Montana is a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Besides containing some of the best trails, rivers, and ski resorts in the world, the state is home to two national parks and hosts top country music and arts festivals. It is also the original home of twelve tribal nations, whose cultures you can learn about all over the state.

But with so many activities and the differences between Montana’s four seasons, it can be difficult to decide when to go. Luckily,

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The best times of year to travel to Montana

Deciding when to visit Montana depends on what you want to do when you get there. If you want to visit some of the state’s famous ski areas, you’ll have to go in winter. But if it’s hiking, swimming, and camping you’re interested in, aim for early July.

Peak season: July and August

The good: Best time of year for outdoor activities, music festivals, and more

The bad: Smokey skies, lots of tourists

The weather: Mid 70s to low-90s

Summer is Montana’s peak season, and it’s easy to see why. The state is home to

Yellowstone

and

Glacier National Parks

and has some of the largest expanses of untouched wilderness in the country. Beautiful places like the

Bitterroot Valley

are lush and green this time of year, surrounded by breathtaking mountains and ready to be explored.

Outdoor enthusiasts will find what they’re looking for in Montana, which offers hiking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, and—possibly one of the most Montana things of all time—river floating—that is floating down one of Montana’s many rivers in an innertube with your friends and a cooler full of goodies.

If you’re looking for a Montana cultural experience, summer is a great time to hit up the

Montana Fair

or a local community picnic. Also, check out the

Arlee Espapqeyni Celebration

, the state’s biggest powwow, which happens every 4th of July.

Other popular summer events include the

Under the Big Sky Festival

in July and the

Headwaters Country Jam

in August.

Pro Tip If you want to try a river float, go in early July when the spring runoff has calmed, but the river isn’t yet so low that your bum scrapes the rocks.

Off-season: December to March

Snowy road through Glacier National Park, Montana

The good: Good skiing and snowboarding

The bad: Lots of snow

The weather: Very cold—frequently reaches subzero temperatures

Montana is home to popular ski areas, including

Lost Trail Powder Mountain

Big Sky Resort

Whitefish Mountain Resort

, and many more. If you’re a skier or a snowboarder, visit Montana during the winter. Sledding and snowmobiling are also popular activities during this time.

But if you don’t like snow, steer clear. This is the coldest time of year, with temperatures dipping below zero and snowfall piling up by the foot.

Pro Tip If you do find yourself in Montana during the winter and you’re not a winter sports fan, try soaking at one of the
natural hot springs
instead.

Shoulder season: April and May, October and November

The good: Lower rates, fewer tourists, mild weather

The bad: Lots of rain in spring, fewer outdoor activities

The weather: 50s and 60s

Spring and fall make up Montana’s shoulder season, the times between the peak- and off-seasons. Visiting during these times, you’ll avoid peak tourist season and the worst of the winter weather.

The spring tends to be rainy, and it’s not a great time for someone with allergies.

However, fall is a beautiful season in Montana, with cool weather, crisp mornings, and color-changing leaves. There are harvest festivals and fall celebrations, like the Bitterroot’s

Apple Day

and Butte’s

Butte-toberfest

. You can also pick up pumpkin-flavored baked goods at any local coffee shop and head over to the

Montana Book Festival

The

Montana Film Festival

is also in the fall!

Pro Tip Coming from a Montana native, my favorite time of year in Montana is October!

The cheapest time to travel to Montana

The absolute cheapest time to visit Montana is late January. This is when the holiday season is over, tourists are headed home, and the state is at its coldest.

This is great news if you want to hit the ski hills, but if you’re looking for something a little less frigid, try March. The snow is starting to melt and temperatures are milder—while rates are still pretty low. If you don’t mind getting muddy, you can even try a nature walk somewhere like the

Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge

(it’s free!).

Pro Tip Nature walks are fun in Montana’s early spring, but this is not the time to head into the mountains if you’re a beginner.

Find the best month for your visit to Montana

Still not sure when you should visit Montana? Look at the table below.

Activity	Best month to visit	Why?
Hiking, camping, outdoor activities	July	The weather is the best during July. The rain has stopped, but the skies haven’t filled with wildfire smoke.
Country music festivals	July and August	The biggest country music festivals in the state happen in July and August.
American Indian cultural events	July	The biggest powwow in the state happens in Arlee on the 4th of July.
Fishing	June	While there are many great months for fishing in Montana, June offers the best weather and water conditions for beginners.
Skiing or snowboarding	January	January has the best flight rates and the most snow of the year.
Community and arts festivals	October or November	The fall sees book and film festivals as well as many fun harvest celebrations

Pro Tip There will be fun things to discover no matter when you come, so pick a month and gear up for an adventure.

How to find savings on car and rental insurance

Montana is a huge, rural state, so you’ll need a car to get around. Whether you’re driving or

renting a car

at the airport, it’s important to make sure you have good car insurance before you get there.

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On average, Jerry users save about $887 a year on car insurance. That’s a good chunk of money to put toward your Montana vacation.

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FAQs

What is the worst time to travel to Montana?

The worst time to travel to Montana depends on your preferences. If you’re not a fan of snow, avoid December, January, February, and even parts of the spring. If you don’t like heat, stay away from late summer.

But if you just want to go when there are the most fun things to do, pick a time other than March and April. The other seasons are packed with activities, but March and April are mainly spent waiting for the rain to stop and the summer to start.

What months are considered fire season in Montana?

Typical fire season starts in late July and heads into October. The smokiest months are usually August and September.

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