Consider this your invitation to explore the best of Big Sky Country!
Montana’s Great Wide Open celebrates the journeys, the wide skies, and the untold stories that make The Treasure State truly unforgettable. With road trip itineraries spanning badlands, river breaks, and mountain passes, you’re invited to slow down, look around, and embrace the amazing places and spaces between stops. And if you’re looking for a place that truly defines the “great wide open,” Northeast Montana belongs at the top of your list. With more room to roam and more space to explore, a trip through Montana’s Missouri River Country promises unforgettable adventures, epic scenery, friendly communities, and memories to last a lifetime.
Why Missouri River Country?
When it comes to exploring Montana’s Great Wide Open, the better question might be “why
not Missouri River Country,” because Northeast Montana is the definition of wide open. Our vast prairies, rugged badlands and breaks, and endless horizons truly give you
more room to roam, with plenty of space to explore and hardly a crowd in sight.
Slippery Ann Elk Viewing Area, Ken Plourde
Our region is rich in
wilderness and wildlife viewing opportunities. With four wildlife refuges (Charles M. Russell, Medicine Lake, Bowdoin, and UL Bend) other large-scale wildlife havens (Leo Coleman Wildlife Pasture and American Prairie), the opportunities to see wildlife are seemingly endless. Experience elk bugling in the fall, pronghorn racing across the prairie, bison roaming their native landscape, and migratory birds flocking in the skies. At night, those same skies transform into a dazzling canvas of stars. Fewer people mean less light pollution, so our skies provide some of the darkest, clearest
night skies for stargazing in the lower 48. It is not uncommon to take in the entire Milky Way or the Northern Lights when the sun goes down in Missouri River Country.
Fort Peck Interpretive Center, Jamie Blotske
For travelers drawn to history, Missouri River Country is a treasure trove of discovery waiting to be unearthed.
Dinosaurs once roamed our expansive landscape, and their prehistoric stories are told across Missouri River Country’s stretch of the Montana Dinosaur Trail. In fact, fossils are still being uncovered today in places like Malta’s Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Phillips County Museum, and large-scale fossils and replicas can be seen in museums in our region. Northeast Montana’s
history and heritage runs deep, from the stories and heritages of the region’s indigenous peoples to Lewis & Clark’s path along the Missouri River. The legacy of the generations of people who have lived in this place have left a culture of determination and openness in communities that dot the landscape.
Sand Arroyo Badlands, Bradley Castaneda
When it comes to adventure and recreation, the possibilities are endless. Cast a line or launch a boat on the massive waters of Fort Peck Lake or along the many rivers and creeks that crisscross our region, hike or ATV through the dramatic Missouri River Breaks and badlands, or settle into small-town fun with events like rodeos, powwows, and cultural and historical festivals. And as the day winds down, enjoy a delicious meal, a great local brew, and great conversation with some of the friendliest locals around. Integrate Missouri River Country into your Great Wide Open road trip by following the Badlands to Breaks or Badlands loops, with stops in towns like Glasgow, Sidney, Malta, and Fort Peck—and take time to linger, wander, and explore. Here, the drive itself is part of the magic.
Fort Peck Lake, Montana's Missouri River Country
Montana’s Great Wide Open isn’t just about where you go—it’s about the journey and the little stops along the way that add up to big, unforgettable memories. In Northeast Montana, you’ll find space to breathe, stories written into the land, and a sense of discovery that’s hard to come by anywhere else. So pack your bags, hit the road, and let Missouri River Country show you the great wide-open Montana you’ve been searching for.
