36 Hours in Dillon, MT

Cause 36 hours is all you need . . . to squeeze in all the wonderful things there are to do according to none other than me.

Outdoor Activities

Shops

Museums and Attractions

Restaurants and Bars

Where to Stay

Getting Around

Nearby

  • Dillon, Montana

    Not Dillon, Colorado
    Not Dillon, South Carolina
    Double check. It is easy to order takeout from a restaurant that is far far away.

    No matter what direction you approach from, you’ll appreciate just how rural Dillon is—a town of approximately 4,500 people along the Beaverhead River surrounded by the Pioneer, Blacktail, Ruby, Sweetwater, Tobacco Root, and Highland Mountains.

    Despite its small town feel, Dillon is the bustling metropolis of Beaverhead County.

    To boast, we have a video store, two traffic lights, the only block schedule public university in the country, a blue-ribbon trout stream, an 18-bed hospital (Gold LEED certified), and a lot of cows.

    Experience One – Concentrated, Active Learning
    The University of Montana Western

    For reference, Beaverhead County is larger than Connecticut with fewer than 0.3% of its population.

    Over two-thirds of the county is designated public lands allowing for ample recreation opportunities.

    While it might be tempting to keep driving towards your destination, I encourage you to pull off of I-15 to enjoy some of the gems (Exit 62) and grit (Exit 63) that Dillon has to offer. Yep, a two exit town!

    If you stay the full 36 hours, Dillon will start to feel like home – you’ll know your way around like a local, you’ll be running into people you just met, and saying hi to passersby.

    If you are new to town, most of Dillon already knows your name as well as what you last posted on Facebook. What can I say, welcome to small town living.

    Speaking of Facebook, most local businesses have a Facebook page instead of a website. Here are a few Facebook groups that are staples for all things Dillon:

    And then there is The Dillonite Daily. As they say on the site, “Some people love the Dillonite Daily, others not so much. Either way, it gets read.”

    Unbeknownst to many locals, Dillon is a Tree City and has a walking tree tour.

    While I am now supposed to give you a 36 hour itinerary, it really depends on the season. Instead, browse below to pick and choose from the best of the best.

    Outdoor Activities

    We are rich in public land so there’s a lot of places to explore. Plan ahead, you can’t count on having cell service even when close to town and weather can change quickly.

    This is bear country so best to be prepared – Learn more

    Close to town:

    • Explore the High Trails – Right next to town, you can quickly get up high and enjoy great views of the valley. There are over 12 miles of trails to explore thanks to the Beaverhead Trails Coalition.
      • In the spring, catch the Indian Paintbrush and Prickly Pear cactus in bloom.
      • The northern-most trailhead has the best mountain biking access. Most of the High Trails aren’t designed for bikes, but many work well enough. In the summer, you can find us building bike trails so check back for more options.
    • Clark’s Lookout State Park – a very short walk with a nice view. A great spot to watch the July 4th fireworks.
    • Fly Fishing – The Ruby, Beaverhead, and Big Hole Rivers join to form the Jefferson River in Twin Bridges – these rivers are the headwaters of the Missouri River basin.
    • Gravel Biking
      • We have amazing gravel riding in all directions. Swing on by Beaverhead Bikes to get recommendations.
      • There’s an impressive Bike Camp for those who arrive by bike. The Trans-American Bike Route (East to West coast!) comes through Dillon and the Tour Divide gets pretty close so if you come in the summer, you’ll see bikepackers traveling cross country. Am I partial to bikers? Yes.

    Pioneer Mountains

    • The Bookstore sells Exploring Montana’s Pioneer Mountains that is the best (and only) guide to the local Pioneer Mountains. Looking for a suggestion? Check out Sawtooth Lake (sedan friendly). There are many lakes to visit, be aware some trailheads require high clearance vehicles.
    • If chilly, soak in nearby hot springs – Jackson Lodge & Hot Springs & Elkhorn Hot Springs. Both are developed, where you pay to soak, and both have some cabins and food on site.
    • Maverick Ski Mountain – A small family owned mountain that packs a punch with fun runs, great cinnamon rolls, and fun community vibes. Lost Trail and Discovery Ski resorts are a bit larger, a bit further away, and a bit pricer.
    • Lots of beautiful country to explore. For maps, the U.S. Forest Service sells maps in person & online via Avenza. Beaverhead Bikes & The Bookstore also have local & regional maps.

    Shops

    I invite you to walk the couple blocks on Montana, Idaho and cross streets to explore and support our downtown shops.

