Destination
Montana, Family-Friendly Adventures
Montana is the kind of place that makes you want to take the long way. Towering mountains, wide-open country, clear lakes, small mountain towns, and some of the best national park scenery anywhere — the distances between stops are part of the adventure here.
We spent two weeks driving it this past summer, from Glacier down through Great Falls, Helena and Cascade to Big Sky and West Yellowstone. We're already planning our next trip(s) back! This page is where I am collecting all of it as we go.
The Map
Tap a pin to jump to that stop.
Best Time to Visit
Montana's travel season is short and worth planning around. Late June through mid-September is the window when everything is open at once — mountain passes clear, park roads run end to end, and the lakes are warm enough for kids to actually get in.
Glacier is the one to time carefully. Going-to-the-Sun Road usually does not open across the pass until late June or early July, and it closes again with the first serious snow. The park has used vehicle reservations in past summers; as of 2026 they are not required, but entrance fees are, and it is always worth checking nps.gov before you drive up.
On the Yellowstone side, the west entrance at West Yellowstone opens to cars in late April and closes to regular vehicles in early November, when the park switches to snowcoaches and snowmobiles.
September is a hidden favorite — thinner crowds, gold larch and cottonwoods, cool mornings — as long as you do not mind that some seasonal services have already shut down for the year.
What to Expect
Getting there: pick the airport that matches your half of the trip — Kalispell for Glacier, Bozeman for Big Sky and the Yellowstone side, with Missoula, Helena and Great Falls in between.
Distances: Glacier to West Yellowstone is a solid six to seven hours. Great Falls to Helena is about ninety minutes, Bozeman to Big Sky about an hour. Build the drive into the plan rather than around it.
Getting around: a car, always. Fill the tank when you see a station in eastern and central Montana, and expect stretches with no cell service.
Wildlife: this is bear country. Carry bear spray where the trails call for it, store food properly at campgrounds, and watch for deer and elk on the road at dawn and dusk.
Budget: friendlier than the coast overall, but the gateway towns — West Yellowstone, Big Sky, the Glacier villages — spike hard in July and August. Book those early.
Things to Do in Montana With Kids
Mountain views, wildlife, lakes, small towns and scenic overlooks that turn the drive itself into the trip. Here is what I am covering so far — full guides are on the way.
Glacier National Park
Northwest MontanaGlacier belongs on almost every family's Montana bucket list.
Dramatic mountain scenery, turquoise lakes, waterfalls, wildlife and some of the most beautiful landscape in the country — whether you plan a dedicated Glacier trip or fold the park into a longer Montana road trip, there is far more than one visit can hold.
Coming soon: our Glacier adventure, family-friendly stops, scenic viewpoints, what to know before you go, and tips for planning a visit with kids.
Great Falls
Central MontanaGreat Falls is a good introduction to Montana's wide-open landscapes and its history.
On the Missouri River, the city is known for its waterfalls, bike trails and outdoor recreation, its museums, and its connection to the Lewis and Clark expedition. It is also a convenient stop when you are road-tripping through the middle of the state.
Coming soon: more Great Falls family travel tips.
Helena
Montana's capitalMontana's capital city is a fun stop for families working their way across the state.
Historic architecture, museums, outdoor recreation and quick access to the surrounding mountains make it a good mix of history and adventure — and a natural place to break up a longer drive.
Coming soon: our favorite Helena stops, things to do with kids, and tips for adding the city to your itinerary.
Cascade
On the Missouri RiverSmall-town Montana is part of what makes traveling here memorable, and Cascade is a good example. We made an unplanned pit stop for a night during our two-week road trip this past summer and found a super cute new campground.
Sitting on the Missouri between Great Falls and Helena, it is an easy stop when you are exploring central Montana — and a reminder that some of the best road-trip discoveries are not the biggest tourist attractions.
Coming soon: more Cascade adventures.
Big Sky
Madison RangeBig Sky is one of Montana's best-known mountain destinations, and there is plenty here for families who want to be outside.
Surrounded by dramatic scenery and close to Yellowstone, it works as an adventure of its own or as one leg of a bigger Montana and Yellowstone trip — outdoor activities, scenic drives, family-friendly attractions, or simply a beautiful place to spend a few days.
Coming soon: family-friendly things to do in Big Sky and tips for planning a Montana mountain getaway.
Hebgen Lake
West of YellowstoneJust west of Yellowstone, Hebgen Lake is a beautiful place to slow down.
The lake is ringed by mountains and made for boating, fishing, paddle boarding, wildlife watching, photography, or simply sitting near the water. For families driving between Montana and Yellowstone, it is an especially scenic stop.
Coming soon: more Hebgen Lake adventures and family travel tips.
West Yellowstone
The park's west entranceWest Yellowstone sits right at the western entrance to Yellowstone, which makes it an easy home base for families visiting the park.
But it is not just a place to sleep before the park gate. The town and the area around it have their own attractions, restaurants, shops and outdoor activities — it was one of my daughter's favorite places to visit on our recent road trip — and it works well as a base for southwestern Montana too.
Coming soon: family-friendly things to do, where it fits into a Montana road trip, and tips for visiting the area with kids.
Montana Family Travel Guide — Coming Soon
