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Butte is a southwestern Montana city steeped in history with plenty of ways for visitors to enjoy the great beauty of the state. It earned its tagline as the ‘Richest Hill on Earth’ during the late 1880s and early 19th century when the area became known as a lucrative source of gold, silver, and copper. The city’s great museums tell the story of how this area rose to prosperity and although Helena, Montana's capital, is an often-spotlighted destination, Butte's Uptown District is now a popular tourist destination because of its well-preserved Victorian buildings.

Butte is surrounded by scenic trails that are a major draw for lovers of outdoor recreation. The city also serves as a stop-gap for explorers traveling between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. Here is everything visitors need to know about the best time of year to travel to Butte, where to stay, how to get around, and all the best things to do.

Best Time Of Year To Visit Butte

Butte, Montana cityscape
Photo by Steven Cordes on Unsplash
Butte, Montana cityscape

If visitors are looking to enjoy the great outdoors on their trip to Butte with some hiking, fishing, and camping, June through August are the best time to visit.

The city also plays host to some popular festivals and events during the summer, like the Montana Folk Festival in July and The Butte farmers market is on every Saturday from May to October.

Related: 10 Most Beautiful Montana Small Towns You Should Add To Your Bucket List

For those interested in skiing or snowboarding, December through February is the best time to visit. During this time, the nearby ski resorts are open and offer excellent skiing and snowboarding conditions.

In general, Spring and Fall can be nice to visit as well, with milder weather and fewer crowds.

What To Know When Visiting

Mineshaft in Butte MT
Photo by Steven Cordes on Unsplash
Mineshaft in Butte MT

The city slogan for Butte is ‘The richest hill on earth; which is a nod to its past as a major mining town in the late 1800s. The area was known to be rich in multiple metals like silver, copper, and gold.

Now, it’s a small, friendly city with plenty of beautiful outdoor recreation at its doorstep like hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and camping.

The town also boasts a number of unique museums that share the history of its unique past like the Dumas Brothel, a three-story Victorian building that served as a well-known brothel in the town until 1982. Exploring its Uptown area with beautiful Victorian architecture is also high up on the 'best things to do in Butte’ list.

In terms of traveling to Butte, there are a few options. The nearest airport is Bert Mooney Airport which is less than 15 minutes from the city and Helena Regional Airport which is an hour's drive from Butte.

Related: Big Mountains And Wild Rivers: Here Are 10 Of Montana’s Best Cities

Bert Mooney Airport has direct flights available from Salt Lake City and Denver. Helena airport has direct flights available from Seattle/Tacoma (Alaska Airlines), Salt Lake City (Delta Air Lines), and Denver (United Airlines). Bozeman International Airport is also just over an hour away from Butte and connections are available with most major cities in the US.

Butte is easily accessible by car with Interstate 90 and Interstate 15 providing direct access to the city. With plenty of camping facilities available near Butte, it's a good city to travel to with an RV.

Car rental services are available at Bert Mooney Airport.

Hertz

  • 101 Airport Road
  • T:406.782.1054

Avis

  • 111 Airport Road
  • T: 406.494.3131

Budget

  • 111 Airport Road
  • T: 918.361.7468

Related: 10 Most Popular Beaches In Montana You Should Visit

Best Ways To Get Around

Butte, Montana
Photo by Steven Cordes on Unsplash
Butte, Montana

Butte has a great public transport system that serves the city. Managed by Butte-Silver Bow Transit, five fixed routes are operated, and the service is free.

Butte is a relatively small city and many of the main attractions are within walking distance of each other.

It’s a nice city to bike ride through and there are a few shops in town that offer bike rentals, mountain bikes are also available for those who would like to explore some nearby trails.

The Derailed Bike Shop

  • Address: 120 W Broadway St, Butte, MT 59701

Bad Beaver Bikes

  • Address: 138 W Park St, Butte, MT 59701

Car rental is a great option too, especially for those who plan on exploring nearby Glacier National Park or Yellowstone National Park.

Where To Stay In Butte

The old Lincoln Hotel in Butte, Montana
Photo by Glen Rushton on Unsplash
The old Lincoln Hotel in Butte, Montana

Highly rated hotels in Butte

Best Western Plus Butte Plaza Inn ​​​

Copper King Convention Center, Ascend Hotel Collection

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Butte

Finlen Hotel and Motor Inn

Budget hotels in Butte:

Ramada by Wyndham Butte

Days Inn by Wyndham Butte

Americas Best Value Inn Butte - Rocker Inn ​​​​​​

Super 8 by Wyndham Butte MT

Camping in Butte

2 Bar Lazy H RV Park: Call 406-782-5464 for RV site rental rates at 2 Bar Lazy H RV Park

Butte Koa Journey: RV site rental rates start from $66 per night

Fairmont RV Resort: RV site rental rates start from $61 per night

Where To Eat And Drink In Butte

Trolley on display in Butte MT
Photo by Steven Cordes on Unsplash
Trolley on display in Butte MT

Best breakfast in Butte:

  • Annie's Cafe, Hanging Five Restaurant, Hummingbird Cafe

Great lunch in Butte:

  • Sparky's Garage Butte, Uptown cafe, Pork Chop John's

Delectable dinners in Butte:

  • Montana's Rib & Chop House- Butte, Casagranda's Steakhouse, The Montana Club Restaurant

Best coffee shops in Butte:

  • Florence Coffee Company, Oro Fino Coffee, Oro Fino Coffee

Fun bars in Butte:

  • Maloney's Bar, Silver Dollar Saloon, Scandia Bar

Top Things To Do In Butte

View in Butte, Montana
Photo by Natalie Nicks on Unsplash
View in Butte, Montana

Butte offers plenty of opportunities to get out and explore nature, and it's a great home base for many affordable Montana day trips.

