10 Nicest Small Towns In Montana
Taking advantage of the high mountains and sprawling landscapes, Montana’s small towns have something for visitors looking for exploration and a community to connect with on their adventure. National landmarks like Glacier National Park draw hikers and tourists from all over the US seeking to test their physical limits, while events like the Harvest Valley Farmers Market in Stevensville bring tourists shoulder-to-shoulder with the locals. Discovering more of Montana’s pioneer and mining past will cast the beauty and architecture of bustling downtown areas of cities like Philipsburg in a new light. No matter what you are looking for, these nice small towns in Montana offer a unique way to learn about and interact with life in the American West.
Whitefish
Whitefish is a mountain town that has held onto the creative spirit of local artists as it evolved into a resort town with more high-traffic destinations for visitors. A great place to begin your exploration of the local culture is at the Cawdrey Gallery. Co-owner and artist Nancy Cawdrey’s passion and fascination are on display through the curated collection of art pieces. The gallery has been in town since 2017, showcasing fine art in the form of sculptures and paintings that represent the aesthetic of the American West. South of the town, Montana Coffee Traders shares the same appreciation for the town’s dedication to providing quality. The coffee roaster’s roots in Whitefish date back to 1981, when they began brewing coffee for more and more visitors as the town developed into a vacation hotspot.
The summer season offers more to do outdoors. The town springs to life during the annual Whitefish Downtown Farmer’s Market that runs from June to September. Beyond being a hot spot to purchase fresh groceries and support local growers and craftsmen, the weekly event is packed with food trucks and live music to make the most out of the warm weather and connection to family farms.
Red Lodge
In the city of Red Lodge, working with your hands is a way of life that has helped local businesses and traditions thrive. The Red Lodge Clay Center is one place to get up close to the crafting process and see artists at work. The center hosts workshops and demonstrations in addition to galleries. The center’s commitment to showcasing different artists promises a unique experience for returning visitors as new potters and ceramists are given the exhibition spotlight. If you resonate with the work of a particular artist or are doing your gift shopping, browsing the accompanying shop will help you find a handmade piece to take home. The city is full of handcrafted goods, including sweets. The Montana Candy Emporium leans into the nostalgia of a sweets shop and sells homemade fudge, chocolates, and candies from a country-store facade in downtown Red Lodge.
In July, the Home of the Champions Rodeo electrifies the city. For nearly a century, what began as local cowboys mounting and riding broncos around railroad stockyards has grown into an anticipated contest held on the Red Lodge Rodeo Grounds. You can join the cheering crowd during the parade through downtown Red Lodge, which brings the whole community of riders and residents together.
Livingston
Along the winding Yellowstone River, Livingston’s museums are full of the area’s western heritage. If you are a history enthusiast seeking to learn more about the traditions and legacy of the Western US, a visit to the Yellowstone Gateway Museum and the Livingston Depot Center has exhibits that showcase the progression of the region. The Depot Center, which is located in a restored Northern Pacific Railroad station from 1902, features paintings and plaques describing the wildlife and expansion of southwestern Montana. The Yellowstone Gateway Museum dives even deeper into the culture and legacy of the native tribes of Montana.
The current nightlife in Livingston has its own historical venues. A landmark spot in town is the Murray Bar, which has existed in the downtown area for over 100 years. The social scene at the bar is complete with live music, making it a perfect place to feel the town’s friendly atmosphere.
Bigfork
The village of Bigfork has a reputation for fostering a thriving arts scene in the downtown area. The Bigfork Art and Cultural Center combines art with exhibits, workshops, and lectures that teach visitors the story of the Flathead Valley through a collection of relics. In August, the celebration of the arts extends out into the streets during the annual Bigfork Festival of the Arts. You’ll be even more inspired by the art you see at the festival, as over 100 artist booths are set up during the showcase, and attendees connect with craftsmen showing off their designs. For a more intimate and quiet setting to get to know the locals, head to the nearby Echo Lake Cafe. The family-run restaurant was originally founded in the village in 1960, making it a familiar name and stop among residents.
Another big advantage of Bigfork is the spots that give visitors a more secluded area to relax. The wilderness and forests that surround the village are open for exploration at the Bigfork Nature Trail, which provides hikers and bikers access to the edge of the Swan River.
Philipsburg
A former mining town, Philipsburg has managed to keep its mining legacy and architecture intact over a century after the mining boom, keeping visitors flocking to Granite County. The Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine is a chance to be a part of that legacy firsthand. Visitors search and pan for their own gemstone through a bucket of natural sapphire gravel. In addition to gemstones, silver mining was a lucrative venture in the Granite Mountain mine from 1885 to 1893, but eventually most mining operations folded. You can tour the nearby Granite Ghost Town State Park, where the remains of a Montana mining town still stand after a century of abandonment.
The community that does remain in Philipsburg has created a strong arts community. The Philipsburg Theatre puts on live music and theatrical performances in the Philipsburg Opera House Theater building. Settle down before the curtains lift, and you will get to enjoy a show in the oldest operating theater in the state, established back in 1891.
Anaconda
Another Montana city once fueled by a natural resource mining boom is Anaconda, with a legacy of copper smelting that is still visible in the historic downtown area. The Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park offers the most distinct reminder of that history. Visitors flock to the park to see the Anaconda Copper Company Smelter Stack from a distance. The fixture stands at 585 feet tall and remains a fixture of the area’s landscape decades after the smelter shuttered for good in 1980.
During the heyday of the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, the company town was built up as business and mining mogul Marcus Daly campaigned for the town to be designated as the state capital. Elements of the architecture can still be seen today in the thriving downtown area. While the Washoe Theatre plays a mix of movies and live entertainment, the real star of the show is the building itself. Completed in 1936, the Art Deco design by B. Marcus Priteca has been preserved in the grand lobby and murals adorning the inside of the building. Continue sightseeing downtown on a walking tour of the Anaconda Commercial Historic District with 30 buildings that will stand out to any history lover. These buildings maintain their original Victorian and industrial-era facades, including the historic City Hall constructed in 1896 and the National Bank of Anaconda’s neoclassical structure.
Polson
Sitting along Flathead Lake, Polson’s lakeside community celebrates not only its Montana heritage but also the history of the US. A prominent museum in town is the Miracle of America Museum, which was founded in 1981. Tourists who wander its showroom floor will be met with a patriotic display of Americana artifacts from across the military, agriculture, and transportation sectors.
Zooming in on the Flathead region’s culture, visitors will want to stop at the local events and businesses that support the local Montana farms. The annual Flathead Cherry Festival in July takes place on Polson’s Main Street. The family-friendly gathering of vendors and games celebrates the orchards that have given the region its reputation for producing sweet cherries. Keep count of all the new cherry-related foods and recipes you try on Main Street during the party. Fruits are not the only locally sourced foods on the menu during a trip to Polson. Flathead Lake Cheese is a creamery that produces artisanal cheeses from scratch, giving you the best fresh snacking options in the city.
Columbia Falls
Along the Flathead River, the city of Columbia Falls is a place that visitors who love outdoor adventure will find plenty of excitement. Nestled in the Rocky Mountain area, a day at Big Sky Waterpark will get your adrenaline rushing. Opened in 1983, it is the largest waterpark in Montana, and visiting families from all over are welcomed by the sight of exhilarating waterslides and bumper cars. If splashing around at the waterpark gave you an appetite for even more thrills, a hiking trip in nearby Glacier National Park will test your physical limits. To warm up and recharge, coffee shops like Uptown Hearth offer locally roasted blends and artisan breads.
Fort Benton
With its famed “birthplace of Montana” slogan, Fort Benton has earned a spot on every traveler’s list. Witness a recreation of the area’s evolution at the Starr Gallery of Western Art. Located in Historic Old Fort Benton, the space offers a collection that is difficult to replicate, as the gallery is full of rare prints from artist Karl Bodmer, who depicted the area’s native culture. Winding down along the Missouri River on the Historic Landmark District and Steamboat Levee Walk invokes the legacy of a different era of transportation. The serene walk offers a view of the waterfront and encourages you to cast your mind back to the days of Fort Benton’s bustling river port full of fur traders and settlers in the 1800s.
There are plenty of modern restaurants to experience that have a big impact on the town’s identity. Farm-to-table meals are on the menu at Union Grille. The restaurant is part of the Grand Union Hotel, which secured a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. After refurbishments that preserved the building’s appearance, it continues to welcome visitors looking for a place to stay and admire its architecture.
Stevensville
Founded in 1841, Stevensville feels like a step into Montana’s history. The town’s crowning landmark, Historic St. Mary's Mission & Museum, preserves the mission complex founded in 1841. The church educates visitors on the state’s first pioneer community, including the missionaries who encountered the Salish tribe in the rapidly changing landscape. Bitterroot Valley maintains much of the diverse landscape that existed when settlers arrived, and you can put yourself in their shoes while exploring the grasslands, forests, and wetlands at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge has conserved and managed the natural resources and species that call the environment home since 1964. Stevensville’s residents gather downtown to share the goods the local land has produced at the Harvest Valley Farmers Market. The vendor-run market has a variety of sellers displaying their goods from May to October. As you walk through the stalls, you will notice the town’s community spirit as farmers and jewelry artists sell side by side.
While breathtaking scenery is always a draw of western landscapes in good weather, these small towns show the resilience and creativity of their communities year-round. Towns like Philipsburg have transformed their history into educational opportunities, while structures like the Washoe Theatre have adapted to continue to serve their communities today. Art depicting the serene landscapes demonstrates the passion these communities have for showing visitors the beauty of Montana and invites everyone to plan and experience a trip of their own.
