Family Vacation In Montana
Over Labor Day weekend I visited my sister (Beth) and her family (husband Steve and two kids, Logan and Lola) in Billings Montana. They live there because Beth got a job transfer from the advertising agency in Seattle. I flew West out of Chicago and Beth picked me up at the airport to check out the town.
Montana is a state of the United States with an area of 147,046 square miles. The state borders the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia to the north, the U.S. states of Idaho to the east and Wyoming to the south, and Washington and Oregon to the west. Montana features a mountainous interior with forested prairies that are rich in wildlife and vegetation. This has earned Montana its nickname:
The trip of a lifetime! A four day/three night guided fly fishing expedition that takes you to the remote and secret corners of the Flathead river in Paradise. You will not see any other anglers on your entire trip as your guide is virtually guaranteed to be the only person fishing your section of water. Along with the opportunity to catch numerous fish and have an unforgettable fly fishing vacation there are many other amenities, activities and adventures included in this package. Planning a family vacation can be stressful for parents, especially those of multiple children. From trying to get everyone’s schedules to match up to booking hotels and flights, shopping for activities, etc., there are a thousand things you need to remember when trying to plan a trip.
Family Vacation In Montana
The Most Epic Montana Destinations for a Family Trip in 2022
Take a family vacation to Montana and introduce your kids to the beauty of the outdoors with epic mountain scenery and unforgettable activities.
Whether you’re planning a Montana family road trip or you’re planning to stick around one area, we’ve compiled some of the best places that you’ll want to visit if you’re considering a family trip to the state of Montana.
Keep reading to discover some of the best Montana family vacations. We picked these destinations because we’ve traveled there with kids and had a blast!
Missoula, Montana: Carousels, River Waves, and the “M” Hike
Missoula, Montana is a cool city with a close-knot community feel in western Montana. The Clark Fork River flows right through town, providing outdoor entertainment in the summer months, while the Montana Snowbowl Resort is a great alpine ski area just 12 miles north of Missoula.
But for families visiting Missoula it’s all about Caras Park. This is where you’ll find the incredible Carousel for Missoula, which is right by Dragon Hollow Playground (my kids LOVE this playground).Walk up the riverside trail behind the carousel a short distance and you’ll come to a grassy area, where you can watch Brennan’s Wave in the summer. Brennan’s Wave is a manmade wave in the Clark Fork river that pretty much plays as a simulated wave machine. You can watch people actually surf and kayak right in the river, without going downstream! It’s pretty cool and kids get a big kick out of it.
The Mount Sentinel M Trail is a fun hiking trail that will take you up “Mount Woody,” just east of the University of Montana – my siblings and I did it when we were kids and I still remember how cool it felt to get up to the giant “M”!
Read More:10 Best Things to Do in Missoula
Paradise Valley: Mountain Views, Livingston Fun, and Hot Spring Resorts
If you’re looking for a Montana family trip with majestic mountain views, cool towns, river fun, and awesome resorts, plan some time in Paradise Valley, Montana.
Paradise Valley is the valley situated between Gardiner (the northeast entrance of Yellowstone) and the appealing old railroad town of Livingston. As you travel through Livingston Valley, you’ll be wowed by the Absaroka Range to the east and the Gallatin Range to the west.
Paradise Valley is also home to Chico Hot Springs, one of our favorite hot spring resorts in Montana!
Chico Hot Springs is a family-friendly resort that has a naturally-heated pools and onsite eateries. If you can, book early and try to nab one of the covered wagon accommodations — kids will love it!
Once you reach Livingston, spend some time exploring this cute town. It’s railway past is still evident in the large depot downtown (which has a family-friendly museum), but this town is much more than it’s past. Today, Livingston is one of the fastest growing towns in Montana and has a burgeoning beer scene and some excellent bars and restaurants.
Tip: I took my kids to Katabatic Brewing Company and they were very welcoming AND they serve food from the neighboring Mexican restaurant so I was able to get my kids snacks to enjoy while my sister, brother-in-law, and I enjoyed a pint.
Families also can’t miss heading to the east side of town and spending time at Sacajawea Park, which has a large grassy area dotted with leafy trees, surrounding an impressively built wooden playground. Across the street are pretty views of the Yellowstone River and Absaroka Mountains.
Read More: Top Things to Do in Livingston
Glacier National Park: Avalanche Lake, Apgar, and GTSR
One of the most beautiful places in Montana, hands-down, is Glacier National Park. Every which way you look, there is a stunning panorama too perfect not to be captured – so bring that extra camera battery! The Rocky Mountains hug the shoreline of enchanting glacial lakes, creating a masterpiece of earth and water.
Try to venture out on the Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR), a 2-hour scenic mountain road where you’ll witness waterfalls and countless breathtaking mountain views, and which can take much longer than two hours to drive depending on how often you stop.
2022 Tip: You need a separate entry ticket for Going-to-the-Sun Road this summer. This is a $2 ticket in addition to the park pass. There is a limited number of tickets for each day. Find out more here.The park has whitewater rafting, boating, swimming and fishing among other popular activities to do. There are also more than 700 miles of hiking trails through Glacier National Park.
For hiking with kids, we love the Trail of the Cedars, which connects with the Avalanche Lake Trail up to Avalanche Lake. If you’re not hikers, you can hang out on the shores of Lake McDonald, which is easy to access from Apgar Village or Lake McDonald Lodge.
Read More:
The Top Things to Do and See in Glacier National Park
Ultimate Lodging Guide for Glacier National Park
Whitefish, Montana: Trains, Art, and Gondolas
Whitefish is a resort town just 30 minutes west of Glacier National Park. Whitefish boasts some of the best skiing slopes in the US in the winter months while summer is all about lake time. The artsy downtown area also has a fun main street with gift shops, restaurants and bars, and even art studios.
Depending on when you visit, Whitefish Mountain Resort has both summertime and winter activities that your family will enjoy.
Skiing is the number one sport during the winter at Whitefish Mountain, while dirt biking, ziplining, hiking, and alpine slides are popular during the summer.
Or in the summer, you can just take the Gondola ride to the top of the mountain for a leisurely view of panoramic views, lunch in the lodge at the top, and then ride back down.
Back down the mountain, families will love hanging out at City Beach in the summer, a public beach on picturesque Whitefish Lake.