2025's 9 Best Small Towns To Visit In Montana

Montana is the fourth-largest state in the United States, yet it has fewer than 1.2 million residents spread across more than 147,000 square miles. That wide gap between land and population means many of its communities remain small, but far from quiet in what they offer visitors. Beyond the well-known pull of Yellowstone and Glacier, the towns to visit in Montana in 2025 give travelers a closer look at how history, outdoor access, and local businesses shape daily life.

In the Flathead Valley, Kalispell and Whitefish connect art galleries, breweries, and historic homes with quick access to Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park. Anaconda tells a different story, with its copper-mining roots preserved in landmarks like the 585-foot Smelter Stack. That variety is what makes traveling through these towns in 2025 feel both grounded and memorable.

Bigfork

Bigfork shows its spirit right at the water’s edge with the Swan River’s “Wild Mile,” a stretch of class-IV rapids, spilling into Flathead Lake through town. Base Camp Bigfork rents kayaks, canoes, and SUPs, and guides trips around Flathead Lake, the Swan River, and nearby lakes. In winter, the Bigfork Community Nordic Center offers about 7 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails just off Jewel Basin Road.

The Summer Playhouse, the “Theatre by the Bay,” delivers professional musicals and plays every summer. In 2025, its 66th season includes Catch Me If You Can, Shrek: The Musical, Something Rotten!, and era-spanning song revues. Meanwhile, local flavor runs deep at Whistling Andy Distillery, crafting spirits infused with local grains and botanicals.

Polson

Under 90 minutes from Missoula, Polson feels vibrant and grounded on the southern shore of Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in the Western United States. You can rent pontoon boats, kayaks, jet skis, and powerboats from local outfitters like Riverside Recreation to explore the lake. Polson’s lakefront parks are key town spaces. For instance, Boettcher Park is beloved by families for its sandy beach, grills, nearby restrooms, and relaxing views; it is great for paddleboard or kayak rentals, too.

Head to Kerr Dam, now Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ Dam, for a quiet surprise. A short boardwalk leads to dramatic views of the spillway. Spring snowmelt makes it especially impressive, but the viewing area stays open year-round. Another cornerstop is the Miracle of America Museum. It spotlights hundreds of Americana pieces, vintage motorcycles, military vehicles, jet planes, a 1912 Harley-Davidson, a schoolhouse replica, oddities, like UFO memorabilia and phonographs.

Livingston

Twenty-six miles from Bozeman, Livingston is born from steam and rails. The Livingston Depot Center sits right downtown in a 1902 train station. Inside, the seasonal museum runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. One exhibit tracks the rail’s role in opening Yellowstone National Park and spotlights the Northern Pacific’s place in local growth. A short block away, the Yellowstone Gateway Museum covers Park County’s history. You’ll find hands-on exhibits, local manuscripts, Native culture stories, and a handy gift shop.

Outdoors, Sacajawea Park sits on the Yellowstone Riverbank. Visitors picnic on grassy lawns, children test the playground, and anglers cast from benches. Additionally, the Livingston Gallery Association hosts lively Fourth Friday Art Walks. Galleries stay open late, pour beverages, and invite visitors to meet artists and mingle. In the evenings, dive bars hold claim to Livingston’s local spirit.

Big Sky

Big Sky lives between peaks and a walking village where gear, food, art, and fresh air meet. The 600-acre town center holds a grocery store, an outdoor gear shop, boutiques, and a Big Sky Resort Store, where you can grab branded clothing and souvenirs. It is open daily from 10 am to 7 pm. A short drive or brisk walk from Town Center leads to Ousel Falls Trail, a 1.6-mile (round-trip) paved and easy path. It drops 240-400 feet, traverses three river forks, and ends at a waterfall with a picnic area and swimming pool beneath. Interpretive signs line the way. The trail is open year-round. In winter, it freezes into icy cascades; Yaktrax or traction gear are recommended.

A cultural standout worth leaving the center for is Soldiers Chapel. Constructed in 1955, it’s open May through Labor Day, with its huge glass-stained paintings. Art and local craft live in galleries like Gallatin River Gallery, full of artworks, sculpture, photography, and jewelry by regional artists.

Gardiner

Within a day-trip distance from Billings, Gardiner begins where history and the wild meet. The Roosevelt Arch, constructed from local basalt and standing 52 feet tall, marks the only park entrance open year-round. Its cornerstone was laid by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, and the phrase “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People” reads, echoing the spirit of Yellowstone’s founding. A walk down Main Street brings you to Parks’ Fly Shop. Since 1953, it has served anglers with custom flies and guided float or wade trips on the Yellowstone and Gardiner Rivers.

