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Major city · United States

Colstrip

Skip Colstrip unless you are passing on MT-39 or here for Colstrip Days (last weekend in June): one night, own car required, no buses or taxis.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Dec–Feb (cold, snow, ice on MT-39)
Airport
BIL
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Colstrip is a small Rosebud County town of about 2,300 people, built in 1924 as a Northern Pacific Railway company town and still defined by the coal mine and power plants south of it. There is no bus or train service and no taxi, so a car is the whole plan. Most travellers see it as a fuel-and-bed stop between Billings and Miles City, or time a visit to Colstrip Days in late June.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Colstrip, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$2–4
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$10–16
  • BeerDraught beer in a bar$5–8
  • Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$150
  • Mid-range bedMotel or inn double room, a night, per roomUS$130
  • High-end bedMotel or inn double room, a night, per roomUS$190

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$130 · High US$220

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Rosebud Mine and the coal-fired power plantsColstrip Days in late JuneCastle Rock LakePonderosa pines and sandstone hills
Airports
BIL Billings Logan International (About 120 mi (2 h) by car; the nearest commercial airport.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Colstrip: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

0°C

−11°C

6 rd

Feb

3°C

−9°C

6 rd

Mar

9°C

−4°C

7 rd

Apr

15°C

1°C

8 rd

May

21°C

6°C

10 rd

Jun

26°C

11°C

10 rd

Jul

31°C

14°C

7 rd

Aug

31°C

13°C

6 rd

Sep

24°C

8°C

6 rd

Oct

16°C

2°C

6 rd

Nov

7°C

−5°C

6 rd

Dec

1°C

−10°C

6 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Drive. MT-39 runs through town and meets I-94 about 29 mi north. There is no taxi and no local bus; fuel up in town before heading out, because the next services are a long way off.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Miles City

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

US-94 east, about 90 mi

Range Riders Museum and a proper main street; an easy half-day.

Forsyth

go

Door to door: About 1 h

MT-39 north to I-94, then east, about 60 mi

Yellowstone River town and Rosebud County seat.

Hardin

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

MT-39 north, then I-94 west and US-87 south, about 85 mi

Gateway to Little Bighorn Battlefield; pair with Crow Agency.

Crow Agency

go

Door to door: About 1 h 45 min

MT-39 north, then I-94 west and US-212 south, about 95 mi

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument; go early in summer.

Billingsgo

Door to door: About 2 h

MT-39 north to I-94, then west, about 120 mi

Biggest city in the region: airport, hospitals, big-box shopping.

Glendive

caution

Door to door: About 2 h

I-94 east, about 130 mi

Makoshika badlands are worth it, but it is a long return day.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre (Willow Ave, Main St, Cherry St)

The inns and most food sit within a few blocks; walkable once you park.

Castle Rock Lake area

Quieter, near the lake and the disc golf course; still needs a car for everything.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–100 excl. bed
Mid
$100–170 excl. bed
High
$170+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or inn double room1 × 1 night × US$130US$130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$130US$260
Rental car, one day1 × US$80US$80
Fuel, Billings return (about 240 mi)1 × US$35US$35
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$54
Trip total≈ US$295 per person per day, bed includedUS$589

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$2–4
Diner breakfast$10–16
Burger and fries$12–18
Draught beer in a bar$5–8
Gallon of fuel$3–4 (check)
Motel double room, summer weekend$90–190
9-hole green fee, Ponderosa Butte$25–45 (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low street crime, real road risk: long empty drives, winter ice, and no cell signal in places. Bars in and around town can be rough — be respectful, and leave if the room turns.
  • No taxi, no bus, no train: without a car you are stuck.
  • Cell coverage and fuel gaps on MT-39 and the back roads; carry water.
  • Winter storms close or ice MT-39 with little warning.
  • Bar scenes in and around town can be rough: keep it low-key and know your exit.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Montana Road Report (MDT)
511

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ColstripColstrip

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Montana Road Report511

Embassy

No consulates in Colstrip; nearest consular offices are in Denver or Seattle (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Billings airport → Colstrip, rental car: about 120 mi, 2 h, fuel about $20–25 one way (check)
  • Colstrip → Miles City: about 90 mi, 1 h 30 min
  • Colstrip → Forsyth: about 60 mi, 1 h

Say or show

  • Where's the nearest gas station? — Where is the nearest gas station?
  • Is there a taxi in town? — Is there a taxi in town?
  • How far to the interstate? — How far to the interstate?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is the road open? — Is the road open?

Print this card: no taxi, no bus, and long gaps between services.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Colstrip. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Dec–Feb (cold, snow, ice on MT-39) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BIL: last flight arrivals, rental desks, and the drive time to Colstrip.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Willow Ave, Main St, Cherry St, Castle Rock Lake.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Schoolhouse History and Art Center, Castle Rock Lake, Ponderosa Butte Golf Course) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Colstrip Days fixture: dates, parade and tour times, and a lodging sell-out warning.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources