Montana
10 Montana Towns that Were Ranked Among US Favorites for 2024
The state of Montana, layered with sun-dappled valleys and majestic mountain peaks, has a vast variety of natural and historic venues. Whether it is the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Crow Agency, the Going-to-the-Sun Road in West Glacier, or Avalanche Lake in Essex, each of these locales is instrumental in providing revenue and popularity for the towns they sometimes surround. Here are ten “Treasure State” towns that were the most popular among a much more extensive list. From Whitefish and the Flathead National Forest to Big Timber and Natural Bridge Falls, these ten towns were consistently ranked as favorites among those within the United States.
Whitefish – Flathead County
The downtown area of Whitefish, Montana. Editorial credit: melissamn / Shutterstock.com
The town of Whitefish is a haven for historical buffs and avid outdoor enthusiasts, no matter what season it may be. The southern banks of Whitefish Lake feature a variety of trails that range from easy to complex, including the Skyles Trailhead and Whitefish River Trail. Whitefish is also known for Whitefish Mountain Resort, offering some of the best skiing and snowboarding in Montana. There are also several popular attractions in downtown Whitefish, including Whitefish Depot, originally constructed in 1928; the Whitefish Farmers Market, offering fresh local produce, as well as a variety of other notable items; and Tally Lake Campground, which has a variety of different sites, including R.V. and tent sites.
Livingston – Park County
View of Livingston, Montana, from Interstate 90. By Tim Evanson – Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Situated along the southern edge of Montana, just over a hundred miles west of the city of Billings, the town of Livingston boasts a variety of natural landmarks, such as Sacajawea Park, the Mayor’s Landing, and a portion of the Yellowstone River. Yet this town of barely eight thousand residents also includes a plethora of historical and cultural attributes as well. The Livingston Depot Center and the Yellowstone Gateway Museum provide a historical aspect to the town and surrounding area, while the Livingston Westside Residential Historic District symbolizes a connection to various famous residents of Whitefish’s past, including Charles Garnier, Edward Talcott, and Hugh J. Miller.
West Yellowstone – Gallatin County
Aerial view of city buildings and streets in West Yellowstone, Montana. Editorial credit: GagliardiPhotography / Shutterstock.com
West Yellowstone may perhaps be one of the most popular, most influential towns in all of Montana and possibly even the entire Rocky Mountain Range. Home to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, Earthquake Lake, and Diamond P Ranch, there are several fun and exciting things to do for the outdoor enthusiast in and around West Yellowstone. Plus, downtown West Yellowstone has several fine mom-and-pop shops and restaurants, including Canyon Street Grill and Timberline Cafe. Then, there is the tip of the iceberg. The town of West Yellowstone sits adjacent to Yellowstone National Park, which offers everything from experiencing Old Faithful and Fairy Falls in person to enjoying a casual dip at the Mammoth Hot Springs.
Red Lodge – Carbon County
In the Beartooth Mountain Range, the town of Red Lodge is a haven during any season. In the dead of winter, this town of barely two thousand residents features Red Lodge Mountain, a ski resort that offers more than seventy snow-covered trails, plus numerous dining options, like the PREROGATIvE Kitchen and Carbon County Steakhouse. Throughout the rest of the seasons, and especially during the heat of summer, locales like Wild Bill Lake, the Silver Run Trails, and the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary offer a sense of nature at its very best. There are also several historical attributes within the town of Red Lodge, including the Carbon County Historical Society & Museum and the Charles Antilla Building, which was built in the early 20th century.
Anaconda – Deer Lodge County
The preserve park in Anaconda, Montana. Editorial credit: Cheri Alguire / Shutterstock.com
The town of Anaconda, first founded by Marcus Daly in 1883, is currently home to about ten thousand permanent residents. The town of Anaconda includes a variety of attributes that urge visitors to return every year, like Georgetown Lake, Smoke Stack Park, and Lost Creek State Park, which host several historical activities. Copper Village Museum and Art Center offers a multitude of activities, from Art in July in Washoe Park to Smeltermen’s Heritage Days in August to September’s Wildlife Expo. There are also several mom-and-pop shops and restaurants in downtown Anaconda. Peppermint Patty’s serves excellent comfort food, while Barclay II offers more of an elegant dining experience.
