Day trips from Lincoln
Lincoln puts you within a reasonable drive of Helena, Missoula, Seeley Lake, Great Falls and even Glacier if you don’t mind a long day.
Day Trips
One thing guests sometimes don’t realize until they get here is how much there is within a couple hours of Lincoln. Every direction out of Lincoln is beautiful, and you’ll often see wildlife in the valleys and meadows along the way.
Here are the trips our guests enjoy most, along with a few of our favorite stops in each place. Drive times are approximate from the campground.
Quick facts
- Helena
- About 1 hour
- Missoula
- About 1½ hours
- Great Falls
- About 1¾ hours
- Seeley Lake
- About 50 minutes
- Philipsburg
- A longer day
- Glacier NP
- About 3 hours
HelenaAbout 1 hour
Montana’s capital city is an easy and very scenic drive over Flesher Pass on Highway 279. Helena has anything you might need for your RV adventure, plus plenty to see.
- Last Chance Gulch, the historic downtown walking mall, built right where four prospectors struck gold in 1864.
- The Montana State Capitol, with free tours and famous murals by Western artist Charles M. Russell.
- The Cathedral of St. Helena, a stunning Gothic cathedral with 59 stained glass windows.
- Gates of the Mountains, a two hour summer boat tour through a towering limestone canyon on the Missouri River, following the route of Lewis and Clark.
- Mount Helena City Park, with miles of hiking and biking trails right above downtown.
Stop in historic Marysville on the way for a look at an old gold town. Read more about staying near Helena.
MissoulaAbout 1½ hours
Missoula is a fun city to explore and a good place to stock up if you need a bigger shopping run. The drive west along the Blackfoot is one of our favorites.
- Caras Park and A Carousel for Missoula, a hand carved carousel built by volunteers, right on the river downtown.
- The Riverfront Trail along the Clark Fork, where you can watch surfers ride Brennan’s Wave right in the middle of town.
- The M Trail up Mount Sentinel, a short, steep climb with a great view of the valley.
- The Saturday Farmers Market, from spring through fall.
- The Smokejumper Visitor Center, home to the country’s largest smokejumper base, with free tours in summer.
Seeley LakeAbout 50 minutes
A beautiful lake town in the Seeley Swan Valley, surrounded by a chain of lakes and big larch forests.
- The Clearwater Canoe Trail, an easy 3.5 mile paddle through marsh and willows, known for loons and other birds, with a 1 mile trail back to your car.
- Morrell Falls, a 5 mile round trip hike to a 90 foot waterfall.
- Fall color. In October the western larches turn bright gold, and the whole valley glows.
Great FallsAbout 1¾ hours
Head east over Rogers Pass and cross the Continental Divide on your way to the plains. Great Falls is full of history.
- Giant Springs State Park, one of the largest freshwater springs in the country.
- The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, one of the best museums anywhere on the expedition.
- The C.M. Russell Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Charles M. Russell’s Western art.
- First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park, one of the largest buffalo jump sites in North America.
Philipsburg and Georgetown LakeA longer day
We absolutely love this drive. Philipsburg is a beautifully restored Victorian mining town, and Georgetown Lake is right on the way. Watch for wildlife in the valleys and meadows along the route.
- The Sweet Palace, one of Montana’s most famous candy stores, with dozens of kinds of fudge and taffy.
- Sapphire hunting. Buy a bag of gravel in town and sift it for real Montana sapphires.
- Granite Ghost Town State Park, high on the mountain above town.
- Georgetown Lake, a great spot for a picnic, fishing, or a paddle.
Glacier National ParkAbout 3 hours
It makes for a long day, but it’s one of our guests’ favorite trips. The drive north through Seeley Lake and the Swan Valley on Highway 83 goes through some of the most beautiful country in western Montana. Check the park’s website before you go for road openings and parking at Logan Pass, which fills early in summer.
Keep exploring
More to see and do
Open April 15 to October 15
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