Montana
7 Incredible Vacation Spots In Montana
Montana is known for its Rocky Mountains. Places such as Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park attract millions of tourists every year. It’s no wonder people gravitate towards these areas for vacation destinations. The parks are full of surreal beauty to explore. While often overlooked, Montana’s small towns are another great vacation spot. Towns such as Red Lodge are even a gateway to the beloved National Parks. Other towns, such as Butte, offer a deep dive into Montana’s history and tell visitors the story behind the mountain state. Explore seven incredible vacation spots in Montana.
Whitefish
One of the most charming mountain towns, Whitefish is the best vacation spot for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. The town has opportunities for hiking, biking, skiing, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Another side to Whitefish is that it is a romantic resort town. Wander downtown to see this side of Whitefish. There are several shops and cute cafes. Check out Going to The Sun to see a quirky art gallery. In the summer and fall, check out the local farmer’s market. Visitors should try the famed huckleberries while they are in season here.
Looking to enjoy the mountains all day and night? Consider a stay at the Grouse Mountain Lodge, just 30 minutes from Glacier National Park. This is a great home base for adventures.
Ennis
Anyone looking to vacation to Montana for the mountains will enjoy Ennis. The town is surrounded by three mountain ranges the Madison Range, the Gravelly Range, and the Tobacco Root Mountains. The picturesque Madison River is also nearby and is a popular fishing spot. A unique attraction in Ennis is outdoor art. There is a tour available for visitors where a guide will take guests to the outdoor art exhibits, which showcase the beautiful cowboy town’s history.
Learn more about Ennis’s history at the Madison Valley Historical Society Museum. The museum has a working blacksmith shop from Ennis’s Gold Rush days. For a relaxing vacation and overnight stay in Ennis, check out Lure Me Inn, which is right in town.
Virginia City
Near Ennis, Virginia City is a small town born out of Montana’s Gold Rush days. The town has been restored and is a well-preserved time capsule of Montana’s old west. It has stood the test of time and is a live enactment of the 1860s. The town offers many opportunities to explore the Old West days. Almost a ghost town, Virginia City has buildings that date back to the area’s Territorial days. Every year in August, the town holds Virginia City’s Grand Victorian Ball for Peace. The ball dates back to the 1800s, and today, people dress up in period costumes for the affair.
The local Opera House hosts plays dedicated to the town’s history, in 19th-century production style. Visitors can enjoy dining like it’s the 1860s at the Star Bakery and grab a drink at the Bale of Hay Saloon. Virginia City’s first brewery is still open. H. S. Gilbert Brewery is a great place to relax, and they have a live performance by the Brewery Follies Players. To explore more of Montana, take the short line from Virginia City to Nevada City. The scenery on the ride is beautiful and worth the trip.
Red Lodge
Surrounded by the stunning Custer Gallatin National Forest, Red Lodge is a great place for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Often known as the gateway to Yellowstone National Park, this town is the perfect vacation spot for those looking to venture into the iconic park. Make sure to drive down the scenic Beartooth Highway on the way to Yellowstone.
Beyond Yellowstone, Red Lodge has adventures of its own. Explore the charming main street of downtown Red Lodge. The street is full of old-timey shops and cute eateries. Stop at the Candy Emporium to feel like a kid again. Exploring the outdoors in Red Lodge is a must. The town is home to several hiking trails with stunning views. Some of the best ones to try include Woodbine Falls Trail, Lake Fork Trails, Wild Bill Lake Loop, and West Fork Trails.
Dillon
A small town with a big personality, Dillon is a vacation spot for those looking to experience Montana’s southwest. Located in a gorgeous valley, Dillon is a combination of natural beauty and Southwestern culture. The valley Dillon sits in is where three rivers drain: Ruby, Big Hole, and Beaverhead River. Having so many rivers around, it’s no wonder Dillon is a favorite spot for fishing. Beaverhead River is a blue river trout stream and a popular fly fishing spot. There are also many hiking trails near Dillon. Agnes Lake Trail is a popular one with pretty views.
Exploring Dillon and the surrounding area, visitors might notice some ghost towns. There are a couple of ghost towns near Dillon. Coolidge was a silver mining town in 1919; the ruins of the town are still visible today. Bannack is a well-preserved ghost town near Dillon and was the first town in Montana to strike gold. After a day of exploring Dillon, visitors can unwind at the nearby and relaxing Jackson Hot Springs Lodge.
Polson
Are you looking for a quiet vacation in a lesser-known mountain town? Consider visiting Polson. Located on the Flathead Indian Reserve, the town is right in a natural amphitheater. The town has a rich culture and history, celebrating many events. The Cherry Festival in July is one of the region’s most popular festivals. It celebrates the region’s famous Flathead cherries. The festival has handcrafted goods, cherry-themed treats, and delicious food.
Enjoy walking around the town and stopping at the museums and galleries to learn more about Polson’s past, such as the Miracle of America Museum. Make sure to check out the Sandpiper Art Gallery to see the work of local artists. Stay at the Flathead Lake Inn to fully experience the town.
Butte
Considered the cornerstone of Montana’s Southwest, Butte is a town with a colorful history and a fantastic culture. Anyone looking to delve into history on their vacation should visit Butte. Take the local Trolley Tour to learn about the town’s past with a local history guide on a trolley. The trolley makes a special stop at Butte’s notorious Berkeley Pit. After learning a little about Butte’s history, visitors will be hungry to learn more. One of the best places to learn even more about Butte’s history is at the World’s Museum of Mining, which is right in town. Afterwards, check out the Copper King Mansion. The historic landmark shows the history of some of the mine owners.
