Deer Lodge

Travel Guide

Photo provided by Donnie Sexton
Photo provided by Donnie Sexton
Photo provided by Donnie Sexton
Photo provided by Donnie Sexton
Photo provided by Donnie Sexton

Montana’s second-oldest city is rich with gold-mining and ranching history, its wide sweep of open grasslands speckled with heritage buildings and museums.

Discover Montana’s frontier history in Deer Lodge, located in Powell County. Established by gold miners and cattle ranchers in the late 1800s, Deer Lodge is a cozy city in a broad valley. Its sprawling meadowland is home to Montana’s most extensive range of museums and historical collections, which offer a glimpse of 19th-century life in the state’s northwest. Check out an old prison complex and visit a working cattle ranch of national historical significance.

As you explore the downtown center of Deer Lodge, imagine how it would have appeared as a frontier town in the 1870s. The sweeping meadowlands are sheltered by mountain ranges to the east and west and are ideal for raising cattle. Early pioneers settled ranches here in order to market the livestock to surrounding mining towns and settlers on the Oregon Trail. You can see one of these historic ranches in operation at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, a working cattle ranch dedicated to the legacy of the Western cattle industry.

Learn more about the region’s history at some of Deer Lodge’s museums. The Old Prison Complex is a highlight in Deer Lodge and features eight museums within the former cellblocks. Browse the Frontier Montana Museum, Powell County Museum, and the Montana Auto Museum within this fascinating complex. Kids will enjoy Yesterday’s Playthings, a historical collection of children’s toys and games. Go antiques shopping to find some frontier treasures and head to the local farmers market in Jaycee Park to sample some of the region’s renowned fresh produce.

Outside of the city, you can find out about the region’s silver-mining heritage at the Garnet Ghost Town, a restored boomtown just over an hour’s drive away. Head to Warm Springs Ponds to see man-made waterways that are now a haven for waterfowl and fish.

Deer Lodge is located in mid-western Montana and is an hour’s drive from HelenaOpens in a new window, the state’s capital city. There is a regional airport in Helena, as well as nearby ButteOpens in a new window. Deer Lodge is located just off the Pintlers Scenic Highway, a charming route that passes by several historic settlements within the region’s breathtaking mountain ranges.

Old Montana Inn
Old Montana Inn
2 out of 5
809 Main St, Deer Lodge, MT
Stay at this motel in Deer Lodge. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and cable TV channels. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (276 reviews)
"Very clean and up to date."

Reviewed on 4 Jul, 2025

Old Montana Inn
Wingate by Wyndham Butte City Center I-15/I-90
Wingate by Wyndham Butte City Center I-15/I-90
3 out of 5
2107 Cornell Ave, Butte, MT
The price is S$181 per night from 14 Jul to 15 Jul
S$181
14 Jul - 15 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Butte. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.8/10 Good! (942 reviews)
"We have stayed at this location on more than one occasion. We like that the kitchen area has snack's, coffee and various beverages available around the clock. The staff are friendly and helpful. The grounds around the hotel look like they have been working on. Our room was in good shape when we checked ..."

Reviewed on 9 Jul, 2025

Wingate by Wyndham Butte City Center I-15/I-90
Rocker Inn
Rocker Inn
2 out of 5
122001 West Browns Gulch Road, Butte, MT
The price is S$97 per night from 23 Jul to 24 Jul
S$97
23 Jul - 24 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Butte. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,004 reviews)
"Great value and the room has been remodeled. Pleased that the finished touches on the remodel is very good with no glaring gaps or sloppy work. Whoever did the work paid attention to detail."

Reviewed on 6 Jul, 2025

Rocker Inn
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Boulder Creek Lodge - Campsite
Boulder Creek Lodge - Campsite
2 out of 5
4 Boulder Creek Road, Hall, MT
Stay at this campground in Hall. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a snack bar/deli.
9.2/10 Wonderful! (144 reviews)
"Great place for anyone who wants to have a great Montana experience."

Reviewed on 26 Jun, 2025

Boulder Creek Lodge - Campsite
Sugar Loaf Lodge & Cabins
Sugar Loaf Lodge & Cabins
2 out of 5
10800 Mill Creek Road, Anaconda, MT
Book a stay at this family-friendly cabin in Anaconda. Enjoy free parking, meeting facilities, and a picnic area. Popular attraction Mount Haggin State Wildlife ...
9/10 Wonderful! (124 reviews)
"We stayed in a small cabin and it was very cozy!"

Reviewed on 5 Jul, 2025

Sugar Loaf Lodge & Cabins
CK Stay Hotel
CK Stay Hotel
4.5 out of 5
15 Feldspar Way, Butte, MT
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury residence in Butte. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Popular attractions Montana Lil's Casino and Treasure Chest ...
CK Stay Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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