When Is The Best Time To Visit Montana?

Montana is well-known for being one of the most stunning places in the United States. For the nature enthusiast, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks have some of the world’s best mountain and wildlife views.

For those interested in Western culture and nightlife, Helena, Missoula, and Bozeman have plenty to offer.

Montana nature to visit — Visiting Montana

But depending on your goals, visiting Montana at the wrong time of year can mean getting caught in blizzards, freezing temperatures, or heavy tourist traffic. So when is the best time to visit Montana?

If you’re looking for beautiful mountain wildflowers and warm, sunny days, the best time to visit Montana is during the summer (from June to August). If you’re looking to hit the slopes for some skiing or snowshoeing, the second half of winter (from January to March) is your best bet.

Keep reading to learn more about how to know if it’s the right season for traveling to Montana.

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When Is The Best Time To Visit Montana?

For most folks visiting Montana, summer is by far the best season to visit this gorgeous state.

Visiting from June to August will give you the best chance to see newborn wildlife, beautiful flowers in the mountains, and the wide open sky that makes Montana so famous.

Montana weather advice — Montana weather

The vast majority of Montana’s famous attractions require at least an hour of driving from a local airport.

For Example – Driving from Helena to Yellowstone National Park (check out our 3 day itinerary guide) will take about four hours. Driving from Billings shortens your trip considerably, but it’s still almost a three-hour drive.

If you’re unfamiliar with Montana’s climate, you may wonder why driving long distances in Montana in the winter is unpleasant (or downright impossible).

The western regions of Montana (including Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park, the state’s most common attractions) can receive up to 300 inches of snow on the mountain peaks!

Most of the mountain towns receive far less snow, but still enough to make travel difficult.

In fact, according to the Montana Climate Assessment, most of western Montana’s annual moisture comes in the form of snow during the winter.

Here are the average annual snowfall rates for the biggest cities in Montana:

Missoula: 43 inches
Kalispell: 54 inches
Bozeman: 91 inches
Helena: 37 inches
Billings: 57 inches

Along with heavy snowfall, winter in Montana comes with high winds and frigid temperatures.

Temperatures commonly plummet far below zero, with most places experiencing at least a few nights as cold as -30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Even in the daytime, temperatures sometimes don’t reach 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

When those frigid temperatures are combined with 30-60 mile per hour winds and several feet of snow, treacherous driving conditions are inevitable.

Because of these dangerous driving conditions, you’re better off visiting Montana during the summer if you don’t have a pickup truck with four-wheel drive and tire chains.

While there is still wind during the summer, it’s far less dangerous without snow blowing across the roads.

Something to keep in mind if you choose to visit Montana in the summer is that it will be packed with tourists, especially in the most beautiful locations.

You can avoid some of the heaviest traffic by visiting at the very beginning or end of the summer season.

Is Winter Ever A Good Time To Visit Montana?

Even though the winter months come with sketchy driving conditions, for some Montana visitors, it is definitely the best season to visit.

Several feet of snow and cold temperatures are great for skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Montana winter travel — Montana winter weather

Most snow falls in the late winter, between January and March, making these months ideal for winter sports fans.

Winter also creates some beautiful views throughout the state of Montana.

If you have a vehicle with four-wheel drive, both Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park offer plenty of wildlife sightings during the winter months.

If you’re closer to south-central Montana, you can also drive to the Pryor Mountains to snowmobile or see the wild horses in the United States’ first wild horse refuge.

Be Prepared For Winter Conditions

As we mentioned before, winter in Montana can be brutal, but it’s entirely possible to have a fantastic trip to Big Sky country as long as you come prepared.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you plan for your winter Montana vacation:

Bring plenty of layers. While it’s true that Montana can be freezing cold during the winter, you’ll want to wear layers if you’re doing anything outside. Because of the high elevation, you’ll be closer to the sun, which can quicklylead to overheating during strenuous activities like hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing.

Don’t forget your sunglasses. Besides causing you to overheat quickly, the sun in Montana can make it hard to see without quality sunglasses. Since the majority of the state is covered in snow for the winter, it’s even brighter. With fewer winter daylight hours than in southern states, you’ll only need to wear your sunglasses for a few hours each day, but you’ll be miserable without them.

Always bring extra supplies. Winter snowstorms often shut down Montana roads for days at a time, making travel difficult or impossible. If you happen to become stranded while driving across the state, you’ll want to make sure you have several days’ worth of supplies while you wait for help. High-protein foods, heavy blankets, winter coats, tire chains, and a shovel to help dig out from the snow are all helpful.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, Montana is a beautiful place to visit 365 days a year. However, your desired activities during your Montana vacation will greatly affect the best time to travel.

By planning ahead and bringing the appropriate supplies, you’ll have a wonderful trip and create lifelong memories.