The Best Small Towns in Montana to Chill Out In 2025
Under vast open skies, size is relative in Montana, and adventures are multi-dimensional. From underground mining tours and panning for gold to scaling Montana's highest, the 12,800-foot Granite Peak, it all feels accessible. Even Hamilton, near the Idaho border, is under an hour from Missoula.
It is easy to find a chill-worthy spot without crowds in views of the peaks upholding the heavens and hundreds of miles outwards to the horizon. Kalispell is a gateway to Glacier National Park and summer recreation on Flathead Lake. These seven lovable destinations to chill out in 2025 are rightfully gems in the Treasure State.
Bigfork
Nothing in Montana says "ultimate summer destination" like chilling along Flathead Lake. Bigfork is a little town on the state's largest lake at the northeastern tip. Blending an understated lakeside resort charm with Montana's rugged spirit, numerous galleries showcase the local take on the surrounding beauty. In addition to thriving arts, its food scene is equally impressive, so get ready for adventures over breakfast at Split Rock Restaurant, which has a warm, inviting feel in an 1894 building. Wayfarers/Flathead Lake State Park is the heart of lakefront recreation with a boat launch and iconic campground, which is also dog-friendly.
For scenic mountain hiking within a national forest, set your sights on Mt. Aeneas, some 15 miles northeast, past Bigfork Community Nordic Ski Trails to Jewel Basin, with its 27 lakes and 35 miles of trails. Harrell Forest Community Trails offer leisurely hikes right downtown. Try regional specialties like bison over locally crafted brews along the waterfront, then catch one of the popular Broadway musicals at the renowned Bigfork Summer Playhouse, starring a talented college crowd from around the region. While it may get tight during the high summer season, the lake scenery is lovely on a fall time hike or a snowshoeing adventure.
Butte
Mining history and modern renaissance unite in Butte beneath Table Mountain and Mt. Fleecer. Experience its burgeoning art scene and rugged lifestyle against the scenic peaks anytime, during a unique festival or fireworks over Chester Steele Park. Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is next door, with lakes, woodland trails, and mountain views for sunny days in the fresh forest and mountain air. Some 40 miles east, Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park offers thrilling tours around expansive limestone caverns, trails, picnic areas, and a campground. You may see some elk along the highway from the nearby Bull Mountain State Wildlife Management Area.
Back in town, the World Museum of Mining is an engaging re-creation of an 1890s mining town, with mine tours and exhibits. The Historic Clark Chateau Museum and Gallery is a showcase inside a magnificent mansion from 1898, built for a local copper magnate. Between museums and Big Butte Open Space Recreation Area, the lake at the heart is a huge mine pit. No visit is complete without an "only here" selfie against Our Lady of the Rockies. The 90-foot Virgin Mary statue atop a jagged outcrop on the Continental Divide is starkly white against the big blue sky. The wood-paneled Sparky's Garage Butte serves BBQ, burgers, and cocktails in vintage Americana.
Hamilton
Hamilton is under an hour directly south of Missoula, which lands you near the Idaho border. Most famous for the Daly Mansion, this old estate showcases how people lived in the past, particularly the rich and well-connected. It may take some time to explore every room for a "wealthy" dose of history, plus beautiful grounds and picket courts. Nap's Grill is the enduring neighborhood "landmark" in its own right, with generous burgers and nostalgic bites. The rugged landscape to the west transitions into scenic peaks like Castle Crag, Canyon Peak, and Ward Mountain. Lake Como is just 30 minutes south, so this remote town is really the center for outdoor recreation.
Claudia Driscoll Park has a castle playground, while Kiwanis Park is perfect for trailing along the Bitterroot River with a dog when it's hot, with spacious shores to picnic. From the Coffee Cup Cafe to Bitter Root Brewing, drop by the nearby Ravalli County Museum and Historical Society. And if you love old houses, the Montana Copper House is a beautiful event venue just nine minutes west. Hamilton Players hosts live performances, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, on weekends in June 2025.
Kalispell
Some 20 minutes from Flathead Lake's northern shore, Kalispell is 40 minutes south of Glacier National Park. Find your perfect base to explore over 700 miles of trails that reveal some of the state's most diverse, breathtaking scenery abundant in wildlife. Offering a variety unheard of in small towns, the Conrad Mansion Museum flaunts fairytale vibes and guides in period dress on a tour of the fully restored "home" from 1895. Northwest Montana History Museum is another beautiful pastel pink building across the road from Glacier Art Museum, both a must-visit. Lawrence Park is a scenic town green with a great playground, while the Desoto Grill has a rockabilly vibe.
