Small Montana Towns

Not Montana, but Stanley, Idaho is a cool small town with beautiful scenery and tons of outdoor activities.

Livingston - on the Yellowstone River and only half hour from Bozeman.

Emigrant - Between Livingston and Gardiner, also on the Yellowstone River. Much smaller and more rural than Livingston, but also less expensive.

Red Lodge is awesome little town with some skiing in the winter

Ennis area would be my choice. Not far to the park or bozeman. Madison River runs through it.

Gardiner at the north entrance of Yellowstone right on the river. Work there a couple of summers in college. Loved it! Population 800 and there’s at least six bars lol. Plenty of tourist traffic in the summer. About an hour from Bozeman if you need to get to the city.

FYI: The state of Montana will send you a free road map if you go HERE. Needless to say, this was very helpful.


So, I know I want to go to Libby, MT. A guy at work went there for an install and sent me a bunch of pics. Also, the cheapest airport for me to get into from BHM is Kalispell. That locks those two in. I want to take 8 days with the wife. Here's the initial itinerary:

Kalispell.
Libby. Want to Stay Here
Thompson Falls.
Plains.
Missoula.
Helena.
Great Falls.
Then back to Kalispell via Road to the Sun in Glacier.


From Great Falls to the eastern entrance of Glacier is about 4 hrs. So, best case is we get there at 10AM. Is that too late to try and make it through the park and back to Kalispell? I've read the east to west trip is best for those that have a little anxiety (wife).

I think I can spend a full day in Libby, a day or two in Missoula, a day in Helena, and the rest in Whitefish/Kalispell.

Cooke City; visit Miners’ Saloon, order a pizza and talk to Chris Warren behind the bar about Hemingway’s time there. And buy his book while you’re there; better yet buy it in advance and read up on the history ahead of the trip. Ernest Hemingway in the Yellowstone High Country; even if you’re not a Hemingway fan, it’s a fascinating read.