After learning so much history, make sure to take time to enjoy Butte’s natural scenery. Butte is near Thomspon Park. Located in the heart of the Rockies, this park makes for a great afternoon trip. There are lots of trails to explore and great spots for a picnic. Visitors can end their time in Butte with a nostalgic night out at the local drive-in.
Why Visit These Towns
Anyone planning their next vacation should consider taking a trip to one of these towns. Each town has something for everyone. Butte is a town full of interesting local history that will entertain history buffs. Red Lodge and Ennis are towns with an old-time charm that gives visitors views of beautiful natural sites combined with quaint local charm. Whatever vacation spot you visit, the charm of Montana’s history and the Rocky Mountains will give visitors an unforgettable vacation. These towns are great to visit any time of year. So start packing your bags and get ready to enjoy the mountains in Montana.
Montana
Escobar, Jayapal, Members of Congress Call on Camp East Montana to be Shut Down – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) – joined by Representative Pramila Jayapal, the Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, and 22 other Members of Congress – sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons calling for the immediate closure of Camp East Montana in El Paso. They cite urgent humanitarian concerns following multiple deaths in custody, documented unsafe conditions, and serious deficiencies in medical care.
This marks the fourth letter Congresswoman Escobar has sent to DHS and ICE leadership. The previous three letters have gone unanswered.
The letter can be found in its entirety below and here.
“Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons:
We are urgently calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or the Department) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to shut down Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas.
Camp East Montana has been operational for six months, and at least three people have died at the site since December 2025: Francisco Gaspar-Andres, Geraldo Lunas Campos, and Victor Manuel Diaz. The El Paso County Medical Examiner has officially ruled Lunas Campos’ death a homicide, citing “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression.”
Camp East Montana was constructed in a matter of weeks and opened before construction was complete and it does not have enough federal staff on-site to provide adequate oversight. Over the last several months, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, in whose district this facility is located, has sent multiple letters to DHS and ICE regarding concerns about the conditions at Camp East Montana, and has received no responses.
According to detainees, there have been constant and consistent problems at the facility since it opened, beginning with the facility’s poor construction and poor ambient temperature control. Upon opening, the drinking water at Camp East Montana tasted foul and made some detainees sick. Detainees continue to be served inadequate meals, including food that is rotten or frozen; last fall, the facility was also consistently failing to make dietary accommodations for detainees. Detainees have shared that they have sporadic access to outside spaces and recreational areas, and that their dormitory pods are cleaned only once every eight days, despite pods housing up to 72 people at a time. Laundry services are not consistent, and people are washing their clothes in the facility showers. Additionally, the facility experiences flooding and sewage backups when it rains, leading to stagnant water.
One of the biggest concerns with the Camp East Montana facility is the inadequate medical care being provided to detainees. Our offices have heard that only the most ill detainees are referred to the medical unit and that there are inconsistencies as to how soon after arriving detainees are able to undergo initial medical screenings. Detainees with chronic health issues who rely on regimented medications for their health have had difficulty accessing necessary medications, including blood pressure medication and insulin.
At least one of the deaths that occurred in ICE custody, the death of Francisco Gaspar-Andres, appears to partially be the result of poor medical care by staff at the facility. According to ICE’s own account, Gaspar-Andres sought medical attention from facility staff for increasingly serious symptoms, but was only transferred to an area hospital once his condition had severely deteriorated.
In addition to our concerns about poor medical care, we are also aware that detainees have experienced irregular access to their legal counsel, including instances of detainees having only two minutes allotted per phone call every 8 days, which is contrary to ICE’s Detention Standards on access to counsel, and that the belatedly created law library lacks adequate resources for the amount of people currently held at the facility. In January 2026, ICE announced the on-site death of Geraldo Lunas Campos “after experiencing medical distress.” ICE opened an investigation into the death, but did not provide a cause of death. However, The Washington Post later reported that another man detained at Camp East Montana had witnessed guards choking Lunas Campos when he refused to enter a segregated housing unit. Weeks later, the El Paso County Medical Examiner ruled that Lunas Campos had experienced “asphyxia due to neck and torso compression” and ruled his death a homicide.
Lunas Campos is the first detainee to die at Camp East Montana as a result of a use-of-force incident, but we are strongly concerned that he will not be the last if ICE is allowed to continue operating Camp East Montana.
ICE was given $45 billion in taxpayer dollars in the reconciliation bill, $1.2 billion of which were awarded to Acquisition Logistics, LLC, a company with no previous experience managing immigration detention facilities, to build and oversee Camp East Montana. However, in the wake of three deaths in custody so far, continued concerns about conditions at the facility, and ICE’s apparent disinterest in responding to oversight letters from Congress, we do not believe Camp East Montana is being run professionally or responsibly.
Camp East Montana must be shut down. For the safety of everyone at the facility, for an end to abuses to detainees, and for fiscal responsibility to the American people, the site cannot continue to operate. We are calling on DHS and ICE to move to immediately close operations at Camp East Montana.
We look forward to hearing from the Department promptly on this matter.
The other co-signers include Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Nanette Barragán, Yvette Clarke, Lloyd Doggett, Maxwell Frost, Jesús “Chuy” García, Sylvia Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Jimmy Gomez, Henry Johnson, Stephen Lynch, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delia Ramirez, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Darren Soto, Rashida Tlaib, Paul Tonko, Lauren Underwood, Gabe Vasquez, and Nydia Velázquez.
Issues: Immigration
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