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The hot wind in your face and the rumble under your seat – that’s what you live for. Out here we have plenty of space for your free-spirited adventures. This is cruising at its finest. From small towns, to picturesque landscapes, to horizons that seemingly never end, these wide-open roads were made for bikes.
Epic trips start on lesser known by-ways and this motorcycle loop takes you through some of the Western prairie’s most distinctive scenery – so much so that you’ll want to stop and take a photo every few miles. If you seek the less-crowded road, then this route is yours to explore.
Experience hospitality at its best along the way and make a new friend or two in each town you visit. Local eats and drinks will enrich your experience while small-town hospitality provides the perfect comfort after a day on the road.
There’s a reason why it’s called BIG Sky Country – and it’s yours to discover Out Here.
What started as a ranching town, remains a ranching town – with a few twists. Home to Beaver Creek Brewery, the GEM theater (think live music and ahhh-mazing locally sourced meatloaf), Shamrock Club Bar (ask for the story behind the ceiling tiles), Los Vaqueros (great Mexican drinks and food), Wibaux is a small town with big stories.
Take some time to explore the Pierre Wibaux Museum, named for the French cattle baron who followed the American Dream to his home on the range, or ponder his story while considering his statue more than a century later.
Ask a Local: About the Longhorns’ last football season.
To learn more about the namesake of this community, see: https://southeastmontana.com/blog/pierre-wibaux-museum-is-more-than-a-name
What started as a rail town – built around a man-made lake to power steam engines – now stands as a farming and energy hub on Montana’s rolling plains. Today’s Baker welcomes visitors to learn about the town’s history, including an intriguing mystery at the O’Fallon County Museum and the world’s largest steer (for real). Motorheads will like the private-yet-amazing collection of classic cars at Prairie Rose Museum and who can resist a quick stop along the shores of Baker Lake.
Belly up for a burger and drink at Heiser’s Bar, Thee Garage Bar & Steakhouse or the Corner Bar, then relax for the rest of the evening at one of these lodging options. Before you head out, be sure to stop at Compass Coffee for a jolt of joe.
Ask a Local: What he or she was doing when the tornado hit.
Dinosaurs, rail lines and ranching meld in Glendive, Montana – home to Makoshika State Park. Nestled between Montana’s badlands and the Yellowstone River, Glendive blends paleo adventures with small town charm, resulting in a rustic but authentic experience.
Dino lovers must stop at Frontier Gateway and the Glendive Fossil & Dinosaur Museums. Those who lean toward scenic drives and vistas will enjoy cruising in Makoshika State Park – we recommend dawn and dusk for a kaleidoscope of color painted by the sun.
Ask a Local: What is your favorite place in Makoshika State Park?
Perched on the edge of the Terry Badlands – which remain pristine thanks to a Wilderness Study Area designation – Terry and “sister town” Fallon provide a warm welcome rooted in community pride.
Prairie Unique, which sells Montana-made goods and dispenses free advice to visitors, anchors the town, along with the Prairie County Museum and Evelyn Cameron Gallery. Note: A quick glimpse of pioneer life will emit deep gratitude you don’t live in the 1800s. But you can pretend by staying at the Kempton Hotel, once a historic boarding house.
Try the locally sourced steak fingers at BD Bar in Fallon or a juicy burger at the newly remodeled Roy Rogers in Terry. We guarantee you will leave with more friends than you came with.
Ask a Local: Where’s the best place to find agates? Or, what do you know about the Prohibition bootlegger?
A true cowboy town, you are more likely to see a cattle truck and trailer than an RV in Miles City. Known for the annual Bucking Horse Sale, this unique burg epitomizes “The West” in more ways than one.
We suggest you stop for a bit, but betting you will re-define “a bit” when you get a taste of this town. We suggest Main Street Grind for locally made buns on hand-pattied burgers, your morning coffee from The Ugly Mug or Vintage & Rustics for crazy-good baked goods and a vintage diner vibe. Bonus: Stroll the antique-collectable booths to walk off your lunch.
Pop into the Miles City Saddlery – the smell of leather along with rows and rows of boots will make sense to your senses. Later in the day, stroll down Main Street for Miles City’s iconic bar – the Montana Bar – and companion watering hole, the Bison Bar to extend your Western experience. Otium Brewing and Tilt Würks Brewhouse offer locally made tastes while Trails End adds a plethora of statewide beers, pizza and a Superhero-themed back patio.
Mix in a stop at WaterWorks Art Museum for an “underground” artistic experience. Or, jump into area history at the Range Riders Museum – tell Bunny we sent you!
Ask a Local: What’s your favorite Bucking Horse Sale story?
The proverbial “wide spot in the road,” Volborg’s Post Office – General Store should be on your “selfie in Montana” list. Unique? Yes. Iconic? Yes. Busy? Not a chance.
Ask a Local: Who is your favorite professional bull rider?
This ranching town that anchors the corner of Southeast Montana epitomizes small town America. Notice the extra-wide streets – a leftover from the town’s original plans – that provide enough space for a wagon-and-four horses to U-turn. Stop at Western Chick for specialty coffee and Cashway Café for diner-style breakfast. For lunch, try Seabeck Pizza & Subs or Powder River Lanes. In the evening, belly up for steak and a beer at Powder River Stockman’s Club, Montana Bar or Big Sky Bar – all 100% Montana.
Ask a Local: What’s the story about “Let ‘er buck!”?
We dare you to correctly pronounce the name of this town! Originally a trading outpost, today’s Ekalaka (Eek-ah-lack-ah) stands on ranching and deeply rooted community pride. Carter County Museum, the state’s oldest, marries dinosaurs with geology, taxidermy, military and tribal artifacts with a side of local lore. When other towns could have disappeared, this town of ~350 keeps on kickin’.
Stop at Stompin’ Grounds (uber vibe on the prairie) or the Wagon Wheel for breakfast or lunch (can you say: griddle hashbrowns?) or wet your whistle at the Dawg House Pub – with a name like that, you gotta buy the T-shirt, right?
Ask a Local: Did you help build the museum during your detention?
Population: 29. And, home to the rustic but renowned Stoneville Saloon, this remote outpost promotes its “cheap drinks and lousy food” with true Montana pride. The bizarre photo ops outside are worth the stop.
Ask a Local: Why are there so many antelope?