Polson – Lake County
View of Polson and Flathead Lake from the west, looking northeast. By Montanabw, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Situated on the southern shores of possibly the most famous lake in Montana, the town of Polson is a virtual oasis of historical and natural amenities. The Miracle of America Museum, sometimes referred to as the “Smithsonian of the West,” is the southern portion of Flathead Lake, and Finley Point State Park is all called Polson home. The Miracle of America Museum features almost forty thousand artifacts, including a 1937 Hudson Terraplane and a 1912 Harley. Flathead Lake offers a plethora of excellent fishing opportunities, several unique hiking trails, a variety of exhilarating scenic drives, and even swimming, picnicking, and camping. Finley Point State Park, which is actually at the end of a peninsula on Flathead Lake, offers camping as well, along with ample chances to enjoy the lake, either by boat, kayak, or paddle boat.
Kalispell – Flathead County
Stores along South Main Street in Kalispell, Montana. By Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The town of Kalispell, at the opposite, or northern, end of Flathead Lake, home of approximately twenty-five thousand residents, is larger than most of the towns on this list. Yet, Kalispell offers many excellent attributes while still maintaining that ambiance of a quaint Montana town. Wild Horse Island State Park allows guests to capture glimpses of eagles, osprey, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and, of course, wild horses. Downtown Kalispell offers great many attractions, including the Woodlands Water Park, the Hockaday Museum of Art, and the Northwest Montana History Museum. The Northwest Montana History Museum showcases exhibits that relate to the history of Kalispell, as well as northwestern Montana.
Big Sky – Gallatin and Madison Counties
Big Sky, Montana, at dusk.
From the Beehive Basin Trail, the Lone Mountain Trail, and the Ousel Falls Trail to the Big Sky Resort, Yellowstone Club, and the Geyser Whitewater Expeditions, the town of Big Sky is an ideal haven for the outdoor enthusiast. There are also a vast variety of historical and cultural attributes to the town of Big Sky as well. The Crail Ranch Homestead was first established as an almost thousand-acre ranch and homestead in 1902 by Augustus Franklin Crail and now stands as an informational museum portraying what it was like to be a Montana rancher in the early 20th century. Plus, for those who love to ski, Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin merged to make the town of Big Sky the largest acreage to ski and snowboard in all of America.
Hamilton – Ravalli County
Main Street in Hamilton, Montana. By Itsa Ortiz, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The pastoral town of Hamilton, with an approximate population of five thousand people, features the Daly Mansion, first constructed in 1889 by Marcus Daly, the founder of Hamilton and well-known “Copper King” of Montana, after he purchased the homestead from Anthony Chaffin in 1886. The town of Hamilton showcases a wealth of other historic attractions, including the Ravalli County Museum and Historical Society, featuring the history of Ravalli County, and the Daly Mansion Preservation Trust, within the Daly Mansion and open to visitors from ten to three daily. There are also several remarkable dining opportunities in downtown Hamilton, including Hangar Cafe, Nap’s Grill, and River Rising, which serves a tasty breakfast, brunch, or lunch option.
Big Timber – Sweet Grass County
Big Timber, Montana, Town Hall. By Mike Cline, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Along with the Natural Bridge Falls picnic area, the Lions Club Park, and the first woolen mill in Montana, which was constructed in 1901, the town of Big Timber has a plethora of natural and historical attractions. Crazy Mountain Museum displays a historical aspect to Big Timber and Sweet Grass County through exhibits such as the Pioneer Room, which showcases the lives of the first settlers of Sweet Grass County, and Cobblestone City, which displays a mini diorama of the town of Big Timber in the year 1907. There are also several excellent dining and lodging choices in and around Big Timber, including the Timber Bar, serving a delicious Prime Rib sandwich w/fries, and the Grand Hotel B&B, both of which are on McLeod Street.
Explore Montana’s Treasured Towns
In conclusion, whether it is visiting the Big Sky Resort and Moonlight Basin in Big Sky for some of the best skiing in the United States or staying overnight at an excellent bed & breakfast in Kalispell, or even camping for the weekend at Finley Point State Park on the southern edge of Flathead Lake, there is something for everyone in the great state of Montana. From Whitefish and Whitefish Mountain Resort to Big Timber and the Natural Bridge Falls picnic area, the exhilarating activities and stunning panoramic vistas are well worth visiting at least a few of these ten towns that were ranked among U.S. favorites.
The Bridger project is a massive oil pipeline project that would come in from Alberta, Canada, into Montana at Phillips County, then go through nine counties before getting to Wyoming.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) are reviewing the project, and it could cut across private, state, and federal land.
Watch Bridger pipeline story here:
Proposed Bridger pipeline would bring crude from Canada through Montana to Wyoming
The 647-mile-long Bridger pipeline would move up to 550,000 barrels of crude oil a day.
“It’s a win for Montana. It’s a win for America,” said Yellowstone County Commissioner Mark Morse.
Morse and the Yellowstone County commissioners are among the many Montana leaders supporting the project.
Just this week, they drafted a letter to the Bureau of Land Management expressing that support.
“The energy security is again, it’s going to be on the North American continent and transporting oil via a pipeline is safer than rail or truck,” Morse said.
Commissioners also say the pipeline would be an economic boost for Yellowstone County, bringing construction jobs, supply contracts, and local spending.
“We’ll be a hub for their construction activities,” Morse said. “Supplying parts and pieces, labor.”
But there are plenty of opponents.
They say the risks are simply too high, pointing to past oil spills, including the 2015 Poplar pipeline rupture that sent 30,000 gallons of crude oil into the Yellowstone River near Glendive and a diesel spill of 45,000 gallons near Sussex, Wyoming.
“If that crossing has spilled into the Missouri River, it eventually would make it to that intake,” said Lance Fourstar, co-director of the American Indian Movement Montana. “Highly carcinogenic tar sand bitumen, so we already know it’s highly carcinogenic.”
Fourstar also has concerns about sacred tribal lands.
“The key point of concern is the sovereignty and treaty rights,” Fourstar said. “This project crosses lands, that with treaty reserved rights, hunting, fishing, and gathering.”
The Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) says the pipeline would originate in Alberta with what it calls environmentally destructive fuel sources.
“It’s an environmental disaster waiting to happen in a state that gets a lot of revenue from fishing and agriculture. A majority of the route crosses through Montana, putting land and water at risk,” MEIC spokesperson Shannon James said in a telephone interview with MTN News.
But for Yellowstone County leaders like Morse, it’s a win-win, not just for Yellowstone County, but also the country.
“I just see energy independence for America,” Morse said.
MTN News contacted True Companies in Casper, which proposed the Bridger pipeline.
True and BLM were not available for interviews.
KALISPELL, Mont. — Country music star Walker Hayes will headline the 2026 Northwest Montana Fair concert, opening the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo in Kalispell.
Hayes is scheduled to perform Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. The 2026 Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo runs Aug. 12-16.
Hayes is known for hit songs including “Fancy Like,” “AA,” and “You Broke Up With Me.”
“We are thrilled to bring Walker Hayes to the Northwest Montana Fair,” said Sam Nunnally, Manager of the NW Montana Fair & Rodeo. “Our goal each year is to create unforgettable experiences for our community and visitors, and this concert will be a highlight of the 2026 Fair.”
Tickets for the Walker Hayes concert will be available through the Northwest Montana Fair website at nwmtfair.com.
The Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo welcomes more than 80,000 guests annually and is one of the largest summer events in the region, featuring concerts, PRCA ProRodeo action, carnival rides, exhibits, food vendors, and family entertainment.
BOZEMAN — Aaron Flint and Al Olszewski, Republican candidates for Montana’s Western District U.S. House race, squared off Tuesday in their party’s only scheduled debate before the party primary.
The two debated for about 90 minutes at Bozeman’s Calvary Chapel before an audience of about 120 people. Bozeman anchors Gallatin County, which is second in Republican votes only to Flathead County within the 18-county district.
Natural resource jobs, affordable housing and U.S. military attacks on Iran dominated the discussion. Each question drew 12 minutes of response. Both men called for an end to stock trading by members of Congress, and for federal budgets to be passed on time through regular procedures.
The Montana GOP sponsored the debate. Candidate Christi Jacobsen, Montana’s secretary of state, was unable to attend, according to state Republican Party Chair Art Wittich. State Senate President Matt Regier moderated.
