Add This Scenic Drive To Your Montana Bucket List Right Away

Typically, by mid-October, much of Montana has already seen its first snowfall. But if you get that traveling jones before the winter weather really gets in the way, you can get a jump on any winter cabin fever by going on one final scenic drive of the season. And the almost 400-mile Montana Scenic Loop is a perfect choice for your journey.

This loop circles the largest stretch of wilderness in the continental United States.

That includes four national forests: the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Great Bear Wilderness, Scapegoat Wilderness and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

The route was designed to promote sustainable tourism through Montana’s wild country.

You’ll see 15 rural Montana communities along the way, each of them off the beaten path.

The scenery simply can’t be beat.

You’ll see sweeping mountains, rolling hills, dense forests and shimmering Montana lakes.

You can start your journey in Helena, Great Falls or Missoula.

To get the full loop in, try starting and ending your trip in Lincoln, Montana.

You’ll see Augusta, Choteau, Bynum, Dupuyer, Browning, East Glacier...

... Essex, Hungry Horse, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Condon, Seeley Lake (pictured here) and Ovando on your way. Stop in as many of these charming communities as you’d like.

Many stretches of the loop are wide open, and you may not see another car for miles.

But you’re also never far from another Montana small town.

Montana’s scenic loop is a beautiful drive. It takes about seven hours from beginning to end, so you may want to allow a full weekend for it so you can explore. Be sure to pack all the road trip essentials and snacks for your journey. Got the bug now? Here are some other beautiful scenic byways in the Treasure State.

Which do you think are the best drives in Montana overall? How about which you consider to be the best scenic drives in Montana? We'd love to read about your experiences in the comments section below!

If you’d like to explore hikes around any of these scenic drives you can find some great trails by going to the overall AllTrails website.

If you’re still in the mood for more Montana adventures, take a look at this video: