If you’re anything like we are, you love a good road trip. After all, any time is a great time to think about the trips you want to take at some point, especially these classic road trips in Montana. We’ve suggested quite a few statewide adventures in recent years, and we hope you can take a couple of these trips as soon as possible. Here are seven of our favorite road trips in Montana. Once you decide which adventure you’re ready for, be sure to use our ultimate road trip packing list to help make planning even easier! 

1. Remember the Southern Montana Waterfalls Road Trip?
Russ Raymond / AllTrails
This beautiful journey takes you to some of Southern Montana’s most well-known waterfalls. Since there are well over 100 known waterfalls in the state, you’ll see more on your road trip than the falls listed here.
2. We also created a waterfalls road trip for Central Montana.
Missy S. / Flickr
Because the Great Falls area is great indeed.
3. If you love small towns (and most Montanans do) this Small Town Road Trip is for you.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
Journey through some of our most charming small towns like Philipsburg, Darby, Lolo, and Deer Lodge.

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4. The mapped out Montana Scenic Loop is one of the most picturesque drives in the country.
Jocelyn Catterson / Flickr
When summer rolls around, hit the road for the Montana Scenic Loop. You’ll pass through four national forests, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Great Bear Wilderness, Scapegoat Wilderness and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, not to mention some great small towns.
5. And when fall arrives, you’ll want to explore some of our ghost towns.
Arthur T. LaBar / Flickr
Our Montana ghost town road trip route takes you to Garnet Ghost Town, Granite Ghost Town, Cable, Virginia City, Nevada City and Bannack, with a trip to the haunted Daly Mansion thrown in for good measure.
6. This road trip is the perfect Halloween adventure.
Kat / Flickr
If you’ve ever wanted to explore some of Montana’s most haunted places, this is your chance.
7. There’s no better way to celebrate the holiday season than with a Christmas light road trip.
Only In Your State
You can create your own itinerary for this road trip, or follow our Christmas light map to some of Montana’s most consistently illuminated spots.

There’s no road trip like a Montana road trip. And when you’ve only got one day to explore in Montana, these day trip destinations will help you make the most of it.

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Best Road Trips in Montana

Tori Jane | July 25, 2021

What are some outdoorsy things to do in Montana?

Montana is one of those states that are simply a nature lover’s dream come true. When considering outdoorsy things to do in Montana, there are:

  • Some of the best camping
  • Fishing
  • Taking a hike. Montana has more than 700 miles of trails in Glacier National Park alone.
  • Montana is home to more than 3,000 lakes, which is an incredible number (and means you’ve got lots to plan for in the next couple of decades or so – gotta see ‘em all!).
  • The state is also home to lots of mountains and cliffs, meaning the rock climbing there is out of this world!

 

Where are the must-visit attractions in Montana?

Montana is an incredible state that everyone should visit at least once in their lives – preferably more, so one can see the entire state in all its scenic glory. There are some attractions there that are absolutely must-visits, no matter who you are. How about some of the following:

  • Glacier National Park. Nestled in the already-incredible Rocky Mountains, this nature park is among the most beautiful in the country – if not the entire world.
  • Lake McDonald is a world-famous lake known for its perfect, pristine beauty and crystalline waters.
  • Museum of the Rockies
  • Whitefish Mountain Resort is an incredible place that keeps people returning year after year.

 

Where can I go on some great day trips in Montana?

As previously mentioned, Montana is a beautiful state. There’s plenty to do here, and basically, if you can imagine a day trip, you can probably do it here:

  • Take an entire day and laze beside any one of the incredible lakes (remember, there are only more than 3,000 of them).
  • Tube, canoe, or kayak down one of the incredible rivers and make an entire day out of it.
  • Visit all the best ice cream shops in the state.
  • Check out all the best museums of natural history.

The possibilities are endless, and if you’d like more ideas, take a look at this itinerary for an epic Montana ghost towns road trip.

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