46 Best Hotels in Helena, Bozeman, and Southwest Montana, Montana

Completed in 1888 as the home of notorious Copper King William Andrews Clark, the mansion remains much in its original state, and is the only privately owned mansion in Montana accessible to the public through seasonal tours. Five of the mansion's 35 rooms are used as a B&B, and the owners have attempted to re-create the experience of living like a turn-of-the-century millionaire, with such furnishings as a hand-carved fireplace, burled walnut bed, and a circular shower that hits you from all sides.

Even cowboys love soft pillows, which is one reason so many of them favor this 1904 town centerpiece, whose floors have seen silver-tipped cowboy boots, fly-fishing waders, and the polished heels of Hollywood celebrities. Antiques reflect a different theme in each guest room. Ask to see the third-floor suite that film director Sam Peckinpah once called home. Historic photos, a player piano, and stuffed game animals decorate the lobby and surround the antique elevator, which is still in use.

The Rainbow Ranch Lodge's original 1919 main building has been painstakingly restored to its original glory after a 2008 fire. Guests stay in two separate room sections, and special events are held in the barn. The log-accented rooms perch alongside the Gallatin River, where guests can fish from the riverbank or in the rainbow trout–stocked pond (catch and release). An outdoor fireplace stands beside the infinity hot tub. Animal and fishing motifs decorate the spacious guest rooms, which have wood-burning fireplaces (most), filtered water, lodgepole-pine beds, and down comforters. The exceptional restaurant ($$$$), decorated with Western paintings, has one of the state's largest collections of wines; 8,500 bottles are displayed in the Bacchus Room, where groups of up to 10 can dine. Fresh fish is flown in daily. Among the game dishes are elk ragout and a 20-oz. boneless bison rib eye with tarragon salsa verde.

Sitting close to the headwaters of the Mighty Missouri River, the Sacajawea Hotel has stood tall for over 100 years. With its iconic white clapboard and covered porch, this hotel provides elegance and a step back in time. Remodeled in 2010, it's the perfect mix of history and luxury and also is home to the Sacajawea Bar ($$$) and some of the best steaks in Montana at the Pompey's Grill. A spa, meeting room, and full-service resident wedding planner round out just a few of the other reasons to stay here.

Built as a private home in the early 1990s, this mansion has a historic feel thanks to hardwood accents, marble tile, and a classic redbrick exterior. Each of the four guest rooms is named after a character from Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. The ground-floor Papa Otter's Place, with its Victorian-style furnishings, marble-accented Jacuzzi, and French doors opening to a private garden, probably offers the best value. Sir Badger's Suite, which takes up the entire fifth floor with two bedrooms, a two-person Jacuzzi, walk-in closet, and loft-style windows, ranks as the most luxurious option.

In winter, when 2- to 6 feet of snow blanket this 9,000-acre working cattle ranch, guests enjoy spectacular adventures in cross-country skiing and wildlife tracking. The ranch shares a 6-mile boundary with Yellowstone National Park, in Tom Miner Basin, 36 miles south of Livingston. Rates include meals and activities, except at the West Bunkhouse, a six-bedroom, two-bathroom vacation rental. A four-wheel drive is recommended for reaching the ranch.

Butte's largest hotel is convenient to shopping, sports events, and the interstates. The rooms are clean and comfortable, if somewhat bland.

Located across the street from Carroll College, this full-service hotel with convention facilities is considered to be one of the nicer chain hotels in the state, often hosting visiting faculty and speakers at the university. Rooms are well-appointed, some with wet bars; on-site amenities include an indoor pool, hot tub, and 24-hour fitness center.

This large B&B is a gem in Helena's historic district, offering guests such extra amenities as toiletries, complimentary beverages, luxury linens, and down pillows. Four of the rooms have fireplaces, and all of the rooms are beautifully decorated, bordering on ornate, yet not dated. And forget the omelettes for breakfast, though Chef Pat's specialties are his breakfast pastries that are so good you'll swear you're in Europe.

This rambling, quirky spa hotel opened in 1900, offering guests leisurely soaks in its 96°F–103°F hot-spring pools and accommodations with views of 10,920-foot Emigrant Peak and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness beyond. The historic property features two large outdoor soaking pools, lots of meeting space, a hilltop spa offering a wide variety of treatments, and a mix of upscale cabins, covered wagons, and simpler rooms in the main lodge (some share a bath). The excellent restaurant serves creatively prepared local game, steaks, and fish. Painter Charles Russell (1864–1926) once stayed here.

