Day Trips: Helena, Missoula & Glacier

Day Trips

Spend a day with Montana history in Helena, walk Missoula’s riverfront, hike to a waterfall near Seeley Lake or see Lewis and Clark country in Great Falls. Then come back to camp for a quiet night.

Choose your outing

Helena: History, museums and a boat tour through the Gates of the Mountains
Missoula: Riverfront walks, food, shopping and family attractions
Seeley Lake: Lakes, a canoe trail and a waterfall hike
Great Falls: Lewis and Clark history, Western art and the Missouri River
Philipsburg: Candy, sapphires and a mountain ghost town
Glacier National Park: About 3 to 4 hours to either entrance

HelenaAbout 1 hour

Montana’s capital is full of history. Walk Last Chance Gulch, where the gold strike that started Helena was made, and leave time for lunch and the shops downtown.

Montana Heritage Center: Opened in late 2025 across from the State Capitol, with three museum galleries, Charles M. Russell art and an outdoor interpretive trail. Admission is free.
Gates of the Mountains: A two hour boat tour through the Missouri River canyon Meriwether Lewis named in 1805, about 20 miles north of Helena. Watch for bald eagles, bighorn sheep and the Mann Gulch fire site. Tours typically run late May to mid September.
Mount Helena: Trails right from town to the top of the city park, with big views of the valley.

Plan a Helena outing

MissoulaAbout 1½ hours

A fun, lively college town on the Clark Fork River.

A Carousel for Missoula: A hand carved carousel downtown, with the Dragon Hollow play area right next door.
Riverfront Trail: An easy walk along the Clark Fork through downtown.
Clark Fork River Market: Saturday mornings during the outdoor season.
The M Trail: A short, steep climb to the M above the University of Montana, with views over the whole city.

Plan a Missoula outing

Seeley LakeAbout 1 hour

A string of lakes surrounded by forest, at the edge of the Swan Range.

Clearwater Canoe Trail: An easy 3.5 mile paddle through a willow marsh with loons, herons and kingfishers, about two hours. A short walking trail with a wildlife blind leads back to the start.
Morrell Falls: An easy 5.4 mile round trip hike past Morrell Lake to a 90 foot double waterfall. See our hiking guide.
Fall color: In early to mid October, the western larch around Seeley Lake turn bright gold.

Snow covered mountains rise above an evergreen forest and an open field on a clear day.

Great FallsAbout 1¾ hours

The city where Lewis and Clark spent a month portaging around the falls of the Missouri.

Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center: Exhibits, a theater and trails along the Missouri tell the story of the expedition’s portage.
Giant Springs State Park: One of the largest freshwater springs in the country, with walking paths along the river.
C.M. Russell Museum: The largest collection of Charles M. Russell’s paintings and sculpture, plus his original log cabin studio.
First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park: One of the largest bison cliff jumps in North America, with a visitor center and trails to the top.

Philipsburg and Georgetown LakeAbout 1¾ hours

A beautifully restored mining town with a main street full of shops.

The Sweet Palace: A candy store with late 1800s furnishings, famous for its handmade fudge and saltwater taffy.
Sapphire mining: Several shops let you sift gravel for your own Montana sapphires.
Georgetown Lake: A big mountain lake just up the road, good for a picnic or a drive.
Granite Ghost Town State Park: Ruins of an 1890s silver boomtown high above town. A high clearance vehicle is needed. See our ghost towns guide.

Glacier National ParkAbout 3 to 4 hours

The longest trip on this list, so plan for a full day and pick one area of the park to focus on. Head to West Glacier for Lake McDonald and the west side of Going-to-the-Sun Road, or St. Mary for the east side and views of Saint Mary Lake. Going-to-the-Sun Road is usually open from early summer into fall.

Good to know: Vehicles longer than 21 feet or wider than 8 feet aren’t allowed on the middle section of Going-to-the-Sun Road. There’s no gas in the park. Entry rules and shuttle options can change from year to year, so check with the park before you go.

Plan a Glacier visit · Going-to-the-Sun Road information

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