Wellness follows adventure. Yellowstone Hot Springs boasts a large 102 °F mineral pool, alongside a cooler plunge and a hotter soak zone. Meanwhile, the nearby gentle stretch of the Rescue Creek Trail is also a catch. It runs along the Yellowstone River before turning toward Rattlesnake Butte. Hiking out a mile or two and back gives a peaceful escape with river views and low elevation gain, ideal if you prefer short, nature-rich walks.

Kalispell

Kalispell is set against the majestic backdrop of the Rocky and Swan Mountains. The 1895 Conrad Mansion Museum, by Kalispell’s founder, stands out. This 13,000-square-foot shingle-style home retains over 90 percent of its original interiors. Visitors today can tour its formal rooms, servant quarters, and gardens to understand early Kalispell society. The Kalispell Farmers Market runs Saturday mornings from May through October. It features Flathead Valley produce, eggs, meats, baked treats, and artisan crafts, like pottery and jewelry, an authentic slice of community commerce.

A short ride out leads to Lone Pine State Park, which offers 7.5 miles of multi-use trails. Hikers, bikers, horse riders, and snowshoers (in winter, rentals are $5/person or $10/family) enjoy forest, meadows, and valley views, ideal for birdwatchers and anyone seeking quiet elevation. Alternatively, adventure seekers head six miles southwest to High Country Trails, an 800-acre private ranch with guided horseback rides from 1.5 hours to half a day. They run from May through September and include saddle-bag lunches and scenic valley views.

Anaconda

Anaconda unfolds like an open book of mining history, mountain access, and local creativity in the Anaconda Range foothills. The town centers around its towering Smelter Stack, now part of a state park, where a viewing area with interpretive panels stands about 1.2 miles southeast of downtown. The stack itself, built in 1918 at about 585 feet tall, remains the tallest surviving free-standing brick masonry structure in the world. A local gem is the Anaconda Saddle Club, about five miles west on Highway 1. It includes an octagonal log clubhouse built in 1945; both the structure and site carry rustic history and community function.

City life flows along Commercial and Main Streets. The Copper Village Museum and Art occupies the old City Hall, showcasing rotating exhibitions of Western, folk, and contemporary art, plus archives from the Marcus Daly Historical Society and a gift shop, open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winter in Anaconda brings community gatherings to Kennedy Commons, where a seasonal outdoor ice rink opens in front of the Washoe Theater. Skate laps are free, and you can rent skates nearby at Sven’s Bicycles.

Whitefish

Whitefish links mountain access with a compact, historic downtown. Trails begin in town and wind outward. The Danny On Trail climbs to the Big Mountain summit. It's a hiker’s challenge with wildflower meadows, huckleberry patches, and wide valley views. Non-hikers often ride the scenic chairlift for the same views. Around the corner, the Ski Heritage Center Museum of Skiing sits near the Stumptown Ice Den. Its exhibits highlight the 10th Mountain Division, the Hellroaring Cabin interiors, ski pioneers, and upcoming displays of historic ski lift gear.

Year-round entertainment pops up with Stumptown Art Studio, where visitors can drop in for pottery painting or glass fusing. Meanwhile, the Whitefish Winter Carnival runs in early February, with a penguin plunge into Whitefish Lake, a grand parade, skijoring races, and themed performances.

Columbia Falls

Columbia Falls holds its own between Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake. River’s Edge Park spans over 20 acres along the Flathead River. It has riverside walking trails, picnic spots, and a stocked pond for kids to fish, perfect for quiet nature time without leaving town. For longer walks or mountain views, the Columbia Mountain Loop Trail begins just outside the town limits. It’s a 5-mile loop with challenging terrain. The payoff is sweeping views of Glacier Park, the Whitefish Range, and the Swan Range.

Thrill seekers can slip into the treetops at Glacier Ziplines, a canopy course with seven lines and valley views. Tours last about two hours over roughly three-quarters of a mile. Locally crafted finds await at The Sapphire Shoppe on 12th Ave W. It showcases real Montana sapphires, agate jewelry, fossils, art, and home decor, excellent for souvenirs or one-of-a-kind gifts.

Visiting Montana’s smaller towns in 2025 reveals just how different life can feel from one corner of the state to another. In Big Sky, the draw is year-round recreation built around the Gallatin River and resort slopes. Gardiner, by contrast, thrives on its position at Yellowstone’s northern entrance, where rafting guides and wildlife tours shape daily routines. Looking across them together, a clear picture emerges: the best towns to visit in Montana are not copies of one another but complements. Taken as a group, they show the many ways Montana communities sustain themselves while still welcoming visitors.