Billings

Billings has the nickname "Magic City" because the city seems to have appeared overnight as a result of rapid growth spurred by the building of a railroad route in the late 1800s. The city is named after an executive of a railroad company, even though the executive never visited the city.
A big portion of the city is next to a cliff that is called "The Rims". The top of The Rims sits the city's airport, and The Rims itself is also frequented by local residents at times.

There are no passenger rail services to Billings, and despite its location along the river, there are no ferry services to other cities.

By plane

• Billings Logan International Airport

  phone: +1 406 247-8609
  address: 1901 Terminal Cir
  Billings Logan International is the major airport for Eastern Montana, and the busiest airport in the state. Cape Air has services linking the city with Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Sidney, and Wolf Point. It is additionally served by Allegiant, American, Alaska, Delta, Frontier, and United. Denver, Salt Lake City, and Minneapolis are the biggest hubs serving Billings.

By car

• From the west - I-90 connects Billings with Bozeman, Butte, Missoula and Idaho. The freeway ultimately terminates near downtown Seattle.
• From the south - I-90 from Wyoming. U.S. 310 also comes north from Lovell, Wyoming.
• From the east - 10 miles east of Billings, I-94 joins I-90 from Miles City, Glendive and North Dakota.
• From the north - U.S. 87 connects Billings with Roundup.

By bus

• Jefferson Lines

  phone: +1 406 245-5116
  address: 1830 4th Ave N
  Jefferson Lines travels primarily on I-90 (Spokane-Missoula-Bozeman-Billings & Billings-Gillette-Rapid City) on two separate routes and I-94(Billings-Fargo). Passengers transfer in Fargo, Rapid City, Butte and Spokane to get to additional destinations.

• MET TransitMET has 9 lines that provide service on weekdays and Saturdays with additional lines running during peak hours on weekdays. Weekday service 5:50AM–6:40PM. Saturday service 8:10AM–5:45PM, except for a one-hour lunch period. There is no service on Sundays and major holidays. Fares - Regular: $1.25; seniors (62+), Medicare, disabled: $0.50; children 5 and under: free. Long Beach Transit also offers a 10 Ride Ticket for $10. Transfers - Free. Must have exact fare for driver.

• Yellow Cab - +1 406 245-3033
• City Cab - +1 406 252-8700
• Red Lodge Shuttle - +1 406 446-2257 or toll free +1-888-446-2191.

Taxis in Billings charge fares based on a pre-set zone arrangement. Uber and Lyft ridesharing services also operate in the city.

• Coulson Park

  address: Charlene Street
  In an area bordered by the Yellowstone River and the I-90, the area is site of Coulson, the first modern-era settlement in the area. Little is left of the town, however, at the site.

• Custer Battlefield Museum

  phone: +1 406 638-1876
  address: Garryowen, Montana
  All of the locations associated with the Battle of the Little Bighorn, known as Custer's Last Stand

• Lake Elmo State Park

  phone: +1 406 247-2940
  address: 2300 Lake Elmo Dr
  64-acre reservoir is a popular swimming, boardsailing, non-motorized boating, and fishing area.

• Moss Mansion Historic House Museum

  phone: +1 406 256-5100
  address: 914 Division St.
  Preserved house of the Preston Boyd Moss family. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and was designed by New York architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh.

• Museum of Women's History

  phone: +1 406 248-2015
  address: 2822 3rd Ave N # B3
  Exhibits feature women from all walks of life, all professions, all ethnic groups and perspectives locally and internationally.

• Pictograph Cave State Park

  phone: +1 406 254-7342
  address: 3401 Colburn Rd
  A prehistoric archeological site with 2000-year-old cave paintings.

• Pompeys Pillar National Monument

  phone: +1 406 875-2400
  address: about 25 miles east of
  The only remaining physical evidence of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

• Yellowstone Art Museum

  phone: +1 406 256-6804
  address: 401 N 27th St.
  Contemporary and historical art from Montana and the Rocky Mountain region.

• Western Heritage Center

  phone: +1 406 256-6809
  address: 2822 Montana Ave.

• ZooMontana

  phone: +1 406 652-8100

• Zimmerman TrailA vehicle-only road that connects the Billings West End to the top of the Rims. Created by two brothers who moved to the area from Alsace-Lorraine, the road offers an impressive view of Billings, even if driving on it requires a bit of skill.

• Billings, MT Events Calendar - Events calendar for Billings, Montana.
• Local Horse rides - Local events.

• Pappy's AdventuresOutdoor family and group adventure.

• Whoopah RideDaily country adventure.

• Billings Mustangs - Minor League BaseballCatch a Pioneer League game between mid-June and early-September.

• Geyser Park Family Fun Center

  ,

• MontanaFair

  address: 308 6th Ave. N
  Agricultural and commercial product expo combined with amusement fair attractions.

• Oasis Waterpark

  phone: +1 406-969-3131
  Public water park with water slides and other water-based attractions.

• The Reef Indoor Waterpark

  phone: +1 406-839-9283
  Indoor water park that bills itself as the largest water park of its kind in Montana.

• Rimrock Mall

  phone: +1 406-656-3206
  address: 300 S 24th St W
  The Rimrock Mall has over 90 mall shops, restaurants and department stores including Dillard's, Macy's, Herberger's, and a movie theater. There are two Dillard’s units inside the mall; one of them features only women’s merchandise.

• Gainan's

  address: 502 N 30th St (downtown), 810 Bench Blvd (Heights), 1211 24th St W (West side)
  Family-owned garden and home stores with nice gift selection.

