Explore Eastern Montana’s fascinating badlands by day (including Montana’s largest state park) and renowned dark skies by night. This trip also includes water recreation at Fort Peck Lake, plus museums and friendly small towns along the way. An optional add-on day gives you time to explore Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. For even more places to enjoy Montana’s dark skies, visit Montana’s Trail to the Stars, which gives details on more than 45 great spots for stargazing across Eastern Montana.
Begin your journey in Billings and head north to venture into the heart of Eastern Montana’s sweeping plains to make your way to Fort Peck Lake. At 4.25 hours, it’s a long drive, but it’s a beautiful one, with unobstructed views of endless sky and a landscape that shifts from pine-covered rocky hills to gently rolling prairie to sagebrush and low-lying badlands as you go. Plus, there are fascinating stops along the way, including the Musselshell Valley Historical Museum in Roundup and Garfield County Museum in Jordan. Enjoy fishing, boating and wildlife watching at Fort Peck Lake. You can also explore the town of Glasgow and the Valley County Pioneer Museum or the history of the Fort Peck area — including dinosaurs and the construction of the Fort Peck Dam — at the Fort Peck Interpretive Center. Come evening time, set up camp at one of the lake's many campsites (reserve in advance) and settle in for a night of stargazing.
Start out with breakfast at the Fort Peck Marina (breakfast served Saturdays and Sundays) before the 2.5-hour drive to Glendive. You’ll pass from river breaks terrain to plains before seeing the hints of badlands come into view as you approach Glendive. Once in town, visit the Frontier Gateway Museum for a look at the area’s fascinating history, from fossils and American Indians to homesteaders, cattlemen and more. Enjoy lunch in Glendive at Gigi’s Café, and then make your way to Makoshika State Park for badlands exploration and hiking on the Cap Rock Trail. Don’t miss the visitor center and frisbee golf course. Back in Glendive, grab brick-oven pizza at the Gust Hauf. Head back to the park and set up camp (reserve in advance) before a sublime night of stargazing. You can also overnight in Glendive, where you’ll find multiple lodging options.
After breakfast in Glendive at Bloom & Vine, a local coffeehouse and eatery, drive an hour to the Terry Badlands Overlook for panoramic views of the distinctive rock formations, and enjoy a hike — long or short — among the unique landscape. Grab dinner in Terry at one of the Southeast Montana Burger Trail stops: Roy Rodgers Bar Grill & Casino. When the sun goes down, enjoy the incredible star show. Drive an hour to Miles City for a nightcap at the historic Montana Bar and overnight in town at Miles City Hotel & Suites.
Wake up in Miles City and eat breakfast at Hole in the Wall Family Dining or The Farmhouse Cafe before the 2-hour drive to Ekalaka. Once in Ekalaka, visit the Carter County Museum’s unique paleontology exhibits followed by lunch at TSO Cantina. Next, backtrack to Medicine Rocks State Park for hiking and wildlife watching until the sun goes down and the stars come out. Camp below the mesmerizing starry night sky in Medicine Rocks State Park (reserve in advance) or stay in Ekalaka at the Guest House Hotel. Try the Wagon Wheel Café — a stop on the Southeast Montana Burger Trail — if you’re looking for dinner in town, but keep in mind you’ll be stargazing late into the evening.
Fill up on breakfast in Ekalaka at Wagon Wheel Café before the 4-hour drive to Billings, which hugs the Yellowstone River once you’re on Interstate 90. Don’t miss the Rosebud County Museum along the way. From there, make it a straight shot to Billings, or spend the day exploring Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.
