Billings, Montana is the capitol of the state and a fun city with a vibrant urban scene and lots of great outdoor adventures. From hiking trails and coffee shops to museums and state parks, you will find a lot to like is this special part of Big Sky Country. Check out 15 of our favorite places below and lets us know what we left off in the comments.
Rimrocks
The rimrocks surround the northeast side of Billings and provide a distinct feature to the town. You can access them in my favorite area on the Four Dances hike or go to the north side near the airport and hike from Zimmerman Park or bike from Swords Park. The rimrocks are very unique to Billings, and they are beautiful to explore. Check out the Yellowstone Kelly interpretive site on the east end near Swords Park. Yellowstone Kelly was an early celebrity in this area, and the city has an interpretive site where you can learn more about his life.
Four Dances Hike
The hike to Four Dances was one of my favorite things I did while in Billings. The hike takes you along the eastern portion of the rimrocks and looks down on the city and the river. The hike is especially great at sunset as it provides fantastic photo opportunities and is one of the best views in the city. You can take the short hike to the viewpoint or the long 2-mile trail along the edge of the rim, which is what we did. Also, watch out for rattlesnakes in the summer.
Breweries
One of the best things about Billings for me is their brew tour that goes through the middle of the city. Breweries are a big thing here; you can visit seven in a 1.5-mile trail. We only got to four while we were in the city, but it was a lot of fun to walk into all the different ones and try their beer. Some even had popcorn you could eat and soft pretzels and nachos to buy. Spend a half day checking them out when in Billings.
Yellowstone Art Museum
Yellowstone Art Museum is a popular attraction in downtown Billings that spotlights many of the state’s famous artists. There was a great collection of nature photography and sculptures, and a gallery where you could vote on your favorite piece from the many young artists who submitted work. I only know a little about famous artists, but I enjoyed walking around the museum and seeing the different galleries.
Yellowstone County Museum & Western Heritage Center
This museum is located up on the hill near the airport, and it focuses on the area’s history. The museum is inside a historic log cabin that was moved to its current location. On the top floor, there is an exhibit on the police officers who have worked in Billings. Then, there are many rooms to explore downstairs with exhibits on Native American history and early Billings history. One of the highlights that many people want to see when they come here is the two-headed cow, which was born to a farmer and displayed at the museum. It is a short stop, but it is worth seeing.
Western Heritage Center is in the middle of Billings, and it also spotlights the area’s history. There are exhibits on Native American artwork and on grizzly bears. However, the main exhibit is on the bottom floor and spotlights Ben Steele, a Billings resident. And who spent many years as a POW. When he returned home, he did artwork on his time there, and it is sobering to read his story and to see the artwork he did. It is hard to learn about, but it is a fascinating exhibit in Billings.
Billings Zoo & Gardens
The Billings Zoo is a popular spot for families as it has many play areas for children and animals to see and costs less than $10 for adults. The zoo also has large enclosures for its animals and only features animals that live on the same longitudinal line so that they are used to the climate. We didn’t see many animals out there, but we saw lots of families enjoying the area, so if you are traveling with a family, it is probably a good stop.
Pictograph Cave State Park
Pictograph Cave State Park is on the outskirts of Billings, and it is a nice spot to explore for an hour or so. The tiny state park has two main caves with cave paintings dating back over 2,000 years. Short trails take you up to the caves, but the art is hard to see since it has had a calcium build-up over it throughout the years. We were told that the best time to visit the art is after it rains when the area is a little wet, but it was still an excellent spot to explore that was beautiful.
Pompey’s Pillar
Thirty minutes east of Billings, there is a rock where William & Clark’s signature is scratched in. This is one of the only places you can see along the Lewis and Clark route, with something from the famous explorers you can still see. The visitors center does a great job talking about Lewis and Clark’s journey, and the short hike to Pillar Rock provides beautiful views of the surrounding area. It is worth the drive from Billings.
Chief Plenty Coups State Park
Chief Plenty Coups was a famous Native American, head of the Crow Tribe, who enormously impacted the Billings area. A state park features the land he lived on and then donated to the state park system. Visiting it lets you learn more about Native American history in the area and visit the home he built on the property. I didn’t know much about him before I came, but I highly recommend researching him, as his story is amazing.
Little Bighorn National Historic Site
If you are into history, you need to drive 1 hour east of Billings to the Little Big Horn Historic Site. The property includes monuments to both the 7th Calvery soldiers and the Native American soldiers that were lost in the battle, and there are exhibits to see in the gift shop, a video you can watch, and an auto tour you can go on to visit some of the critical sites in the battle. When you leave the park, there is a trading post across the street with some of the best Indian fry bread I have ever had. I recommend stopping and trying it before heading back to Billings.
Coffee Shops
Much like breweries, Billings also has a fantastic coffee scene. Amie and I love trying new coffee shops when we travel, so we went to a bunch while in Billings. Some of our favorites were MoAv, which has a great open space to work and good lattes, and Ebon Coffee Collective, which was small but made its syrups and had some great coffee. There are tons to check out all over the city, so try a few when you visit.
Restaurants
There are many great food spots in Billings; here are a few of our favorites. First, stop by Sassy Biscuit for a great breakfast with unique dishes and many fun options. Next, even though it is a chain, I always love Tops Sandwiches, especially if you get queso to dip your chips in. I like Big Dipper for ice cream because they have many revolving flavors, and seeing what’s on the board is always fun. Montana Brewing Company is a popular spot for dinner as they have good bar food and many beers. I like the gigantic pretzel or the deep-fried enchiladas.
My favorite spot in the city for food is the Fieldhouse. They have some killer dishes with well-thought-out flavor combinations, and we went twice while in Billings. Usually, I wouldn’t say I like meatloaf, but the sandwich came highly recommended, and that is what I got. It was fantastic, but make sure also to order the Brussels sprouts.
There you have it, our favorite stops in Billing, Montana, be sure to let us know what we left off in the comments!
