If you live in Montana and you’re not regularly taking road trips (when the ground isn’t completely covered in snow, of course), you’re missing out on some incredible experiences. We highly recommend adding these 5 itineraries to your road trip list — they’re truly unforgettable.
- Glacier National Park to Yellowstone National Park
Bernd Thaller / Flickr Take this road trip during the summer, and allow yourself at least a week to enjoy it (longer if possible). There are two main routes you can take, but we recommend taking US-83 S and I-90 E.
Micah Sheldon / Flickr Make sure to stop at Seeley Lake to stretch your legs and take some beautiful photos. You’ll come right to it on Highway 83.
David / Flickr You’ll pass through some of Montana’s coolest towns (Deer Lodge and Ennis, for example) and unbelievable scenery before entering Yellowstone National Park from West Yellowstone.
- Missoula to Bozeman
Visit Missoula Facebook This might be a short 3-hour trek, but that doesn’t mean it’s dull. In fact, there’s plenty to see in both cities as well as that stretch of I-90.
Ken Lund / Flickr Make sure to stop by Deer Lodge and tour the Old Montana Prison Complex. Continue your history lesson with a stop in Butte, where you can tour an old mine or check out a brothel museum.
Visit Bozeman Facebook Once you arrive in Bozeman, all you’ll have to do is explore the city. This is your chance to compare Missoula and Bozeman and see which one you like better.
- Great Falls to Havre
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr Montana history buffs will love this trip. You’ll start in Great Falls, home of the world’s smallest river (the Roe), and drive through historic Fort Benton, see the Virgelle Mercantile and check out plenty of other pieces of Montana’s past.
Don Barrett / Flickr The drive up US 87 N is only two hours, so you’ll have plenty of time to stop and explore Fort Benton, Montana’s oldest continuously populated town.
Eric O’Brien / Flickr Prepare to be charmed by the little town of Havre. A perfect retreat for nature lovers and history buffs, Havre has a lot to offer —especially the historic Havre Beneath the Streets tour.
- Billings to Fort Peck to Makoshika State Park
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr This is more of a weekend getaway trip than a single-day destination, but you’ll see some of Eastern Montana’s finest gems. Start in our largest city, Billings, exploring the always expanding dining scene, shops, and museums.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr The route takes you up US-87 N and US-12 E. And speaking of dining scenes, you’ll want to make a stop at one of Montana’s oldest and most notorious spots, the Jersey Lilly. The building dates back to 1914 when it was a bank, and now they serve the best beans in the state.
U.S. Army Corps / Flickr Keep driving on Highway 200 and you’ll eventually turn onto MT-24 N until you reach the impressive Fort Peck Dam and lake, a sight you’ll definitely want to see.
Brett Whaley / Flickr End your journey by spending some time at Makoshika State Park, Eastern Montana’s most underrated treasure.
- Kalispell to Kootenai Falls
Holly Hayes / Flickr Northwest Montana is exceptionally beautiful, and Kootenai Falls makes a stunning day trip destination. This two-hour road trip takes you from Kalispell to the falls via US-2 W, with plenty of scenery along the way.
Richard Bauer / Flickr Make a pit stop in the always pleasant town of Libby and fill your belly at the Last Straw Cafe.
irmiller / Flickr And then, of course, there’s this. Kootenai Falls is easily accessible — park in a designated lot and walk to a suspension bridge (which is exhilarating but not scary) to see these views.
The best way to see Montana is by car. Check out these 7 amazing road trips we mapped out for Montanans.
Bernd Thaller / Flickr
Take this road trip during the summer, and allow yourself at least a week to enjoy it (longer if possible). There are two main routes you can take, but we recommend taking US-83 S and I-90 E.
Micah Sheldon / Flickr
Make sure to stop at Seeley Lake to stretch your legs and take some beautiful photos. You’ll come right to it on Highway 83.
David / Flickr
You’ll pass through some of Montana’s coolest towns (Deer Lodge and Ennis, for example) and unbelievable scenery before entering Yellowstone National Park from West Yellowstone.
Visit Missoula Facebook
This might be a short 3-hour trek, but that doesn’t mean it’s dull. In fact, there’s plenty to see in both cities as well as that stretch of I-90.
Ken Lund / Flickr
Make sure to stop by Deer Lodge and tour the Old Montana Prison Complex. Continue your history lesson with a stop in Butte, where you can tour an old mine or check out a brothel museum.
Visit Bozeman Facebook
Once you arrive in Bozeman, all you’ll have to do is explore the city. This is your chance to compare Missoula and Bozeman and see which one you like better.
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr
Montana history buffs will love this trip. You’ll start in Great Falls, home of the world’s smallest river (the Roe), and drive through historic Fort Benton, see the Virgelle Mercantile and check out plenty of other pieces of Montana’s past.
Don Barrett / Flickr
The drive up US 87 N is only two hours, so you’ll have plenty of time to stop and explore Fort Benton, Montana’s oldest continuously populated town.
Eric O’Brien / Flickr
Prepare to be charmed by the little town of Havre. A perfect retreat for nature lovers and history buffs, Havre has a lot to offer —especially the historic Havre Beneath the Streets tour.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
This is more of a weekend getaway trip than a single-day destination, but you’ll see some of Eastern Montana’s finest gems. Start in our largest city, Billings, exploring the always expanding dining scene, shops, and museums.
The route takes you up US-87 N and US-12 E. And speaking of dining scenes, you’ll want to make a stop at one of Montana’s oldest and most notorious spots, the Jersey Lilly. The building dates back to 1914 when it was a bank, and now they serve the best beans in the state.
U.S. Army Corps / Flickr
Keep driving on Highway 200 and you’ll eventually turn onto MT-24 N until you reach the impressive Fort Peck Dam and lake, a sight you’ll definitely want to see.
Brett Whaley / Flickr
End your journey by spending some time at Makoshika State Park, Eastern Montana’s most underrated treasure.
Holly Hayes / Flickr
Northwest Montana is exceptionally beautiful, and Kootenai Falls makes a stunning day trip destination. This two-hour road trip takes you from Kalispell to the falls via US-2 W, with plenty of scenery along the way.
Richard Bauer / Flickr
Make a pit stop in the always pleasant town of Libby and fill your belly at the Last Straw Cafe.
irmiller / Flickr
And then, of course, there’s this. Kootenai Falls is easily accessible — park in a designated lot and walk to a suspension bridge (which is exhilarating but not scary) to see these views.
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