Part Two of Visit Montana On the Road with Lou
Part Two of Visit Montana On the Road with Lou:
Montana Part 2 Itinerary Welcome back to “On the Road with Lou” — where every mile has soul and every detour’s worth the ride. This is the final stretch of our Montana road trip, and trust me… we’re ending on a high note.
✈️ Arrival in Billings — The Big Sky Gateway Airport: Touch down at Billings Logan International Airport. Car Rental: Pick up your shiny ride and hit the ground rolling. Stay: The Northern Hotel – charming and historic. Length of Stay: 1–2 nights. Sights to See: The Rimrocks – 1 hour Feel like you're standing on the edge of the world (just don’t look down if heights aren’t your thing). Moss Mansion & Pompey’s Pillar – 1–2 hours Touch history where William Clark left his mark — literally.
🤠 Miles City – Cowboys, Cows & a Whole Lotta Nostalgia Drive Time: 2 hours (145 miles from Billings) Stay: Miles City Hotel & Suites Length of Stay: 1 night Must-Do: Range Riders Museum – 2 hours A wild ride through the West, complete with rodeo legends and maybe a ghost story or two. Drive Music: Classic country or Louis L’Amour on audiobook for max vibes.
🦖 Glendive & Makoshika State Park – Dinosaurs & Badlands Drive Time: 1 hour (74 miles) Stay: Holiday Inn Express Length of Stay: 1–2 nights Explore: Makoshika State Park – 3–4 hours Hoodoos, canyons, and dino fossils. Don’t miss Cap Rock (ask a ranger for directions). Best View: Yellow Mound Overlook at sunset — pure magic.
🦆 Medicine Lake & Fort Peck – Wildlife & Human Grit Drive Time: 2 hours (116 miles north) Stops: Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge – 2 hours Birdwatching heaven. Bring binoculars — you might spot a moose. Fort Peck Dam & Interpretive Center – 1–2 hours A Depression-era engineering marvel that’s surprisingly moving. Drive Music: Switch to Johnny Cash or Marty Robbins. Big sky needs big soul.
🕳️ Havre & the Bear Paw Mountains – Secrets & Solitude Drive Time: 2.5 hours (180 miles) Stay: In or near Havre Length of Stay: 1 night Don’t Miss: Beneath the Streets Tour – 1 hour Step into Havre’s hidden underground. Bear Paw Mountains – 2–3 hours Quiet trails, bird songs, mountain air. Breathe deep.
🌄 Hidden Gem: Sweetgrass Hills Drive Time: 30 minutes (20 miles from Havre) Stay: Optional day trip Visit Time: 1 hour Perfect for a peaceful picnic and photos that make your heart ache (in the best way).
❤️ Lewistown – The Heart of Montana Drive Time: 2.5 hours (150 miles) Stay: In town Length of Stay: 1 night Final Stop: Judith Mountains – 2 hours End your trip hiking, sightseeing, or watching the sunset paint the world gold. Let the silence, pines, and sky ease you home.
✈️ Departure Options: Great Falls International Airport – 2 hours (106 miles northwest) Small but mighty, with connections to major cities. Or… Swing west to Helena or Bozeman if you’re still chasing the magic. Or… Head back to Billings to complete the loop.
Lou’s Final Word "Don’t rush the end. Let the last stretch of highway settle into your soul. Hug ‘em now, call ‘em now. Sit quiet by the fire, dance barefoot by the stream. You don’t get Montana skies back once they fade — and no sky is big enough to wait for someday. When it’s gone… it’s gone for good. So make this moment count like your whole life depends on it — because it does." And a little cowboy wisdom for the road: Never squat with your spurs on. 🤠 That’s it for Montana! Thanks for ridin’ shotgun with me. Until we travel together again — stay safe, partner. — Lou
Montana Part 2 Itinerary Welcome back to “On the Road with Lou” — where every mile has soul and every detour’s worth the ride. This is the final stretch of our Montana road trip, and trust me… we’re ending on a high note.
✈️ Arrival in Billings — The Big Sky Gateway Airport: Touch down at Billings Logan International Airport. Car Rental: Pick up your shiny ride and hit the ground rolling. Stay: The Northern Hotel – charming and historic. Length of Stay: 1–2 nights. Sights to See: The Rimrocks – 1 hour Feel like you're standing on the edge of the world (just don’t look down if heights aren’t your thing). Moss Mansion & Pompey’s Pillar – 1–2 hours Touch history where William Clark left his mark — literally.
🤠 Miles City – Cowboys, Cows & a Whole Lotta Nostalgia Drive Time: 2 hours (145 miles from Billings) Stay: Miles City Hotel & Suites Length of Stay: 1 night Must-Do: Range Riders Museum – 2 hours A wild ride through the West, complete with rodeo legends and maybe a ghost story or two. Drive Music: Classic country or Louis L’Amour on audiobook for max vibes.
🦖 Glendive & Makoshika State Park – Dinosaurs & Badlands Drive Time: 1 hour (74 miles) Stay: Holiday Inn Express Length of Stay: 1–2 nights Explore: Makoshika State Park – 3–4 hours Hoodoos, canyons, and dino fossils. Don’t miss Cap Rock (ask a ranger for directions). Best View: Yellow Mound Overlook at sunset — pure magic.
🦆 Medicine Lake & Fort Peck – Wildlife & Human Grit Drive Time: 2 hours (116 miles north) Stops: Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge – 2 hours Birdwatching heaven. Bring binoculars — you might spot a moose. Fort Peck Dam & Interpretive Center – 1–2 hours A Depression-era engineering marvel that’s surprisingly moving. Drive Music: Switch to Johnny Cash or Marty Robbins. Big sky needs big soul.
🕳️ Havre & the Bear Paw Mountains – Secrets & Solitude Drive Time: 2.5 hours (180 miles) Stay: In or near Havre Length of Stay: 1 night Don’t Miss: Beneath the Streets Tour – 1 hour Step into Havre’s hidden underground. Bear Paw Mountains – 2–3 hours Quiet trails, bird songs, mountain air. Breathe deep.
🌄 Hidden Gem: Sweetgrass Hills Drive Time: 30 minutes (20 miles from Havre) Stay: Optional day trip Visit Time: 1 hour Perfect for a peaceful picnic and photos that make your heart ache (in the best way).
❤️ Lewistown – The Heart of Montana Drive Time: 2.5 hours (150 miles) Stay: In town Length of Stay: 1 night Final Stop: Judith Mountains – 2 hours End your trip hiking, sightseeing, or watching the sunset paint the world gold. Let the silence, pines, and sky ease you home.
✈️ Departure Options: Great Falls International Airport – 2 hours (106 miles northwest) Small but mighty, with connections to major cities. Or… Swing west to Helena or Bozeman if you’re still chasing the magic. Or… Head back to Billings to complete the loop.
Lou’s Final Word "Don’t rush the end. Let the last stretch of highway settle into your soul. Hug ‘em now, call ‘em now. Sit quiet by the fire, dance barefoot by the stream. You don’t get Montana skies back once they fade — and no sky is big enough to wait for someday. When it’s gone… it’s gone for good. So make this moment count like your whole life depends on it — because it does." And a little cowboy wisdom for the road: Never squat with your spurs on. 🤠 That’s it for Montana! Thanks for ridin’ shotgun with me. Until we travel together again — stay safe, partner. — Lou
