Bozeman travel guide
Bozeman Tourism | Bozeman Guide
You're Going to Love Bozeman
With endless blue skies, spectacular mountain views, and acres of national forest, Bozeman is one of the best towns in Montana. With the availability of exceptional museums, great food, art galleries, and shopping streets, Bozeman has something for everyone.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Bozeman
1. Amazing Landscape
Bozeman is endowed with beautiful hills and mountains. From biking to hiking, you have numerous options when it comes to taking it all in.
2. Friendly People
This city is the kind of place where you become friends with the milkman and smile at the people you come across. The sense of community will amaze you.
3. World-Class Skiing
Find the Big Sky Resort or the Bridger Bowl with over 2,000 ski-able acres. Explore the challenging skiing found within the area boundary.
4. Lots of Fun Activities
If you love adventure, Bozeman has plenty of activities such as hunting and fishing to keep you busy.
5. Access to the Parks
Bozeman allows you to explore unlimited sightseeing, recreation activities, and wildlife viewing in Glacier National Park and the Yellowstone National Park.
What to do in Bozeman
1. Palisade Falls: Breathtaking Natural Beauty
Just 20 miles south of Bozeman, you'll find these sublime falls, which plunge more than 80 feet from Palisade Mountain to the valley below. There's a picnic area within sight of the falls, as well as family-friendly, wheelchair-accessible trails that will get you right to their base, where you can hear the rush of water and feel the spray as the cascade crashes into the rocks below.
2. Museum of the Rockies: The Peak of the Region's Museums
Although the Rocky Mountains stretch for thousands of miles, Bozeman acts like an informal capital of the majestic range. This museum will tell you everything you could ever want to know about this sublimely beautiful mountain range, which holds more secrets than you might think. For instance, it hosts one of the largest dinosaur collections in the world, populated by fossils excavated from the Rocky Mountain shale. Alongside those fearsome beasts, you can return to pioneering days at the Living History Farm or see cosmic shows at the Taylor Planetarium. Basically, this is a museum with something to engage every visitor.
3. Bridger Bowl Ski Area: A World-Class Ski Region on Bozeman's Doorstep
Situated just north of Bozeman in the Bridger Range, Bridger Bowl is something special for Alpine sports fans. Not only does it boast an array of challenging, moderate, and easy slopes, it's also extremely affordable, being run as a not-for-profit venture, while the snowfall is reliable year-in, year-out. If you're in town in winter, look out for the flashing bulb on Downtown's Baxter Hotel, which signals to locals that fresh snow has arrived - then hire some skis and pile into an SUV, and get ready to party on the pistes.
4. American Computer Museum: Digital Delights in an Unexpected Location
You might not rank Bozeman with Silicon Valley as one of the centers of global computing, but this museum is a digital treasure. The American Computer and Robotics Museum (to give its full title) was supposed to be in Princeton, but the founders relocated to Bozeman and took their museum-making ambitions with them. It's a huge bonus for vacationers, as the museum hosts exhibits stretching from the Antikythera mechanism (thought to be an ancient proto-computer) through to seminal machines like the Apple 1 and historically important computers like the Apollo missions guidance terminal. It's a thrilling place for techie travelers.
5. Montana Grizzly Encounter: An Invaluable Conservation Effort, and a Magical Attraction
In the Rockies, you're never likely to be far from a bear, even if you never actually set eyes on one of these impressive creatures. Situated just east of Bozeman, this attraction is the ideal way to get acquainted, being a home for rescued grizzlies who were born in captivity and cannot be released into the wild. There's no cages and no bars - just visitors, guides and a chance to get close to these majestic animals in complete safety.
1. Palisade Falls: Breathtaking Natural Beauty
Just 20 miles south of Bozeman, you'll find these sublime falls, which plunge more than 80 feet from Palisade Mountain to the valley below. There's a picnic area within sight of the falls, as well as family-friendly, wheelchair-accessible trails that will get you right to their base, where you can hear the rush of water and feel the spray as the cascade crashes into the rocks below.
2. Museum of the Rockies: The Peak of the Region's Museums
Although the Rocky Mountains stretch for thousands of miles, Bozeman acts like an informal capital of the majestic range. This museum will tell you everything you could ever want to know about this sublimely beautiful mountain range, which holds more secrets than you might think. For instance, it hosts one of the largest dinosaur collections in the world, populated by fossils excavated from the Rocky Mountain shale. Alongside those fearsome beasts, you can return to pioneering days at the Living History Farm or see cosmic shows at the Taylor Planetarium. Basically, this is a museum with something to engage every visitor.
3. Bridger Bowl Ski Area: A World-Class Ski Region on Bozeman's Doorstep
Situated just north of Bozeman in the Bridger Range, Bridger Bowl is something special for Alpine sports fans. Not only does it boast an array of challenging, moderate, and easy slopes, it's also extremely affordable, being run as a not-for-profit venture, while the snowfall is reliable year-in, year-out. If you're in town in winter, look out for the flashing bulb on Downtown's Baxter Hotel, which signals to locals that fresh snow has arrived - then hire some skis and pile into an SUV, and get ready to party on the pistes.
4. American Computer Museum: Digital Delights in an Unexpected Location
You might not rank Bozeman with Silicon Valley as one of the centers of global computing, but this museum is a digital treasure. The American Computer and Robotics Museum (to give its full title) was supposed to be in Princeton, but the founders relocated to Bozeman and took their museum-making ambitions with them. It's a huge bonus for vacationers, as the museum hosts exhibits stretching from the Antikythera mechanism (thought to be an ancient proto-computer) through to seminal machines like the Apple 1 and historically important computers like the Apollo missions guidance terminal. It's a thrilling place for techie travelers.
5. Montana Grizzly Encounter: An Invaluable Conservation Effort, and a Magical Attraction
In the Rockies, you're never likely to be far from a bear, even if you never actually set eyes on one of these impressive creatures. Situated just east of Bozeman, this attraction is the ideal way to get acquainted, being a home for rescued grizzlies who were born in captivity and cannot be released into the wild. There's no cages and no bars - just visitors, guides and a chance to get close to these majestic animals in complete safety.
1. Palisade Falls: Breathtaking Natural Beauty
Just 20 miles south of Bozeman, you'll find these sublime falls, which plunge more than 80 feet from Palisade Mountain to the valley below. There's a picnic area within sight of the falls, as well as family-friendly, wheelchair-accessible trails that will get you right to their base, where you can hear the rush of water and feel the spray as the cascade crashes into the rocks below.
2. Museum of the Rockies: The Peak of the Region's Museums
Although the Rocky Mountains stretch for thousands of miles, Bozeman acts like an informal capital of the majestic range. This museum will tell you everything you could ever want to know about this sublimely beautiful mountain range, which holds more secrets than you might think. For instance, it hosts one of the largest dinosaur collections in the world, populated by fossils excavated from the Rocky Mountain shale. Alongside those fearsome beasts, you can return to pioneering days at the Living History Farm or see cosmic shows at the Taylor Planetarium. Basically, this is a museum with something to engage every visitor.
3. Bridger Bowl Ski Area: A World-Class Ski Region on Bozeman's Doorstep
Situated just north of Bozeman in the Bridger Range, Bridger Bowl is something special for Alpine sports fans. Not only does it boast an array of challenging, moderate, and easy slopes, it's also extremely affordable, being run as a not-for-profit venture, while the snowfall is reliable year-in, year-out. If you're in town in winter, look out for the flashing bulb on Downtown's Baxter Hotel, which signals to locals that fresh snow has arrived - then hire some skis and pile into an SUV, and get ready to party on the pistes.
Where to Eat in Bozeman
For a laid-back feel and sumptuous sushi, head over to Dave's Sushi. If you'd like to sample the latest Italian cuisine, Blackbird has a variety of foods, wine, and wood-fired pizza. Enjoy some subway sandwiches at Pickle Barrel for $12 per sandwich or sample some Chinese food for $50 at Eat Famous Wok.
When to visit Bozeman
The best time to visit Bozeman is from April to May or from September to November. These seasons have fewer crowds and mild weather.
How to Get to Bozeman
Plane
Everyone coming to Bozeman can access the city through the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), which is 10 miles east of the city. Hotel shuttles and taxis will bring you into town.
Car
If you're driving, Bozeman is accessible via interstate 90, which links all the way to Seattle in the west and Boston in the east.
Airlines serving Bozeman
Where to stay in Bozeman
Harvest Creek - featuring fantastic views of the Bridger mountain range, open spaces, parks, playgrounds, and a walking trail, Harvest Creek is a fun neighborhood.
Popular Neighborhoods in Bozeman
West Winds - being one of the newest subdivisions in the northwest area of Bozeman, West Winds has a regional park and an amazing landscape.
Valley West - Valley West boasts open acreage, lakes, walking trails, and playgrounds. As one of the very well-developed subdivisions, this neighborhood mimics the historical Bozeman.
Where to stay in popular areas of Bozeman
Most booked hotels in Bozeman
How to Get Around Bozeman
Public Transportation
You can get around Bozeman by using the streamline bus system that offers free services from Monday to Friday.
Taxi
Greater Valley Taxis run throughout the area. Meter drop is usually around $5.50, and it is an additional $5 per mile.
Car
Cars can be rented from Enterprise and Journey Rent-A-Car, and prices start from around $35 a day.
The Cost of Living in Bozeman
Shopping Streets
Shop for treasures along Main Street. You can find stores selling antiques, clothes, and shoes at an affordable price in the Gallatin Valley Mall.
Groceries and Other
Find some local produce in Bogert Park on Church Avenue or the Gallatin County Fairgrounds during the weekend. A loaf of bread costs $2.40 while a gallon of milk costs $3.16.