Public lands define many Montana vacations, offering a robust selection of free outdoor activities throughout the year.
The state maintains roughly 17 million acres of national forest within its borders, and if you’re into adventuring outside, it’s easy to explore Montana on a budget. The biggest expense can be simply transporting yourself to the Treasure State.
Between summer-spanning free events and money saved on lodging and groceries, extending the vacation budget is easy to do. Here are our top tips, along with a guide to daily costs, for a cost-effective trip to Montana.
Montana is immense, taking at least 11 hours to drive across the state. And because it’s not a common connection for other flights, it’s not always cheap or easy to fly into the Treasure State. But if you find affordable flights, they’re probably landing at Bozeman Yellowstone International, the state’s busiest airport, or the expanding Missoula Montana Airport.
But if you want to explore other parts of the state, any money you saved by flying into Bozeman or Missoula could be negated by travel costs. If heading to Glacier, try looking for flights to Glacier International Airport in Kalispell. And for those wanting to check out places like Fort Peck Lake or Makoshika State Park in eastern Montana, Billings Logan International Airport is a better starting point.
Every season adds to the beautiful landscape in Montana, but the summer makes everything shine. And Montana’s cities and towns know how to celebrate the nice weather with family-friendly and free events almost every day of the week.
Hang around Caras Park on the Clark Fork River in Missoula any day during summer, and you might catch live music on Wednesday afternoons or Thursday evenings as part of the Out to Lunch or Downtown ToNight series. This beautiful community space is also home to the Saturday Farmers' Market and ground central for First Friday celebrations every month. Attending these events is free, although you'll need to buy food and drinks.
Scenic landscapes don’t go dormant in Montana, but there is an “off-season” where you’ll find better hotel rates and cheaper flights. Spring skiing and wildflower treks define this slow time between March through early May, with a chance of daytime showers and low overnight temps. Cloudy weather and the first hints of snow define a similar stretch between mid-September through October, alongside crisp autumn foliage and a good excuse for a campfire.
You’ll notice that most people you meet in Montana always look ready to go on a hike, and that’s probably because they are. There are hiking trailheads around every corner and there's a community emphasis on protecting the
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Modern travel is full of conveniences. Global air hubs connect travelers to faraway places in a matter of hours. But with all these modern comforts, it’s easy to pass right by the things that make the actual travel part of the journey worthwhile. Vacation by Rail’s Winter Magic trip, on board VIA Rail’s Vancouver to Jasper train, is the ultimate way to take in Canada’s winter wilderness the slow, nostalgic way. Views of towering mountain peaks and river-carved valleys combined with a memorable onboard experience sure beats cramming into an airplane seat in economy.
"Yellowstone" might be fueling Montana's tourism boom, but not all residents of the Big Sky State are pleased with the depiction of their home on screen, according to a report from the Washington Post.
The Grand Canyon sees around 5 million visitors a year for good reason: its grandeur is unlike any other place in the world. However, just a few hours away, there is another “canyon” national park that is smaller, much less trafficked, more colorful, and surrounded by distinct natural wonders. Bryce Canyon Country includes Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, Kodachrome State Park, and so much more in its 3-million-plus acres of protected lands. It’s the perfect Grand Canyon alternative for anyone who wants to see Utah’s natural splendor without the same level of crowds — Bryce Canyon sees about 2.5 million annual visitors, Capitol Reef about 1.5 million, and not even one million visit Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument every year.
Attraction World Group (AWG) has been acquired by Montana World Investments, a newly founded international investment group, in a deal facilitated by alternative asset management firm Highmore Group.
Connected by a 30-minute boat ride across the Gulf of Thailand, the sister islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are the grandaddies of Thailand’s travel party scene. But while Koh Samui may have a reputation for raucous nightclubs and Koh Phangan’s popularity was founded on glow-stick-lit full-moon parties, they both now have another side to them. Whether you want to spend your days doing yoga overlooking the sea, explore a tropical detox programme or seek spiritual balance meditating in a cave — these islands can cater for all.
From the deserts of Arizona to the rocky coastline of Maine, from the sandy shores of Florida to the peaks of Colorado, the United States offers a breathtaking range of natural landscapes. The new National Geographic book Great Outdoors USA: 1,000 Adventures Across All 50 States reveals how to hike, raft, climb, surf, and bike through some of the best of them. Here are 50 of its top picks, one in each state.
Long before white settlement and Lewis and Clark tramped through the area now known as Missoula, the Séliš and Qĺispé buffalo hunters gathered in the place where the Blackfoot and the Clark Fork Rivers meet to plan and reconnoiter, and to tell stories of their dangerous hunts.
From striking architecture to romantic strolls amongst cherry blossoms, there’s so much to experience in Japan, and one of the best things to immerse yourself in is the country’s diverse food landscape. While you definitely need to explore Japan’s many sushi eateries, food markets and hole in the wall gyoza spots, there’s something beautifully convenient about visiting your hotel’s restaurant after a long day of sightseeing. That’s what makes staying at Park Hyatt a good choice, there are properties in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Niseko, each of them with esteemed dining options. Find out what culinary offerings each city and hotel have to offer here.
Chicago, often dubbed the Windy City, is renowned for its vibrant culture, stunning architecture, and rich history. While it's easy to get caught up in the bustling metropolis and its seemingly endless options for entertainment, you don't have to break the bank to enjoy all that Chicago has to offer. From world-class museums to hidden neighborhood gems, there are plenty of free things to do and see.
In case you missed the memo, Montana is massive. It’s the largest landlocked state in the country, taking at least 10 hours to drive its width and a minimum of five hours to drive up or down.