Among the highlights: Flint mentioned no fewer than eight times that he is endorsed by President Donald Trump. Olszewski mentioned Trump by name only a couple of times.
Never too far from Flint’s talking points were “far-left socialists,” whom he credited for “gerrymandering” the Western House District (which has delivered comfortable wins for Republicans since first appearing on the ballot in 2022). The 2026 election cycle was the target of Democrats on the state’s districting commission, Flint said. (Both Democrats on the commission that drew the district in 2021 voted against its current configuration.)
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The near faux pas of the night came during Olszewski’s discussion of good-paying jobs in trades and natural resources: “Trades jobs, natural resource jobs, you know, high-dollar, white-collar jobs, our remote workers who have moved into Montana, and we’ve adapted an economy around them. You know, these are the people, and those are the jobs that will bring our kids home, those high-paying white-collar jobs, or a good natural resource job in western Montana, in one of those mines, or, you know, you know, a sawyer or a hooker” — big pause — “as in timber, not the other way around.”
The line that didn’t land: Flint tried and failed to get audience applause for the 2024 defeat of Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester by Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy — an unseating Flint campaigned for.
“How many of you out there are so glad that we finally got rid of the flip-flop, flat-top liberal senator, Jon Tester? How many of you are so glad we finally did that?”
After a silence, Flint explained to people watching the debate on Facebook that the audience was just being polite.
“They’re waving because we can’t have disruptions. See, they’re good rule followers here in the Republican Party,” Flint said.
Asked how to alleviate Montana’s housing affordability crisis:
Olszewski: “The only way you can afford an expensive house is you’ve got to have a job that pays good money. Tourist jobs provide rent and roommates. Trades jobs, natural resource jobs, high‑dollar white‑collar jobs … those are the jobs that will bring our kids home.” Dr. Al, as Olszewski is widely known, said Wall Street investment buyers are distorting housing prices and the federal government has weakened the dollar.
Flint: “Thirty percent of the cost of a home is all due to red tape and regulations … It costs $100,000 to build a home before you even put a hole in the ground.”
Flint said reviving Montana’s timber industry would lower home values and added, “I support President Trump’s ban on these big Wall Street firms buying single-family homes. I think that’s something that we’ve got to get across the finish line.”
“We can deliver when it comes to making the Montana dream affordable again by delivering affordable housing. But another piece is promoting trades and trades education to build up our workforce.”
Asked how Congress should respond to the Iran conflict:
Olszewski: “I supported our president with what happened in Venezuela. There’s a $25 million bounty on basically someone that was killing our people through drugs, right? I’m not so happy with what’s going on in the Iran war. I’m not a warrior. I’m a physician from the military that fixed military people … What my perspective is, is that countries can win wars, but people do not. They don’t come back.” Olszewski said Congress will have to decide whether to authorize further use of military force and set terms in about 10 days.
Flint: “Let me just say this. We are sick and tired of these forever wars, and we do not want to see a long-term boots-on-the-ground Iraq-style nation-building exercise, and I think President Trump shares that mission as well. Let me also say this about Iran. First off, [former Venezuelan President Nicolás] Maduro is behind bars. [Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei is dead, but the far-left socialists are on the march in Montana.”
Asked about reforming Congress:
Olszewski: “What our congressmen and congresswomen have to understand is that if you’re in the House, the House belongs to the people, and they need to, first and foremost, represent you, not themselves, not special interests. It’s not about sound-bites. It’s about actually getting work done and governing.” Olszewski said the House needs to pass a budget based on 12 agency appropriations bills before the end of each federal fiscal year, a process known as “regular order.”
Flint: “We need to return to regular order and get single-subject bills and get these appropriations bills done one by one. If they can’t get a budget done, they shouldn’t get paid. And we need a ban on congressional stock trading. Because I think part of the reason why the American people are so frustrated with Congress right now is because … they believe that Congress is so useless, because we’ve got some of these politicians back there that are getting rich off the backs of taxpayers.”
Neither candidate offered a plan for cutting taxes, once a staple of Republican platforms. Both supported reductions in federal spending without identifying particular cuts.
Voting in Montana’s 2026 primary election begins May 4 and ends June 2.
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