Montana

Wild Beauty & Vast Big Skies

Montana presents wide open spaces where mountains meet prairies and rivers cut through ancient rock. The state’s landscape includes Glacier National Park with its rugged peaks, vast forests and lakes that reflect the sky in clear summer days. Towns like Bozeman and Missoula serve as hubs for outdoor adventure, offering trails for hiking, biking and skiing. Wildlife roams freely here, from elk to grizzly bears, making Montana a place where nature remains central to daily life.

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State/Prefecture in United States

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.6

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	8

Read details

5/5

English is the predominant language and widely spoken throughout Montana, including in all tourist areas, hotels, and shops, ensuring easy communication for visitors traveling here.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Montana Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

World-class for wilderness and mountain landscapes. Explore national parks, hike alpine trails, watch wildlife and enjoy scenic drives across vast open nature.

Place score

8.4

Best at:

Mountains

Natural sites

Hiking

Camping

Van travel

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

❤️ 8

Couples

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Montana, United States

🌨️

Jan

🌨️

Feb

🌨️

Mar

🌨️

Apr

🌦️

May

☀️

Jun

☀️

Jul

☀️

Aug

☀️

Sep

☀️

Oct

❄️

Nov

🌨️

Dec

High season:	July - Aug.
Shoulder season:	Jan. - March, June, Sep., Dec.
Crowdedness:	4 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Climate varies by region: western mountains best for hiking July to September and skiing December to March, eastern plains hot in summer and very cold in winter

Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road fully open only from about early July to mid-October

Wildfire smoke often affects air quality and views from late July to September

Don't miss

🏞️ Drive the scenic Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park
🦬 Spot wildlife and geysers in Yellowstone’s rugged wilderness
🐎 Go horseback riding through wide open Big Sky Country
🎣 Fish for trout along the Yellowstone River
🥾 Hike to Hidden Lake and admire the alpine views

You've been here?

Why travel to Montana?

Travelers come to Montana for its unmatched outdoor experiences like hiking, fishing, skiing and wildlife viewing. The state’s open spaces invite road trips along scenic byways such as the Going-to-the-Sun Road and Beartooth Highway. Beyond nature, Montana also celebrates deep cultural roots with Native American heritage sites, historic ghost towns like Bannack and rodeos that bring the Old West to life. Visitors should be mindful of the state's vastness and rugged terrain, which means travel can require longer drives and thorough planning. Winters can be harsh and isolated areas pose potential risks including wildlife encounters and sudden weather changes.

🏙️Cities & Regions

1 Glacier National Park
A rugged landscape of granite peaks and glacial valleys defines this park. Visitors can hike to turquoise lakes, spot wildlife such as elk and bighorn sheep and view the iconic granite spires that rise above the alpine tundra.
2 Big Sky
This mountain resort town in Montana offers world-class skiing, charming lodges and stunning alpine scenery. The area features cozy cabins, vibrant nightlife and breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks that draw visitors from across the globe seeking adventure and relaxation.
3 Missoula
A gateway to Montana’s rugged outdoors, Missoula offers a vibrant college town atmosphere, historic downtown shops and easy access to nearby rivers, lakes and mountain trails for hiking, fishing and winter sports.
4 Waterton Glacier International Peace Park
This vast international peace park spans Montana and Glacier National Park, featuring rugged mountain ranges, deep valleys and diverse wildlife habitats that stretch across thousands of acres of protected wilderness.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Museum of the Rockies
2 Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
3 Yellowstone National Park
4 Garden of One Thousand Buddhas

🎡Places for activities

1 Going-to-the-Sun Road
2 Beartooth Highway
3 Bandmann Trail
4 Blackfeet Indian Reservation
5 Whitefish Mountain Resort
6 Flathead National Forest

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Flathead Lake
2 Rocky Mountains
3 Yellowstone National Park
4 Igneous Dikes of the Beartooth Mountains
5 Grass Valley Ditch
6 Big Falls

🛍️Shopping

1 Town Center
2 Downtown

🎈Events

Montana State Fair
Crow Fair Powwow
Helena Last Chance Stampede Rodeo
Big Sky PBR Rodeo
Yellowstone Kelly Days
Missoula Marathon
Bitterroot Valley Rodeo
Bozeman Winter Festival
Glacier National Park Pie Festival
Little Big Horn Days

Explore on map

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Knowledge before you go

Pack layered clothing; Montana weather changes rapidly.
Reserve lodging well in advance during peak summer months to secure best rates and availability.
Carry a reusable water bottle, as many public restrooms lack refill stations but outdoor fountains are plentiful.
Explore the state’s national parks early in the morning for quieter trails and optimal wildlife viewing conditions.

How to travel to Montana

Billings Logan International Airport, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and Missoula International Airport are key air gateways with domestic connections. Amtrak’s Empire Builder line runs from Chicago to Seattle with stops in Montana. Interstate highways and scenic byways provide road access from neighboring states.

Access summary

From Billings or Bozeman airports: Rental car to cities or parks, 15–60 min.
From Denver or Seattle: Direct flights to major Montana airports about 1.5–2 h.
From Yellowstone/Glacier areas: Scenic highway drives into Montana towns typically 1–4 h.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Montana

Montana offers diverse lodging from rustic cabins and campgrounds in wilderness areas to luxury resorts in Big Sky and Glacier. Cities provide traditional hotels and boutique accommodations. Visitors should consider proximity to natural attractions and winter weather impacts when booking.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Bozeman

8.3

Crosswinds Inn

9.0

Glacier International Lodge

9.5

Holiday Inn West Yellowstone By IHG

8.8

Starlite Yellowstone, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

7.8

Two Medicine Inn and Resort

8.6

Third Street Inn

9.1

Baymont by Wyndham Helena

8.4

Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Sheridan Hotel & Convention Center

8.3

Super 8 By Wyndham Butte Mt

8.0

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Montana

Montana’s vast size makes car travel the main way to explore. Major cities like Billings, Missoula and Bozeman have local bus systems but are limited outside urban areas. Renting a car or RV is recommended for visiting parks and rural sites. Trains such as Amtrak’s Empire Builder serve limited routes connecting major hubs.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-7 %

Daily expenses in Montana are around 7% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£77	£158	£430
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£38	£83	£210
🍝 Food per day	£31	£67	£190
🚕 Transportation per day	£8	£8	£30

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£27
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£14
🍟 Fast food combo	£10
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£11
☕ Cappuccino	£4
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£3.90

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.10
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£17
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.65

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£10
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£80
🤧 Cold medication	£7
💇 Basic haircut	£13

Safety information overview

General safety

Montana is generally very safe with low crime rates, but travelers should be cautious when driving in rural or mountainous areas due to wildlife on roads and changing weather conditions. Staying prepared and informed is advised.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities are available in larger towns and cities, but rural areas may have limited access. Visitors should carry basic first aid supplies and be aware of outdoor hazards. Emergency response times can be longer in remote locations.

Accessibility

Urban centers and major parks have reasonable accessibility features, but many wilderness trails and remote natural areas have limited accessibility. Planning is necessary for travelers with mobility issues.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink in most populated areas. In some rural regions, quality may vary, so bottled or filtered water is recommended when venturing into remote locations.