Article by Stephanie Hobby 

School might be out, but with a little planning, summer can offer incredible learning opportunities for families. Swing into your favorite gas station, load up on road trip snacks, download a killer playlist, and hit the road.  

Chief Plenty Coups State Park - Legendary warrior, visionary, and diplomat, Chief Plenty Coups was the last traditional tribal chief of the Apsáalooke people, and his legacy is on display at his home at the base of the Pryor Mountains. Credited with leading a successful fight against a US Senate attempt to dissolve the Crow lands between 1907 and 1917, Plenty Coup also led his people through the difficult transition from their Plains Indian nomadic heritage to life on the reservation. He was a staunch advocate for education and encouraged members of the Crow tribe to pursue as much education as they could and put it to work for their people when they returned home.  

On Veterans Day in 1921, Plenty Coup was chosen by the President of the United States to represent all Native American tribes at the ceremony to establish the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, where, in a moving gesture, he removed his war bonnet from his head and laid it at the tomb. The bonnet is still on public display at Arlington. On March 3, 1932, at the age of 84, his life came to an end, and his people decided that he would be the last chief of their nation. Four years earlier, he donated 195 acres of his personal property to Big Horn County to establish a park that still exists today and is managed by the state park system. Today, his log home, farmstead, sacred spring, and general store stand as evidence of the chef’s remarkable life and his efforts to bring reconciliation between two cultures.  

Drive time from Billings: 40 minutes 

Oregon Trail - Impressive remnants of the Oregon Trail can be found in Casper, Wyoming. Between 1840 and 1869, over 500,000 men, women, and children headed west, making the grueling 2,000-mile trek from Independence, Missouri, to the Oregon Territory, and nearly 500 miles of that trail stretches through Wyoming. The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper highlights the four trails that passed through Casper: the Oregon Trail, the California Trail, the Mormon Trail, and the Pony Express Route. The ruts made by thousands of wagons passing through are still visible, and in some places, reach a few feet deep. Also nearby is Fort Laramie, an important restocking stop on the trails, and Independence Rock, where thousands of travelers carved their names into the cliff. For Xennials who remember playing the Oregon Trail game at school, the game can now be played online. You can plan your visit with more information from the National Parks Service.

Drive time from Billings: 4-5 hours 

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site - In the years after the Civil War, demand for beef spiked, and the fabled American West was born, forever changing the western landscape. Founded in the 1860s, the Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Deer Lodge became a hub of activity and the headquarters of a 10-million-acre cattle empire. Today, the site serves as a reminder of the iconic American cowboy, his trusty horse, and the thousands of cattle herds that crossed this land. The main house and its original furnishings, the bunkhouse, the blacksmith shop, horse barns, cattle sheds, and other outbuildings are on display. Cattle continue to graze on the lush grasses of the ranch, and guided tours are available year-round. Seasonal activities, typically led by National Park Service Rangers, include chuckwagon programs, cowboy talks, blacksmith demonstrations, and wagon tours. Kids who would like to earn a Junior Ranger badge can complete activities such as roping and visiting horses, cows, and chickens. 

Drive time from Billings: 4 hours 

Dinosaurs - Few states are better than Montana for raising budding paleontologists. The Dinosaur Trail includes 15 stops across the state, and active digs are ongoing. For the Trail’s 20th anniversary, enthusiasts can pick up a Prehistoric Passport, which details displays and activities at each of the trail’s 15 facilities, and includes fossil facts, sections for field notes, and space for the official “Dino Icon” stamps available at each facility. Complete all 15, and you’ll earn a gold seal for your passport! Passports can be purchased online, but they are also less expensive and available in person at each stop on the trail.  

One of Montana’s more celebrated spots is Makoshika State Park, famed for its view of the K-Pg Boundary. When the deadly meteor struck the shallow waters off the Yucatan Peninsula, it launched organic matter into the atmosphere, creating a thick debris cloud that blocked the sun. As it settled back to Earth, it hardened and formed a uniform band of sediment around the world, and one of the best places to view it is Makoshika State Park. Closer to home is the Mussellshell Valley Historical Museum in Roundup, the newest member of the Dinosaur Trail. For more information, including maps and videos, visit The Montana Dinosaur Trail .

Drive time from Billings: Makoshika State Park: 3.5 hours; Roundup: 1 hour; other sites vary 

Originally printed in the June 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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