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

Consisting of 50 warmly appointed, contemporary cabins set among five clusters across the street from West Yellowstone's Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, this family- and pet-friendly compound is an ideal base for visiting the national park. Each climate-controlled cabin has a nicely outfitted kitchenette, and most have indoor fireplaces. Bathrooms are modern and well-designed with walk-in showers, and guests are provided with complimentary s'mores kits to use around the community firepits.

With a striking Art Deco design, this gorgeous nine-story hotel opened in Bozeman's former armory building in 2020, providing urban accommodations and amenities in an appealing downtown location that's within day-tripping distance of Big Sky skiing and Yellowstone National Park adventures. The spacious rooms feature luxury linens, natural materials, whimsical artwork, and posh bathrooms with Atelier Bloom amenities. Superb modern Rockies cuisine is served in Fielding's restaurant, just off the handsome lobby, and there's a rooftop bar and pool, too, where you can soak up grand views of the surrounding mountains.

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. The Murray was considered to be one of the best hotels in the world by Anthony Bourdain, a man who knew a thing or two about great hotels. Historic photos, a player piano, and stuffed game animals decorate the lobby and surround the antique elevator, which is still in use.

Plenty of legendary characters, including Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane, have stayed at this 1893 landmark in the heart of Red Lodge's historic district—Ernest Hemingway even mentioned the place in For Whom the Bell Tolls. Guns have been banned in the hotel ever since Harry Longabaugh, aka the Sundance Kid, brandished one when he robbed a bank on the corner. Common areas include a balcony that overlooks the gallery and fireplace, plus oak-paneled parlors that are perfect for a drink or to read a book. The rooms were remodeled in 2022 to bring the century-plus old building into the new age. 

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.

On a pretty bend of the Yellowstone River in the heart of downtown Gardiner, this immaculate little compound of cottages, suites, and studios that sleep from two to six guests has kitchens or kitchenettes in every unit along with good Wi-Fi and private exterior entrances. A common deck overlooking the river is a great spot to relax and mingle, or you can cook dinner on one of the guest grills. Four of the suites have private decks with river views, too.

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.

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 dog-friendly LEED-certified extended-stay hotel is conveniently located one block off Main Street. A newer build, its five stories include a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor saltwater pool, 24-hour pantry, courtyard, and on-site locally owned restaurant. The continental breakfast is hard to beat, but most rooms include complete kitchens.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Great Room at this pet-friendly Mountain Village property has the requisite stone fireplace topped by a bronze cowboy sculpture, and a wall of windows overlooking 11,000-foot Lone Peak. Some guest rooms have mountain views. Furnishings are comfortable, but the decor is not exceptional. In summer, enjoy the view from the large patio.

Paradise Valley's most luxurious property opened in 2018, and it's hard to top your first impression: the soaring, wide-open lobby with views of Emigrant Peak. Amenities include hot tubs, a day spa, fitness center, gift shop, classic games, and activities like fly-fishing, mountain biking, wood-burning crafts, and even axe-throwing. The on-site restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is so good it's a destination in itself, attracting diners from as far as two hours away, just for a meal.  Ask for a mountain-facing room, and get your dining reservations in early.

This friendly year-round compound that offers everything from rustic but economical motel rooms to roomy cabins that can sleep up to 10 guests has the perfect location for exploring Lamar Valley—it's in tiny and tranquil Silver Gate, a mile from Yellowstone's Northeast Entrance. The log-style buildings exude Western charm, and cabins have porches and outdoor seating areas; most have kitchens. An on-site general store is stocked with light groceries, beer and wine, and outdoor gear.

Along with having an absolute prime location at the foot of Big Sky's chairlifts, the Summit Hotel now has bragging rights for having hosted the First Family during President Obama's 2009 visit to Montana. A Euro-Western flavor decorates the spacious rooms and suites, which are ideal for discriminating business travelers and families looking to be at the center of the mountain action. The best things about the Summit just may be the underground, heated parking garage, unusual in Montana, and the outdoor, year-round soaking pool.

A towering stone fireplace and lots of natural wood greet guests in the lobby of this eco-friendly property. The homey hotel's handcrafted furniture is made from recycled natural materials. Rooms are lodge-themed and have nice touches like wildlife prints. Goldilocks and the Three Bears rooms are a real treat for kids. Creature comforts include a pool. Lower-priced motel rooms offer economy and access to the lovely lodge.

This pet-friendly, mom-and-pop motor inn is right off I–90 and within walking distance of the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site. It offers a free continental breakfast, and room options include the unicorn of hotel rooms: a three-queen bed. Each room has a microwave, mini-refrigerator, coffeemaker, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and cable TV.

Offering more of a well-appointed practical base than an exclusive luxury lodge experience, these comfortable cabins are about 16 miles south of Livingston and about 40 minutes north of Yellowstone National Park. Rooms feature rustic yet modern furnishings, but the place guests spend most of their time is their backyard patio fronting the Yellowstone River. It's an angler's dream location, and for aspiring landscape photographers, the Paradise Valley views are hard to top. If you don't mind driving a bit, it's reasonable to stay here if you are entering Yellowstone from the north.

On the west end of Gardiner across from the Yellowstone River, this mid-range hotel provides a variety of room types and plenty of amenities to keep you entertained between day trips into Yellowstone. Facilities include a heated indoor pool, a basketball court, and a picnic area.