What Should I Pack for My Trip To Montana?
On one Montana day last summer, I ate breakfast in a sweatshirt, lunch in a ski jacket, and dinner in a t-shirt. With this much parity, how do I know what to pack when traveling to Montana?
Short answer: everything.
You came here for the long answer though.
Since we started renting Mount Forge on Airbnb, we have fielded lots of questions from our guests traveling to our cabin about what they should bring on their trip. After taking dozens of trips to Montana myself, I’ve started to get it figured out. A lot of what you’ll need to bring depends on when you plan on traveling (for the best time to visit, check out this video). Since I like to do just about everything, I tend to pack for any situation.
No matter what time of the year you’re visiting, you’re going to want to have layers. It’s common for a sunny spring day in the high 60s to be comfortable outside in a t-shirt, but as the clouds roll in you’ll want to put a hoodie on right away. Snowshoeing on a brutally cold day calls for a ski jacket, but before too long you’ll be wanting to ditch it because you’ve worked up a sweat.
Generally speaking, pack the things you expect to wear on vacation. When it comes to Montana though, I always make sure to pack the following clothing regardless of season:
- T-shirts, long & short sleeve
- Sweatshirts & hoodies
- Water resistant outer layer such as a raincoat
- Bathing Suit (for the lake in the summer or the hot springs in the winter)
- Gloves
- Extra changes of socks
- Long johns or thermals
- Hats & beanies, you never know which will be useful
- Winter jacket (not needed in summer unless you’re hiking at higher elevations)
- Wool socks (same as winter jacket)
- Tennis shoes or sneakers are important for most activities
A lot of people travel to Montana for the epic hikes. If you’re anything like me and grew up with the tiny hills of Pennsylvania, you’ll dramatically underestimate the mountains of Montana at first. Here’s some very important things to take if hiking is on your itinerary.
- Hiking boots, a good pair of boots will be your best friend at Glacier National Park
- A backpack can make or break your hike, make sure to get a comfortable one
- Insect repellent
- First Aid kit
- Reusable water bottles & a LifeStraw or similar water-treatment supplies
- Bear spray – I cannot overstate the importance of being bear aware in Montana wilderness
If you plan on spending some time out on Flathead Lake, or any other of Montana’s 3,000+ lakes, here are some essentials to make sure you remember.
- Sunglasses, to protect your eyes and most importantly to look cool out on that pontoon
- Sunblock, but also SPF chapstick is super underrated (this is vital for summer hikes as well)
- A long sleeve shirt that breathes well in case you’re out in the sun too long
There are a few more essential items to carry around in Montana that have become useful.
- Portable phone charger, long days in the car or out in the woods tends to leave you with a dead battery
- Cash – you’ll want to stop and pick up some Huckleberries or Flathead Lake Cherries from one of the stands on the side of the road
- A map of the area (or download a region on Google Maps) service can tend to be spotty and you’ll lose service frequently
The weather in Montana can change quickly, so no matter what the forecast says in the morning, you can find yourself wishing you packed way more (or less) any day.
If you’re still looking for a place to stay during your trip to Montana, check out our cabin in Polson. It’s located on 63 acres just 10 minutes from Flathead Lake. You can have all of the space you need for the perfect getaway with all of the best things to do in Montana at your fingertips.