Planning your first trip to Montana?
We are so excited for you!
We hope you love our home state as much as we do. It’s hard not to fall in love with the beauty of the Big Sky State.
From the fields of green and gold that provide an understated loveliness on the eastern side of Montana, to the massive mountain peaks and teal glacial lakes in western Montana, and along the rushing rivers running throughout the state, Montana is a special place we hope you fall in love with, too.
But with so much to see across so much geography (Montana is the fourth largest state in the USA!), it can be hard to plan out an itinerary. We are here to help.
First off, a quick look at Montana by the numbers:
So yeah…there’s a lot to do in Montana!
Beautiful Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks
Let’s start by taking a look at the National Parks since they are what usually first draws people to Montana.
Ready to find out more about these national parks? Here are our top resources:
What to Know Before You Go to Yellowstone National Park
Best Things to See in Yellowstone National Park
Lodging Guide for Glacier National Park
Top Things to Do in Glacier National Park
Visiting Glacier National Park in the Winter
Best Hikes in Glacier National Park
Tips for Visiting Glacier National Park with Kids
Beyond the National Parks…More Things to Do in Montana
We love Yellowstone and Glacier! But Montana is so much more than just its entrances to those national parks.
If you’re wondering what else there is to do in Montana, start by reading these articles:
25 of the Best Things to Do in Montana
Best Places to Visit in Montana
Autumn Activity Guide for Montana
Winter Activities to Do in Montana
Best Vacations for Families in Montana
There are also many places to stay in Montana that are destinations unto themselves, like the resorts, lodges, and ranches we discuss here:
Best Dude Ranches in Montana
15 Best Family Resorts in Montana
You might have noticed there are some winter articles listed up there. That’s right, Montana is wonderful even in winter! In fact, one of the main questions we get asked is:
When is the best time to visit Montana?
And the answer is that it really depends, based on your interests and schedule. We break it down in our in-depth article on the subject:
We also have season-specific and month-specific guides you can check out:
Where to Find Fall Color in Montana
Montana in June Guide
Montana in July Guide
Montana in October Guide
Montana in November Guide
Skiing & Other Winter Activities in Montana
Of course, if skiing is at the top of your Montana to-do list, then you’ll most definitely want to go in winter. Montana is an amazing place to ski. If that’s on your agenda, start with these articles that talk about skiing and more winter fun in Montana:
Best Ski Resorts in Montana
Cross-Country Skiing Guide for Montana
Things to Do in Montana in Winter
How to Spend Christmas in Montana
Montana Summer on the Lake
In summer, the lakes of Montana are where it’s at. Here are some of our favorite water destinations in Montana to get away to:
The Best Flathead Lake Activities
Swan Lake Activities Guide
Boating Bighorn Canyon and Yellowtail Dam
Ultimate Guide to the Gates of the Mountain and Holter Lake
Beautiful Lakes in Glacier National Park
Montana City and Town Life
No matter what season you’re visiting, you’ll want to check out some of Montana’s gorgeous towns and cities.
To experience small town life, drive through the open country roads dotted with tiny farm town in eastern Montana.
Montana isn’t known for having a cosmopolitan city vibe (the biggest city in the state is Billings, which only has a population of 110,000), but what you will find is friendly locals, delicious farm-to-table restaurants, stellar breweries, and historic buildings from the gold rush and early locomotive eras.
In Glacier Country (aka northwest Montana), we love the cute and artsy downtown areas of Whitefish and Bigfork. The historic walk in Kalispell is also interesting to do. A drive down to the university city of Missoula is also beautiful and takes you to one of Montana’s more liberal cities.
To explore some history, head to Central Montana and visit the old mining town of Butte with its lovely Victorian homes and the capital city of Helena with its stately capitol surrounded by mountain peaks.
In Yellowstone Country, don’t miss exploring Bozeman and Livingston. (And for you fans of the Yellowstone TV show, this is the area where it takes place and some of the filming takes place there. Filming also was done in the town of Darby, located in Southwest Montana’s Bitterroot Valley.)
Hope this helps you navigate Travel Montana Now better — and the state of Montana itself!
Have a question? Find us on Facebook at @weheartmontana
