Montana Family Vacation 2026

[Rambo]

Happy New Year everyone. Some of our very best family vacations have come at the recommendations of members here on Rokslide so I’d like to tap into that resource again.

We love finding western towns with old west history, driving backroads looking for wildlife, and drives and hikes with Mountain View’s. This year we’d like to explore a Montana town or two that are the more than a couple hours from Yellowstone, allowing for a day or two visit there.

We think we’ve narrowed it down to Billings or Bozeman. Since we’ve never been, which of these towns would best give us what we’re looking for? Any tips on “must see” destinations in and around those towns are welcomed. If you are hesitant to give away your vacation honey hole, feel free to message me.

Thanks again, you all have come through many times in the past. I’m anxious to check out your suggestions!

 

[bigv]

coming from Iowa?....swing through black hills of SD when on way through. Lots of old western towns there to snoop around. Keystone, Deadwood etc.

 

[Pony Soldier]

Personally I would avoid both of those. Lewistown, White Sulpher, Big Timber and even Virginia City have interesting things to look at with miles and miles of mountain roads with interesting views.

 

[Johnny Tyndall]

Neither one of those really fit what you're looking for. Billings is a good sized city with a major industrial base. Bozeman has broken into the upper tier of resort towns like Jackson. If it were one or the other I'd rather spend time in Bozeman.

It's the wrong direction from Yellowstone, but Butte is actually pretty interesting if you're looking for history. You could easily spend a day or two there. I've only driven through, but Virginia City seems pretty neat. If you are in the Bozeman/Yellowstone area I always recommend the Beartooth highway. That'll take you from Red Lodge through Cooke City, which is tiny but kind of cool.

 

[Small-foot]

I’ve lived in both MT and WY and traveled through both quite a bit. I second the above comment of taking some time to go through the black hills on your way out. Billings is going to be quite a ways from Yellowstone, and not offer a ton in the way of scenery or western history. I’d second Big Timber in terms of scenery, but not a ton to do. Livingston is a neat old town, but has gotten a lot of spillover from Bozangeles in recent years. It’s only a couple hours south to the north entrance of Yellowstone at Gardiner though and a pretty drive to get there. Virginia city has some cool history in the mining industry and is a pretty little place. If you’re in that area Ennis is a pretty mountain town with a big lake and quite a bit of recreation. I second the Beartooth highway, it’s an incredible drive. You could also check out sunlight basin in WY which you can drive through from Cook City to North of Cody.

 

[Rambo]

All great info, thank you! Exactly why I always ask here.

We have vacationed in the Black Hills of South Dakota many times so we will just be passing through, or possibly an overnight stay.

Once again, thank you!

 

[bz_711]

Only hunted in MT once...central...had a solid burger and brew in White Sulphur. And that drive on highway 89 from White Sulphur south to I-90 was just beautiful. Crazy how far you can see and just little mountain ranges popping out in all directions...seems like we'd drive 30 miles without seeing another car or house. I loved it.

Have Fun!

 

[CorbLand]

Assuming your going to spend some time in Yellowstone?

I would take the 287 around Hebgen, stop at Quake Lake and head towards Ennis and Virginia City. Then if you want, you can take the 287 to the 84 to Bozeman on your way back home.

As you get closer to Hebgen dam, watch the north facing slope across the lake. You can sometimes see mountain goats on it. There’s a few pull outs you can stop and use binoculars for a higher probability.

 

[WoodlandCritter]

Billings is pretty horrible. Bozeman is much nicer town to explore. Neither is very old-westy

 

[el_jefe_pescado]

Stay in Livingston and then head to the North Entrance YNP in Gardiner. Toodle around the park and then go up and over the Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge for a couple days before heading East and exploring the Black Hills en route to Iowa.

 

[GoatPackr]

Virginia City and Bannack are really cool places to visit that are old western type places with really cool history. Stop in Dillon on your way.

 

[LG1]

Cody, WY. The museum, town, and the drive to and from YNP is nice.

 

[peterk123]

Stay in Livingston and then head to the North Entrance YNP in Gardiner. Toodle around the park and then go up and over the Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge for a couple days before heading East and exploring the Black Hills en route to Iowa.

I live in Livingston. Big tourist draw because of its western charm. Lots of little shops and some decent places to eat. You Can hit the north entrance to Yellowstone in an hour. You will drive through Paradise Valley to get to the park, along the river the whole way. Incredible drive. Go into the park, then the Tetons. Cody WY, is a solid recommendation to add to the trip. The Buffalo Bill Museum is pretty cool and they have rodeos, I believe every night in town. Bring a fly rod, or two or ten.

 

[noisy]

Don't miss the newly opened Montana Heritage Center in Helena at the Capitol. Visited for the first time the other day and it is truly outstanding.

 

[Wyohammer]

coming from Iowa?....swing through black hills of SD when on way through. Lots of old western towns there to snoop around. Keystone, Deadwood etc.

This is what I would do. Lived in Rapid City for while but spent most of my time in the Hills.

After leaving the Black Hills I would run over to the Bighorns. My preference would take 14 to 14A over the top and head up to Red Lodge and go into the park that way.

Not familiar with other towns in Montana but I go to Billings a few times a year for work and I haven’t found anything interesting to do in the area.

 

[Gman12]

I would recommend checking out the Yellowstone river valley (Paradice Valley) south of Livingston and also the Madison river valley near Ennis. Both are beautiful drives. I agree that Cody is certainly worth checking out if you have the time. Very cool town and the museum there is awesome as is the rodeo. If you are into dinosaurs, the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman is pretty cool. Jackson, WY and the Tetons are beautiful as well. Lots to see and do within a couple of hours from YNP and excellent fishing all over as well.