Drive To 5 Incredible Summer Spots Throughout Montana On This Scenic Weekend Road Trip
By Jessica Wick|Published June 23, 2021
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Jessica Wick
Author
Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
Montana is amazing in any season, but it really does seem to come alive in the summertime. You could road trip across the Treasure State for two weeks and not see it all… but you might be surprised by how much you can see on a quick weekend drive. This weekend road trip in Montana takes you to five of the state’s greatest summer spots, allowing you plenty of time to explore each one.
Start your adventure at Montana's most famous and well-preserved ghost town, Bannack State Park. This National Historic Landmark was actually Montana's original territorial capital, as well as the site of our first major gold discovery in 1862. Allow a couple of hours here to explore all the buildings and read the signs.
If Bannack is Montana's best-preserved ghost town, then Virginia City is our liveliest ghost town, at least in the summer. This charming little spot seems frozen in time, and you'll be overwhelmed by nostalgia as soon as you walk down the boardwalk sidewalks. Do some shopping, grab some lunch, and check out the living history activities.
End your day in beautiful Big Sky, which happens to be an amazing place to see the sunset. This resort town is best-known for being a world class ski destination, but it's a fantastic place to be in the summer as well. Ousel Falls is a 1.6-mile waterfall trail that you can access right in town, so you can work up an appetite for dinner at one of the many award-winning restaurants.
The next day, head to Earthquake Lake. This may look like an ordinary body of water, but it isn't. The lake was formed by a 1959 earthquake in the Madison River Canyon Area, which largely caught everyone off guard and tragically took the lives of 28 people. As tragic as the story is, the lake itself is beautiful.
Yellowstone National Park is wonderful, but you can have a great time exploring West Yellowstone, one of the gateway towns. Check out the impressive Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, learn a few things at the Museum of the Yellowstone, and savor some huckleberry ice cream from The City Creamery.
This summer road trip in Montana may be short, but it allows you to see some of the Treasure State’s finest gems. If you were exploring this area, what would you add to the itinerary?
