Red Lodge, Montana Travel Guide
Introducing Red Lodge, Montana! Red Lodge, located in southern Montana within the Beartooth Mountain Range, is home to approximately 2,000 residents. Red Lodge is an outdoor oasis that provides visitors with numerous hiking and skiing opportunities. In addition to its beautiful scenery, Red Lodge has excellent restaurants, art, and shops. Red Lodge is located near Bozeman, MT (2hr 20min, 145 miles), Billings, MT (1hr 5min, 60 miles), and Yellowstone National Park (traveling the Beartooth Highway), with the closest major airport being the Billings Logan International Airport. Whether you spend a few days here for a vacation or a few hours as a scenic stop on the Beartooth Highway to Yellowstone National Park, Red Lodge has something for everyone to enjoy!
As mentioned, Red Lodge is located on the Beartooth Highway, which connects to Yellowstone National Park. This beautiful scenic highway is a favorite for locals and visitors alike. With great mountain scenery comes great mountain hiking. Pack the trekking poles and head to Mystic Lake Trailhead, Lake Fork Trailhead 2, and Basin Lakes Trailhead. Coming for the winter? Consider skiing at Red Lodge Mountain. If you enjoy seeing animals, consider a visit to the popular Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary. Want to learn about local history? Visit the Carbon County Historical Society and see their coal mine exhibit.
Want to do some shopping? See the metal creations at Back Alley Metals, grab or rent gear from Sylvan Peak Mountain Shop, or go antiquing at Red Lodge Antique Mall. For some new clothing or gifts, head to Hometown Sister Boutique, CC Legends, and Paris Mountain Mercantile. For a unique, sugary experience, be sure to try the huckleberry, mooseberry, and chokeberry taffies at Montana Candy Emporium! Looking for art? Take a trip to Carbon County Arts Guild & Depot Gallery and Beartooth Gallery Fine Art.
Red Lodge has tons of great restaurants, perfect for a long trip or to grab a bite to eat as a pit stop. Several of these restaurants specialize in all thing’s huckleberry and meats. Start your day with coffee and bread from Cattail Bakery and breakfast from The Wild Table. For lunch, have Mexican staples and huckleberry margaritas from Bogarts, pizza and huckleberry lemonade from Red Lodge Pizza Co., and pub food from Foster & Logan’s Pub & Grill. Try some new beers and ciders at Red Lodge Ales. There are many options for a great dinner in Red Lodge, such as Piccola Cucina Ox Pasteur and Prerogative Kitchen. Grab cocktails and Montana wagyu from One Legged Magpie, elk medallion and butter cake from Black Canyon Bistro, and cow-boy coffee ribeye from Carbon County Steakhouse. Many visitors consider seeing the pig races in Red Lodge a staple, so consider watching a race and getting dinner from Bear Creek Saloon & Steakhouse.
Need a place to stay? There are several hotels available nearby including Beartooth Inn, Pollard Hotel, Chateau Rogue, and Yodeler Hotel. For camping, consider Red Lodge KOA Journey and Basin Campground. Need a whole place to yourself? Consider renting a Vrbo. Here are some of our favorites: Downtown Townhome for 9, Cozy Cabin for 2, and Golf Course Cabin for 12.
Want to visit Red Lodge but not sure when? Consider visiting during the Beartooth Rally or the Montana Renaissance Festival. Whatever you’re into, Red Lodge, Montana has something worth seeing. We hope this travel guide gives you a glimpse into life in Red Lodge that can inspire a future visit.
Happy Travels!
The Modern Travel Guide
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