7 Best Towns in Montana to Visit in 2024

Many great maps have an X leading to untold treasures. Fortunately, Montana is aptly called the “Treasure State” due to its abundance of natural mineral resources beneath the mountainous landscapes. Yet you need not dig the earth to find your treasure. Look to Montana’s best small towns for your cathartic reward. From picture-perfect villages like Whitefish and Polson to towns like Stevensville and Hamilton that are set at the foot of mighty mountains, you will be dazzled by the many small towns in a state named after the Spanish word for “mountain.” So open that chest into a land embraced by many national, geological wonders. There are many jewels to enjoy in Montana’s best small towns.

Whitefish

The serene resort town of Whitefish serves as a gateway to the looming Rocky Mountains in northwest Montana. Whitefish is only about 68 miles from Polson and remains a perfect vacation spot from big city bedlam. The dynamic Glacier National Park is situated in the many glacier-formed valleys, jagged summits, and crystalline lakes that riddle the rocky ranges. At Whitefish Mountain Resort, set at the foot of Big Mountain, get a chance to do some adrenaline-rushing skiing or downhill mountain biking. On Whitefish Lake, sand-gleaming City Beach and Whitefish Lake State Park provide plentiful boating activities and picnic venues to bask in the Montana sun. Most of all, fine lodgings like the Hidden Moose Lodge, the Duck Inn Lodge, and Grouse Mountain Lodge are some of the most tranquil establishments you can find in Whitefish.

Choteau

The town of Choteau—along with the whole of Choteau County—is named after French fur merchant, trader, and explorer Pierre Chouteau Junior. As a town established between the vast Montana heartland and the foot of the Rockies, visitors can experience premier bird-watching at the Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area. Stroll through the Soroptimist Walking Path for scenic views of the background mountains and the endless Montana plains. Learn more about Choteau’s past in the Old Trail Museum, where exhibitions of an authentic sheep wagon, a Blackfeet tepee, the Metis Cabin, and the workspace of Pulitzer Prize-winning author A.B. Guthrie Jr. can all be admired. You should not miss seeing a skeletal model of Seismosaurus halli, the “earth-shaker” dinosaur, at the Montana Dinosaur Center. When all the exploration gets you weary, rest up at the Stage Stop Inn or Gunther Motel.

Polson

Polson lounges on the southern shores of Flathead Lake—the largest natural freshwater lake in the US. The town is predominantly located in the Flathead Native American Reservation, and one can learn all about the town’s history in the Miracle of America Museum. These days, the townsfolk of Polson celebrate their agricultural heritage with the annual Cherry Festival in the last week of July. Polson opens up to the breathtaking Mission Valley and the ferocious, snow-hatted Mission Mountains. Other awesome features of the town include the Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam (formerly Kerr Dam) on the Flathead River; the National Bison Range at Moiese, where herds of bison, elk, deer, antelope, and barn sheep graze; and the Ninepipes and Pablo Wildlife Refuges for birds to flutter and frolic. You might even spot a folkloric creature called the “Flathead Monster” that has roamed about for hundreds of years. Consider staying at the Kwataqnuk Resort & Casino or the Mission Mountain Resort.

Hamilton

Hamilton embodies Montana’s farm-going attitude, homely ranches and orchards, and the beautiful background of nature. The town is principally home to the Daly Mansion, built in the late 1800s for one of Montana's vibrant "Copper Kings," Marcus Daly. Hamilton served as a company town centered on the activities of Marcus Daly’s Anaconda Copper Mining company. Ravalli County Museum, listed in the National Register of Historic Buildings and considered one of the finest museums in the area, illustrates the history of the town’s inception and that of the whole county. To the east, the eye-catching Bitterroot Mountains challenge travelers to climb to the top of Canyon Peak for panoramic vistas of lakes, forests, and more. Remember to book a room at the Bitterroot River Inn and Conference Center.

Stevensville

About 21 miles north of Hamilton, Stevensville shares the view of the imposing and formidable Bitterroot Mountains. The St. Mary’s Mission stands as a historical monument commemorating the bond between the Salish Native Americans and Jesuit missionaries. The Fort Owen State Park offers a window to Stevensville’s past as a trading center between diverse peoples. The Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge is a serene mosaic of wetlands and forests that many majestic animals call home. Do not miss the delicious Creamery Picnic in August or the spooky Scarecrow Festival in October. If you need a place to spend the night, then consider picking the Bitterroot River Bed & Breakfast or the Stevensville Hotel as viable abodes.

Anaconda

Not to be mistaken for the biggest snake in the world, the town of Anaconda sits at the foot of the Anaconda Ranges. Similar to Hamilton, the Copper King Marcus Daly founded Anaconda to establish the Anaconda Company to conduct copper smelting on Warm Springs Creek. The Copper Village Museum and Art Center elaborates on Anaconda’s copper mining history and Marcus Daly’s legacy. Surrounding the town are several recreational areas, such as Smoke Stack State Park, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, and Georgetown Lake. The historic Washoe Theater is a splendid place to watch entertaining features. The Anaconda Ranges boast numerous summits to climb, like the Haggin, Evans, and Queener mountains. For lodgings, look no further than the Copperhead Lodge, the Forge Hotel, and Hickory House Inn.

West Yellowstone

Want to explore the magnificent Yellowstone National Park, one of America’s hottest sanctuaries? Then begin your adventure in the town of West Yellowstone, a perfect jumping-off point to the Old Faithful geyser and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Head first to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center to safely get close to bears and wolves—Study Yellowstone’s dynamic heritage in the Museum of the Yellowstone. During the warm and calming summer, go fishing or kayaking at Hebgen Lake. When winter throws snow everywhere, go sledding at the West Yellowstone Pioneer City Park. Last but not least, enjoy a much-needed break from all the fun activities at the White Buffalo Hotel, the Brandin’ Iron Inn, or Brook Trout Inn.

Sapphire Skies and Treasure Trails

Not many know this, but Montana is a prime producer of sapphires and, on Triple Divide Peak—part of the Continental Divide—a wellspring spouts water all the way down to the Hudson Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean. In short, Montana is a land blue with happiness where the Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Kutenai, Assiniboin, and Atsina peoples continue to prosper. Most of all, the small towns of the Treasure State prosper from the livelihoods and industries of the Montana people. So follow the Xs on the map to Montana and seek your treasures in the small towns there.