How to Tour Montana Without Looking like a Tourist

Montana is a beautiful tourist destination, with the fishing streams, beautiful mountains, country roads, and open spaces it is a relaxing place to visit. Here's how to fit in so that you don't get shunned by the locals. As a native of California who moved to a small town in Montana a few years ago, I've learned a few things.

Choosing a hotel

The hotels here are friendly, not often overbooked (except in fall for hunting season), clean, and cost about 1/3 of what hotels in California cost. You can find an excellent room for around $40. When checking in and talking to the hotel staff, it pays to be kind. Out here we aren't in a rat race and people are kind and helpful by default. Don't expect a fancy pants hotel, but for the most part the rooms are going to be clean and comfortable. If you have a request, state it in a nice way and it will be responded to promptly, if you are demanding and hoity-toity you will be met with hostility. Often the girl working the front desk is also the owner/housekeeper/secretary.

Eating and shopping in Montana

If you are used to fresh organic health food, head on back to California or up to Bozeman. The food in Montana is okay, but it is not quite the variety and freshness that is in other states. It is reasonably priced, though, and the service is always excellent. Shopping is getting better. The RimRock Mall in Billings is about as good as it gets, consisting of about 40 retail stores. Downtown Billings, Downtown Helena, and Bozeman also offer cute shops.

Choosing a rental car

We are about 25 hours away from either coast, so chances are that you're going to fly in. A good choice in rentals is first of all a truck, and the bigger the better. The majority of Montanans have at least 2 pickups, often with crew cabs. If you made the mistake, er, choice of visiting in the winter, choose something with 4 wheel drive and make sure there are chains. Main roads are plowed but if you are vacationing off the beaten path then chains are a must. AC is a must for Montana summers, as is insurance against hail damage. The sun beats hot and strong out here during the day, and is often followed by storms in the afternoon, which bring a welcome relief from the temperature but occasionally bring golf-ball-sized hail as well. Once you get your rental car, in order to fit in it is optimal to drive through the closest mud puddle you can find, or take a quick jaunt out into the country and drive down a dirt road, coating your vehicle in a protective layer of dust and grime. You can spot an outsider a mile away when he's driving a shiny new vehicle that has never seen the dirt.

Driving in Montana

The roads are long and flat, speed limits high, and traffic is light. In towns, out-of-state plates or new vehicles are prime targets for traffic tickets. They assume that you have money and aren't going to bother court-contesting tickets, so they are given out liberally. Speed limit following is a must. Out in the country open spaces reign, and a large following distance is a must. If you are going to be on, for example, Highway 3 going from East to West Montana, you will be on there for hundreds of miles. It will not save you any time to follow at the regular following distance of 2.2 seconds that you find in more populated states. Allow a generous half mile between you and the next car, it keeps the drive nice and relaxing.

The speed limits are high, even on undivided roads. In general, 2-lane 'highways' are what rules in the country, and the speed limit is 70 during the day and 65 at night. These areas are not prime traffic ticket areas, and you are relatively safe to go a good 5-10 mph over the limit in good weather once you're outside of town.

Avoiding hitting deer is another important topic. If you are nearby water and fields at dawn and dusk especially when there is a full moon, proceed with caution. We actually plan our driving tips around deer migrating schedules. They go from fields to water in the evening, and from water to fields in the morning. We try to travel either well after dark or in mid-day if we are going to be going where there are a lot of deer. If you are in a car they are especially dangerous as if you hit them dead on they will often go through the windshield, striking the passenger and driver. If driving during 'prime deer time' have your passenger scan the periphery of the road for deer and keep your speed low.

Fishing in Montana

A fishing license can be bought at any of the many bait and hunting shops, or at Walmart. For out of state licenses you have to get a Conservation license for $10, and then on top of that get a 2 consecutive day license for $15, 10 consecutive day license for $43.50, or a Season license for $60. Pick up the rules and regulations while you are buying your license, as different waters have different fishing rules and limits. Check the rules specific to where you are going, but in general you are allowed 2 poles with 2 hooks each in lakes, one pole in streams.

In mid-Montana, where we are at, Dead Man's Basin has okay fishing. There are tons of carp, which aren't good eating, Kokani, which are excellent eating, trout that are excellent eating, white fish that are okay eating, and Tiger Musky, which are huge fish that are fun to catch. The Yellowstone River has trout and whitefish and is closer in proximity to Billings. There are various lakes West of Harlowton that have great fishing areas, just pick up a Montana map while you are here and try different ones.

Seasons in Montana

Fall and spring are the best seasons in Montana, September 1^st through October 30^th and April 1^st through May 30^th in particular. There still may be snow during these times, but there will not be much, and the nights generally cool down while the days are warm enough that you can spend time outside comfortably.

Major Cities in Montana

To choose where to vacation, here is a breakdown of the major cities in Montana.

Billings: The largest city in MT. Lots of places to stay, okay shopping down town, more 'Redneck' than other areas. Near to Yellowstone National Park.

Red Lodge: Skiing in the winter, but it is affectionately referred to as 'Rock Dodge' by the locals; the ski slopes are riddled with rocks and not all that fun if you're used to places like Sugar Bowl at Tahoe, CA.

Bozeman: The liberal 'California of Montana' complete with natural foods stores, better places to eat, and more money. Close to great fishing areas and national forest.

Helena: The capital, also has more money than Billings and has a cute down town. Also close to great fishing areas and national forest. Overall, Montana is a great place to visit. I hope that these tips help you to plan your vacation and enjoy your stay.