27 Best Hotels in Kalispell, Missoula, and Northwest Montana, Montana

Since 1945 Averill's has been providing families a wholesome and active Western getaway. The beautiful green grounds are on the shore of the lake, where beach fires, canoeing, and sailing take place. The lodge, accommodations, and other buildings are all log-and-stone structures. Horseback rides set out both in the morning and evening, and you can learn to rope in the rodeo arena. Many activities such as rafting and guided fishing trips are available for an extra cost. It's BYOB at the bar. October through May the lodge is open for corporate retreats only.

Just a short drive north of Whitefish, this working dude ranch, nestled between two pine-covered ridges at the base of Spencer Mountain, is a playground for horse people and outdoor-recreation enthusiasts. You can ride the nearby trails or in the indoor arena, watch trainers work with horses, or take lessons yourself. There's unlimited hiking, fishing in nearby Spencer Lake, skeet shooting, archery, and more. The rooms are clean and comfortable with a distinct Western flair. The cabin overlooks pasture and the nearby woods, and it's not uncommon to sit on the deck and watch deer and other wildlife.

Giant larch trees shade the large site, where fishing and boating are popular. There's a good beach for swimming, a horseshoes pit, wheelchair-accessible picnicking, and marked nature trails. Shopping, laundry, and services are nearby.

Views of the Bitterroot River give this inn a peaceful, country feel even though it's within walking distance of many of the shops and restaurants in downtown Stevensville. The rooms are made with comfort in mind, including down comforters and featherbeds in some rooms, and a cozy fireplace in another. Breakfasts are casual, but with egg casseroles, banana-bread French toast, and locally roasted coffee, they'll be sure to fuel you for the day. Children over six are welcome.

Located at the bottom of Grant Creek, near the Snowbowl ski area, this family-favorite features a tree-filled courtyard with a pool, baby pool, five hot tubs, and a waterfall. Log beams, animal mounts, and a large fireplace contribute to its lodge-like ambiance. Large guest rooms equipped with flat-screen TVs open onto the pool on the first floor; on the second, they feature balconies. Some rooms have kitchens, jetted tubs, and/or sitting areas.

This 20,000-acre working cattle ranch at the base of the Mission Mountains lets you take part in ranching life in summer and conducts pack trips from September through November while staying in one of their fully equipped cabins. The ranch offers two cabins to rent year-round, including daily horseback rides. Fishing for trout, bass, bullhead, and perch, and explore the nearby Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge and Kicking Horse Reservoir in the valley below. Tipis are also available in the summer to give more sleeping room for larger parties.

A snug haven in a rugged landscape, this 1,200-acre ranch is surrounded by pines and aspens deep in Teton Canyon, an eastern gateway to the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The duplex cabins feel like a second home, with comfortable furniture, wood-paneled ceilings, rough-hewn wainscoting, and picture windows; enveloping sofas and chairs, a large stone fireplace, and more golden wood fill the main lodge. Their 3,600-square-foot log home has three suites, each with room for four or more people, making it ideal for larger groups. Three meals daily (included in the room rate) are served family-style, and the food is memorable: a sausage-egg-and-cheese bake with homemade muffins for breakfast, grilled lemon-glazed salmon for dinner, and pies just out of the oven. They'll fortify you for a day of hiking, wildlife viewing, or guided horseback riding (also included in the room rate). In summer multiday pack trips into the Bob Marshall give riders a glimpse of the Rockies as Lewis and Clark saw them.

The handsome log main lodge built in 1929 combines European grace and Western trimmings on a 200-acre spread. The great room's stone fireplace is a guest gathering spot; nearby in Seasons Restaurant ($$$) the sophisticated and changing menu features rib eyes with sautéed mushrooms, Red Bird organic Tuscan chicken, and Finadene salmon. Guest rooms and log cabins are simply furnished with a few antiques and fluffy comforters. Early-20th-century log homes with antiques, knotty-pine interiors, and modern kitchens are popular with families. The resort sits adjacent to one of the finest golf courses in northwestern Montana.

