certainly value visiting. You can drive to scenic overlooks or hike to essentially the most distant but rewarding viewpoints – it’s completely up to you. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is stuffed with surprises and thrilling issues to see.
20. Makoshika State Park
Meet the most important state park in Montana. Makoshika State Park is overflowing with fossils, and dinosaur lovers might be ecstatic at seeing the fossil stays of dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops. Families observe this park down in your little ones. But adults don’t miss out on the enjoyable both – Makoshika State Park impresses all ages.
Start your go to on the customer middle, the place you’ll be able to admire a sequence of interpretive reveals and the very best dinosaur fossils. Then you’ll be able to hike the Montana Dinosaur Trail for the final word paleontology expertise. Allow a complete day to go to as there may be a lot to see, and also you don’t need to rush.
21. Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument
Now the Missouri River is the longest river in the US, so, except you need to sail the size of it (which might be an thrilling journey), you’ll have to select a small part to go to. The river cuts by Montana east to west, passing a number of riverside cities and cities. However, our favourite place to benefit from the river is the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.
Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument is a 377,000-acre nationwide park and the best spot for a riverside journey. You can kayak, swim, or hike. To expertise the Missouri River, the nationwide park is the very best and quietest place in Montana.
Of course, you may also indulge in a river rafting expertise to pump your adrenaline or sit alongside the river banks for some enjoyable fly fishing. North Montana can also be full of various points of interest like Bear Gulch Pictographs and the Phillips County Museum that you may mix with visiting the park.
22. Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is gorgeous. There’s no denying it. In specific, its climbing is famend as among the greatest in the US, and you may learn our full information on the very best climbing trails in Glacier National Park right here. The park is certain to impress regardless of the season and regardless of your pursuits.
If you might be in a rush, we advocate visiting Lake Mcdonald and Logan Pass. Lake Mcdonald is the park’s largest lake and is a picture-perfect alpine vacation spot with nonetheless water and mountainous views. Logan Pass is a dramatic elevation move on the Continental Divide, with beautiful surroundings and plenty of mountain goats to spot. You can’t go incorrect with a go to to Glacier National Park.
Final Thoughts
Montana is unimaginable. The state has a dreamy mixture of pure wonders and historic cities and cities to discover. By visiting Montana, you’ll be visiting among the greatest locations in the US – prepare to begin ticking off your bucket listing.
If you might have the prospect, attempt to go to as many of those locations as attainable for the final word Montana expertise. We hope you might have a implausible journey.