Getting Around

By Plane

There is regional air service between cities in Montana and Wyoming, but your options are limited, and you'll almost always need a rental car.

Overseas visitors can take advantage of the APEX (Advance Purchase Excursion) reductions offered by all major U.S. and European carriers. In addition, some large airlines offer transatlantic or transpacific passengers special discount tickets under the name Visit USA, which allows mostly one-way travel from one U.S. destination to another at very low prices. Unavailable in the U.S., these discount tickets must be purchased abroad in conjunction with your international fare. This system is the easiest, fastest, cheapest way to see the country.

By Car

In Montana, I-90 runs west to east from St. Regis to Wyola, near the Wyoming border southeast of Billings. I-94 goes east from Billings to Glendive and the North Dakota border. U.S. Highway 2, called the "Hi-Line," is another east-west alternative, stretching across the northern reaches of Montana from Bainville to Troy. The major interstate traversing the state from north to south is I-15, from Sweetgrass to Monida.

Wyoming is crossed through the southern part of the state by I-80, a huge trucker route from Pine Bluffs in the east to Evanston in the west. I-90 begins in the north-central part of the state near Ranchester and comes out in the northeast near Beulah. Just outside Buffalo is I-90's junction with I-25, a north-south route that runs through Cheyenne. The western part of the state, north of Rock Springs, is dominated by U.S. highways and secondary state-maintained roads.

By Train

Amtrak's Empire Builder (tel. 800/872-7245; www.amtrak.com) provides daily rail service along the northern tier of Montana, traveling west from Chicago and east from Seattle. The train stops at Wolf Point, Glasgow, Malta, Havre, Shelby, Cut Bank, Browning, East Glacier, Essex, West Glacier, Whitefish, and Libby.

By Bus

Bus travel is often the most economical form of public transit for short hops between cities in Montana and Wyoming, but it's certainly not an option for everyone (particularly when Amtrak, which is far more luxurious, offers similar rates). Greyhound (tel. 800/231-2222; www.greyhound.com) is the sole nationwide bus line. International visitors can obtain information about the Greyhound North American Discovery Pass. The pass can be obtained from foreign travel agents or through www.discoverypass.com, for unlimited travel and stopovers in the U.S. and Canada. Rimrock Stages (tel. 800/255-7655; www.rimrocktrailways.com) operates intrastate service in Montana.