Unforgettable Road Trips

Central Montana promises adventures both above ground and below. Straddling the line between the Rocky Mountain Front and the Central Plains, this culturally important region offers a compelling look into Montana's past, from ancient Native American buffalo jumps to Prohibition speakeasies.

The Great Plains road trip travels near the Missouri River's badlands, where paleontologists have discovered a wealth of dinosaur fossils. There's also human history to explore at one of Montana's oldest settlements, along the quiet backwaters of the Upper Missouri River, in Havre's underground city and throughout the Hi-Line's horizon of undulating prairie. 

The frontier spirit thrives in Southeastern Montana's high plains. Hardworking Billings is the region's cosmopolitan center, but in the east, turn back the clock as you tour Little Bighorn Battlefield, visit badlands filled with dinosaur bones and wander the streets of rodeo-wrangling Miles City. 

The thrilling Going-To-The-Sun Road twists through the heart of Glacier National Park, where a million acres hold rewards for explorers of every kind. Bookend your visit to the park with stays in two mountain towns: Kalispell and Whitefish. 

The vast expanse of Flathead Lake, cradled by sky-high peaks, is one of northwest Montana's most iconic features. Families dot the beaches and boaters skim the water. On this road trip, join the watery fun or stay dry and savor Bigfork's well-heeled culture, then cruise through rugged Clark Fork Valley to the rushing waters of Kootenai Falls. 

Travel from Missoula, western Montana's forward-thinking college town filled with book stores, museums and global cuisine, to deserted mining enclaves, the Bitterroot Valley's open rangeland and history-rich hamlets. Finish your trip with a relaxing soak in natural hot springs. 

Consider this route a Montana sampler. Stay in one of the state's fastest-growing cities, learn about geology, go ziplining or flyfishing, check out ghost towns and see Yellowstone National Park's geothermal marvels. 

The Beartooth Highway, winding from Red Lodge to Cooke City, offers so much rugged grandeur that you won't be in a rush to reach Yellowstone National Park. But once you enter the park's northeast gate, geothermal features, boisterous waterfalls and abundant wildlife notch up the awe factor.