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Montana Vacation Guide

About Montana

Travel in Montana is a special experience. The state is unlike other places people normally visit. Enjoy!

In area, Montana is a large state, slightly bigger than the entire country of Germany. But not many people live here. Montana’s population is just over one million, about equal to San Jose, California. So there’s plenty of room to roam in both rural places and cities.

Lower Falls Yellowstone
The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park, Photo by Neal Herbert, courtesy U.S. National Park Service.

Most residents are of European descent with the earliest explorers and settlers arriving in the state after the year 1800. German, Irish, English, and Norwegian heritage are common. Many Indigenous Peoples, first to arrive and cherish lands of the western hemisphere, as far back as 17,500 years ago, are at home here, as well.

Eastern Montana is an area of vast rolling plains. Grasslands with few trees dominate the landscape. Huge wheat farms and cattle ranches are common.

In central Montana, the plains are dotted with small mountain ranges. Cattle ranching and farming are a way of life. Mule deer and antelope roam the prairies throughout this region.

Glacier Park Chalet
Glacier Park Chalet, Glacier National Park, Photo courtesy Glacier Guides dot com in the town of West Glacier, Mont.

Western Montana is a region of magnificent mountains. Welcome to the Rocky Mountains. The Absaroka Range near Livingston is covered with snow much of the year and peaks reach over 11,000 feet in elevation. The pristine landscape is home to mountain lions and grizzly bears. Rainbow and brown trout are abundant in streams and rivers.

A good share of visitors in Montana are attracted by the wonders and scenery found in Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. About four million visitors tour Yellowstone each year, and more than three million visitors go to Glacier. But the state has much more to offer those who take time to explore and experience lesser know attractions.




In the great outdoors, fishing, hiking, camping, boating, golfing, skiing, and horseback riding are popular activities. Cultural events galore appeal to visitors, too. It’s an ideal and fun place to vacation.

westslope trout
Westslope Cutthroat Trout. Montana’s state fish. Photo by Jonny Armstrong, courtesy U.S. Geological Society.

 

Eagle Bend Golf
Amazing! 26-hole Championship golf course in Bigfork, Mont. Photo by Derrick Mitchell, Eagle Bend Golf Club.

Savvy visitors also seek out and enjoy the state’s many interesting historical places and landmarks. They find many wonderful museums in cities, big and small.

Rainfall is low in most areas, often less than 13 inches, annually. Temperatures in western mountain valleys are generally moderate the year-round. In eastern areas, on the plains, days can be very hot in the summer and very cold in winter.



Other cities: Butte, pop. 34,284 •Glendive, pop. 5,332  •Miles City, pop. 8,647 •Lewistown, pop. 5,870 •Havre, pop. 9.846 •Dillon, pop. 4,257

The western part of the state is a top destination for families and others who like spending time outdoors. Amazing scenery is everywhere. The larger cities in western Montana offer a taste western hospitality and culture. Wonderful experiences also await tourists who travel to the small towns of central and eastern Montana, out on the plains.

 

Absaroka Mountain, Mont.
© 2022 John Sandy

Current Weather

Current weather in Montana cities: Check the weather often.  Find weather here for cities across the state. Weather can change quickly in the mountains and on the plains. Be prepared.

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  • Glacier
  • Yellowstone
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  • Kalispell
  • Great Falls
  • Montana Travel Books
  • Montana Traveler X Feed
  • Travel Southwest Montana
  • Travel South-Central and Southeast Montana
  • Travel Northwest Montana
  • Travel North-Central and Northeast Montana
  • Travel Central Montana
  • SiteSearch+
  • Local Search for Tourists
  • Photo Gallery Montana

About Montana

Enjoy the Treasure State. Learn about people and places.

 

 

 

Books on travel in the Treasure State. A few history books, too. Snag and read a few books before you go.

 

Hotels and Bed & Breakfasts

Wonderful lodging of all kinds is available for travelers in most cities, big and small. Here are a few choices that are sure to please. Prices for rooms are a bit higher during the peak tourist season. Lodging in Montana is still a good value, however.