Although it gets busy in the high season, Kalispell's charm disperses crowds to find a serene spot at Herron Park on the starkly blue lake, the nearby challenging public golf course, or the Flathead River, snaking east and south. Home to Lone Pine State Park, this woodland features trails to scenic overlooks for horseback riding, hiking, biking, and snowshoeing, plus North Foy's Lake Park. Between adventures, Sykes Diner & Market, a long-standing hangout, will become your go-to for local vibes and modern ambiance with a pharmacy, a cafe, and a humble diner. Catch a flick at Cinemark Signature Stadium. The Montana Club Restaurant is just south for a BBQ family dinner.
Livingston
Chilling along the western edge of the Yellowstone River, Livingston is the "Creative Corner" of the state. As an artist’s paradise, it is favored among returning culture fans and new visitors to find out how quirky a creative community can be. Bursting with small-town flavor through galleries, literary history, and creative eateries, there's a cultural edge to everything. Gil's Goods is retro-cool with neon signs and an easygoing vibe, serving wood-fired pies, grass-fed burgers, breakfast, and coffee drinks. The decorated town boasts a great year-round climate, with some of the mildest winters in the state and an average of 190 sunny days per year.
Take advantage of Myer's River View Trail on a fun and easy hike for the entire family and spread a picnic in the warm weather along with the sparkling views and rushing river sounds. Custer Gallatin National Forest is some 40 miles south. Travelers enjoy yurts at Elk River Crossing, right across the highway. There is also a farmer's market and the most popular Sacajawea Park and Tennis Courts on the Yellowstone River, with open grassy areas, shaded play structures, and tennis courts. Yellowstone Gateway Museum is a historic showcase with permanent and temporary exhibits on Yellowstone National Park, plus activities.
Virginia City
Virginia City is a darling small town dead center on Hwy 287. Don't miss Madison Valley Lookout upon approach for a terrific overlook of the valley and Sphinx Mountain that feels surreal. The town welcomes travelers with a cozy town green and Discovery-Ellingsen Park. From the Virginia City Historical Museum to the Virginia City Opera House, every building has a personality. Virginia City Depot is a recreated village with scenic homes, a train ride, and mining history, while Montana Heritage Commission would belong in any Western. Visitors can also take the Alder Gulch train from Virginia City over to Nevada City.
Virginia City Cafe is a perky eatery with a cozy outdoor sitting area, while Rambling Moose Campground on Daylight Creek offers clean grounds and spacious amenities with hot showers. Just north, Just An Experience Bed and Breakfast offers cabins and the main house rooms overlooking the Alder Gulch, close enough to downtown. Families enjoy panning for gold next door at River of Gold, an open-air mining museum with exhibits. It is only 30 minutes along the highway east to chill by Ennis Lake and its Kobayashi Beach, a tranquil alpine reservoir that tantalizes with crystal blue waters and views of the snowcapped Rockies.
Whitefish
Whitefish can be your 2025 luxurious retreat in a picturesque setting without sky-high prices. Surrounded by glamorous ski resorts and sparkling lakes, Whitefish Lake is an immense water body with parks and trails on both sides, like Les Mason Provincial Park and Dollar Lake Trailhead, both dog-friendly. Whitefish Lake State Park features a boat launch and a beach for swimming and fishing, plus facilities for tent and RV camping. Having recently grown to just under 10,000 locals, sometimes it feels like Whitefish is Bozeman's underdog. But if there ever comes a time that this town on the lake's south tip stops luring visitors, something must not be right in the world.
The town bustles year-round with attractions and eateries, from homey nooks and coffee shops to upscale dining. Drop by the Stumptown Historical Society at the Depot Park. City Beach offers a swimming area, summer kayak, and paddleboard rentals, plus picnic tables, with access to the vibrant downtown. Spliced through the heart by a waterway, Loula's Cafe is an old Masonic temple serving New American breakfast, while Giant Skeleton is an attraction next to the bridge. The only downside is the seasonal tourist influx. Catch the lake in its foliage-reflecting glory, or enjoy snowshoeing along the trails during the annual Whitefish Winter Carnival in January.
Montana's eight people per square mile makes it the third least dense state in the US, after Alaska and Wyoming. For an outsider from any other state, the name Big Sky Country strikes the heart as a chill-worthy place.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy some of the best weather in the state, like in Livingston—the creative corner on Yellowstone River. Bigfork and Kalispell are only 20 minutes apart between Flathead Lake. Chilling out in any of these Treasure State gems will easily be the highlight of 2025.
