2022 Bozeman Travel Guide
Last fall, Trevor Noah announced that his "Back to Abnormal" comedy tour would be heading to Bozeman, Montana in April. As a big fan of both "The Daily Show" and Montana, I instantly booked tickets and encouraged a few friends to do the same. A few weeks prior to the event, Trevor ended up rescheduling the show in order to host the White House Correspondents Dinner that same weekend, but my family and I were already committed to the trip so we decided to go anyway and I'm so glad we did. Our long weekend in Bozeman was one of the best trips we've taken in a while and we can't wait to go back. Over the course of a few days, we visited with some friends who moved to Bozeman during the pandemic, checked out all the local shops on Main Street, dined around town, stopped in on a local comedy show, and even visited Yellowstone National Park. Here is my travel guide on the best places to shop, eat, stay, and play in Bozeman, Montana.
How to Get There from Seattle
According to Google, the drive to Bozeman from Seattle is approximately 10 hours and 53 minutes via I-90 East. If we had more time to dedicate to this trip, driving might have been a more cost-effective option for our family, but since we only had a long weekend to spare, we decided to forgo the drive time and maximize our time in Bozeman instead. Non-stop flights from Seattle run about $415 per person on Alaska Airlines and there's generally a morning, afternoon, and evening flight option available.
Once we arrived in Bozeman, it was really easy to rent a car from Hertz and get on our way. If you're a AAA member, you'll save money on fuel, car seats, and adding additional drivers to the car.
Where to Stay
Located in the heart of downtown Bozeman, the Kimpton Armory Hotel offers convenient access to everything on Main Street including coffee shops, boutiques, restaurants, and more. We've stayed at many Kimpton Hotels before and have always had a great experience, so I'm pleased to report that this hotel provided all the usual amenities and services that we've come to expect. The rooms were clean and spacious, there were multiple restaurants on-site, and valet parking was quick and easy.
Where to Eat
The first night we arrived, we met up with friends for drinks at Tune Up, the basement bar at the Armory Hotel. Last Best Comedy was hosting an open mic night and we enjoyed drinks and laughs as a prelude to our dinner up at the Sky Shed, the hotel's rooftop bar complete with fire pits and relaxing mountain views. Everything is great on the Sky Shed menu, but we really liked the Furikake Fries, Fried Chicken Bao Bun, and Coconut Curry.
On our second night, friends of ours that moved from Queen Anne to Bozeman during the pandemic took us out on a date night to Brigade. Known for sourcing local ingredients and putting them together in a creative way, Brigade has some great options on the menu including regional charcuterie boards, black truffle gnocchi, and wild mushroom ragu. They also do a happy hour every day from 3-6 p.m. where you can get $3 martinis, oysters, and draft beers.
If you're looking for coffee to power up your day, don't miss Wild Joe's on Main Street. They serve a great selection of locally roasted coffees and they also offer grab-and-go sandwiches and drinks and snacks for kids. My daughter loved the "Fluffy" which is a foamy steamed milk drink with chocolate, topped with whipped cream and sprinkles, of course.
While in town we also checked out Revelry, located just steps away from The Armory Hotel. I liked that they had unexpected things on the menu like the house-smoked trout and avocado toast, frites & fondue, and coal-fired beet and cranberry salad. The beer and cocktail menu was great, too.
The Armory Hotel actually has 3 restaurants on-site, and on our final night we dined at Fieldlings. It's the fancier of the three restaurants and the menu features fresh ingredients from local purveyors. We liked the house-made ricotta served with grilled sourdough bread and the beef short rib rigatoni.
Bozeman Food & Drink List
Revelry - 24 N Tracy Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715
Brigade - 233 E Main St Suite 201, Bozeman, MT 59715
Fieldlings- 24 W Mendenhall St, Bozeman, MT 59715 (Located at The Armory Hotel)
Sky Shed- 24 W Mendenhall St, Bozeman, MT 59715 (Located at The Armory Hotel)
Tune Up - 24 W Mendenhall St, Bozeman, MT 59715 (Located at The Armory Hotel)
Wild Joe's Coffee - 18 W Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715
The Hideaway (Liquor Store/Dive Bar/Casino) - 1625 W Main St, Bozeman, MT 59715
What To Do
Yellowstone - Bozeman is located about 1 hour and 45 minutes away from Yellowstone National Park. If you've never been, it's definitely worth the drive. On our trip, we saw a ton of animals including deer, bison, elk, wolves, birds, and even mountain goats. It was really fun for the kids to try and spot animals with their binoculars and they kept a running list of everything they spotted. The north entrance of the park is located in Gardiner, Montana and the entrance fee is $35.
Sweet Pea Festival - If you're heading to Bozeman in August, don't miss the Sweet Pea Festival. This year, the festival is celebrating its 45th anniversary and the event will include food, music, art, flowers, dance performances, and more. This event is a great opportunity to check out the "Best Of" Bozeman and wristbands are available now.
Country Bookshelf - Bookworms and casual readers alike will love Country Bookshelf. It was founded in 1957 and continues to be a place where locals of all ages can come to find great books. It's even been named by Martha Stewart as one of the "Best Place to Find the Best Reads" and they also have a robust calendar of events.
Museum of the Rockies - A friend of ours recommended that we take the kids to the Museum of the Rockies, and with interactive exhibits and a full planetarium, it did not disappoint. Located on the campus of Montana State University, the museum has an extensive collection of dinosaur fossils and a T. rex skeleton. The gift shop is great, too!
Where to Shop
Downtown main street in Bozeman is brimming with bars, restaurants, and local boutiques. It was a fun place to shop and explore while we were in town. As is the case with many small towns, the customer service was amazing and it was fun getting to know the locals.
Heyday - Since 2007, Heyday boutique has been a great place in downtown Bozeman to shop for apparel, accessories, home goods, and gifts. The store is bright and airy and the team is eager to help you find exactly what you need, and maybe even a few things you don't, because when it comes to a well-edited assortment of must-have merchandise, they've got the formula dialed in. You can even shop online and enjoy $8 flat rate shipping.
Mōka - Located in the heart of downtown Bozeman, Mōka is a great place to visit whether you need a wardrobe refresh or a fun outfit to wear for a night on the town. They have great shoes and accessories, and even offer sizes for teens.
Jonah & Sage - Small town boutiques like Jonah & Sage are truly what make cities like Bozeman great places to shop. Locally owned & operated since 2001, the store is designed to outfit locals for whatever Big Sky Country brings their way. They carry a variety of brands including Commonform jewelry, which is lovingly handmade in Montana by my dear friend Stacy. I also love the fact that they have menswear, home goods, and gifts, making it a one-stop shop for everything on your list.
Bonnie & Clyde - If you're looking for contemporary clothing in Bozeman, don't miss Bonnie & Clyde, located in the Main Street Market. Nestled just past the cafe and coffee bar, Bonnie & Clyde is brimming with shoes, clothing, bags, accessories, jewelry, and more. I got a great pair of summer sandals here that I can't wait to wear once the weather in Seattle warms up!
The Last Word
Bozeman was a delightful, family-friendly place to visit and we will definitely be booking another trip soon. The friendly atmosphere and small-town vibe will always have a special place in our hearts. It was definitely a trip to remember!
If you visit Bozeman and check out any of the places on this list, please tag @Sydlovesfashion on Instagram so that I can ride along on your adventure, too!