Explore The Best

Experience the Treasure State

  • Adventure Fly Fishing on the Madison River in Montana
  • Watching Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montana
  • An Adventure Hiking in Glacier National Park in Montana
  • Dining on Culinary Journey to Bozeman, Montana
  • An Adventure Horseback Riding in Montana
  • Go to Official Montana Travel Website
  • Highest Mountain Peaks in Montana, with Elevation, County, and Mountain Range
  • Gates of the Mountains. Montana Painting for Sale
  • Fishing in the Bitterroot River in Montana
  • Fishing on the Madison River in Montana
  • Fishing the Upper Missouri River in Montana
  • Minnesota farms and farming undergo major changes in 1940s and 1950s: A revolution in farm machinery sweep the land
  • Horseback Riding in Montana
  • Trip planning Glacier National Park Montana.
  • Skiing Montana
  • Radon Health Mines
  • Glacier Park Chalets
  • Thomas Cruse: Prospector, Banker, and Rancher
  • Lookout Cabin Rentals
  • Montana National Forests
  • Bozeman Hotels
  • Yellowstone Park Entrances
  • Current Weather in Montana
  • Glacier Park Webcams
  • Blackfeet Tribe and Glacier Park
  • Saint Mary Lake
  • Glacier Reborn
  • Wildlife Refuges
  • Montana on my Mind
  • Best Museums
  • Ghost Towns in Montana
  • Many Glacier Hotel
  • Luxury Ranches and Resorts
  • Trail of the Cedars
  • Glacier Wildlife Gallery

RSS Glacier Official News

  • Glacier Park updates for Mother’s Day weekend 08/05/2025
  • Glacier National Park Taking Comments on Multiple Utility Projects 06/03/2025
  • Glacier National Park’s Fire Management Plan Environmental Assessment available for public input 10/02/2025
  • Timed Entry Vehicle Reservations open February 13 07/02/2025

RSS Yellowstone Official News

  • Man gored by bison in Yellowstone National Park 07/05/2025
  • Select Yellowstone National Park entrances and roads open to public April 18 10/04/2025
  • Yellowstone National Park's winter season begins Dec. 15, 2024 10/12/2024

Hiking In Helena Montana

Want to go hiking in the mountains. Try the trail that goes to the top of Mt. Helena, in Helena. This is an easy one even for young people. Elevation at top, 5,468 feet. Biking allowed too. The view of the mountains to the south and west from the top is awesome.

Don’t Miss in Montana

Montana Historical Society Museum in Helena. *** Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. *** Bigfork, a quaint and charming town in the wilderness. *** Funky downtown Missoula.

Shop Merino Wool Clothing

Made is Montana is always special. For the finest Merino Wool clothing go online to DuckworthCo.com. Wool used in their products comes from sheep raised on a ranch in southwest Montana.

Montana Luxury Vacations

Luxury vacation destinations offer extra nice lodging, great cuisine, and abundant activities, all in beautiful surroundings:. Triple Creek Ranch near Darby, Montana in the Bitterroot Valley offers so much. (406) 821-4600. TrippleCreekRanch.com. *** The Resort at Paws Up near Greenough, Montana, located 35 minutes northeast of Missoula, rivals the best. (877) 580-6343. PawsUp.com *** The Sage Lodge, a few miles south of Livingston, Montana, offers luxury and great amenities. This is a new resort. In a word, very Nice. (855) 400-0505. SageLodge.com *** The Silver Bow Club, in southwest Montana, offers luxury and wonderful outdoor activities. In Divide, Montana. (406) 491-2157. Silverbowclub.com ***

Gold Prospecting Supplies

The Prospector Shop is on U.S. Highway 12 a few miles west of Helena, Montana. A great place to pick up all kinds of supplies needed for prospecting. Gold mining pans and more. Nice souvenirs here too for wanna-be prospectors. Call (406) 442-1872.

Starbucks in Montana Too

Hey you are in far away Montana.  But finding a familiar coffee shop is a good thing.  Starbucks coffee houses:  in Billings (Grand Avenue); in Kalispell (Main Street); in Bozeman (Main Street) in Missoula (Reserve Avenue); in Helena (Prospect Avenue); in Great Falls (10th Ave. South).

Photo gallery Montana (click on image below)

Blackfeet Nation

Blackfeet Nation (Native Americans) seek to keep cultural traditions alive. Their reservation borders the east side of Glacier National Park in north-central Montana. Flathead Beacon story.

Recent Posts

  • Adventure Fly Fishing on the Madison River in Montana
  • Watching Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montana
  • An Adventure Hiking in Glacier National Park in Montana
  • Dining on Culinary Journey to Bozeman, Montana
  • An Adventure Horseback Riding in Montana

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