Montana is one of the most rural states in the USA and it’s full of cute small towns as well as some interesting ghost towns.
If you are travelling from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park and want to discover some cute places, this ultimate Montana small town road trip is for you!
We will start in West Yellowstone and go all the way up to West Glacier.
Please note that there are a lot more stops that could be added to this Yellowstone to Glacier road trip but in this one, we will focus on small towns.
So, are you ready to get started? Let’s go!
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Map of this Small Town Road Trip from Yellowstone to Glacier
You can click on the map to see the interactive version.
Stop 1: West Yellowstone
The first small town on this list is West Yellowstone. It’s located on the western side of Yellowstone national park and is one of the main entrances.
West Yellowstone was actually created so it could be the main entrance to the national park. Back in the days, visitors would arrive here by train and then visit Yellowstone with horse-drawn wagons.
Today, it’s a cute town with many shops (with cheap souvenirs), cafés and hotels. You will also find the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center which is well worth a visit as well as the museum of the Yellowstone.
Stop 2: Ennis
🚗 Driving time: 1 h 10 minutes
A bit over an hour drive from West Yellowstone, you’ll find Ennis which is a local cowboy town. Unlike some of the towns you’ll visit during this road trip, Ennis is a full working town which means there is quite a bit going on here.
I recommend stopping and walking up and down Main Street.
You’ll find loads of saloons, cafes and even the local whiskey distillery, Willie’s Distillery. The Gravel Bar is also a popular spot for a drink and they often have live music on in the evening.
If you are into fishing, Ennis will also be an excellent spot for you since it’s located near the Madison River.
Once you’re done, head towards Virginia City. After a few minutes, you’ll find the Madison Valley History Museum which is also worth a stop.
I also recommend stopping at the Madison Valley Lookout as well because the views are fantastic!
Stop 3: Virginia City
🚗 Driving time: 19 minutes
From Ennis, drive the old Vigilante trail (don’t worry, this is a normal road but it’s an historic route) to Virginia City.
This is the most famous ghost town in Montana. It used to be the territorial capital of Montana and was what we call a boom town.
It’s now a National Historic Landmark and a great place to learn more about the Old West.
You’ll find loads of old buildings with artifacts inside showing you how people used to live during the gold rush.
You can also take the scenic train to Nevada City, go on a horse carriage ride or do the self guided tour.
I also recommend going to the Bale of Hay saloon for a drink. It’s the oldest saloon in Montana!
In summer, there are also ghost tours departing from the saloon most evenings.
Stop 4: Nevada City
🚗 Driving time: 3 minutes
Just after Virginia City, you’ll find another ghost town called Nevada City.
It’s a lot smaller but definitely worth a stop.
You can check the train station. There is also a visitor centre with a small exhibition here.
Make sure to walk around the town, there are signs explaining the history of Nevada City and some ghost stories.
Stop 5: Anaconda
🚗 Driving time: 1 hour 40 minutes
After a while, you’ll reach interstate 90. From there you can do a short detour to visit Anaconda or skip it and keep following the rest of the itinerary.
Anaconda used to be a copper mining town, like Butte, and you can see that heritage everywhere around the town.
There are various shops and cafes where you can stop. If you are into ghost stories, make sure to go to the Hard & Thistle pub. There is an interesting one here!
You can also visit the copper village museum, go ziplining at Montana Zipline Adventures or golfing at the Old Works Golf Course.
Stop 6: Deer Lodge
🚗 Driving time: 30 minutes
Deer Lodge is technically a city but since the population is under 3,000 residents, I think it’s fair to include it in this small town road trip.
There are many things you can do in Deer Lodge so you should set aside more time for this stop.
As you arrive, you can stop downtown and visit the Old Montana Prison and Auto Museum.
This is such a unique landmark because it actually used to be a prison and you can visit it!
It closed in 1979 but was open for over a century which means there is plenty to learn here.
A bit further, you’ll find another historic landmark that is worth visiting, especially with kids.
It’s the Grant-Kohrs Ranch.
This working cattle ranch is a national historic site that used to be over 10 million acres! Here you can learn plenty about cowboys, ranching and see various animals including cows and horses.
Stop 7: Seeley Lake
🚗 Driving time: 1 hour 30 minutes
After 1 hour and a half, you’ll reach Seeley Lake. This is a very peaceful area and the perfect place to relax.
The town of Seeley Lake is located just before the lake of the same name. It’s very small but you can stop to grab a bite or drink.
There are also a lot of activities you can do around the lake itself including paddleboard, camping and more.
You will then drive through the Flathead National Forest all the way up to Kalispell. This is a very scenic drive.
Kalispell is the main city near Glacier National Park. It is bigger than all the small towns mentioned here but it has this small town feel so if you want to make an extra stop and go to the museums or the numerous antique shops, don’t hesitate!
Stop 8: Whitefish
🚗 Driving time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Your next stop will be the cute town of Whitefish. Located in the Rocky Mountains, it will be quite a change of scenery compared to what you’ve seen so far.
The town itself is very cute and there are loads of shops and dining options. You can park your car and have a walk around.
I also recommend going to Whitefish Mountain Resort. This is one of the main ski resorts in Montana but it’s also a great place to visit in summer.
There are loads of hiking trails and outdoor activities available. I particularly recommend taking the scenic lift to Summit House. The views over the mountains and the lake are sensational!
If you fancy a hike, you can even walk back down on the Danny on Trail hiking path.
Stop 9: Columbia Falls
🚗 Driving time: 20 minutes
Columbia Falls is also technically a city but again, it’s quite small and it makes for the perfect spot.
You’ll find quite a few shops here and it’s a good place to go grocery shopping as well.
In summer, they have the local rodeo (Bash Rodeo) on every Thursday as well as karaoke and line dancing at the Blue Moon bar.
I particularly recommend going to the Gunsight Saloon. It’s huge and beautifully decorated inside but the true highlight is the large outdoor area.
They serve food (and drinks obviously) and have live music on every evening.
Stop 10: Hungry Horse
🚗 Driving time: 10 minutes
Hungry Horse is very small but it makes for a good spot on your way to Glacier National Park.
It’s home to the highest dam in Montana and you’ll find a lot of huckleberry shops here. If you’d like to try a local huckleberry pie, it’s a great place to do so!
Stop 11: West Glacier
🚗 Driving time: 10 minutes
Yay! You’ve made it to the last town before reaching the entrance of Glacier National Park.
West Glacier is small but mighty! There are a few cafés and shops.
You can also go to the Crown of the Continent Discovery Center and plan all your activities in Glacier National park.
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