Planning a Montana Vacation? There are so many exciting adventures and places to visit in Montana! Whether you are whitewater rafting Big Sky, horseback riding Yellowstone, ziplining, fly fishing, or tubing the Madison River with Montana Whitewater, you are sure to enjoy some of our favorite places to visit in Montana. Without further delay, here are our top eleven picks for places to visit in Montana!
-
Little Bighorn Battlefield • Crow Agency, MT
This place of reflection memorializes the US Army’s 7th Cavalry and the Lakotas & Cheyennes in one of the Indian’s last armed efforts to preserve their way of life. See historic objects from the battle, wildlife, and Custer’s Last Stand Tour. Learn more.
-
Moss Mansion • Billings, MT
Built in 1903 by the entrepreneur Preston Boyd Moss, the Moss Mansion is now a symbol of the hope to inspire, educate, and to facilitate historic and cultural preservation activities for the community and future generations. Learn more.
-
The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas • Arlee, MT
Ewam Buddha Garden, open year-round as a public park, botanical garden, and Buddhist center in the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. Montana-made images of Buddha, arranged in the shape of an eight-spoked Dharma wheel, encircling Yum Chenmo – The Great Mother of Transcendent Wisdom. Learn more.
-
Ringing Rocks • Butte, MT
Just East of Butte and North of I-90 on BLM land right beyond the Pipestone trailhead. Rocks that resonate like a bell when struck, arranged in a pile. Intrestingly enough, if a boulder is removed from the pile, it no longer rings. Learn more.
-
Lewis & Clark Caverns • Whitehall, MT
Take a guided tour May 1 – September 30, into one of the largest known limestone caverns in the Northwest, or experience the trails on foot or by bike! If you happen to be around during the holiday season, the park offers Winter Holiday Candlelight Tours of the caverns. Learn more.
-
Western Heritage Center • Billings, MT
Previously the Parmly Billings Memorial Library, and affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, the mission of the WHC is to promote an appreciation of the history of the Northern High Plains by collecting, sharing, and preserving stories and more than 17,000 artifacts of Yellowstone Rivery Valley life. Learn more.
-
Grant-Kohrs Ranch • Deer Lodge, MT
The National Historic Site memorializes the role of cowboys in American history. Swing through the Visitor’s Center and sign up for a guided Ranch House Tour, or a Ranger Program tour like Blacksmithing, a Cowboy Talk, Wagon Tour, or an Evening in the Ranch! Learn more.
-
Pompeys Pillar • Yellowstone County, MT (Billings)
Pompey’s Pillar is the location where WIlliam Clark (of Lewis & Clark Expedition fame) carved his name and the date of his visit on a rock bluff next to the Yellowstone River. Spanning 51 acres, this is one of the smallest National Monuments in the U.S. Learn more.
-
Bannack State Park • Dillon, MT
This mining-town-ghost-town boasts 60 original structures from the 1800’s, including the Governor’s Mansion, the Masonic Hall, and the old hotel. Try your hand at gold panning, take a ghost walk tour, or attend the Mason’s Annual Meeting in September! Learn more.
-
Flathead Lake • Kalispell, MT
Glacially carved thousands of years ago, Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the West! It covers nearly 200 square miles, reaches a depth of 370 feet, and has more than 160 miles of beautiful shoreline. Plan your visit around cherry season: come in early May while the orchards that rim the lake are in full bloom, or July – August when it is prime harvest season. Learn more.
-
Virginia City Ghost Town • Virginia City, MT
This vibrant pioneer mining camp, frozen in time, is a must-see for Montana history! Visit the opera house for a truly unique performance, or go horseback riding through the streets and trails just like olden times. Do you like beer and ghosts? The Bale of Hay Saloon offers microbrews and ghost tours! Learn more.
Fun Fact!
The National Park Service offers cell phone audio tours through many of these areas for both walking and driving tours. Check our their app on iPhone or Android or visit their website for specific phone numbers to call in each area.