Top Things to do in Montana
Top Hotels in Montana
- 1. Kelly Inn-West Yellowstone
- 2. Best Western Plus Grant Creek Inn
- 3. Hampton Inn & Suites Whitefish
- 4. Country Inn & Suites By Radisson
- 5. The LARK Bozeman
- 6. Lodge at Whitefish Lake
- 7. Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge
- 8. Explorer Cabins At Yellowstone
- 9. Gray Wolf Inn and Suites
- 10. Best Western Desert Inn
Top 10 Scenic Drives in Montana, United States
No matter where you look in Montana, you’ll find unspoiled nature, charming small towns and relaxing hospitality. Explore Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, then hit the road to discover more natural wonders. You can hike, bike or horseback ride through rugged mountain landscapes, fly-fish blue ribbon trout streams, paddle scenic rivers and lakes, or spend winter days carving fresh powder at ski resorts — then end your day wandering a vibrant main street or relaxing in a cozy lodge.
Restaurants in Montana
1. Going-to-the-Sun Road
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,120 reviews
A spectacular and scenic 52-mile highway through Glacier National Park, which crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass in Montana.
Reviewed By rdburrows
Every part of this drive is beautiful and breathtaking!!! Take your time and enjoy it!! Way to many people get in a hurry!! Enjoy the pull offs and take in the views!! Get out of the vehicle and take it all in!! We chose to drive on our own that way we could go at our own pace!!! We went the end of June and it was the first week that the full road had been open!! So glad we got to experience it!! We decided to drive east to west to avoid all the traffic coming into from the West!!
2. Beartooth Highway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 834 reviews
Spectacular high mountain road with sweeping views is a favorite scenic drive for sightseers.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
My wife and I will never forget Beartooth Highway. We had decided to take the most scenic (northeast) entrance to Yellowstone National Park, via Red Lodge and Cooke City and the Beartooth Highway, or U.S. Highway 212 in Montana and Wyoming. It was mid-July and we were wearing shorts. We began to climb the winding road. A little above the tree line, we were surprised to see it was beginning to snow. And snow. And snow. Finally, we reached the summit, Beartooth Pass, the very top of the mountain at 10,947 feet above sea level. But the road was snowbound and it was foggy. We couldn't see anything on either side of the road but snow. From what we had read in the Yellowstone periodicals, this part of the drive should offering spectacular and scenic views of Yellowstone and the Yellowstone River, lots of photo ops from lookouts. All we could see was snow. We couldn't even see the highway. We stopped. What should we do? Go forward? Go back? Wait for someone else to arrive on the scene? We didn't have a cellphone. Or a snow shovel. Only shorts. It's mid-July, remember? At that moment, in our moment of indecision, a snowplow came over the horizon from the opposite direction. What a relief! The driver pointed to a spot where we could turn around and go back down the mountain to Red Lodge. We followed him all the way. It has been called "the most beautiful drive in America" but because of heavy snowfall at the top, the pass is usually open each year only from mid-May through mid-October. Nobody said anything about heavy snowfall in mid-July. Later, I saw colorful pictures of where we were and what we were supposed to see when we reached Beartooth Pass. Historically, the pass was crossed in August, 1872, by Civil War General Philip Sheridan and 120 men returning from an inspection tour of Yellowstone National Park. When the road was opened to the public in 1936, it essentially followed Sheridan's route over the pass. Fortunately, he didn't need a snowplow to get through.
3. Bitterroot Valley
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By V4200ORlindab - Gilbert, United States
Temporarily relocated to Lolo, MT at the north end of the Bitterroot Valley from the Phoenix area to escape the heat experienced in the Valley of the Sun during the summer. I can say this has to be one of the most beautiful valleys I have ever been in during my 73 years in existence. The Bitterroot River - the one Lewis and Clark followed - runs the length of the valley with the Bitterroot mountains to the West and the Sapphire mountains to the East (both part of the Rocky Mountains - no, they are not just in Colorado!). Hiking, walking, fishing, tubing, camping - it's all here for you to enjoy without the crowds. Highly recommend and going forward I plan to return year after year. If you are interested in tourist traps, you will be disappointed. If you get pleasure of seeing Bison grazing, you will be on cloud 9.