Hike some of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail

This trail stretches from Canada to Mexico crossing five states and consists of 3,100 miles of trail. While travelers may not have the time to hike the entire trail, it’s accessible from the south of Butte in Thompson Park.

  • Address: MT-2, Butte, MT 59701

Wander through Butte’s Historic Uptown District

To get a sense of what the city was like in its mining heyday, exploring the well-preserved Victorian buildings in Butte’s Historic Uptown District is a great way to spend an afternoon.

Here is an option for a guided tour through the district:

Old Butte Historical Adventures

  • Tour Costs: $20.00 for Adults, $15.00 for Seniors, Students
  • Address: 117 North Main Street, Butte, MT 59701

Visit the World of Mining Museum

Learn about how the mining industry brought prosperity to Butte and drew in prospectors from around the globe searching for riches. Visitors can explore a mine for themselves with the museum’s Underground Mine Tour.

  • Admission: General entry admission costs Adult Ages 18 - 64 - $10, Senior Ages 65+ -$9, Youth Ages 5 - 17 - $6, Toddler -Ages 4 and under Free
  • Address: 155 Museum Way Butte, MT 59701

Venture to Yellowstone National Park or Glacier National Park

Herd of bison at sunset in Hayden Valley in Yellowstone National Park
Shutterstock
Herd of bison at sunset in Hayden Valley in Yellowstone National Park

Butte can make a great base for those looking to explore two major national parks while visiting Montana, these are among the most beautiful and famous national parks in the US.

Yellowstone is around a three-hour drive from Butte and Glacier National Park is just under four hours.

Yellowstone National Park Admission:

West Thumb Geyser in the Yellowstone National Park
Shutterstock
West Thumb Geyser in the Yellowstone National Park

A seven-day minimum pass is required to enter Yellowstone National Park.

  • Single Vehicle (Private): $35
  • Buses/Vans (Private): $20 per person
  • Single Motorcycle/Snowmobile: $30
  • Individual Person: $20: Entry for visitors on foot, bicycle, ski, etc., when 16 years of age or older.
  • Children 15 years and younger are admitted for free.

Glacier National Park Admission:

glacier national park

A seven-day minimum pass is required to enter Glacier National Park.

  • Passes start at $20 for 7 days (for an individual)
Glacier National Park, USA
Shutterstock
Glacier National Park, USA

Visit the longest-operating brothel in US history

Open from 1890 until 1982, the Dumas Brothel is a three-story Victorian building in Butte that served as the longest-running brothel in the country.

Now, it’s a museum known for paranormal activity, Visitors should be aware its opening hours are limited.

  • Address: 45 E Mercury St, Butte, MT 5970

Learn about Chinese-American history at The Mai Wah Museum

A museum dedicated to the Chinese-American history of Butte and the surrounding area, it includes artifacts, photographs, and interactive exhibits.

  • Admission: $8.00 -Adults, $5.00 -Kids, Students, Seniors, Free - Under 5 years old, Tour Groups (5 or more) - $5.00 per person
  • Address: 17 W Mercury Street, Butte, MT 59701

Visit Our Lady of the Rockies

A 90-foot statue of the Virgin Mary perched on top of the Continental Divide, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The statue was constructed in 1979 and is one of the largest statues in the US.

  • Admission: Bus tours to Our Lady of the Rockies cost between $10-$25
  • Address: Butte Plaza Mall, 3100 Harrison Ave, Butte, MT 59701

How To Spend The Perfect Day In Butte

The highlands of Butte Montana overlooking the richest hill on earth
Kcaptureit4u Photography via Shutterstock
The highlands of Butte Montana overlooking the richest hill on earth

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Start the day with breakfast at the highly-rated Annie’s café before taking off for a hike. Butte is surrounded by some great trails, so hikers and bikers will be spoiled for choice; a good option is to access part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail from Thomson Park.

Related: Top Slopes: These Are The 10 Most Iconic Ski Resorts In Montana

In the afternoon, explore the World of Mining Museum before lunch in the Uptown Cafe. Then have a wander around Butter’s famous Historic Uptown District.

End the day with dinner in The Montana Club Restaurant and then head for a nightcap at the Silver Dollar Saloon for a taste of the west.

FAQ

Q: Is Butte Montana worth visiting

Butte Montana is definitely worth visiting, particularly for those who are interested in outdoor recreation like hiking, fishing, camping, mountain biking, and hunting. Butte has countless trails surrounding the city with beautiful mountain views, and it's within driving distance of both Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

Q: Does Butte Montana have an airport?

The Bert Mooney Airport is an 11-minute drive from Butte and operates flights to Denver and Salt Lake City. Butte is an hour and 15-minute drive from both Helena Regional Airport and Bozeman International Airport.

Q: What is Butte Montana known for?

Butte Montana is known as the Richest Hill on Earth due to the wealth of gold, silver, and copper that was found in the region in the late 1800s. The town flourished in the early 19th century as a mining town.

Today, the town is known for the great outdoor recreation it has on its doorstep with countless scenic trails available for visitors and locals to enjoy. It's a great stop-gap for adventure-seekers exploring the beauty of Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.