Best towns near Bozeman

Big Sky is pretty cool. Plenty of outdoor activities (hiking, golf, mountain biking, rafting, fishing, etc...), great scenery, awesome weather.

What are you plans to do? That’s important. Consider staying in the park if available? I’ve only spent a night in Gardiner and it was fine, could be great. Elk go into town to feed in peoples yards, and I mean everywhere. When I was there it was the fall and the hotel staff warned us there was a bull around chasing the cows so be careful.

But I’d figure out what you want to do, everywhere is a long drive around there. It’s slow and due to tourists spotting animals and driving slower even slower.

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My parents live in West Yellowstone

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Did they move there from Louisiana?

That’s such a crazy life living around that area, almost like a movie to me. Fascinating. I guess like living in Alaska. Just so remote.

Go eat at Cafe Zydeco in Bozeman.

We are looking for a foodie town with a brewery or two to be honest. We are heading to Hubbards lodge But are looking for a cool town to eat in drink for a day and a half before we go. We stayed in Bozeman, Livingston and Philipsburg last year and were loved all three (especially Philipsburg). Our fishing hiking and horseback riding will be done at Hubbards FYI.

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here isn’t much for great food in Montana. I’d remove foodie town as a criteria because you’re not going to find it.

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I'm going to have to disagree with you there. I found the food in the old mining towns as well as the bigger towns a pleasant surprise. It's not New Orleans or Savanah but I was impressed with the food last year from Red Lodge to Missoula.

You see less variety, that’s one of the very few downsides to living there. The Bozeman food scene has exploded though.