Bozeman is the perfect vacation destination for the adventurous, nature loving family. Its majestic Rockies embrace you with their rugged charm with hiking trails for exploring, hot springs for relaxing and lakes for paddling. Yet, it’s not just about nature and adventure. Bozeman’s downtown pulses with life, offering quaint shops, and delicious eateries that promise unforgettable moments for the whole family to cherish. With so much to offer, you could spend many days exploring the city and its surrounding areas. Below I have taken my knowledge of the city and handpicked the best activities and restaurants for you to enjoy in this 5-day Bozeman itinerary.
In September of 2016, my family and I made our first trip up to Bozeman and Yellowstone National Park. We fell so much in love with the area that we sold our house and moved there by the end of November. We spent 6 happy years living and experiencing what Bozeman has to offer.
For a complete family travel guide of Bozeman including top hiking trails in the area, unique activities, favorite restaurants and hotel recommendations read:
Bozeman Local Guidebook: Insider Tips to the Picturesque City
Best Time To Visit Bozeman
Summer is one of the best times to visit Bozeman. The temperature will be just right for spending your days in the sun with average temperatures in the 70s and 80s. Bozeman doesn’t get much rain in the summer, so you are almost guaranteed sunny days. Don’t forget to pack a sweater though. The evening temperatures can get cool.
Where To Stay In Bozeman
One beautiful thing about Bozeman is that anywhere you are, you are safe. It is one aspect that attracted us to move there in 2016.
I would recommend either staying in downtown Bozeman for the ease of walking around and being near restaurants and shopping.
Another option would be to book a place in a remote setting. Being a part of nature is a huge highlight of visiting Bozeman. Where there are many options for camping, you can also find more remote settings for glamping and inns.
Hotel Recommendations
Downtown Bozeman
- The Lark – Beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of downtown on Main Street with very cute rooms with a community outdoor patio complete with a cozy wood-burning fireplace.
- Kimpton Armory Hotel – For a more luxury stay in the heart of Bozeman, Montana set in the historic Armory building. You will find a relaxed, contemporary refinement. Also the pool has the best view in the city!
Remote Lodging
- Bodhi Farms – Go glamping at this boutique eco resort where you can enjoy a luxurious stay alongside a wild game farm-to-table restaurant and farm nestled near the Gallatin Mountains.
- Howlers Inn B&B and Wolf Sanctuary – For a unique experience, choose Howlers Inn B&B and Wolf Sanctuary. Sitting on 42 acres, you are immersed in the wild of Montana. The wolves that can’t be released into the wild are cared for by the Inn and can only be viewed by guests of the hotel.
How Many Days Should I Visit Bozeman?
I would recommend at least 2-3 days to explore Bozeman. The cozy downtown won’t take long to experience, but Bozeman has many beautiful outdoor attractions to keep you busy creating unforgettable family memories.
Also if you are planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park, flying into Bozeman and spending a few days there at the beginning or end of your trip is definitely worth it!
Note: All of the reservations for this 5-day Bozeman itinerary can be found with quick links at the top of each day.
Some of the links on this post are affiliate links. When clicking on the links and booking travel, I receive a small commission with no extra costs for you. Please note, I only recommend brands I actually use and trust.
Day 1 – Bozeman Itinerary
Day 1 Reservations
Start Your Day With A Hike
There are a few hiking trails that are very close to the city that are great for kids. My recommendation would be to hike the College M Trail or Drinking Horse Mountain Trail.
The M Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Bozeman and offers beautiful views of the city below. There are multiple ways to get to the top and see the painted rocks that create the giant M on the side of the mountain. The steep route is a half mile hike, but it is legitimately steep. The longer routes traverse the mountain making it easier for kids and adults alike with the hike to the top totalling 1.5 miles in length and 850 ft of elevation gain.
The Drinking Horse trail is a 2.2 mile loop. It is one of my favorite places to hike with kids with gorgeous views along the way. The top of the mountain has a few lookout points and a fun fort for the kids to explore.
You may also like: Best Hikes in Bozeman, Montana For All Skill Levels
Time To Refuel
Head back into town and stop at Bourbon for lunch. Bourbon is our favorite BBQ restaurant in Bozeman that serves mouthwatering Southern style dishes. They also have a cornhole set for playing out on the lawn while you are waiting for your food to be delivered.
Tubing Time
Change into your swimsuits and get ready to relax on the Madison River. Take in the sun and the views while you enjoy the passing scenery. The Madison River Tubing company will provide the tubes and gear you need and then drive you back to your car.
Alternative Rainy Day Option
In the unfortunate event of rain, take the kids to JumpTime instead. This indoor trampoline park is the perfect place for the kids to spend their energy.
