Day Trippin' › Montana › From Hamilton
From Hamilton, Lake Como is under half an hour away, Blodgett Canyon and the Lee Metcalf refuge about half an hour, Missoula under an hour, and Big Hole National Battlefield a little over an hour. The best day trips from Hamilton, by drive time.
59 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
Museum · 53 min north
A museum on the grounds of an old army post, with historic buildings to walk among and exhibits on western Montana life.
Town · 53 min north
A university river town on the Clark Fork with a lively downtown, the Riverfront Trail, river floating and hiking right from town.
State park · 57 min south
A reservoir park up the West Fork of the Bitterroot with colorful rock walls, camping and summer swimming.
Trail · 33 min west
A deep granite canyon west of Hamilton with a trail along Blodgett Creek into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
Family fun · 54 min north
A hand-carved carousel in downtown Caras Park next to the Dragon Hollow play area.
Wildlife refuge · 32 min north
A Bitterroot River floodplain refuge near Stevensville with ponds, wetlands and a nature trail good for spotting waterfowl and eagles.
State park · 38 min north
The only archaeologically confirmed Lewis and Clark campsite, in Lolo, with a museum, Lolo Creek trails and bird watching.
Trail · 54 min north
A short, steep climb of 13 switchbacks above the University of Montana to the big concrete M and wide views of Missoula.
Wildlife refuge · 2 hr north
A tribally managed range near Moiese with bison, elk, pronghorn and bighorn sheep, seen from the Red Sleep and Prairie scenic drives.
Ghost town · 1 hr 59 min northeast
One of Montana's best-preserved ghost towns, a high gold camp of the 1890s with many buildings still standing, east of Missoula.
Hot spring · 1 hr 4 min northwest
A hot springs resort up Lolo Creek with an outdoor warm pool and an indoor hot pool.
Town · 1 hr 41 min east
A restored mining town on the Pintler Scenic Route with a colorful main street, a famous old-time candy store and sapphire shops.
Family fun · 1 hr 15 min east
Dig through gravel for your own sapphires at a mine on the Skalkaho Pass road west of Philipsburg.
Historic site · 1 hr 7 min southeast
The site of the 1877 battle between the Nez Perce and the U.S. Army, with a visitor center and short trails through the camp and siege areas.
State park · 1 hr 35 min northeast
A lakeside park in the Blackfoot-Clearwater valley south of Seeley Lake, good for a swim, picnic or paddle.
Wildlife refuge · 1 hr 42 min north
Wetlands below the Mission Mountains full of geese, herons, eagles and ospreys, with a short trail at the viewing site off Highway 93.
Town · 2 hr 3 min north
A lake town at the south end of Flathead Lake, known for cherry orchards, a July cherry festival and lakeside parks.
Ghost town · 2 hr 18 min southeast
Montana's first territorial capital and gold strike site, with more than 50 buildings you can walk into along Main Street.
Trail · 2 hr 29 min northwest
A mostly downhill bike ride of about 15 miles on an old rail line through 10 tunnels and over high trestles, including the 1.66-mile St. Paul Pass Tunnel.
Cave · 3 hr east
Guided tours wind through one of the largest limestone caves in the Northwest, full of stalactites and columns.
Town · 2 hr 32 min northwest
An old silver-mining town in a narrow canyon, with a brick downtown on the National Register, a mining museum and a railroad depot museum.
Hot spring · 2 hr 7 min north
A riverside resort in Paradise with several natural hot pools from 100 to 106 degrees, a cold plunge and family-friendly cooler pools.
Waterfall · 2 hr 22 min east
A narrow canyon near Anaconda with 1,200-foot cliffs and a short walk to 50-foot Lost Creek Falls.
Scenic drive · 2 hr 47 min west
An All-American Road through the Clearwater and Lochsa canyons from Lewiston to Lolo Pass, following Lewis and Clark and Nez Perce history.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 59840 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.