    • Do I even need to say it? The Patagonia Outlet keeps Dillon on the map. They host informative events so check out their calendar and of course, sale schedule.
    • Beaverhead Bikes – Full disclosure, my partner owns and runs the shop so I put it towards the top. He can make you a delicious espresso drink with locally roasted 82 Coffee to enjoy while he tunes your bike.
    • Tabletop Vault has game days and nights and a wide array of games to purchase or play. We are so thankful they decided to live the dream right here in Dillon. They also host Trivia at the Knotty Pine on Monday nights.
    • The Pet Works – When you live in Dillon, this is basically a zoo. So many creatures to see and learn about and/or take home with you.
    • Sweetwater Coffee  – The best atmosphere and sweets around! Enjoy food, coffee, and Sugar Coated’s baked goods. Mmmm.
    • Head to The Cottage for all your metaphysical supply needs. There really is something for everyone in this shop.
    • The Bookstore – Debbie can offer excellent recommendations if you are in need of a new book. Otherwise enjoy the book displays and art gallery in the back.
    • Tendoy Fine Arts – Lots of beautiful pieces from local artists.
    • Mark Boka Pottery & The Gallery for framing – More beautiful pieces from local artists. Mark Boka creates incredible custom pottery pieces/sets too.
    • Duckworth Wool Outlet – High quality, warm and comfy wool outdoor clothing from local sheep. The store is 50% off retail.
    • Atomic 79 – They advertise as western wear but this store is so much more. Enjoy watching custom cowboy boots being made and shop for a wide selection of high quality household, clothing, shoes, and jewelry.
    • The Good Life – A selection of ‘clean’ & locally made products.
    • Armory 406 – Say hi to Dozer the mastiff and purchase a bear spray before hitting the trails (best bear spray prices in town).
    • Badger Archery – You can hone your archery skills, or if you are like me, start them (rentals & lessons available).
    • The Yarn Shop
    • Lacuna Studios
    • Wildwood Florist & Gift
    • Bargain Basement Thrift
    • And more to check out! Unless it is Sunday, then not much is open.

    Museums and Attractions

    Some real gems!

    Restaurants and Bars

    Restaurants

    • Of the five Mexican restaurants, Salsas is my favorite. The tacos and the nachos are my go-tos. And be sure to add a jugo fresco to your order. Appropriately named, they have a salsa bar. That said, everyone in town has their favorite spot so maybe try a taco tasting by grabbing a few at each. The town is small so you can restaurant hop very easily.
    • If it isn’t too late (closing soon) grab an ice cream or milkshake at N&N’s. The Crazy shake is crazy.
    • Asian Mix – Also a favorite. I have yet to try many items on the menu because I can’t not order the Panang, but I have enjoyed tasting their other curry and noodles and I hear good things about the crab rangoons. You’ll get a who’s who of Dillon with the photo wall and a warm welcome from Mi, the owner.
    • Sweetwater Coffee has been providing Dillon with coffee, food, and a delightful community gathering space for over 20 years. The new owners have added a variety of baked goods to the menu to enjoy.
    • Perfectly fine burgers at The Den, Sparky’s Garage, and Mac’s Last Cast.
    • For breakfast, there’s Sweetwater Coffee, Cranny’s, JJ’s Diner and the Mexican restaurants.
    • You can get Doritos on your pizza at Papa T’s while you ride the Chucky Cheese mice (or are they rats?)
      • Best pizza is in Sheridan, MT at Bread Zeppelin
    • South of Dillon is Speedy Singh Truck Stop and the Indian food makes for a nice take-out & picnic at Barrett’s Park.

    Bars – There are many to choose from!

    • Take in the many yellow, pinks, reds, and purples as the sun goes down from the Andrus Hotel’s rooftop patio. They’ve got a well-crafted selection of wine, local beers, and Pellegrino which you can purchase at the front desk and will grant you access to their rooftop.
    • I am too old to set foot in the Metlan so instead opt for the Knotty Pine and their spicy margarita or box wine.
    • Coming soon: Terminus Distillery! Hop on the newsletter for updates.
    • Beaverhead Brewery is a great meetup spot and hosts fun events including standup comedy, live music, and themed parties. The drink highlights are their sodas there’s orange cream soda, root beer, and ginger beer.

    Where to Stay

    I live here and haven’t spent much time at the hotels around town so I don’t have much to say on this front – there’s a wide range of prices / options between the hotels & apt/home rentals online. As mentioned earlier, the Andrus Hotel has a great rooftop, Mary Innes Lofts look nice and the FairBridge Inn Express and Quality Inn are solid.

    Getting Around

    The town is less than 2 miles long so you can easily walk or bike everywhere. Sadly, our Uber driver left.

    Events

    From Montana’s Biggest Weekend put on by the Dillon Jaycees to the Tweedy Mountain Fun Club’s Rink Plink, Puzzles & Pie, and Stick Horse Stampede, to The University of Montana’s Theater Department, there’s always something going on!

    Nearby

    There are some incredible scenic drives with ample hiking and wildlife viewing including the Centennial Valley, the Big Hole Valley, and the Pioneer Scenic Byway.

    Turns out, you just might need more than 36 hours to fully appreciate all Dillon, MT and the surrounding area has to offer. I hope this guide is useful, at least until the NYT makes it to Dillon, MT for one of their ’36 Hours’ pieces.