Miles City
Miles City is a city of 8400 people (2020) in Montana. It still has a strong cowboy culture.
Understand
[edit]
Miles City was an important cattle town in the late 1800s. The "World Famous Bucking Horse Sale" in May sells horses for rodeos. It is heavily attended, including by celebrities.
Get in
[edit]Interstate 94, US-12, and Montana Highway 59 travel through Miles City.
Miles City Airport has scheduled service to Billings and Glendive.
Get around
[edit]Most businesses are on the two main roads in Miles City - Main and Haynes. Exit 138 is Haynes. This street has many of the chain motels and newer businesses. It intersects with Main at the Pine Hills Detention Center.
Exit 135 is Main St. After driving past the fish hatchery, Range Riders Museum and the fairgrounds, you enter the historic area of Miles City. There are hotels, restaurants, bars and retail shops for about 7 blocks. After going under the railroad tracks, you enter the residential portion of the street. There are many National Registered Historic locations. The street ends when it intersects with Haynes. Taking a right onto Haynes will lead back to the Interstate.
See
[edit]
Map of Miles City
- Range Riders Museum, 435 Interstate 94 Business (off the west end of Main St), ☏ +1 406 232-6146. Apr–Oct: 8AM-6PM daily. Pioneer and cowboy lore, plus natural history and indigenous peoples exhibits too.
- WaterWorks Art Museum, 85 Water Plant Rd, ☏ +1 406 234-0635. Oct-Apr: Tu-Su 1PM-5PM; May-Sep: Tu-Su 9AM-5PM. Free.
Do
[edit]- 1 Miles City Fish Hatchery, 107 Fish Hatchery Rd, ☏ +1 406 234-4753. May-Aug M-F 8AM-4PM, Tours by appt. See pallid sturgeon, walleye fingerlings, tiger muskie, trout. Learn about fish management and keeping Montana's lakes and ponds stocked.
- 2 Miles City Town and Country Club, 4th and Eagle, ☏ +1 406 234-1500, office@milescitytcc.com. This is a 9 hole course with a full bar and a restaurant. $44 18 holes weekend, $38 18 holes weekday.
- 3 Milwaukee Park Disc Golf, Lincoln St & N. Prairie Ave (Park is not labelled or green on google maps, check street view), ☏ +1 406 853-2824. Open during daylight. Flat grassy 9 hole course. Trees, shrubs and some tight boundary lines add some challenge. Good for beginners. Free.
- 4 Pirogue Island State Park (head west on Main St to Valley Drive, take right, drive about 2.5 miles), ☏ +1 406 234-0900, jlittle@mt.gov. Year round, 7AM-10PM. 2.8 miles of designated hiking trails, visitors can easily walk throughout the entire 269 acres. Do not cross water if flowing.
- 5 Spotted Eagle Recreation Area, Spotted Eagle Rd, ☏ +1 406 234-3462. 123-acre property with lake offers swimming, fishing, walking trails, horseshoe pits and grills in picnic areas.
Events
[edit]- Bucking Horse Sale, 42 Garryowen Rd, ☏ +1 406 234-2890. Third full weekend in May. Major auction of rodeo stock with parade, quick draw art contest, horse races, rodeo, horse sales, street dances. Rodeo and horse racing $20 general admission. Variety of ticket prices for concert. Several free events.
- Bluegrass Festival, 42 Garryowen Rd (Fairground in the Home Show building), ☏ +1 406 853-1678. Third full weekend in Sept. Variety of bluesgrass performers from across the US. Weekend pass $50, or Friday $10, Saturday $30, Sunday $25, student pass $25, under 12 free.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Buy MT, 819 Main St, ☏ +1 406 234-1915. M-F 10AM-5:30PM, Sa 11AM-4:30PM , closed Su. Spectacular collection of made in Montana items from vendors all over the state. Get a gift for someone else or just snag a tasty bottle of wine, some scrumptious lotion, or sweet Flathead cherry gummy bears for yourself.
- 2 Unique Creations, 3010 Stower St, ☏ +1 406 234-1008. M-Sa 6AM-8PM, Su 10AM-5:30PM. Gifts, specialty coffee and tea.
- 3 Vintage and Rustics, 805 to 813 Main St, ☏ +1 406 234-7878, vintageandrustics@hotmail.com. M-Th 7:30AM-4:30PM, F Sa 7:30AM-5PM, closed Su. Antique and vendor mall. Prepare to spend plenty of time looking through this selection. Find vintage, upcycled, custom made, Montana made, Turquoise, Native, and then some. Take a break in their adorable coffee shop, soda fountain, bakery area.
Eat
[edit]- Hole in the Wall, 602 Main St, ☏ +1 406 234-9887. Steaks and seafood.
- Mexico Lindo Mexican Restaurant, 501 Main St, ☏ +1 406 234-3485.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Main Street Grind, 713 Main St, ☏ +1 406 234-4664. M-F 6:30AM-2PM. Local coffee shop with bakery items. Has hot breakfast sandwiches and lunch selections. Patio.
- 2 Montana Bar, 612 Main St, ☏ +1 406 234-5809. 10AM-2AM daily. Historic bar with gorgeous interior featuring original architecture. Through the door is Tubb's Pub, a sports bar and grill.
- 3 Otium Brewing, 21 S 9th St, ☏ +1 406 234-2337, hannah.otiumbrewing@gmail.com. W-Sa 3-8PM. Tap room with Montana beer. Patio for warmer days and fireplace on colder ones.
- 4 Tongue River Vineyard and Winery, 99 Morning Star Ln, ☏ +1 406 853-1028, bob@tongueriverwinery.com. M-Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 2-7PM. 2000 gallons of wine yearly— red and white, sweet and dry, grape and fruit wines and unusual blends. Made from Montana fruit and grapes.
- 5 Trails Inn, 607 Main St, ☏ +1 406 234-2922. Open daily. Huge selection of beers and ciders on tap, many from Montana breweries. Pool table in separate room.
Sleep
[edit]- Best War Bonnet Inn, 1015 S Haynes Ave, ☏ +1 406 234-4560. hot breakfast, indoor pool, sauna, and hot tub; high speed internet, business center, airport service, and in-room coffee
Connect
[edit]- Miles City Chamber of Commerce, 511 Pleasant St, ☏ +1 406 234-2890, mcchamber@mcchamber.com.
Go next
[edit]- Medicine Rocks State Park (104 miles south) are a series of natural rock formations. This remote state park has camping available. Bring sunscreen and water and prepare for low/no data or cellular connection.
| Routes through Miles City |
| Billings ← Forsyth ← | W  E |
→ Glendive → Dickinson |
| Helena ← Forsyth ← | W  E |
→ Bowman → Aberdeen |
ENDS at W  E ← |
N  S |
→ Jct W  E → becomes  → Gillette |