Headed to Big Sky Country? In this blog, I’ll be sharing a few tips on things to do in Southeast Montana, including where to stay and eat during your road trip!

Montana is home to some of the most beautiful Rocky Mountain landscapes and scenic drives, such as Yellowstone National Park, Lolo Pass, Glacier National Park’s Going to the Sun Road, and the EPIC Beartooth Highway (ya know… just to name a few). In order to get to most of these iconic Montana destinations, you’ll likely have to travel through Southeast Montana to get there.

Recently, I took a three-day road trip through Southeast Montana on my motorcycle. (PS: if you don’t ride a motorcycle, that’s okay! there’s plenty of information here to help you plan your next road trip!)

Most people tend to travel through southeast Montana with minimal stops en route to their destination. From the interstate, it can be hard to see what lies just a few miles off the highway. I can confidently say this region is worth checking out, especially if you have the time! From hidden gem food spots, state parks, mystical badlands, swimming holes, and historical sites, there is SO much to see, eat, and do!

Full disclosure: this road trip was made possible by Visit Montana. Working with them allowed me to really slow down and get to know this area of their state, and provide y’all with tons of information! The thoughts and opinions in this blog are my own.

Montana is known for having unpredictable weather, but some seasons are definitely better than others for taking a road trip across the state. I visited southeast Montana in late July, meaning that I was there in the middle of the Summer. It was hot, dry, and wildfire smoke was unfortunately in the air for the majority of the trip. This is common weather across many states in the west during this time, though. 

If you’d like cooler temperatures without the snow and ice that is common during the Winter, I’d recommend visiting in the shoulder months, such as late May – June, or September – mid October. 

During my southeast Montana road trip, I mainly stuck to Interstate 94, headed east-to-west across the state. I-94 follows in the footsteps of the Yellowstone Trail and many parts of the historic Lewis and Clark Trail, offering access to numerous historical sites and towns. You could easily get off the beaten path and see other small towns and destinations via Montana’s state highways. However, this blog will primarily focus on the Interstate 94 corridor.