Drinks With A View
After returning to your hotel and getting ready for the evening, go to Sky Shed for a pre dinner drink and appetizer. This rooftop bar is located at the top of the Armory Hotel which is the tallest building in the city. It gives you incredible views of the Bridger Mountain range and the drinks and bites are tasty too.
Dinner Downtown
Make a reservation at Blackbird for the evening and enjoy some of the best food Bozeman has to offer. Don’t miss out on their desserts. They are to die for!
Day 2 – Bozeman Itinerary
Day 2 Reservations
- If you rent a SUP or Kayak: Explore Rentals or Madison River Tubing
- Dinner Reservations – Shan
Walk The Streets Of Downtown
Before discovering all of the cute shops on the laid-back streets of downtown Bozeman, go to Wild Crumb for a delicious breakfast pastry. Then park your car downtown and wander the streets. Need extra coffee, go to Rockford Coffee!
Downtown has all the shops to entertain you throughout the morning. Some of my favorites are:
- Heyday (great for gifts!)
- Evrgreen (Women’s clothing)
- Revolvr (Men’s clothing)
- Damselfly (clothing store)
- The Montana Scene (Montana themed gifts and souvenirs)
Alternate Bozeman Itinerary Option
If you are interested in walking a little farther or shopping isn’t your thing, walk the trail behind the library, hike up Pete’s hill and wander along the trails in Burke Park. This is a beautiful trail system right in the heart of the city.
Grab A To-Go Order
Grab some food to go at Roost! Roost has juicy fried chicken options that will make everyone happy. Since their menu centers around chicken, there aren’t many vegetarian options. If you are looking for something a little healthier, go to The Farmer’s Daughters Cafe.
Hyalite Reservoir
With food in hand, make your way over to Hyalite Reservoir to enjoy the rest of the day. You have a lot of choices here.
Top hikes in order of difficulty/length:
- Palisade Falls 1.1 miles round-trip
- Grotto Falls 2.4 miles round-trip
- Hyalite Lake 10.9 miles round-trip
- Mount Blackmore 12.9 miles round-trip
If you are not interested in a hike, another option is to rent a SUP or Kayak and play on the reservoir. Soak up the views while you enjoy your picnic lunch.
At The Table
I would recommend booking a table at Shan for dinner. Shan’s Asian dishes have a Thai and Chinese influence. The small flavorful dishes are meant to be shared and enjoyed together.
Alternative Rainy Day Option
Museum of the Rockies – It has an expansive dinosaur exhibit and other local history sections, a planetarium and more!
Day 3 – Bozeman Itinerary
Day 3 Reservations
- Dinner Reservations: Tanglewood
Day Of History And The Old West
Make your way towards Virginia City. I would recommend waiting to have breakfast until right before you get to the town of Ennis. Sure Shot Coffee Co has the tastiest sausage biscuit sandwiches and our kids normally eat up the cinnamon rolls. We always stop here when out in the Ennis area.
Nevada City Living History
Park the car near the train depot and take the train to the next town over, Nevada City. In Nevada City, you can go back in time and explore the living history museum. Then walk over to pan for gold with the little ones.
Before taking the train back to Virginia City, have lunch at the Star Bakery and Restaurant. BUT save a little room for the Virginia City Creamery when you get back to Virginia City. It has delicious ice cream!
Virginia City Tour
There are a couple of ways to learn about Virginia City’s history. It’s a small town, so just wandering the preserved historic streets is great, but I would also recommend either taking the stagecoach tour or the old fire engine tour. I personally preferred the stagecoach tour, but both tours detail the history of Virginia City, which is quite intriguing.
Alternate Bozeman Itinerary Option
The Bozeman area is famous for its fly fishing. If you are interested in learning or desire a day out on the river, this is a great activity. Trout on the Fly is a fishing guide service in Bozeman that offers many different options for half-day or full-day trips. Additionally, Simms offers private fly-fishing classes.
Dinner Back In Bozeman
Head back to Bozeman for dinner since Virginia City doesn’t offer up many quality restaurants. I would recommend getting a reservation at Tanglewood for this evening’s meal.
You may also like: The Best Restaurants In Bozeman And Nearby Towns
Day 4 – Bozeman Itinerary
Day 4 Reservations
- Dinner reservations: Horn and Cantle
Breakfast At Storm Castle Or Granny’s Donuts
Before heading out of town I would recommend two different options. If you are looking for a sit down hearty breakfast that will keep you full before your day out, go to Storm Castle Cafe.
If you are interested in the best donuts ever, go to Granny’s Gourmet Donuts. Since it is the summer, please check the hours for Granny’s Gourmet Donuts. It has limited hours year round. Please note that they only accept cash! A dollar a donut or a dozen for 10 dollars! You just can’t beat those prices!
