Hotels in Montana

The majestic mountains of the northern Rockies gave Montana its name, and their stunning glaciers, towering peaks, and cascading white-waters make this northwestern U.S. state hugely popular with lovers of the great outdoors. Bears, bison, and cougars roam here. Miners, ranchers, and brewers all ply their trade here. And you’ll also find breathtaking vistas, incredible stories of exploration and struggle, and a people whose hearts are every bit as big as the mountains looming all around.

Hotels in Montana

Accommodation in Montana may range from remote motels and small-town boutique hotels to the grandest of spa resorts, but the one thing they all share is the wide blue Montana sky. This state isn’t called Big Sky Country for no reason. The most luxurious 5-star Montana hotels won’t be found in its cities, but in its mountains. Expect alpine lodges with saunas, hot tubs, and outdoor heated pools—or combined ski and golf resorts offering outdoor fun, whatever the season. But the most exciting hotels in Montana are on ranches—combining horseback adventuring with down-home hospitality for a true Western experience.

Things to see in Montana

Among the abundance of Montana’s wilderness parks there are 2 real standouts, one lying in the state, and the other just outside. Glacier National Park, sitting in Montana’s far northwest corner, features a number of razor-sharp ridges and deep-notched valleys. Grinnell Glacier and the Hidden Lake are its landscape highlights, but it’s the wildlife that makes this the "Crown of the Continent Ecosystem." The other park is probably the most famous in the U.S.—Yellowstone National Park. While most of it lies south in Wyoming, 3 of its entrances are in Montana, including the only one open all year round. Old-time mining industry is brought to life in the Nevada City Open Air Museum, which has over 100 buildings dating back to the gold rush era of the 1880s. But to delve even further into Montana’s history, check out the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. It has the largest dinosaur collection in the U.S.

Where to stay in Montana

Many of the best hotels in Montana are scattered in resorts lying close to the state’s wilderness areas. But there are several cities that are worth staying in too. Billings is the largest, and is well equipped as a business convention center and receives great Montana hotel reviews. It also makes a good stopover point for those heading to Yellowstone National Park. Bozeman is somewhat closer to the park, and is known as the gateway to Yellowstone. The state capital of Helena has several intriguing museums and historic buildings to appeal to the culture aficionados. To the west is Missoula, a city known for its eclectic mix of students, artists, and cowboys, and which lies close to Glacier National Park.

How to get to Montana

Montana is a state that’s readily accessible by air, with good airports in Helena, Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, and Great Falls. Many also choose to drive to Montana, with Interstate 90 from Washington to the west being a scenic route. Interstate 15 enters Montana from Idaho to the southwest, while Interstate 94 is the point of entry from North Dakota. Perhaps the most spectacular way to arrive though is on the Empire Builder Amtrak service. This runs from Seattle and Portland in Oregon, to Chicago. It has stops at 12 scenic points in Montana, many close to Glacier National Park.