We may be in the middle of a strange year when it comes to travel, but that just means we have more time to explore more of our beautiful state. Montana is especially stunning in the summer, and our local tourist towns are ready to welcome back visitors (with some guidelines and restrictions). Red Lodge is a perfect destination — not only is it a gateway to Yellowstone National Park, but it’s also full of the kind of small-town charm every Montanan can appreciate.

Red Lodge is located in Carbon County, about an hour south of Billings.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
This charming mountain town is surrounded by the Custer Gallatin National Forest.
This is a pretty unique community. Not only is it a perfect gateway to the great outdoors, but it's also full of old-fashioned small-town charm.
Wikipedia
Only about 2,400 people call Red Lodge home, but the vast majority of them are welcoming and friendly.
Winters in Red Lodge can be quite frigid, but summers are absolutely delightful.
Frank DiBona / Flickr
Summer feels pretty short here, so if you'd like to experience the sunshine and warmth, you should go in July or August.
Red Lodge started as a stage stop in 1884, and by the 1890s, it was a booming mining town.
Jasperdo / Flickr
The mining industry started dwindling in the 1920s. In 1943, an explosion killed 74 miners at the Smith Mine, bringing the town's mining days to an end.

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These days, Red Lodge's economy depends largely on tourism -- and it has plenty to offer visitors.
Jasperdo / Flickr
Take a stroll downtown and check out the shops. And make sure to stop by the Candy Emporium, an old-fashioned candy shop filled with giant buckets of taffy, chocolates, jelly beans, and other handmade delights.
One of the top attractions in Red Lodge is the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary, a permanent home for wild animals who have nowhere else to go.
Bucky_2014 / TripAdvisor
This donation-based business is full of local wildlife like bobcats, bears, wolves, hawks, and ravens, just to name a few.
For a small town, Red Lodge has a surprisingly large number of tasty restaurants.
Gena B / TripAdvisor
PREROGATIvE Kitchen is a trendy eatery that opened in 2018 and is loved by locals and visitors alike. There are also plenty of time-honored gems, like Cafe Regis.
Red Lodge is a great destination for a family trip, a romantic retreat, or a weekend getaway with friends.
Caleb Slemmons / Flickr
If it's been a while since you've stopped by, it's time to plan a visit.

Take a little trip to Red Lodge this summer, where time seems to stand still.

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Red Lodge, MT 59068, USA