Underrated Montana Towns Worth the Road Trip

In a state bursting with hot spots (Glacier, Bozeman, anywhere with a brewery and Patagonia pop-up). But what of that town that does not make any “Top 10 Instagrammable Places” lists? You know, the kind of places where there’s still a decent burger and some wacky festival and maybe a ghost or two.

The folks at World Atlas did a bit of legwork and highlighted a couple of underrated Montana towns in 2025. And they did a fantastic job!

Philipsburg

Tiny town, big personality. It’s the kind of thing that looks like it was made for a Western movie. But the locals and the candy are the real deal. Make a detour at the Sweet Palace if you like your sugar comas accompanied by nostalgia, and grab a pint at Philipsburg Brewing if you’d prefer to have locals treat you like a regular in five minutes or less. Extra bonus: nearby ghost town- a haunted mining ghost town at that. So pack your ghost-hunting gear.

White Sulphur Springs

Where can you soak in natural hot springs, drink a local beer and then dance in a cow pasture at the Red Ants Pants Fest? It is like Montana bingo. There are fishermen and ranchers and musicians and hippies and they coexist here. Somehow, it works.

Fort Benton

Sure, it’s the “Birthplace of Montana,” but just hear me out. It has a dog statue (Shep is a local hero), a riverfront hotel with old-school charm, and a museum that makes you actually care about agricultural history. Float the Missouri if youpretend to be Lewis or Clark.

See what other underappreciated towns made the World Atlas list of "Most Underrated Montana Towns in 2025."

So leave the tour buses and experience real Montana.” These places may not be trending, but they’re well worth a detour.