This 1923, antiques-filled home has five spacious guest rooms with down duvets. Special extras include a morning coffee tray delivered to your room and nightly turndown service. The snow bus to the ski resort stops one block away.

Built in 1911 for the first president of the University of Montana, this stately, prairie-style brick home sits on the bank of the Clark Fork River, at the end of a footbridge that leads to the campus. With big white eaves and an ample porch overlooking the river—where blue heron, osprey, and bald eagles congregate—this historic lodging offers seven distinct rooms and suites. The honeymoon suite boasts a Japanese soaking tub, king-size bed, private entry, and riverside porch. The two-room White Water suite caters to families, with two queen and two twin beds. Two rooms have gas fireplaces. Three have balconies. Breakfast offerings include French toast with fresh berries and apple-walnut pancakes, served in the sunny dining room or on the porch.

Always a Whitefish favorite, Grouse Mountain is consistently booked solid in July and August. Public tennis courts and cross-country trails border the lodge, and there's a 36-hole golf course next door. Off-season you can book some bargain activity packages. Thoroughly modern, it has a sunny lounge area with a lacquered slate floor, elk-horn chandeliers, soft-cushioned furniture, and a tall fireplace. The Grill at Grouse ($$–$$$$) focuses on steaks, ribs, and Pacific Northwest salmon baked on a cedar plank. Food is also served outside from mid-April to mid-October on the deck and patio ($–$$$), where there's shade and a large stone fire pit. The Wine Room can be reserved for a five-course dinner expertly paired with wines from their impressive collection. Recently renovated guest rooms are less refined but have standard modern furnishings and features, including 24-inch flat-screen TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi. Also updated, with a refrigerator, wet bar, and microwave, the loft units are a good choice for families. During the holidays the lodge is decorated with twinkly flair.

This hotel 1 mile west of downtown features an indoor pool, fitness center, gift shop, and shuttle service. The spacious rooms, Western decor, and river-rock fireplace in the lobby give the place a homey feel. They also have suites with private hot tubs and fireplaces.

At the foot of the road that climbs to Big Mountain, this two-story log lodge has a lively ski motif—a child's sled for a coffee table, an antique ski for a handrail. Some of the rooms have their own Jacuzzis, and there's one outdoors as well. Rooms are individually decorated with rough-hewn pine furniture and ironwork, and each has its own entrance off a small deck. The living room's vaulted ceiling creates space for plenty of light and a 20-foot-high fireplace; the scene can be quite social, especially in summer. Breakfasts are a standout, and come evening a glass of wine or bottle of locally brewed beer is on the house. The skier-owners may even share their favorite powder run on Big Mountain.

With a fully equipped business center near the lobby and spacious, Montana-theme rooms anchored by large desks and flat-screen TVs, this upscale facility is a business traveler's dream. The Blue Canyon Kitchen and Silver Creek Tavern next door serve lunch and dinner, and the Great American Grill next to the lobby serves breakfast. The Pavilion Pantry convenience mart has the sundries that you forgot, and the helpful staff is able to direct you to the sights and recreational opportunities in the area.

The Missoula member of the Holiday Inn chain is a large, comfortable hotel with a lush atrium in the center and remodeled rooms, some with a lovely river view. The property's greatest asset is its location in Missoula's riverfront Bess Reed Park, a stone's throw from the Clark Fork River and across the river from the university, a ¾-mile walk. There's a pool, hot tub, sauna, and business and fitness centers. Pets are welcome.

When the snow flies, this lodge is nearly buried, which makes for cozy fireside dining and relaxing. The log lodge sits on the lakeshore, where you can cross-country ski or snowshoe from the door. In summer, step off the cabin porch for a hike or a swim. Cabins are updated yet rustic. You can dine on trout in the restaurant ($$$$) while watching the trout rise.