• Bernie’s Diner

  address: 19 N. Broadway
  Upscale diner serving breakfast, brunch, and lunch fares.

• The Burger Dive

  phone: +1 406-281-8292
  Burger restaurant. Some of its burgers have won national awards.

• Harper and Madison

  phone: +1 406-281-8550
  address: 3115 10th Avenue North
  Upscale restaurant serving brunch and lunch fares.

• HuHot Mongolian Grill

  phone: +1 406-656-8822
  address: 1806 King Ave W
  All-you-can-eat stir-fry grill.

• Juliano's

  phone: +1 406 248-6400
  address: 2912 7th Ave N
  Original American food with European and Asian influences from chef Carl Kurokawa. Features a nice outdoor patio.

• NaRa's Restaurant

  phone: +1 406-245-8866
  address: 3 Custer Ave
  Serving sushi as well as an assortment of Japanese and Korean fares.

• Pappy's Cowboy Cookout

  phone: +1 406 348-2048
  This is an adventure to get great cowboy cooked food and BBQ cowboy style. People and guest from inside and out of state come back just for the food. The Dutch oven dinner is perfect for events and outdoor cookouts.

• Shanghai Village

  phone: +1 406-245-6887
  address: 2926 2nd Ave N
  Chinese restaurant in the downtown area.

• TEN

  phone: +1 406-867-6774
  address: 19 N. Broadway
  Upscale restaurant serving American fares.

• Walkers American Grill and Tapas Bar

  phone: +1 406 245-9291
  address: 2700 1st Ave N
  Excellent locally-owned restaurant serving seasonal American and international cuisine.

Coffee

• City Brew

  address: Various locations. Check website for details
  A coffee chain that has a strong presence in Montana, and can rival Starbucks in Billings.

• Mazevo Coffee

  address: Two locations. Check website for details
  Local coffee chain.

Alcohol

• Angry Hanks Brewery

  phone: +1 406-252-3370
  address: 2405 1st Ave N
  Microbrewery located downtown in an old gas station. Due to restrictions imposed by state law, Each person can only get 3 pints of beer per day.

• Hooligan's Sports Bar

  phone: +1 406-294-3495
  address: 109 N Broadway
  Irish-themed pub offering drinks as well as food.

• The Loft

  phone: +1 406 2599074
  address: 1123 1st Avenue North
  Dance club that is considered to be the area's gay bar.

• Montana Brewing Company

  phone: +1 406-252-9200
  address: 113 N Broadway
  This microbrewery offers regular and seasonal beers that are made on premise.

• Yellowstone Valley Brewing Company

  phone: +1 406-245-0918
  address: 2123-B 1st Ave N
  Local microbrewery featuring live music.

Early reservations are advised during the peak summer months and during weekends when a major event is scheduled. At most hotels, rates are significantly higher during the summer.

• Crowne Plaza Billings

  phone: +1 406 252-7400
  address: 27 N 27th St
  This 23-story hotel is the world's largest free-standing brick building. Restaurant, lounge, exercise room, concierge, courtesy shuttle, 24-hr. business centers, dry cleaning, executive levels, full service Starbucks, renovated 2007.

• C'Mon Inn

  phone: +1 406 655-1100
  address: 2020 Overland Ave S
  Resort hotel lodging close to many amenities. Summer rates (Apr-Sep): $73-145, Winter rates (Oct-Mar): $70-141.

• Dude Rancher Lodge

  phone: +1 406 259-5561
  address: 415 N 29th St
  Downtown location, king and queen sized beds, restaurant, coffee makers and coffee in every room, cable TV, microwave and refrigerators in selected rooms, pets allowed. $48-63 double.

• Northern Hotel

  phone: +1 406 245-5121
  address: 19 N 28th St
  Built in 1940, this hotel received a remodel in the late 1990s and reopened in 2013 following extensive renovation. Air conditioning, cable TV, restaurant, saloon, exercise room.

• Josephine Bed-and-Breakfast

  phone: +1 406 248-5898
  address: 514 N 29th St
  Features Victorian decor with modern amenities. The house includes a library, parlor, and dining room for breakfast, and a wraparound porch. A/C, cable TV, wireless network (wireless network cards are available for rent), complimentary snacks, beverages and liqueur. Well behaved children are welcome. No pets. $65-160.

Billings is generally a safe city, but crimes do occur. It is advisable to stay away from portions of the city south of Montana Ave., otherwise known as South Side, at night.
Portions of the city east of N. 27th St., north of Montana Ave. and west of Main St., otherwise known as the North Park area, may not be safe at night as well. However, the area is mainly residential and offers little for tourists in any case.
Rock slides, sometimes involving big boulders, have happened along the Rims, therefore, it is advisable to keep a reasonable distance between yourself and the edge of the Rims.
Due to swift currents, do not get into the city's canals. In the past, people have had to be rescued from the canals.
Roads conditions can be treacherous during and after winter snowstorms. The city has a so-called "Slick Streets" policy, meaning if the city's emergency dispatch center receives too many calls on accidents due to snowy or icy road conditions, emergency crews will only respond to accidents involving injuries. The city's media outlets may make an announcement when the Slick Streets policy is in effect.

If Billings is too crowded for you, try its "suburbs" of Huntley and Shepherd, roughly ten miles east.
Two National Monuments are within a reasonable distance: Pompey's Pillar, 32 miles east on I-94, and Little Bighorn Battlefield, 67 miles southeast on I-90. Other than those, you're at the last city of any significant size before rolling out into the vast Eastern Montana prairie – the greatest attraction may be the scenery of the drive itself to your next destination.