Billings, Montana, is full of great things to do with kids. Especially if you love to be outside exploring like we do! We had such a great time spending the weekend in Billings and hope you get the chance to travel there someday, too!
Thank you to Visit Billings for helping us plan our trip and hosting our family at ZooMontana.
Billings, Montana, is the largest city in Montana and is located about two hours from the Wyoming border. It was an 8-hour drive from our home in Denver, Colorado, making it a perfect long weekend road trip!
Our kids loved Billings, Montana! We found a great mix of outdoor activities, kid-friendly attractions and experiences and museums. And we loved the food!
We filled three days up fast and I’ve got some great recommendations for you if you are finding yourself traveling to Billings, Montana, with your kids!
Activities for Kids in Billings, Montana
When we travel with our kids, it’s important for us to find at least a couple activities that will be completely entertaining for them, but also enjoyable for us!
Billings, Montana, had so many fun activities for us to choose from!
Yellowstone County Museum
We always love to learn about the areas where we travel and this cute little museum was perfect. It was free and a great way to kick off our weekend in Billings, Montana.
The museum is a little cabin just outside the local airport and sits up on a bluff so it has a great view of the city!
The main floor of the museum is the gift shop and the rotating exhibit room. When we visited in May it was the history of the fire and police departments in Yellowstone County and featured old uniforms, firearms, badges and more!
Downstairs, there is a western room where you can learn about cowboys and the wild west and even try your hand at branding a cow! This was a favorite interactive feature for the boys.
It was also nice to be able to teach the boys about Native Americans and the history here in Yellowstone County. We learned that the Sacrifice Cliff tragedy occurred in Yellowstone County. I remembered learning about this in school and it was humbling to teach the boys about that and the other traditions of the Native people.
Outside, we were able to get great views of Billings and see a spot on the Lewis and Clark Trail! There are also some old bells and a steam engine for viewing outside of the museum.
Amusem*nt Park Drive-In Theater
On Friday night, we had such a blast visiting the Amusem*nt Park Drive-In Theater. The theater is located southwest of town and features two screens that play different movies at the same time.
We saw Disney’s live action Aladdin (absolutely loved it!) and had such an amazing time!
Being “city folks,” none of us had ever been to a drive-in movie. We were so excited when we found out that Billings had one and we could finally check this off of our American summer bucket list.
The Amusem*nt Park Drive-In Theater is as picturesque as you imagine a drive-in theater to be. There is a snack barn that is literally a red barn with a concession stand inside offering all of the classics from cotton candy and popcorn to hot dogs and red vines. Not to mention that the prices are extremely affordable.
If you are looking for something to feed the whole family, you can even get pizza delivered to your car!
Going right along with the name, there are old vintage amusem*nt park rides on the property that give it such a nostalgic feel!
The theater is open Fridays and Saturdays year round and every night during the summer. Tickets are $7 per adult and $5 per child aged 5-12.
You can’t miss this fun experience when traveling to Billings with your kids!
Is it your first time attending a drive-in movie theater? I’ve got some tips to make sure your evening goes smoothly here!
Take The Kids to Scheels in Billings
Scheels is not your average department store. I like to think of it as Cabela’s meets indoor playplace.
When you enter the Scheels store in Billings, your kids will rush to the fish tanks that are floor to ceiling just past the registers. But don’t stop there, you can also enjoy a Ferris wheel, a cafe, a child-size bowling lane, a huge display of native animals, a monster truck and more to see and play on. You can shop for all sorts of athletic gear, toys, clothing and outdoor gear, but you’ll be having so much fun you might forget!
ZooMontana
I don’t normally like to visit zoos or children’s museums while we are traveling because we go to the zoo and children’s museum here locally a lot and don’t feel the need to see the same type of things somewhere else when there is so much more to visit.
However, ZooMontana really intrigued me because of their animal-first policies and down to earth feel.
ZooMontana isn’t your typical zoo with safari animals and all of the big stars you find at most zoos (even though they do have two gorgeous grizzly bears). ZooMontana takes only animals that can naturally live in the Montana climate.
The zoo has animals from all over the world, but only from above the 49th parallel.
They also only take animals that are rescues or that are part of a program to ensure the survival of endangered species. How great is that?! It felt good to visit a zoo that really has the animal’s best interest in mind.
For more about ZooMontana and why it’s great for kids, check out my post here.
Attending a Billings Mustangs Game with Kids
A great way to spend a summer afternoon or evening in Billings with kids is to attend a Billings Mustangs baseball game. As a minor league team, the Mustangs are inexpensive, with tickets in the $10 range. The whole family can enjoy an evening of baseball without breaking the bank. Similarly, because the stadium is smaller, it’s really kid-friendly. No matter where you sit in the stadium, your kids will be able to see the action! You can also grab hot dogs and all sorts of treats.
Check the schedule and get tickets here.
Get Outdoors with Kids in Billings, Montana
You can’t visit Billings, Montana, without spending a significant time outdoors! Billings is known as Montana’s Trailhead and has some really fantastic hikes for anyone looking for a workout and some great views!
With our two kids in tow, we opted for some more family-friendly outdoor encounters, but we did get some hiking in!
Ride Bikes at Riverfront Park
We brought our bikes with us to Billings in order to enjoy this beautiful park! But it can be walked as well.
