Most of Montana's best short trips start within two hours of one of its five main towns. From Missoula you can reach Flathead Lake and the Bitterroot; from Bozeman, Yellowstone and Big Sky; from Billings, the Beartooth front and the Little Bighorn; from Great Falls, the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountain Front; and from Helena, the copper country around Butte. Each weekend below is planned for two nights with no more than about three hours of driving on the first day.
The weekends are grouped by home town, with the season that suits each one. Summer is the easy answer for almost all of them, but several work in winter as well, and a few are better in September than in July. Distances are road miles from a router, so read them as "about" and add time for stops.
Weekends at a glance
| From | Weekend | One-way drive | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | Flathead Lake and the Bison Range | About 67 mi to Polson | May to October |
| Missoula | Bitterroot Valley | About 47 mi to Hamilton | June to mid-October |
| Missoula | Philipsburg and the ghost towns | About 77 mi to Philipsburg | June to September; winter for skiing |
| Bozeman | Big Sky and West Yellowstone | About 45 mi to Big Sky | All year |
| Bozeman | Paradise Valley and Gardiner | About 74 mi to Gardiner | All year |
| Bozeman | Ennis and Virginia City | About 53 mi to Ennis | Memorial Day to Labor Day |
| Billings | Red Lodge and the Beartooth | About 61 mi | June to mid-October; winter for skiing |
| Billings | Little Bighorn and Bighorn Canyon | About 62 mi to the battlefield | May to September |
| Great Falls | Fort Benton and the Missouri Breaks | About 41 mi | June to September |
| Great Falls | Rocky Mountain Front and Glacier's east side | About 54 mi to Choteau | July to mid-September |
| Helena | Butte and Anaconda | About 68 mi to Butte | May to October |
From Missoula
Flathead Lake and the Bison Range. Drive about 47 miles north to the CSKT Bison Range at Moiese, run by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The 19-mile Red Sleep and Prairie loop takes about two hours; Red Sleep is open only in the summer season (expected to close for 2026 on November 2), and federal passes are not accepted. Spend the second day around Flathead Lake from Polson or Bigfork, or take a boat to Wild Horse Island.
The Bitterroot Valley. Hamilton is about 47 miles south on US-93. The Daly Mansion belonged to Copper King Marcus Daly; St. Mary's Mission at Stevensville dates from 1841 and closes from mid-October to mid-April. For a walk, Lake Como, about 17 miles south of Hamilton, has a 7.9-mile shoreline loop.
Philipsburg and the ghost towns. Garnet Ghost Town, about 40 miles east of Missoula, is an 1890s gold camp with a visitor centre open May to September. Continue to Philipsburg, then drive up to Granite Ghost Town, open Memorial Day to September 30 and only for high-clearance vehicles. In winter, swap the ghost towns for Discovery Ski Area.
From Bozeman
Big Sky and West Yellowstone. Big Sky is about 45 miles south through the Gallatin Canyon. In summer take the Ousel Falls trail (1.6 miles round trip) or ride the Lone Peak Tram to the 11,166-foot summit; in winter ski Big Sky Resort. West Yellowstone is about 51 miles further, with the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center and the West Entrance, which is open to cars only from mid-April to October 31. In winter, entry from West Yellowstone is by guided snowmobile or snowcoach (December 15, 2026 to March 15, 2027).
Paradise Valley and Gardiner. Stop in Livingston (about 26 miles) for the Yellowstone Gateway Museum, then follow US-89 through Paradise Valley to Gardiner. Because the North Entrance is open to cars all year, this is Bozeman's year-round Yellowstone weekend; our 2 days in Yellowstone from Gardiner itinerary covers it day by day.
Ennis and Virginia City. Ennis, about 53 miles away on the Madison River, is a fishing town; Virginia City is 14 miles beyond. Its attractions and the Alder Gulch Short Line to Nevada City run from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. A shorter alternative is Lewis and Clark Caverns, about 50 miles west of Bozeman, with guided cave tours from May to September.
From Billings
Red Lodge and the Beartooth. Red Lodge is about 61 miles south-west. Drive the Beartooth Highway up to the plateau and back, or on to Cooke City; it usually runs from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend to mid-October, and in 2026 it closed on October 9. The Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary in town houses animals that cannot return to the wild. In winter, Red Lodge Mountain takes over.
Little Bighorn and Bighorn Canyon. Little Bighorn Battlefield is about 62 miles east, via Hardin, where the Big Horn County Historical Museum opens its historic buildings from May to September. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area's North District is reached through Fort Smith, about 89 miles from Billings; no road links it to the South District in Wyoming. On the way home, Pompeys Pillar, 25 miles east of Billings, opens its gates from May 1 to September 30.
From Great Falls
Fort Benton and the Missouri Breaks. Fort Benton is about 41 miles north-east. The BLM's Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center there is free and gives river and road information for the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. With a canoe, Fort Benton to Wood Bottom is a one-day, 20-mile float in the BLM's boater guide; river use costs $5 per person per day. See our off-the-beaten-path guide for longer trips.
Rocky Mountain Front and Glacier's east side. Choteau is about 54 miles north-west, where the plains meet the mountains. With a long first day, St. Mary at Glacier's east entrance is about 157 miles (three hours) from Great Falls. Go from July to mid-September, when Going-to-the-Sun Road is fully open.
Staying in town. Great Falls has enough for a weekend on its own: the C.M. Russell Museum, Giant Springs, the falls overlooks and First Peoples Buffalo Jump, 16 road miles away. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center is closed from October 1, 2026 to April 1, 2027.
From Helena
Butte and Anaconda. Butte is about 68 miles south on I-15. See the World Museum of Mining (its 2026 regular season ended October 29), the Berkeley Pit viewing stand (listed as open May to October) and Our Lady of the Rockies, reached only by bus tour. Anaconda, about 24 miles further, has the 585-foot smelter stack and Lost Creek State Park.
Closer to home. The Gates of the Mountains boat trip, about 20 miles north of Helena, runs in summer only; 2027 tickets go on sale January 1, 2027. Helena also works as a weekend for visitors from elsewhere, with the Montana Heritage Center, the Capitol and Mount Helena.
Before you go
- Check opening dates: many museums and ghost towns close between mid-September and late May.
- Check 511mt.net for passes and the Beartooth before setting out.
- Carry a card for federal sites; Little Bighorn and Glacier take no cash.
- Nonresidents pay $8 per vehicle at Montana state parks.
- For a full week instead, see our one-week itineraries guide.
Details checked October 2026.