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Montana travel tips and trip ideas

Outdoor hot spring pool at Chico Hot Springs Resort in Paradise Valley, Montana, with the Absaroka Range in the background
Outdoors

Best Montana Hot Springs to Soak In

Montana has around 50 geothermal springs scattered across the state, from resort pools in Paradise Valley to rustic setups near the Idaho border. The best
Grizzly bear on an open slope in Glacier National Park, Montana, with snow-dusted peaks in the background
Seasonal

Best Time to See Wildlife in Montana: A Season-by-Season Guide

Montana puts bison, grizzlies, wolves, elk, and mountain goats on the same landscape. The best time to see each depends on where you are and what you're af
Hiker on the Highline Trail in Glacier National Park with mountain terrain in the background
Travel Tips

Do You Need Bear Spray in Montana?

If you're hiking in Glacier, Yellowstone country, or anywhere in Montana's backcountry wilderness, carry bear spray and know how to use it. This guide cove
Sailboats on Flathead Lake with the Mission Mountains reflected in calm blue water, northwest Montana
Parks & Nature

Flathead Lake in Summer: What to Do, When to Go, and How to Plan It

Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, covering 191 square miles in northwest Montana. From late June through August
High alpine ridgeline in Glacier National Park with a clear glacial lake below, northwestern Montana
Parks & Nature

Glacier vs. Yellowstone: Which National Park Should You Visit?

Both parks charge $35 per vehicle, both will fill a full day before you feel like you've scratched the surface, and both get crowded in July. Which one is
View from Going-to-the-Sun Road looking toward Logan Pass and the Garden Wall in Glacier National Park, Montana
Parks & Nature

Going-to-the-Sun Road: A Complete Driving Guide

Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses 50 miles of Glacier National Park, climbing over Logan Pass at 6,646 feet with alpine scenery that no other paved road in Mon
A two-lane highway stretching toward the Rocky Mountain Front under a wide Montana sky
Itineraries

How Many Days Do You Need in Montana?

Montana is bigger than most people expect, and the answer to how many days you need depends almost entirely on which parts you're planning to see.
Scenic view of the Gallatin River valley near Bozeman with mountains in the background, Montana
Travel Tips

Is Montana Expensive to Visit? A Realistic Budget Guide

Montana can range from free dispersed camping under a sky full of stars to four-figure-per-night lodge packages, so the honest answer is: it depends entire
Snow-covered peaks above Big Sky Resort in Montana with empty ski runs on a clear winter morning
Seasonal

Montana in Winter: Skiing, Wildlife, and What to Expect

Winter in Montana runs from December through March, covering ski runs at some of the largest resorts in the country, wolf-watching in Yellowstone's Lamar V
Family hiking along the Trail of the Cedars in Glacier National Park, Montana, with towering old-growth cedar trees overhead
Travel Tips

Montana with Kids: How to Plan a Family Trip That Delivers

Montana earns its reputation with families the same way it earns it with everyone else: the scale is real, the wildlife is real, and the moments kids come
A car parked at a pullout on a wide Montana highway with the Rocky Mountain Front visible in the distance
Travel Tips

Renting a Car in Montana: What to Know Before You Arrive

Renting a car in Montana is not optional for most travelers. It is the only reliable way to move between the state's parks, towns, and rivers, because ther
An angler wading the Madison River near Ennis, Montana, casting a fly line on a clear late-summer morning with the Madison Range in the background
Outdoors

Where to Fly Fish in Montana: A Beginner's Guide to the Best Rivers

Montana has more designated blue-ribbon trout water than most anglers can fish in a lifetime. This guide covers which rivers are worth building a trip arou