A Good Tour of Billings

The center of Billings is tucked beneath a distinct rock wall, aptly named the Rimrocks. Running along part of the wall is the Rimrock Trail 1, made up of several smaller trails, which has outstanding views. After your hike, drive east on Highway 3 to Peter Yegen, Jr./Yellowstone County Museum 2 at the entrance to Logan International Airport. Continue east on Route 318, passing Boothill Swords Park Cemetery 3 before heading north on Main Street to Lake Elmo State Park 4, a popular recreational spot on the edge of town near Billings Heights. Head back down Main Street and then drive southwest on 6th Avenue North into the commercial district, where several sights are grouped together. Make a left onto North 27th Street and drive to 4th Avenue North for the Yellowstone Art Museum 5, displaying Western and contemporary art. Continue on foot one block south on North 27th Street to 3rd Avenue North; make a right and walk one block to North 28th Street to reach the Alberta Bair Theater 6. Walk south down North 28th Street to Montana Avenue, where you’ll find the Western Heritage Center 7. To reach the turn-of-the-20th-century Moss Mansion 8, head north on North 28th Street for two blocks; make a left onto 2nd Avenue North and follow it west for several blocks to Division Street. Return to your car and drive south on 27th Street until you reach I–90; follow the interstate east for 2 mi to Exit 452. Turn right and follow Highway 87 south a few miles to the border of the Crow Indian Reservation, where you’ll find the fascinating Pictograph Cave State Park 9. For a bit of fun, head back into Billings and take I–90 west to ZooMontana 11.

Timing

You could easily spend two or more days on this tour, depending on how much time you want to allocate to the sights and parks. In winter, many of the outdoor sights close or are significantly less enjoyable.