Belgrade, Montana

Belgrade, Montana is often an overlooked community. Being such a short distance from Bozeman, and along I-90, many people just speed right by on their way to the bustling city of Bozeman.

However, Belgrade is a quaint and charming town in Montana that shouldn’t be passed by.

Established in 1883 when the Northern Pacific Railroad was built through the Gallatin Valley. The founder of Belgrade was Thomas B. Quaw, a Midwesterner who came to Montana to make his fortune.

He named the town after the capital city of Serbia, and in honor of the Serbian businessmen who helped finance the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad.

Today, Belgrade is a bedroom community of Bozeman and is the first place many visitors to the area see when they leave the Yellowstone International Airport, which is located just outside of the city limits.

The town is home to the largest high school sporting facility in Montana and plays host to high school teams from around the state for the various district, regional, and state sporting events.

Main Attractions

One of the nice things about Belgrade, MT is that it doesn’t need a lot of fancy things to attract people to the community. Many of the finest attractions within this town are the local parks and recreation facilities.

Lewis and Clark Park

Located right in the heart of downtown Belgrade, Lewis and Clark Park is a favorite spot for visitors and locals alike. This lush city park is filled with all of the amenities that make a community park great. If you’re looking for a nice place for a picnic or just need a spot to stretch your legs after a long drive, this is the spot.

Lewis and Clark Park has a skatepark, splash pad, playground, picnic tables and pavilions. In the summer the park hosts many community activities including concerts and farmer’s markets.

Missouri River Headwaters State Park

Located just a bit north of Belgrade is the Missouri River Headwaters State Park. This state park surrounds the junction of the Jefferson, Gallatin, and Madison rivers which come together and form the official start of the Missouri River.

The area was one of the camping spots for the Lewis and Clark expedition, so there is plenty of historical information about the expedition, along with lots of hiking trails, camping, and fishing opportunities.

Gallatin Speedway

Friday nights in the summer, the Gallatin Speedway is the place to be; especially if you like the smells and sounds of fast-moving cars. The Gallatin Speedway is a 3/10^th of a mile, oval racetrack.

It was opened in 1998 after the town’s original speedway was bought and demolished by the State for improvements to I-90. The track is dirt and is a popular location for locals in the summer.

Recreation Activities

There is no shortage of recreational activities in the area. The town has plenty of parks to play in, and its proximity to the Custer Gallatin National Forest as well as Yellowstone National Park means there is plenty of places to hike, camp, fish, and hunt.

Hiking and Mountain Biking

Hiking and mountain biking are two of the most popular recreation activities in and around the area. One of the best places for hiking and mountain biking is the Missouri Headwaters State Park. The park has plenty of shorter length hiking and biking trails that are perfect for families.

If you are looking for more challenging hikes and mountain biking trails, consider heading into the Custer Gallatin National Forest, where you’ll find plenty of hiking and biking trails

Skiing

The nice thing about Belgrade is that it is located in close proximity to two great downhill ski areas. Bridger Bowl Ski and Snowboard Resort and Big Sky Resort are both a short drive from Belgrade and provide tons of opportunities for downhill skiing in the winter, that is accessible to all levels of skiers and snowboarders.

Bridger Bowl tends to be more popular with the locals because it is a ski area, not a resort, so you’ll enjoy great skiing and snowboarding but you won’t have all the extras that you find at a traditional ski resort.

Fishing

With the Gallatin, Jefferson, Madison and Missouri Rivers so close to Belgrade, fishing is a very popular recreational activity around Belgrade.

These larger rivers are really popular, so if you’re looking for a more peaceful place to fish, you also enjoy casting your line into Bridger Creek, east of the town.

Belgrade has fishing outfitters that can get you set with the equipment you need for a nice day of fishing. Oh, and don’t forget to check out Montana’s Fish Wildlife and Parks website for fishing regulations and to buy your Montana fishing license.

Accommodations

Since Belgrade is located just off of I-90, you’ll find that it does have a good selection of lodging opportunities. Most of the accommodations are chain hotels, however, there are a few Airbnb options as well as small inns and bed and breakfasts.

Here are a few great options for places to stay while visiting:

Special Events

As Belgrade is located so close to Bozeman, many of the events that residents enjoy are held in Bozeman. However, the community does have a few events that celebrate the town’s heritage and the holiday season.