The smell of freshly baked cookies greets travelers in the afternoon as soon as they walk into the Kalispell Grand. The hotel has been welcoming guests since 1912, shortly after Glacier became a national park. The rooms are clean and comfortable, with nice-size work desks for business travelers. For those who would rather relax, they have a certified massage therapist available to work out any sore muscles.

As the name indicates, the links are front and center here. The inn is just a few steps from the pro shop, and the veranda has views of the course as well as the surrounding mountains and a pond. Condos and vacation homes, with private decks, barbecue grills, fireplaces, and simple, comfortable furnishings, line the fairways. For skiers, there are daily shuttles to Whitefish Mountain, and guests can use the Kintla day-use lodge at the resort to warm by the fire and eat lunch. The spa has some of the best treatments in the area, including Montana's only Vichy shower. The Meadow Lake Bar & Grille ($$–$$$) specializes in pastas, burgers, and rib-eye steaks. You can dine outside in summer. Troop Meadow Lake has many activities for the kids, including swimming-pool games, arts and crafts, outdoor adventures, and movie night.

This resort, perched above Flathead Lake, offers 30 well-appointed suites surrounding an outdoor pool on meticulously groomed grounds. From your room, enjoy sweeping views of the lake (best from the lakeside lodges) and surrounding mountains. The hotel is well situated for hiking, golfing, rafting, and lake cruising. The log-accented dining room is designed to let you watch the sunset while enjoying smoked pheasant and other delicacies. The dining room is open seasonally; the bar serves light dinners year-round.

At this small, personal, and beautiful guest ranch bordering the Bob Marshall Wilderness, all-inclusive packages are the rule. You get traditional Western meals and a horse to ride for the duration of your stay. Some packages emphasize riding, others fishing or hunting, and they offer snowmobile tours in the winter. They also offer multiday pack trips into the Bob Marshall Wilderness

This busy campground among tall pines is on the lake, so mosquitoes can be pesky. Groceries, sports rentals, and restaurants are about 4 mi away. Reservations are recommended.

Situated in downtown Bigfork with views overlooking Bigfork Bay, the Swan River Inn has eight opulent suites in a 19th-century building. Each suite is decorated according to a theme, such as Art Deco, Victorian, French Country, and Safari (with antiques from all over the world ). They also have three houses 5 miles south of Bigfork on Flathead Lake: the Atelier Suite, an authentic log cabin, and rustic Trapper Cabin, with the same luxurious amenities. There's also a giant tipi with electricity, a queen bed, and separate bathroom and modest kitchenette.

On the edge of the lake, this luxury resort offers several accommodation options, including two lodges and a selection of luxury condo and home rentals nearby. The Main Lodge has well-appointed suites of various sizes, while the Viking Lodge has smaller, classic hotel rooms. You can spend an afternoon on the private beach or use their marina for sailing, jet-skiing, or kayaking. In winter, daily shuttle service is available to the ski slopes. The only lakefront restaurant in the area, the Boat Club ($$$$), offers high-end dining with a large selection of beer and wine, while the Boat Club Bar serves food and drink in a more casual setting.

This authentic cattle ranch of some 37,000 acres of forests and grasslands is the perfect place to try "glamping," though staying in one of the perma-tents at Paws Up is a long way from roughing it. Think luxurious, safari-style tents, complete with fine linens, en suite baths, and a "camping butler." For even more refinement, try one of the luxury homes, each with its own outdoor hot tub. Included in your stay is the use of an electric car to navigate around the expansive ranch, where you can fly-fish in the Blackfoot River, go horseback riding, or pamper yourself at "Spa Town." Kids will never be bored thanks to the daily Kids Corps of Discovery offering activities lasting a full- or half day.

Oversize guest rooms and a 24-hour self-service business center here are designed with the business traveler in mind, but two waterslides and a splash pool please kids as well. Rooms have cordless phones, lounge chairs, and large TVs; a few have Jacuzzis. The inn serves a hot breakfast complete with omelets and waffles. It is right off the interstate and near the airport.