Located in the heart of historic downtown Helena, this top-of-the-line chain hotel is steps away from great food, drinks, and shops. The no-frills rooms provide the comfort and cleanliness that is to be expected from a Hilton brand, and the balconies provide great views of Helena and the surrounding mountains. There is an on-site Italian Restaurant, the Bella Roma ($$$), as well as an indoor pool and fitness center. 

This hotel is affordable, clean, and quiet, and has an indoor heated pool and hot tub. The staff can direct you to interesting local sights, scenic viewpoints, and perhaps even a good local fishing hole.

This resort between Anaconda and Butte is a great option for families. Although not much to look at, the Fairmont (not affiliated with the similarly named luxury hotel chain) has naturally heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a 350-foot waterslide, a playground, and a day spa in a beautiful setting. There's also an 18-hole golf course on the grounds.

Virginia City's Fairweather Inn is a classic Western Victorian hotel with balconies in the heart of the area's gold-mining country. Although the property underwent a renovation in 2016, the furniture and vibes are still a blast from the distant past.

A large stone fireplace serves as the focal point of the living room, and gas or electric stoves or fireplaces lend a cozy feel to each guest room, as do quilts and artwork, both by the owners. Baked apple-pecan French toast with homemade syrup is a popular breakfast choice.

On the property of a 20-acre ranch, this full-service, year-round fly-fishing lodge has private access on the Gallatin, for which it is named. Fly-fishing packages include a guide, three meals per day, and accommodations. The elegant country inn has six suites with Mission-style furniture, Western art, Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, and views of the trout pond.

Darling cabins, one log and one clapboard, and a carriage house have mountain views all around and are near the famed Poindexter Slough blue-ribbon fly-fishing spot on the Beaverhead River. The cabins both have two bedrooms, full bathrooms, fireplaces, and cozy couches. The carriage house has two bedrooms, a full bathroom, and a deck with a grill.

Fine dining and an 1890s saloon are two of the attractions of this classic Western hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in downtown Big Timber. The attractive 1890 Room ($$$$) serves steaks, seafood, and lamb for dinner, plus decadent desserts. For lunch, the 1890 Saloon claims to have served "cattlemen, cowboys, sheepherders, miners, railroad men and travelers" for more than 100 years. Guest rooms are small, clean, and comfortable, with period furnishings—the kind of accommodations you might find over the Longbranch Saloon in Gunsmoke.

In the spectacular Pioneer Mountains, this mountain B&B is ideally situated for snowmobiling, hiking, and fishing. The tidy, colorful rooms have log beds and views of the mountains. You can rent snowmobiles nearby in winter.

This comfortable property with a friendly staff is a 10-minute drive from downtown and 15 minutes from the airport. It has an indoor pool, fitness center, and a 24-hour pantry stocked with toiletries and snacks. Rooms have refrigerators and microwaves, but there is also a sumptuous breakfast buffet (extra charge) with omelets made to order.

In continuous operation since it opened in 1924, Finlen, with its lobby of ornate chandeliers and pillars, stands in testament to Butte's heyday, when the hotel played host to the likes of Charles Lindbergh and Mrs. Herbert Hoover. Once boasting more than 200 rooms under the mansard roof of this nine-story, French Second Empire structure, most of those are now apartments, with only 24 hotel rooms remaining—plus another 32 in the adjacent Finlen Motor Inn. The rooms are unremarkable, but some provide excellent views of Uptown Butte, and it's pet-friendly.

William Clark (of Lewis and Clark) cooked his dinner in the hot springs near the site of this spacious log lodge decorated with elk antlers, a stuffed mountain lion, and other critters. Accommodations are in cabins, many with fireplaces, and there's also tent and RV camping. The Olympic-size outdoor pool is filled with artesian hot water that averages 103°F year-round. The dining room specializes in surf and turf.

This rustic, yet comfy, B&B is perfect for exploring nearby Nevada City, which is within walking distance. Hosts John and Carma are also more than happy to play concierge and arrange for tours. All three rooms are in the main house, but there are also two cute, rustic cabins available. Property amenities include a hot tub, outdoor firepit, large yard with horseshoes, bikes, and free Wi-Fi.