4. Lamar Valley
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,998 reviews
Reviewed By FancyFree55 - Florida, United States
This route is an amazing drive into the park, with large herds of buffalo grazing in vast fields on both sides of the northeast entrance road. It seemed that our visit coincided with birthing season, when lots of calves were just joining families. They're an unusual orange-brown color, compared with the very dark fur of their parents.' Tourists parked all over the sides of the highway to stop for close-up photos these incredible animals. When I say close-up, I mean with a good zoom. Park signage warns you not to get nearer than 75 yards because the animals are very fast and, if they feel like their babies are threatened, they will charge. We were very fortunate to also spot a small herd of pronghorn elk grazing not far from the road and got some great pix. The drive itself is beautiful, with mountains off in the distance, and a river winding through vast green along and around the roadway.
5. Grand Loop Road
6. Highway 12
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 88 reviews
A 100-mile scenic drive.
Reviewed By rl659 - Chandler, United States
My friend and I met some people at Grizzly Harley Davidson who recommended Lolo Pass. It was an awesome ride along the river for about 100 miles. The road was well maintained and there wasn't much traffic. There were plenty of paved pull offs to enjoy the beautiful scenery. There was a very nice rest area at the state line so we could get photos of both Montana and Idaho signs. We thought it was very interesting that only Montana warned motorcycles of the curves because they continued well into Idaho!! It was a great day but I would not recommend this full ride for beginners unless you take a few breaks along the way.
7. Grand Loop Road
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 758 reviews
A 140-mile scenic drive past some of Yellowstone's most famous sites.
Reviewed By 0617merS - Columbus, United States
We had one day to explore Yellowstone, we had never been there before and we wanted to take advantage of the day we had and see the most. We did our Yellowstone day on June Monday, June 10. It was very early in the season which was great in that the crowds were low and the traffic was as well and easy in and out of parking lots, allowing us to navigate the park at a good pace. Also, it is SO WORTH the $6 to get the GYPSY app of yellowstone. Download it before you go and enjoy the commentary along your drive through the park. We were staying in Teton Village, we got up around 2:30 and got on the road. We decided to only do the lower loop. We arrived at Old Faithful about 5:45 and it was perfect timing, because it erupted at 6am. We then walked the upper geyser board walks and made our way back to the car and on the way to the upper view point of grand prisim. It's about a mile walk and the view of grand prisim is perfect from up there. We then headed to the artist paint pots and walked the mile trail there. This was well worth our stop, the topography and colors are just very unique. We then stopped at Gibbons Falls and checked out the view from there. By this time we were heading to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and took the one way road off the beaten path to check out Virginia falls (thanks to GYPSY app) this is a beautiful drive and I highly suggest it, however you can only do it if you're traveling clockwise around the loop, or you can back track your drive. We got to Canyon Village about 11:15 and ate at the dinner in the general store, and did a quick little shopping and headed out to the trail that leads to lower falls, a spectacular view from the look outs there, went to inspiration point, and then over to artist look out and then made around way to our last stop on the loop, to West Thumb, parked and did the board walk 1 mile walk, this is a stunning look at lake yellowstone, it's blue waters and the geyesers that boarder it. We then left at the same south gate we entered and headed back. I believe we left the park around 5:30 and hit jackson Hole around 7:30 and ate there before heading back to teton village. We were nervous about doing YS in a day, but if you're able to get there early enough, it's more than doable....and early morning is when the wildlife is out. There's bathrooms at almost every trail head and if you pack food, and are able bodied, you can do this. I think we clocked 10 miles this day, but we all said, it was worth it!!
8. Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway
9. Firehole Canyon Drive
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 617 reviews
Reviewed By Nyormirror - Bay City, United States
Firehole Lake Drive is a 3-mile, one-way side road off the Grand Loop located between the Old Faithful exit and Madison Junction. It has many geysers and hot springs that you can see from the road. There is also a boardwalk around the Firehole Lake itself, leading you to small geysers and springs. We saw people swimming and some bison and pronghorn. I would recommend.
10. The Skalkaho Highway Scenic Byway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By robbygc - Toronto, Canada
We didn't expect it, but while we drove in the forest we found a beautiful falls, named Skalkaho Falls. It isn't hard to find it. It is located at the Sapphire Mountains. Skalkaho Falls is along highway, between Hamilton and Philipsburg. It is amazing! Wow!
