The Best Time to Visit Montana
~Carmella Rodriguez
Montana is a popular vacation destination thanks to its abundance of stunning natural scenery, largely due to where the state merges from US to Canadian wilderness. From glaciers to mountains, lakes, and national parks, there’s so much to see and do here.
The most popular months to visit are the summer months, when vacationers want to make the most of the state’s beautiful, sunny weather. The three busiest months of the year to visit Montana are June, July, and August. Using unique data from travel start-up AllTheRooms, we know that in July vacation rentals are 68.5% booked; in August 60.1% booked; and in June 54.5%.
The summer is an amazing time to explore Montana’s national parks -- go boating on the lakes, such as on the crystal blue waters of Lake McDonald, or hiking in the Rocky Mountains. You could also consider staying in West Yellowstone, which is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park, one of the US’ most incredible spots.
With summertime sunshine comes higher demand for accommodation and therefore higher prices. The average daily rate for home rentals is $220 per night in July; $208 per night in August; and $196 per night in June -- so if you can get away from work in June, you’re likely to be able to make a decent saving.
The weather in June averages between 70°F to 80°F, making it the perfect month to get the most of the sunshine, without breaking the bank. June is also a good time to visit as schools haven’t ended for summer break yet and summer tourism isn’t in full swing. This means that you don’t have to share the state’s mountains and lakes with so many people.
If you’re looking for the cheapest month to visit Montana, November is when accommodation is the least booked with only 28% occupancy rate as of 2018 and an average daily rate of just $145 per night. Cheap deals across hotels, hostels and vacation rentals can be found as accommodation owners knock prices down in order to increase occupancy.
November is a good time to visit if you like skiing, as snowfall is high over the month. It’s worth bearing in mind that November is very cold, with average temperatures between 42°F to 50 °F, and it can be much colder the higher up in the mountains you are. December is also a good time to visit for winter sports, although it’s more expensive as it coincides with the Christmas vacation period. The average daily rate in December goes up to $224 per night.
April is also a good month to visit, with low occupancy at just 29%. Spring is in full bloom during this time and visitors flock for the change in foliage and lower prices. The average daily rate of home rentals in April is $166, while the average weather in Montana in April is from 50°F to 59°F. April is also known as the best month to visit Yellowstone because the weather is mild, the crowds are smaller, and if camping is your thing, you can sleep outside.
VISIT AllTheRooms, the world's first vacation rental search engine.