Riverfront Park is a city park in Billings situated along the Yellowstone River. The park as a vast network of walking and biking trails through lush green foliage, a pond, many picnic areas and access to Dutcher Trail that runs along the river.
We took to Dutcher Trail and explored the river for a while and then rode our bikes through many of the trails in Riverfront Park itself. This would be a great place for kids to ride who are a little bit older and can handle the unpaved terrain.
You can also walk from Riverfront Park to the nearby Norm Schoenthal Island, an island in the Yellowstone River and explore! Such a fun experience for kids to be island explorers.
Hike to the Caves at Pictograph State Park
The first thing you are going to want to do when taking your kids to Billings, Montana, is get a Montana state parks day pass. There are two state parks in Billings and you will want to take your children to both!
Just make sure to visit them in the same day or you will have to purchase a new pass. (At only $6, that’s okay too!)
The first place to visit is Pictograph State Park. At this state park you and your children will be amazed with the stunning views AND the ancient cave drawings that can be seen once you reach the caves.
The hike is steep in a couple spots, but our boys (at 2.5 and 4) were able to do it on their own without complaints.
The red cave paintings are so cool to see! Some are faded but it’s amazing to think that something that like still exists after all these years!
There are three caves to visit and several other points of interest along the 1/4-mile hike. At the bottom you can also check out the visitor’s center and picnic near a large teepee where the kids can play!
Pictograph State Park made for a great afternoon with our kids.
Picnic and Play at Lake Elmo State Park
Another spot that you need to hit for some fun downtime is Lake Elmo State Park. This state park features a lake with a 1.4-mile trail that goes around the lake.
But it also has a lovely playground right next to the water. We let our kids play and get their energy out while enjoying the gorgeous and peaceful views.
It’s a great lake for paddle boarding, kayaking or non-powered boating, as well as fishing! Next time we will definitely be bringing our kayak and SUP and spending the day!
It was nearing dinner time when we were there and lots of families were bringing meals to enjoy at picnic tables around the lake.
Pioneer Park in Billings, Montana
Whether you are looking to kill some time in between activities or looking to spend a morning at the park followed by a picnic lunch, it’s always great to know where to find a quality playground. Pioneer Park in Billings is perfect! Especially for young kids! The modern play structure will both challenge and inspire your kids. There are also pools, picnic areas, a stream to play in and more.
Where to Eat with Kids in Billings, Montana
When we travel with our kids we are always looking for restaurants that are good for kids. The last thing that you want on vacation is to end up at a restaurant with a long wait, slow service or a non-kid friendly atmosphere.
Here are two restaurants we (and our kids!) loved while visiting Billings and a bonus that they will really go for!
Burger Dive
Our first stop was a lunch time visit to Burger Dive. This is a fantastical little spot in downtown Billings. They have a great vibe and even better burgers.
Burger Dive won the World Food Championship in 2016 and has quite a few impressive burgers on its menu. I ordered the “Date with Jim Beam and co*ke” burger, which was the 2016 Burger Champion at the World Food Championship. The beef patty was covered in bourbon date and co*ke barbecue sauce, roasted garlic, arugula and smoked gouda cheese and it was delicious!
The boys ordered off of the kids menu and loved their hot dogs and french fries. The hot dog was the real deal!
Pro tip: Opt for an early lunch. We arrived at 11:30 and were seated right away. By the time we were eating, the line was out the door.
Stacked Montana Grill
The next restaurant we tried was Stacked, A Montana Grill. Stacked started out as a food truck, but was so popular they now have a restaurant! Stacked serves gourmet sandwiches, salads and burgers with a Montana twist.
Jon ordered the Montana “Mad-Ham,” which was a decadent sandwich with sourdough bread, béchamel sauce, grilled ham, gouda and mozzarella cheeses and a soft fried egg on top. It was pretty wild, delicious!
Stacked does not have a dedicated kids menu, but they were so happy to have us in the restaurant and immediately offered to make grilled cheese sandwiches for our boys.
Big Dipper Ice Cream
After visiting Stacked, you will have to take your kids a couple doors down to visit Big Dipper Ice Cream! It’s handcrafted ice cream with delicious flavors such as Mexican chocolate and mint Oreo! It was the perfect way to end a day of hiking and exploring!
Big Dipper has locations in Missoula, MT, and Helena, MT, as well!
Cha Cha Churro Truck
If you can find this food truck, you’ll be in for a real treat with Cha Cha Churro! Specializing in stuffed churros, it’s the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. Our favorites were the Bavarian Cream, Nutella and Strawberry filled churros. Find their location and flavors on Instagram, @chachachurro_billings.
Other Options for Kids in Billings, Montana
DanWalt Gardens
The DanWalt Gardens is a privately maintained botanical garden in Billings that is a great place to take a stroll and enjoy seasonal flowers and plants.
There is a lot to see, including an apple tree that was planted in 1896!
Beartooth Pass
Beartooth Highway is just about an hour from Billings and continues on all the way to Yellowstone National Park. The highway is supposed to be one of the most beautiful drives in America as it winds through the Rocky Mountains!
Zimmerman Park
Another spot we really wanted to visit was Zimmerman Park for some hiking and great views of the rimrocks and Billings and the surrounding area.
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