7 Historic Towns Between Yellowstone and Glacier
So you’re planning a trip between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks? There’s a lot that goes into planning an epic road trip like that. Most people book their lodging, map the entrances, and lock in excursions before they ever leave home. But what many people don’t plan for is the 400 miles between the two parks.
We might be a little biased, but the region between the parks is equally as inspiring, just as beautiful, and arguably even more historic than the parks themselves. So, if you’re a history buff or you’re simply looking for a few quieter days between the parks, keep reading. We’re outlining 7 of the most historic towns and stops along the route between Yellowstone and Glacier.
1. Virginia City and Nevada City, Montana
Southwest Montana was born of boom-and-bust mining cycles, and nowhere is that story more alive than in Virginia City and Nevada City. In 1863, gold was discovered in nearby Alder Gulch, and within weeks, thousands of prospectors, gamblers, and outlaws flooded into town. It was the kind of place where fortunes were made before breakfast and lost before dark, and where law was whatever the fastest gun said it was.
Today, frontier-era buildings line the boardwalks. But they’re anything but empty. Period displays, and storefronts open up during the summers, the Virginia City Players run vaudeville shows out of the opera house, you can stay the night at the charming Fairweather Inn, and much more. Just a mile down Highway 287 is Nevada City. The best way to get there is aboard the Alder Gulch Shortline, a narrow-gauge steam railroad, complete with an audio history lesson along the way. While you’re there, you can’t miss the Nevada City Museum and Music Hall, which houses one of the most unique collections of antique music machines, plus it brings the Gold Rush Era to life with seasonal living history interpreters on the weekends.
2. Bannack State Park
The Gold Rush didn’t start in Alder Gulch though, it started in Bannack. Gold was first discovered here in 1862, and it quickly became the first territorial capital of Montana. Today, Bannack is one of the most authentic and well-preserved ghost towns, with over 50 original structures still standing.
3. Butte, Montana, The Richest Hill on Earth
Few cities carry as much history as Butte does. It was built on one of the world’s richest copper deposits. Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, Butte drew immigrants from Ireland, Croatia, Finland, and dozens of other countries. Today, Uptown Butte is part of one of the largest National Historic Districts in the country. You’ll find historic headframes sprinkled throughout town, the opulent Copper King Mansion, the Mai Wah Museum celebrating the city’s Chinese heritage, a thriving food and drink scene, and amazing turn-of-the-century architecture around every corner. And you can’t miss the World Museum of Mining, where you’ll go 100 feet underground into a historic copper mine.
4. Anaconda, Montana
Anaconda was built by the same copper industry, shaped by the same Copper Kings, and equally as proud of its working-class roots as Butte. Anaconda was primarily a smelting town, and the proof is still standing. A 585-foot smelter stack dominates the landscape, and it’s one of the largest freestanding masonry structures in the world. Today, visitors can enjoy a show at the Art Deco Washoe Theatre, browse the Copper Village Museum, or hop on the seasonal historic red bus tour for a proper introduction to town.
5. Philipsburg, Montana
This stop needs to make an itinerary if you’re traveling with kids, history buffs, or rockhounding enthusiasts. Seriously. Philipsburg is located right in the heart of Montana’s sapphire country, and its roots date back to 19th-century silver and sapphire mining.
The restored historic downtown is packed with personality, with homemade candy at the Sweet Palace, multiple places to pan for sapphires, craft beer at Philipsburg Brewing Company, the state’s only Law Enforcement Museum, and another ghost town, Granite Ghost Town, just up the hill.
6. Deer Lodge, Montana
Deer Lodge is home to two of the most unique historic sites in Southwest Montana, and they couldn’t be more different. The Grant-Kohrs National Historic Site is a fully operational working ranch that the National Park Service runs as a living history site with free admission. Right in town is the Old Montana Prison Museum, which operated from 1871 to 1979 and was Montana’s first territorial prison. Tour the cellhouse, and then your admission grants access to four more on-site museums, including a collection of over 160 classic automobiles.
7. Helena, Montana
Helena didn’t start as a capital. It started as a last resort. In 1864, four prospectors gave it one last chance before packing up and heading home for good. Luckily, they found gold in the gulch. That claim eventually gave Helena’s walking mall its name, Last Chance Gulch. And today, it’s the heart of downtown, lined with restaurants, local drink spots, shopping, and the occasional live music. Just steps away from the walking mall is Reeder’s Alley, a preserved mid-1800s mining camp open to the public and home to the Visit Helena Visitor Center. The Capitol is worth a stop for its stunning turn-of-the-century architecture, and right next door is the Montana Heritage Center, where three galleries walk visitors through the story of Montana. If you’re traveling with kids, don’t miss the Last Chance Tour Train that departs from the Capitol area throughout the summer. The open-air train cars will take you on a narrated journey through Helena!
Plan Your Yellowstone to Glacier Adventure
You came for the parks, and now you know what’s waiting in between. The historic towns of Southwest Montana are just the beginning. Whether you’re mapping out a two-day drive or building a full week-long itinerary, our Yellowstone to Glacier page is packed with everything you need to start planning, from suggested itineraries with overnight stops to everything you’ll need to know once you’re in the parks. Looking for more inspiration? Browse our full collection of Southwest Montana itineraries for curated drives built around history, adventure, and everything in between.
