Montana is full of hidden gems for adventure seekers of all types. Let C&I help you create your Montana summer travel itinerary.
There’s a reason Montana is known as The Treasure State. From dazzling natural wonders to cities rich with culture, history, and art, Montana is the jewel of any summer itinerary. There’s so much to explore, it’s hard to know where to start. So C&I teamed up with Visit Montana to curate some of the best Montana experiences across each region of Big Sky Country.
Travel Central Montana
Eat
In Montana’s historic capital of Helena, fuel up on some delicious sweet treats at Vanilla Bean Bakery & Café. Then hop in the car for the hour-and-a-half drive north to Augusta for a meal at Lazy B Bar & Café. Head to Fort Benton for some fine dining at Union Grille, or sit back with a cocktail at The Jawbone on your way through White Sulphur Springs.
Stay
For a nice cozy spot between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, book your stay at Stage Stop Inn in Choteau. For a winning combo of luxury and history, check in to the Grand Union Hotel in Fort Benton, a property with over 100 years of hospitality. Yogo Inn in Lewistown offers a traditional hotel experience with all the amenities you need for maximum comfort. For a modern twist on the traditional resort experience, The Edith Hotel in White Sulphur Springs is a stylish place to stay, swim, and golf.
Love
Outdoorsy: Tread the same trails as Lewis and Clark and uncover Indigenous history at Tower Rock State Park in the picturesque town of Cascade. Explore the 1,009,353 acres of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, accessible from a number of neighboring cities, such as Seeley Lake, Swan Lake, Hungry Horse, Kalispell, Ovando, and Lincoln. Get in some guided hiking, horseback riding, or fishing at Mills Wilderness Adventures in Augusta. For an all-important selfie opportunity, head over to historic mine remains and pristine beauty of Sluice Boxes State Park, located just outside of Great Falls. Finish off your Central Montana adventure with the small-town vibe of White Sulphur Springs, where mineralized hot springs, fishing, and historic sites are just a few of the pleasures to enjoy.
Indoorsy: Head to Augusta and shop local wares at the trendy boutique Latigo & Lace. Pop over to Choteau for some kid-friendly diversions at the Old Trail Museum, where history, geology, and science converge in a plethora of fun and interactive exhibits. For history buffs, the Central Montana Historical Museum in Lewistown offers a wide array of artifacts, exhibits, and photo opportunities. Art fans can revel in “the Kid” in Great Falls, where you can visit the home and studio of famed Western artist Charles M. Russell.
Travel Eastern Montana
Makoshika State Park
Eat
Soak in the small-town vibe of Melrose with live music and good eats at The Hitchin’ Post. Have dinner and a drink in Havre: prime steak at Bow & Marrow and something spirited at the Crawford Distillery. In historic Miles City, get your grill on at the Black Iron Grill, or step into the Old West at The Historic Montana Bar.
Stay
Experience maximum comfort with natural hot springs, luxury amenities, and breathtaking nature at Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs Resort in Saco. Enjoy the small-town feel complete with 1930s charm when you drop your bags at Fort Peck Hotel in Fort Peck, a quaint inn registered on the National Register of Historical Buildings. Get in with the locals and stay close to the action at the family-owned Historic Olive Hotel & Lounge in Miles City.
Love
Outdoorsy: Head to Phillips County for a plunge into the past at Lookout Cave, where visitors can view pictographs, cultural materials, and other artifacts of our prehistoric ancestors. Explore the natural bridges, arches, and windows of Hays County’s Mission Canyon, located on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Want to get a little more prehistoric? Take a museum tour through the Montana Dinosaur Trail, a series of 14 museums, state parks, and other attractions that explore Montana’s dinosaur history. Start at the Carter County Museum in Ekalaka and work your way from east to west. Marvel at Montana’s famous badland formations at Makoshika State Park, located just outside of Glendive, along the Yellowstone River.
Indoorsy: Eastern Montana is a history-buff heaven, with tons of prehistoric sites and cultural history to explore. Continue your Indigenous history education with a visit to the St. Paul Mission, a Gothic-style church erected in 1898 in Hays County. Step back 100 years into the world of Havre’s hidden underground at the Havre Beneath the Streets Historical Underground Tour. Take a guided tour through one of the region’s most significant and well-preserved early Indigenous sites at the Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump, which features the remains of a 2,000-year-old wooden bison corral among many more remnants of early Indigenous civilizations in Montana. After a day of exploration and education, kick back and soak at Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs in Saco.
BONUS: Plan an August stay near the Fort Belknap Reservation to experience the iconic Hays Powwow.
Travel Northwest Montana
Willow Creek Reservoir
Eat
Relax with a beer and enjoy live music at Cabinet Mountain Brewing Company in Libby, or meet some new friends at Bigfork’s Montana Bonfire. Fuel up with some coffee at Pocketstone Café in Bigfork, and then get your Mexican food fix at Serranos Mexican Restaurant in East Glacier Park.
Stay
Park yourself right in the middle of Montana’s greatest natural wonders at Glacier Park Lodge, located in the southwest pocket of Glacier National Park. Give yourself a traditional dude ranch experience with Rich’s Montana Guest Ranch in Seeley Lake, complete with horseback riding, fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling. Disappear into nature at Bridge Street Cottages, a beautiful collection of accommodations in an elevated fishing cabin design nestled right up against Swan River. Located just five miles outside of the bustling Bigfork, Mountain Lake Lodge is a great traditional kickback with all of the top resort must-haves.
Love
Outdoorsy: Explore the convergence of Indigenous heritage and contemporary art at the Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild International Sculpture Park in Lincoln. View the breathtaking nature of Swan Lake on the back of a llama with Swan Mountain Llama Trekking. Opt for a more relaxing adventure and meander on the water along the Clearwater River Canoe Trail in Seeley Lake. Get lost among the awe-inspiring ancient western red cedars of the Ross Creek Cedar Grove Scenic Area, located in the Kootenai National Forest. End your outdoor adventure with a splash at Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River.
Indoorsy: Up for a little haunting? Explore the former Wild West town of Garnet, Montana’s most well-preserved ghost town. Discover the colorful side of Montana’s settlement, mining, and logging history at the Heritage Museum in Libby. Shop and mingle at Electric Avenue in Bigfork for a variety of local vendors. Finish your trip with a treasure trove of Indigenous history, artifacts, and culture at the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning.
BONUS: Northwest Montana is the home of the Blackfeet Nation. Plan your vacation around one of the many cultural events open to the public, including the North American Indian Days and Heart Butte Society Celebration, or visit the Blackfeet Trading Post and Blackfeet Outfitters.
Check out Visit Montana’s full road trip itinerary.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Visit Montana