Big Sky Day Trip
It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to drive to Big Sky, Montana. Big Sky is a gorgeous resort town with prominent Lone Peak as its backdrop.
Drive straight for the ski resort first. Here you can take a lift up and then hike or mountain bike down the mountain. They also put out other fun games in the square for kids, like mini golf, bungee trampoline, climbing wall, and more…Check Big Sky’s website to find out more.
Lunch At Thai Basil Big Sky
One of the yummiest spots for lunch is back in Big Sky’s Town Center. Thai Basil Big Sky is located right downtown so you can see the town and fill your belly with some delicious pad thai fried rice or yellow curry.
Ousel Falls Hike
One of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Bozeman area can be found here in Big Sky. The Ousel Falls trailhead is right down the road from the town center and has a nice sized parking lot. It is only a 1.7 mile hike that doesn’t have much elevation gain. It is a very well maintained trail and ends in the most gorgeous waterfall!
Music In The Mountains
If you can plan your day to Big Sky to be on a Thursday in the summer, I would highly recommend it. Music in the Mountains happens every Thursday night from June-September with an additional show on the 4th of July. This free concert series is put on by the Arts Council of Big Sky and is held in Town Center Park. Bring a blanket or chairs if you can or a jacket to sit on. There are food and drink vendors surrounding the park where you can get food and usually they have a sponsor tent that gives out free food and drinks as well. It’s a large white tent!
Horn And Cantle
If you can’t get to Big Sky on a Thursday, plan a special evening out at Horn and Cantle. It is our favorite restaurant in the greater Bozeman area. It’s actually one of the top 3 we’ve ever dined at in the world. It is fine dining so it isn’t cheap, but the atmosphere and the food will make it an evening you won’t forget. Reservations are required well in advance!
Alternative Option: Another activity near Big Sky is to go whitewater rafting down the Gallatin River. Montana Whitewater is a great rafting company and family friendly! They also have a location in Gardiner on the Yellowstone River.
Day 5 – Bozeman Itinerary
Day 5 Reservations
No reservations needed today. Links to join the waitlist here:
Food For Fuel
Start your morning off with a greasy all American breakfast at the Western Cafe. Stop at the Co-op Downtown to grab some sandwiches or snacks for your lunch.
Fairy Lake Hike
Drive to Fairy Lake trailhead. The last part of the road is pretty rough, so take it slow. If you don’t have a car that can make it or you don’t feel comfortable driving around the pot holes, you can park at the lower trailhead. It will add miles to your hike, but it is doable to get to Fairy Lake. There is a trail that goes around the perimeter of the lake and is roughly 1.2 miles long.
Do you dare to take a dip into the cold water?
I would also recommend hiking up to the peak of Sacajawea if you are able. It is a little over 4 miles round-trip and one of the easier peaks because you start so high in elevation. I have also seen mountain goats on or near the peak every time I’ve hiked the mountain.
Grab A Beer At Mountains Walking
One of the best spots for a craft brew in Bozeman is at Mountains Walking Brewery. Grazing Clouds is one of the best Hazy IPAs I’ve ever tasted. They also do boozy smoothies and hard seltzers if that is more your thing! The food is actually really good here too. So you have a couple of options for dinner.
Dinner At Montana Ale Works
The other dinner option I would recommend is to go to Montana Ale Works. Its upscale casual menu has something for everyone in the family. They use local farms for their ingredients and their dishes are handmade from scratch each day. Montana Ale Works opens at 4pm and doesn’t take reservations. Since it’s a popular restaurant, I would recommend adding your name to the waitlist prior to your arrival.
Evening Hot Springs Soak
For your last night in the city, relax in the rejuvenating natural Bozeman Hot Springs. There are multiple pools inside and outside and special events are held on Thursday and Sunday evenings. They do not serve or allow alcohol in the facility but you can bring in your own food.
Note: Bozeman Hot Springs is closed from Friday at sundown to Saturday sundown.
Alternate Bozeman Itinerary Options
There are other hot springs options but they are located a little farther from Bozeman. These options include:
- Norris Hot Springs – Norris, Montana
- Open Thursday to Sunday to the public.
- They serve food and drinks.
- It is a smaller pool, but very clean and well kept.
- You can book private soaks for groups on Monday and Wednesdays.
- Chico Hot Springs – Pray, Montana
- It is open from 8am – 11pm everyday.
- You can stay at the lodge at the hot springs.
- There are a few different options for food and beverages.
- There are two pools. One is an adult pool with a walk-up outside bar. The other one is larger and for everyone!
You may also like: Ultimate Guide to Yellowstone National Park: For the Adventure Family
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